EL VALLE DE ANTON ๐ต๐ฆ PANAMA
EL VALLE DE ANTON ๐ต๐ฆ PANAMA
The isthmus we know of as Panama is said to have formed over millions of years with the collision of two tectonic plates in the deep ocean creating a chain of volcanoes that later emerged above the sea surface.ย El Valle de Anton is a village in the crater of one such ancient volcano surrounded by mountains and clouds just north of Vista Mar Marina and Buenadventura Marina.ย For many Panamanians that live and work in Panama City, El Valle is the 'country' where they visit their family, grow and harvest fruits and vegetables, and/or spend time on the weekends in nature.
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. Because of its elevation (600 m), it is cooler than the Panamanian lowlands.ย This cooler climate is a welcome respite from the heat at lower elevations.
Natural attractions near El Valle include the Chorro El Macho waterfall, Las Mozas waterfall, the โsquareโ trees behind Hotel Campestre, and a group of small natural thermal pools. There are many developed hiking trails to walk on.ย Birding is phenomenal.ย The area around the town is also known for being one of the last habitats of the critically endangered Panamanian golden frog. Some of the forests around the town are protected areas.
The valley is very fertile and produce grows in abundance.ย There are many people living in and around El valle that sell fresh produce at an open air market in the center of town.ย In July we found a very wide variety of fruits and vegetables.ย Some I had never even seen before like this red spikey fruit sold on a branch or by the bushel.
There are two museums in El Valle de Anton as well.ย Both highlight the history, culture, biodiversity, and uniqueness of this special place in and of itself, and as it relates to Panama at large.ย One museum is older, one is quite new; while both tell the same general story, they tell it in very different ways.
A visit to El Valle de Anton is well worth the trip.
Northbound: Along the Pacific Coast with SV Aeeshah
Northbound:
Along the Pacific Costa Rican Coast
with SV AEESHAH
SVย AEESHAH entered Costa Rica from the south and checked in at Golfito, Costa Ricas southernmost port of entry.ย While awaiting parts they explored the area by dinghy and by car.ย Their photos and descriptions below capture their experience and the natural beauty in abundance in Costa Rica.
We wentย across to the peninsular opposite Banana Bayย had a look aroundย the bay with its amazingly, green, foliage, from the mangroves at the shoreline to the mammoth trees covering the hillsides.
To break the week up and relieve the boredom: we again rented a car.ย
The first destination:
Wilson Botanical Gardens
The Robert and Catherine Wilson Botanical Garden has a rich, internationally recognized collection of tropical plants from around the world. Over 1,000 genera in more than 200 plant families form the unique collection that is an integral part of the Las Cruces Research Station. There are hundreds of bromeliads and orchids; dozens of philodendrons and other aroids of all sizes; scores of heliconias; plus ferns, gingers, marantas, giant bamboo and close 500 species of palms well represented on the 12-hectare (30-acre) site.
The Wilson Botanical Garden is part of โLa Amistad Biosphere Reserveโ that encompasses 472,000 hectares of park land and buffer zones centered in the southern Talamanca mountain range in Costa Ricaโs South Pacific.โ
To continue reading about this road trip inland or other adventures with SVย AEESHAHย visit: https://www.aeeshah.com/2024/06/golfito-area-wilson-botanical-gardens-piedras-blancas-national-park-where-are-you/
Want a photo tour instead?ย Visit: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMJkD0xR29D02xiu5efL4CyJpGvLZbkdGiRHmTNx8-HDRcI-nHYPP9Iibrw1X6zHQ?key=V3VRRWpoaTJRUkpYVjQ5Zm1rcVoyR0hUNjVzTVNB
SVย AEESHAHย 
ย Jen & John โ Gulfstart Hirsh
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR ADVENTURE!