We recently visited El Valle De Anton for three days during our Panama trip and were blown away by this area! There's so much to do here - great restaurants, amazing hikes, stunning view points, the cutest accommodations (& so much more!).
This mini-guide for El Valle De Anton (Anton Valley) in Panama includes where to stay, what to eat, what to do, and some insider info from our experiences to help you plan your trip to this stunning spot!
El Valle De Anton, El Valle, or Anton Valley - so many names for one amazing place! We LOVED this little mountain town - we found it to be a smaller version of Boquete (the super popular mountain town in Panama) that is up and coming.
El Valle de Anton (or Anton Valley) is a cute mountain town that has EVERYTHING you need. Including some really epic hike that make for some amazing photos and experiences.
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Before You Go
When To Visit
We visited in December - January timeframe and had a great experience - the weather was hit and miss in almost every spot we visited but it didn't have a huge effect on our experience. Of course there is a dry season (Jan - Mar) and a wet season (May - Aug) and shoulder seasons in between, however you can experience bad weather at anytime. However, if you're planning to do a ton of hiking, going for the dry season may be the best experience.
Money (Currency & Costs)
Panama uses US dollars, and for us being outside of America where our exchange rate sucks, this made it a somewhat more expensive trip for us. However, this was still a reasonably priced vacation - it wasn't expensive, but it wasn't cheap either. With tourism on the rise, we don't expect to see prices go down either.
Language
Spanish is the local language here, and in some places, that's the only language they speak. In El Valle you may come across some people that speak English, but it's mostly only Spanish.
Safety
Everyone's experience is different, but we felt 100% safe the entire time in Panama. Driving the country, exploring new areas, hiking, and so forth, we never felt unsafe. Of course, the usual safety precautions should ALWAYS be taken regardless of the area you are in.
Getting Here & Around
For this itinerary, we recommend renting a vehicle. It's the easiest way to get around and allows you so much flexibility. Plus, depending on the availability of shuttles / public transportation, it may actually end up being cheaper than coordinating a bunch of shuttles between locations. However, most of these locations so have shuttles that can be coordinated and you can contact the hotels you are staying at to try and figure it out if needed!
A hotel with a stunning view. One of the best sunsets we saw was from the dining area at this hotel! Such a beautiful spot in close proximity to everything you need.
This is a super unique hotel in the mountains of El Valle. You'll find yourself in a boutique shipping container with stunning views. Although you are definitely further away from the town (you need a car to get here), it's a super quiet spot and close to the scenic restaurant just a five minute walk away.
This spot is right downtown so you're close to everything, and it's a hostel so if you're looking to save some costs this is the spot!
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What To Do
Hiking, Waterfalls, & Adventure
Our two favourite hikes in the area & the links to our blog posts with tons of pictures and our experience are these two below - they are seriously EPIC hikes that I did not expect to find in Panama!
A stunning ridgeline hike with views over the town below nestled inside the volcano. The views here are incredible and you are able to walk along the ridges for seemingly as long as you want!
Due to time and weather, we unfortunately did not get the chance to do this hike but it looks like an epic adventure. About 6km and 4 hours of hiking will take you to this stunning viewpoint of the area.
We also didn't have time to do this hike but it was high up on our list. It seems to be about 9km and 2 hours, but also seems like a complicated hike to find and follow. However, once you reach the wooden platform, it's an easy go from there! Stunning views over the area is what you'll evidently find here.
If you are into ziplining, check out this tour! Spend your day ziplining around the forest, looking out for wildlife, and swimming in the waterfall. This tour even includes round trip transportation, but is for groups of 4:
In addition, there's quite a few other smaller things to do in El Valle! These are great options if you want a slower day, have rainy weather, or have little ones with you.
El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center Foundation (EVACC)
This small spot is located in the very back of a hotels property. The very small building is home to a bunch of species of different frogs! These little cuties are available for you to spot and learn about. There is a small entry fee, but it's a great adventure for a rainy afternoon or with the family.
If you like butterflies or learning about the species, this is the spot for you. An opportunity to be surrounded by tons of butterflies and learn about all the different stages.
This place has tons of different species and land to explore to see different animals!
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Where To Eat
There are so many good restaurant options for such a small little town. Consider also stopping at the local grocery store (there is one close to the Cafe Unido) to grab snacks for lunch-on-the-go for your hiking adventures.
The most stunning restaurant with even better Mexican food. We loved the tacos here, and it tastes even better during happy hour and over sunset. The sunset views over the surrounding ridges was insane!
A relaxed restaurant with some good options for fuelling up for a big day of hiking. The name is literally what you can expect here, plus some other options.
An upscale restaurant in a stunning setting. Located next to a boutique hotel, the surroundings are beautiful and the South American inspired meals are even better.
Lots of classic breakfast options and some traditional twists! Sweet or salty - your choice.
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If You're Looking For More
If you liked this guide and want to see more of what Panama has to offer check out our other thatch guides, including our Panama three week itinerary including spots like El Valle, Panama City (the famous city!), Santa Catalina & Playa Venao (beach towns with surfing & snorkelling), Boca Chica (island tours and deep sea fishing), and Boquete (more mountain adventures including Volcanos!) and a day-by-day outline of what you should do / travelling information! We seriously loved our vacation in Panama and wish you the BEST time.
With a full time job, there are twenty five days a year I want to FILL with travelling and have been doing so every year. We love to research, plan, and travel to new destinations around the world as much as possible. We travel at least twice per year and quite a bit for work, and love to share our favourite places along the way with everyone who wants it!
