| Official Name: | El Valle de Antón |
| Pushpin Map: | Panama |
| Mapsize: | 200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Panama |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Coclé |
| Area Land Km2: | 34.8 |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Total: | 7602 |
| Population Density Km2: | 218.6 |
| Population Note: | Population density calculated based on land area. |
| Coordinates: | 8.6008°N -80.1303°W |
El Valle de Antón, generally called El Valle, or Anton's Valley in English, is a town of 7,600 in the Coclé province of Panama.
The town is located in the flat wide caldera of the 6 km wide El Valle volcano that is inactive; there is evidence that it erupted as recently as about 300,000 years ago [2] Because of its elevation (600 m), it is cooler than the Panamanian lowlands.[3] Natural attractions near El Valle include the Chorro El Macho waterfall, Las Mozas waterfall, the "square" trees behind Hotel Campestre, and a group of small thermal pools (which consist of three cement pools of mineralized water that varies in color depending on the specific minerals present at a given moment).[4] The area around the town is also known for being one of the last habitats of the critically endangered Panamanian golden frog.[3] Some of the forests around the town are protected areas.[3]
El Valle had a population of 7,602 as of 2010.[1] In 2000 its population was 6,175; in 1990 it was 4,900.[1]
El Valle has one main road, called Avenida Central or Calle Central, which runs east–west across the town.[5] A main landmark is the town's public market, which is open seven days a week, although it is sometimes referred to as El Valle's Sunday Market.[6] El Valle has a very small historical and geological museum, as well as a small zoo (El Nispero, named after a type of tree), a small serpentarium, a butterfly house, and an orchid conservation center, called APROVACA, which displays over 100 native local orchid species.[7] There are also several petroglyphs west of town that are known as La Piedra Pintada.[8]
Some of the people who own properties in the heart of El Valle are wealthy people from Panama City who use the area as their vacation or weekend home.[9] Popular activities in the area include cycling, hiking, horseback riding, and birdwatching.[9] El Valle is home to around 500 species of birds.
The town is about 25 km off the Interamerican Highway by a two-lane road. The road is generally in good condition, with a few potholes that are repaired regularly. Buses, usually mini-buses, to Panama City are frequent and take approximately 2.5 hours. As of 2014, the last direct bus to Panama City leaves El Valle at 3pm with a fare of $4.25. To reach other locations in Panama, it is generally necessary to take a bus to San Carlos and transfer there. As of 2014, the last bus from El Valle to San Carlos leaves at 6pm.[10]