Day Trip to El Valle Anton from Panama City: Hike & Mud Baths

A volcano crater town where you choose between hiking the rim or chasing waterfalls

A guided day trip from Panama City to El Valle Anton, a small town built inside a dormant volcano, with a choice of hikes, thermal baths with mud masks, a local market visit and a zoo or golden frog sanctuary. Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a professional guide in English or Spanish, and beverages are included; entrance fees to attractions and lunch are paid separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore El Valle Anton and surroundings

• Pickup from Panama City hotel
• Drive to El Valle (2 hours)
• Hike Sleeping Indian hill or visit Chorro El Macho trail
• Relax at thermal pool with mud mask
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit local market
• Visit El Nispero Zoo or see Golden Frog at Hotel Campestre
• Return to Panama City hotel (2 hours)

The Experience

The drive from Panama City takes about 2 hours. Once you arrive, you choose how to spend the morning: hike to the crater rim—a route that takes 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on fitness—or walk the Chorro El Macho trail to see the valley's largest waterfall and a hanging bridge. The hike admission is US$4; the waterfall trail is US$5. Both routes show you why locals come here to move through the landscape instead of just looking at it.

After the hike, you head to the thermal pools to recover. The water is warm and mineral-rich; there's a separate area where you can apply a mud mask made from local clay. Bring a swimsuit and towel. An hour's lunch at a local restaurant follows, then a 30-minute walk through the market where locals sell plants, fruits and handmade goods. The market is where you see what people actually grow and make in the valley, not a tourist version of it.

Your final stop is either El Nispero Zoo and Botanical Garden—an hour to see tropical animals and plants hard to find in the rainforest (US$6)—or Hotel Campestre to see the golden frogs, an almost-extinct species now bred in a lab and slowly being released back into the wild. The frog visit is free, though donations support the research. The drive back to Panama City takes another 2 hours. Total time out is about 10 hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Panama City.
• round-trip transport in an air-conditioned minivan or minibus.
• professional local guide in English or Spanish.
• professional driver.
• beverages including soda, water and local beer.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Almiza tour by My friend Mario

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a set itinerary and fixed schedule, so the day holds together without you arranging transport, timing or which sites to visit. Choose it if you want to move through the valley—hiking or walking trails, soaking in thermal water, browsing the market—with someone who knows the place and handles the logistics; pick a different tour if you prefer to set your own pace or explore on your own.

Traveler reviews

4.48★★★★★★★★★★

132 verified traveler reviews

5 ★95

4 ★21

3 ★6

2 ★5

1 ★5

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How hard is the hike to the crater rim in El Valle?

The hike to the top takes 45 minutes to 2 hours round-trip depending on your fitness level. People in good condition reach the top in 45 minutes and complete the circuit in about 2 hours; those in regular condition take 1 hour 15 minutes to the top and 3 hours for the full loop. If hiking isn't your plan, the Chorro El Macho waterfall trail is a less strenuous alternative.

What's included in the day trip from Panama City?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Panama City, round-trip transport in an air-conditioned minivan or minibus, a professional guide in English or Spanish, a professional driver, and beverages (soda, water or local beer) are included. Entrance fees to the hike, thermal pools, market visits and zoo or frog sanctuary are paid separately, as is lunch.

Can I see the golden frogs instead of the zoo?

Yes. Instead of El Nispero Zoo, you can visit Hotel Campestre to see the golden frogs, an endangered species now bred in captivity. The visit is free, though donations help support the research and protection efforts. The zoo takes about an hour; the frog visit takes about 10 minutes.

What should I bring for the thermal pools?

Bring a swimsuit and towel. The thermal pools have warm mineral water and a separate area for applying mud masks. The mud is rich in minerals meant to revitalize skin and muscles after the morning hike.

Is El Valle Anton suitable for someone who doesn't want to hike?

Yes. If you don't want to hike the crater rim, you can walk the Chorro El Macho trail instead, which leads to a waterfall and hanging bridge. You'll still visit the thermal pools, market and zoo or frog sanctuary, so the day has plenty of activity without a strenuous climb.