What To Do In Anton Valley – Best Magical Treks
Anton Valley is a truly beautiful town in the largest inhabited volcanic crater in the world. Its diameter is 6 km. The fauna and flora in and around the crater are absolutely unique. If you are attracted by nature and trekking in a beautiful tropical environment this is the perfect start to your Panama tour.
There is plenty to explore in Panama, however many places are quite expensive. We tried to make the most of Panama’s beauty for the least amount of money. That’s why our first trip out of Panama City took us to Anton Valley, or El Valle, which is not far from the capital city of Panama City, which is probably where you’ll be arriving.
HOW TO GET TO ANTON VALLEY
There is only one main bus terminal in Panama City, from where you can get to locations throughout Panama. It is located at the terminus of Metro Line 1 and is called Albrook. Buy your ticket to Anton Valley at the window marked El Valle. Don’t worry, you’ll find it. Then go to platform number 53, where the bus departs from. The trip costs $4.25 and takes 3 hours. If you tell the driver the name of your accommodation, he will drop you off right there.
ACCOMMODATION
As far as accommodation is concerned, we can recommend a local family’s house, Casa Bouvá. There are a total of 4 rooms in the house, which share a kitchen and bathroom. The house is clean and spacious, with a large garden in front of it. We were lucky enough to have the house to ourselves for our entire stay. The price per night for two is $31. The Wi-Fi works well, and the kitchen is standard. You can contact the property at +507 6418 3424. You can also find it at www.booking.com.
TREKS IN ANTON VALLEY
As we mentioned above, Anton Valley is unique mainly because of its nature. Walking around the town is therefore the main reason to visit this place.
LA INDIA DORMIDA
The most famous and also one of the most beautiful trails is La India Dormida. The legend of the Indian girl,whose reclining body resembles the shape of the mountain on which the route leads is linked to this route. The entrance fee for the trail is USD 4 and you will walk a little over 6 km in total. First you will pass several waterfalls in the tropical rainforest. From the top of the mountain you will then have an incredible view of the entire valley. Be careful though, you are in the mountains and the weather changes literally from minute to minute.
CHORRO LAS MOZAS
Chorro las Mozas is an interesting place that is frequented mainly by locals. These are cascading waterfalls on the Río Antón. People mainly come here for picnics and to swim in the river. It’s quite lively on weekends and holidays. During the week, you’ll probably be on your own.
When you arrive at the site, head right downstream, you’ll see several cascading waterfalls along the way and there’s also a good chance of seeing wildlife.We saw sloths, toucans and many species of birds.The entrance fee is 1 USD. The trail is not long, however if you walk from your accommodation, you will walk over 6 km in total again.
CERRO GAITAL
Experienced hikers will appreciate the most challenging trek to the highest peak around Cerro Gaital. The route is not long. From the start it is only two kilometres long. However, during these two kilometres you will climb 1 km higher. The weather is also very changeable, so if you do the trail, take plenty of water, a raincoat and set off early in the morning. You’ll be more likely not to get wet. If you decide to walk, you will have already walked a total of 12 km from your accommodation. That takes some training.
CERRO CARA IGUANA
On the other hand, one of the easiest routes is Cerro Cara Iguana. It is also said to be the most beautiful route in the whole valley. From the top, you’ll see the valley like the palm of your hand, and you’ll also have a view of La India Dormida directly opposite you. If you walk from your accommodation, you’ll cover a total of 10 km, but it’s really not a difficult route.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO THERE
Other attractions to visit in the city include Chorro Macho Falls, where you can enjoy a zip line in the rainforest for the price of $65. We also recommend visiting the Pozos Termales thermal springs. Last but not least, the sunrise at the lesser-known Cerro La Silla is a unique experience.
TIPS FOR VISITING ANTON VALLEY
In Panama City, you’ll need a RapidPass card to get to the platform where the bus to Anton Valley departs. We didn’t have a card, so we went to the turnstile without one, and after a moment’s hesitation, the turnstile worker let us through without a card. However, you can make arrangements with a passenger to beep your card at the turnstile and give them $0.25. Tourists and locals commonly do this.
WATCH OUT IN ANTON VALLEY
Definitely watch out for the weather here. You’re in the mountains, so the weather can change several times a day. The tops of the surrounding hills are usually exposed in the morning, so it’s a good idea to hike in the morning. Even so, don’t forget a raincoat, plenty of water and at least a light sweatshirt or jacket.
