El Valle
Visit this mountain town in Coclé for crater hikes, cooler air, golden frogs and a craft market. Go for the day or stay overnight to give yourself more time on the trails.
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El Valle de Antón is a mountain town in Coclé, Panama, inside the crater of an inactive volcano. Visitors come for hikes, cooler air, golden frogs and the craft market. From Panama City, you can take a bus from Albrook or drive via Las Uvas. A day trip suits a short walk and time in town; stay overnight if you want more room for hiking.
The Ruta de la Caldera is one trail option for spending part of a day outdoors. The dry season is a practical time to plan a visit, though the mountain air can feel cool at any time of year. For a short visit, set aside a day; an overnight stay gives you more time for the trails without rushing. Choose the bus from Albrook or drive via Las Uvas, depending on how you want to travel from Panama City.
El Valle in five
- Take the direct bus from AlbrookThe tourism authority lists buses from platform 48 at the Albrook Grand Transport Terminal, leaving every 30 minutes for El Valle. Confirm the platform and times on the day.Panama City
- Drive via Las UvasBy car, take the Inter-American Highway to Las Uvas, about 2 hours from the city, then the signposted detour and about 45 more minutes to the village.Renting a car abroad
- Hike a section of the Ruta de la CalderaThe route is 30 km, with sections such as El Cara Iguana, La Silla and La India Dormida, the most iconic. El Gaital tops 1,000 m. Start early and carry water.
- Rent a bike or e-bikeThe village is easy to explore by regular or electric bike in a temperate climate, with gardens and quiet streets, and downhill cycling tracks for confident riders.
- Look for the golden frog and the birdsEl Valle is one of the few homes of the golden frog, with more than 300 bird species, plus a butterfly garden, orchid garden and serpentarium. Compare it with Boquete if you can only pick one highland stop.Boquete or El Valle
Things to do in El Valle
See all attractions in El Valle
Need to know
- Province
- Coclé, inside an inactive volcano crater
- Getting there
- Direct buses from Albrook; by car about 2 h to Las Uvas, then about 45 min
- Climate
- Temperate, cooler than the capital
- Hiking
- Ruta de la Caldera, 30 km, with shorter sections
- Recognition
- UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages initiative, 2024
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, breezyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry, warmestMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warmest
- AprilRain16 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Last dry monthAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Last dry month
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rains beginMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 346 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains begin
- JuneRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Green, wetJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 354 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, wet
- JulyRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Green, showersJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 359 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, showers
- AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Green, wetAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 380 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, wet
- SeptemberRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Wet, mistySeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 377 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, misty
- OctoberRain30 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°WettestOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 386 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Wet, easingNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 406 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, easing
- DecemberRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Drier, coolDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, cool
Average daily high and low in El Valle, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in El Valle
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
El Valle
03:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°20°96%Monday: Rain. High 26°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Tue24°19°77%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Wed25°19°96%Wednesday: Rain. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Thu25°19°100%Thursday: Rain. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri25°19°96%Friday: Rain. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sat25°20°96%Saturday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sun27°20°82%Sunday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 82%.
Updated 03:13 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Panama Cityabout 2 hours to Las Uvas, then about 45 minutesReturn trips fit a long day, though a night in the crater is more relaxed.Read the guide
- Península de Azueroa longer drive down the Pan-American HighwayFolklore towns, surf at Venao and whales from July to October.Read the guide
- Santa Catalina5 to 6 hours from Panama City by roadPacific surf and boat trips to Coiba National Park; a long day, so plan a night.Read the guide
Before you go to El Valle
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for El Valle, checked
- Direct buses to El Valle leave Albrook Grand Transport Terminal from platform 48 every 30 minutes, per the tourism authority.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around El Valle
Which mountain town fits your trip
Read the guidePanama CityThe starting point for buses and cars
Read the guideBoqueteThe larger highland base in Chiriquí
Read the guidePenínsula de AzueroFurther down the Pacific highway
Read the guideSanta CatalinaPacific surf and boats to Coiba, further down the highway
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for zip lines and trail days
Read the guideAll of PanamaRegions, entry basics and money
Read the guideEl Valle FAQ
Is El Valle de Antón worth visiting?
Yes for a short mountain break: cool air, hiking, markets, bikes and wildlife in one village. It suits one or two nights from Panama City and less so if you want big views or a long trek.
How do you get to El Valle de Antón from Panama City?
By bus from Albrook Grand Transport Terminal, where the tourism authority lists departures every 30 minutes from platform 48. By car, take the Inter-American Highway to Las Uvas, about 2 hours, then about 45 minutes.
How many days do you need in El Valle de Antón?
One night covers the market, the village and an easy hike. Two nights add a longer section of the Ruta de la Caldera or a zip line and give a buffer for rain.
What is the Ruta de la Caldera?
A 30 km hiking route around the crater, with sections such as El Cara Iguana, La Silla, La India Dormida and El Gaital, which tops 1,000 m. You can walk one section instead of the whole route.
Why is El Valle de Antón cooler than Panama City?
It lies inside a volcanic crater in the mountains, and the tourism authority describes a temperate climate. Bring a light layer for evenings and a rain jacket in the green season.