El Valle de Antón is a nature lover’s paradise in Panama. Known for its cool climate, stunning landscapes and hikes, and rich biodiversity, this charming town offers countless outdoor adventures. El Valle de Anton is unique, because of its location. The town is set in the crater of a volcano. Don’t worry, the volcano is extinct. The town holds the record for largest town in a volcanic crater in the world. El Valle has a unique microclimate and it usually has a breeze and is cooler than the rest of Panama. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the hikes up the crater or relax in one of the waterfalls nearby. In this article I’ll cover the best hikes and other things to do in El Valle de Anton. 

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What to do in El Valle de Anton?

The Cerro La Silla hike

The Cerro La Silla hike is a great one to start with. It’s a relatively easy hike with an amazing view from the top. The best time for this hike is sunrise, because the sun will be coming up from the nicest side of the mountain. The golden light creates a magical orange glow. The trail is clearly marked and the climb on the way up is not too intense. This place does get very strong winds, which can make it feel chilly in the morning. At times I felt like it would blow me off the mountain. Luckily the paths are generally wide enough for it not to be too scary.

If you start from the trailhead it shouldn’t take you longer than 2 hours.  The trail is around 4km. However the trailhead is located just outside of the town and if you are getting there on foot will at least add another hour. If you are lucky, there is a bus early enough for you to make if for sunrise. (Depending on the time of year and the timing of the sunrise). You need the bus going in the direction of San Carlos or Panama. There is a bus that can drop you at the trailhead It leaves from the main road in El Valle de Anton. Just ask the bus driver to stop at ‘El Roble’. If there is no bus, you can also ask your hostel to arrange a taxi.

Hike La India Dormida

La India Dormida in El Valle de Antón, the mountain ridge resembling a sleeping woman, takes you through lush forests and offers panoramic views of the valley once you get to the top. The hike is moderately challenging, but reaching the summit rewards you with views that will be worth it. The hike is especially impressive at sunrise, as the sun will light up the valley below. The path runs through jungle and only once you reach the top you’ll see the epic view. From the town center it’s a 30 minute walk to the starting point: Piedra Pintada. This is a huge rock with rock paintings on it. It’s around an hour to get to the top. From the top you have 2 different routes that can take you back. Either you walk back through the jungle or you continue along the crater rim all the way to the end and walk down from there.  If you take the same way back, you’ll have missed if you were hiking in the dark. Take a nice refreshing dip after hiking up.

Entrance fee:$3/free at sunrise

Hiking time: 3 hours total

When you walk during sunrise or sunset, don’t forget to bring a headlamp! 

Chorro El Macho waterfall

Chorro El Macho is one of El Valle’s most iconic waterfalls, cascading 115 feet into a natural pool below. It’s surrounded by jungle and it’s relatively easy to reach. It’s about a 2km walk from El Valle de Anton. You can take a dip when you get there!

See the butterflies at Butterfly Haven El Valle de Anton

One of El Valle de Anton’s must do activities is walking among the hundred of butterflies in the Butterfly haven. At the start there is an informative 15-minute video, explaining more about the butterflies. The next stop is a life-cycle exhibit, where you’ll see all the development stages from caterpillar to butterfly. Walking through the enclosed gardens, you’ll find yourself surrounded by fluttering wings in a rainbow of hues. The experience is both educational and magical and a relaxing break from hiking.

The hotsprings of El Valle de Anton

If you want to relax after a hike, you can visit Pozos Termales in El Valle de Anton for only a few dollars. There are two small hot springs. They are known for their therapeutic properties, these natural pools are rich in minerals that are said to rejuvenate the body and mind. They will give you a little pot of volcanic mud that you can use for a face masks to create your own spa experience. . Visitors can relax in the warm waters or indulge in a volcanic mud mask for a full spa-like experience. Unfortunately, the baths are not that well maintained and at times they do look a bit dirty. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if it’s worth a visit.

Hike Cerro Cara Iguana 

The Cerro Cara Iguana hike will give you a clear view of the valley. It will give you a better understanding of the shape of the crater. I would advice doing this hike for the sunset. You can start hiking from the city center. For about 20/30 minutes you walk along the road up towards the trail. Keep an eye out for the official trailhead, which is signposted and will be on your left. It’s hard to miss it. You start the trail, hiking through forest. Once you reach the  edge of the crater, the trail leads you along the edge. You just follow this path ont the edge of the crater all the way to the Cerro Cara Iguana ridge. On the way back, you take the same path. The whole hike, out and back will take about two hours.

How to get to El Valle de Anton?

Common routes to El Valle de Anton are from Panama City or Santa Catalina.

Retrogusto: Even though I usually like to try local food, this Italian place was just one of the best restaurants in El Valle. Both the pizza and pasta were great and especially after a hike, we sometimes just want to load up on some carbs. I also loved that they have so many dogs walking around.

La Ranita Gourmet: This is right in the center of town and we had a few great meals here! Both my meat eating travel partner and me as a vegetarian were very happy with our dishes. They serve a great veggieburger!

El Rincon Colombiano: If you want to eat out on a budget, try this place! They serve arepas and empanadas among other things.

Kare Coffe & Trips: My favorite coffee shop in town. Really cute place to relax and have cup of coffee and a piece of cake.

Best places to stay in El Valle de Anton