Town centre
ConvenienceAround the market and main road.
Town guide
Things to do in El Valle de Antón
A green town inside an extinct volcanic crater, two hours from Panama City: hikes to the Sleeping Indian ridge, waterfalls, hot springs and mud baths, a Sunday market, ancient petroglyphs and cool air.
3
Hostels in the city
8.8
Average, from 1,425 reviews
600 m
Above sea level
2–3
Days
A town in a crater
El Valle de Antón sits at about 600 metres in the crater of an extinct volcano, one of the largest inhabited calderas in the world. The crater walls form a ring of green hills around the town.
It is a weekend escape for Panama City residents, so it is busy on Saturdays and Sundays and quiet in the week. The hills are covered in trails: the India Dormida ridge, said to look like a sleeping woman, Cerro Gaital and La Cruz viewpoint, with waterfalls along the way.
The town has a market, a small museum, hot springs with mud baths, and the Piedra Pintada petroglyphs. Give it two or three days.
Where to base yourself
Stay near the main road and the market for convenience; the side roads have quieter lodges.
North side
QuietLodges near the trailheads.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 3 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in El Valle
Hike the India Dormida ridge for views over the crater, passing waterfalls and the Piedra Pintada petroglyphs. Climb Cerro Gaital or the La Cruz viewpoint.
Visit El Chorro El Macho, a 35-metre waterfall in a private reserve, with a zip line over the forest. Soak in the hot springs and cover yourself in mud.
Browse the Sunday market for crafts, plants and fruit, and visit the Serpentario.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Some trails, like the walks around town and up to viewpoints, are free. The market is free to wander.
Cycling the crater roads costs nothing if you have a bike.
Most trails charge a small fee to the landowner or community.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Fondas around the market serve set plates for €4 to €7. Try fresh fruit, corn tortillas and local honey.
Some cafés serve good coffee and baked goods.
A 10 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill first, as some add it.
Nightlife
Going out
El Valle is quiet at night, with a few bars and hostel social areas.
Weekends are livelier when visitors arrive from the city.
A beer costs €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around
Buses run from Albrook in Panama City to San Carlos, then on to El Valle, or directly in about 2 to 2.5 hours.
In town, walk, rent a bike or take a cheap taxi to the trailheads.
Costs
What El Valle costs
Hostel beds start at around €12 to €20 a night. Fonda plates cost €4 to €7.
Trail fees cost a few euros, El Chorro El Macho about €5, and the hot springs a few euros.
Panama uses the US dollar, alongside its own balboa coins, which are worth the same.
Safety
Safety and scams
El Valle is safe. On the trails, start early, as afternoon rain makes paths slippery, and hike in company.
Bring a layer for cool evenings.
Tap water is safe to drink in Panama City and most of the country, but not in Bocas del Toro or on the islands; use bottled or filtered water there. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Beaches and the city.
Panama City
The capital.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Market days and holidays.
Every Sunday
Sunday market
El Valle
Crafts, plants and fruit.
December to April
Dry season
El Valle
Best for hiking.
March or April
Holy Week
El Valle
Busy with city visitors.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in El Valle de Antón, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is dry and best for hiking, with clear views. May to November is wet, with afternoon rain. Weekends are busy all year.
Jan
Dry, clear
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Easter
May
Rain starts
Jun
Rain
Jul
Rain
Aug
Rain
Sep
Rain
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Wet
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Cooler than the coast.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on El Valle de Antón prices.
Treat these as a guide. Trail fees cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
El Valle de Antón questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is El Valle worth visiting?
Yes, for hiking, waterfalls and cool air.
How do I get there?
By bus from Albrook in Panama City, about 2 to 2.5 hours.
What is India Dormida?
A ridge said to look like a sleeping woman, with a hiking trail.
Is it busy?
On weekends, with visitors from the city.
Is El Valle safe?
Yes.
How many days do I need?
Two to three.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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