El Valle de Antón is a unique community, as it is the only inhabited volcano in the world. In El Valle you will find various volcanic hot springs, and numerous hills and volcanic rocks. There are also several places to relax in a natural environment, for example the Cariguana Spa.
The rich volcanic soil and the year-round spring climate help nearly all species of plants and animals (and humans, too) to thrive in this environment. As evidence, there are countless species of flowers and trees, hundreds of mammal and reptile species and over 350 different species of birds living in the Valle de Antón.
Location: Just two hours from Panama City along the Panamerican Highway, we find El Valle de Antón, located in the northeastern area of the township of the same name, covering a 30 km area in the province of Coclé.
How to arrive:
Car
Leaving Panama City, whether over the Bridge of the Americas or the Centennial Bridge, follow the Interamerican Highway for 10 -15 minutes past Coronado. Many signs will indicate the entrance to El Valle, and turn right where the arrows indicate. Follow the road around the mountain, and it will be before reaching the crater.
Bus
Go to the bus terminal in Albrook Mall and find the ticket window for El Valle de Antón. (Be careful: there is another window that sells tickets for Antón, and those buses do not go to El Valle!) The fare is $3.50 per person. Buses leave around every half hour and the trip takes about 2 hours, depending on traffic. Nearly the whole trip is on a freeway, with just the last 28km on a different road to go up the mountain and down into the crater. The first bus leaves Panama City around 7:00 am and the last bus headed to Panama leaves El Valle at 4:00 pm.
The bus from San Carlos to El Valle runs until 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm. For just $1.00 they will transport you from El Valle to the Interamerican Highway, where you can then take a bus to Panama City or any other destination.
Helicopter
Fly from Albrook airport or wherever your helicopter is, navigating towards the geometric center of the country. When you see a crater 6 km wide, begin to descend.
Activities:
- Canopy or zip line
- Visit crafts market
- Visit museums
- Bird watching
- See tourist attractions
- Visit the snake farm
- Visit the hot springs
- Enjoy the spa