El Valle de Anton- Panama's Perfect Mountain Getaway

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A picturesque, verdant mountain town just two hours from Panama City, El Valle is a great escape from the hustle and heat of the city. El Valle de Anton, known simply as El Valle has a geologically unique setting- it's nestled in the second largest volcano crater in the world- a five by three mile crater created when a volcano blew its top off five million years ago. The result was a lovely steep valley surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and rich volcanic soil that gives way to flowers and verdant forest as a result. El Valle also boasts a near perfect year-round spring climate.

El Valle has lodging options for every budget from hostals to fine small hotels. There are two new upscale hotels- Los Mandarinos, a Tuscany-style retreat with some of the most beautiful views anywhere and a famous gourmet restaurant and Canopy Lodge, a world-class eco-lodge for nature lovers and birders.

Beautiful homes and mansions line El Valle's country lanes- it's a preferred place for the weekend homes of some of Panama's wealthiest families. El Valle's Gaital National Monument, a cloud forest nature preserve is excellent for hiking, nature tours and birding.
El Valle is the perfect day trip or weekend getaway from Panama City. Some of its attractions are panoramic mountain views, adventure and extreme sports, a colorful open air handicrafts market, hiking, cloud forest nature tours, bike and horseback riding, Canopy Adventure, a tropical zoo, birdwatching and a very attractive range of lodging options.



THINGS TO DO

Hiking and Nature Hikes: We recommend two hikes. First, for a good workout we recommend a hike to the top of "Sleeping Indian Woman" mountain, also known as La India Dormida. You can see this mountain from town-it looks exactly like a sleeping Indian woman and has a legend attached. The hike takes about 3 hours and includes spectacular views of the valley, a waterfall and a tour of a native sugar cane mill. To cool off at the end, you can take a swim in a beautiful natural swimming pool nearby. (You should be in reasonably good shape and hiking shoes are ideal, but sneakers will do. The first time it is advisable to take this hike with a guide to show you the way.)

The second hike is a nature hike in the cloud forests of Gaital National Monument nature preserve. Here you will observe wildlife and learn about the unique cloud forest habitat. Fortunately, El Valle is home to one of Panama's top nature guides: Mario Bernal, a master naturalist who has won an international prize as one of the top nature guides in Central America. He is also an active conservationist whose work has been important in protecting and reviving El Valle's flor and fauna. His tours are fascinating for the whole family. You can reach Mario at 231.3811/231..2329 or Cell:693.8213

Bike riding and mountain biking: Rentals are available.This flat valley town is perfectly organized for easy, scenic bike riding. There are also some really exciting mountain biking trails on nearby mountain slopes. Bikes are available for rent at a souvenir store next to the artisans market.

Open Air Handicrafts Market: Get out your cameras and your wallets-this open air market is colorful and you can buy directly from the Indian artisans themselves. It's one of best in the country featuring a variety of handicrafts including decorated trays carved from local hardwoods, figurines carved from soap stone and Panama hats. The Indians walk in from the surrounding mountains each morning to sell their wares.

Bird Watching: El Valle is one of Panama's best birding areas. You'll enjoy birds throughout the valley and the Gaital Nature Preserve is excellent for birding hikes.

Canopy Adventure: An exhilarating and fascinating ride in a harness through the canopy of a rain forest.

Horseback riding:This is the ideal place for horseback riding- one of the best ways to appreciate the valley and mountain views. The horses rent for $5 an hour and you can have a guide if you like. Everyone knows the spot where the horses are rented- just ask.

Thermal Hot Waters and Mud Baths for a Song: For just $1 you can bathe in hot thermal water pools at the village thermal springs. For an additional $2 you can indulge in a therapeutic volcanic mud bath and even buy some mud to take home. This place is always filled with Europeans and Americans and has got to be the best health bargain anywhere.

El Nispero Zoo: Set in extensive and lovely gardens this zoo has the tropical animals and birds native to the region that you will not see in American or European zoos.

Swim in a Natural Swimming Pool: Right at the entrance to Canopy Adventure is a beautiful natural swimming pool in the rainforest.

See the Golden Frog: The zoo is one of the best places to see El Valle's famous "golden frog" a brightly gold colored frog with black spots that lives only in this region and is in danger of extinction. Open 7 am to 5 pm 7 days a week.
The Campestre Hotel is another place to see the golden frog in a large new terrarium riverside on the property. The premises are for guests only, so plan to have a meal or stay overnight.

Petroglyphs: Just outside of town lies the Piedra Pintada - large pre-Columbian drawings of figures on huge boulders. The local kids are happy to give you a tour for a small tip. There are no official archaeological explanations of these petroglyphs yet- our family had a good time making our own interpretations.

Chorro del Macho- An 85 meter tall rainforest waterfall.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

There is an excellent road to El Valle suitable for any kind of car. You can also take a bus for a few dollars from Panama City or take a package tour including transportation and lodging with a tour operator. Once in El Valle, taxis which constantly cruise the main road, will take you just about anywhere in town for around $2.

WHERE TO STAY

Lodging ranges from a world class boutique hotel to simple backpacker fare.

On the high end are Los Mandarinos and Canopy Lodge: Los Mandarinos is one of Panama's finest boutique hotels with a first-rate span,  beautiful architecture, handsome finishings, lush gardens, mountain views, and a famous haute-cuisine restaurant Casa de Lourdes ( people drive in from Panama City just to eat here) and an outdoor spa.

Canopy Lodge: The sister to the world famous Canopy Tower, this ecolodge is set in the middle of lush rainforest surrounded with the sounds of birds and nature. With a natural elegant decor and verdant setting, it is designed for those who want a quiet retreat close to nature yet comfortable. The Lodge is also a favorite for birders from around the world.

In the middle range are Rincon Vallero Hotel a charming garden hotel with a excellent on-premise restaurant, Los Capitanes a small hotel in a garden with mountain views run by a German sea captain and the original El Valle hotel El Campeste Hotel - a hunting style lodge that is a throw back to the 1940's on one of El Valles most spectacular properties, with an on-premise restaurant.