El Valle de Antón (Anton Valley)
Patricio Roca - PanamaRide.com

Anton valley is a fresh climate paradise, only two hours away from  Panama City , this country-road town elevates to 1800 feet above sea level. There is an array of touristic places to visit both, natural and for leisure.

Overnight accomodations can be arranged, but i recommend you do it in advance.  A room in a "small hotel" will cost around U$20.00 per night.  A fancier place will increase the fare to around U$50.00 per night.

Leisure activities around the town can be done easier if you have a bycicle, they are everywhere in el valle de Anton and rentals are cheap amongst the attractions is the nispero zoo.  This place helps animals that are victims of poachers (illegal hunters) by feeding them and keeping them alive; a very nice place for a picnic lunch in the outdoors.

close to the town you can find two very nice waterfalls; the "Chorro el Macho" or "Las Mozas" is only thirty minutes walking from the "downtown" of el valle de anton.

Every Sunday in the morning the town comes alive for the Sunday market.  Groups of people from the "montains" all along the sides of the valley come down with goods to sell in these grounds.  Some indigenous groups bring organic fruits and vegetables.  Others offer their hand crafts for sale.  One of the handcrafts we will most definetly find is the soap stone figures.  Woven baskets, "bateas" or wooden trays, colorfull birds made out of 100% balsa wood.  Medicinal and ornamental plants are also available. 

This whole affair could last up to eight hours, starting around 7:00 a.m.and ending at 5:00 p.m.   The best time for "bargain" shopping is after 2:00 p.m.

According to geologists, the valley is a volcanoe's crater; this is the reason why there are so many volcanic rock mountains and formations all along the road to el valle.  This makes the soil of el valle simply superb.  Anton valley dirt is sold in the best garden depos in Panama City as volcanic soil; excellent for potting.

 The name of Anton comes from the Spanish explorer of the river, Anton Martin. This place is filled with folklore and history.  The "Sleeping Indian girl" is a good example of the Spanish cultural legacy, some 500 + years old.

If you are a hiking enthusiast, there are many high peaks you can visit...Pajita, Gaital y Cara Coral Hills are over 3000 feet above sea level and are northbound from the town.  South of us is the "Huaca" hill with 2400 feet a.s.l. and the "Sleeping Indian" hills are westbound.

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