Hiking Cerro La Silla in El Valle de Anton, Panama.

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours. We took longer though.
Distance: 8kms from town, 4-5 from the trailhead.
Elevation: 848 Meters.
Trail Type: 2 options, out and back or full loop.

Out of all the hikes we did in El Valle de Anton hiking Cerro La Silla was my favorite. There is a crazy amount of ridgelines and peaks and the views in all directions are amazing you have the ocean on one side and El Valle de Anton on the other and with the sun either rising or setting throwing incredible light over all of this it made for a very magical experience.

The Cerro La Silla hike is one of the easier ones in El Valle de Anton but I think it rewards you with the best views.

For a complete of things to do in El Valle de Anton click the link

Getting to Cerro La Silla

The trail for Cerro La Silla begins a short distance out of town right on the edge of the crater rim. There are two main ways to get to the hike. You can either take the local bus or van right up to the start of the trail for 50 cents. This is the easiest way if you are doing the hike in the day or for sunset.

The other way to get there is to walk. There are two directions the trail can be accessed from I have put two maps in so you can see where to go. I would suggest walking up the same way the bus goes which is the trail to your left when you are walking out of town towards the hike. You can also walk up one way and down the other so you do not miss anything!

If you want to do the hike for sunrise you are going to have to walk from town unless you have your own transport. You also have the option of walking up for sunrise and taking the van back to town.

You can see on the google maps the trail in the bottom right. You just want to stay left on the road the whole way to the point where the trail starts.

For more info on the other hikes we did while in El Valle de Anton click the links
Hiking Cerro Cara Iguana
Hiking La India Dormida

Where to stay in El Valle de Anton

Rooms can get a little expensive on the weekends especially with it being so close to Panama City and with its popularity amongst the locals so if you have to luxury of time try and get there during the week. You will, however, want to spend at least 3 to 5 days in the valley so you can experience everything it has to offer.

Budget: Bodhi Hostel & Lounge – The go-to spot for backpackers and budget travelers. Bodhi Hostel has a super laid back vibe with everything you need including wifi, kitchen, and garden. This was our main choice being on a budget but still looking for something nice and clean and fun. There are always other options though.

Midrange: The Golden Frog – Free bike rental is huge! There is also an outdoor pool and the rooms are beautiful.

Luxury: Royal Decameron Panama All Inclusive – A little outside the valley but are able to organise anything you need.

Gear we use

• Rain Jacket: Arcteryx Beta
• Hiking Boots: SALOMON Quest 4 GTX
• Reusable bottle: Sawyer filtered water bottle
• Dry Bag: Earth Pack 20L
• Headlamp: BLACK DIAMOND Headlamp
• Headphones: Jaybird Vista – Little update on these headphones. Its been a few years now since I got these and they are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. I have been through a few other pairs as the years went on (beats, sony, JBL) for better sound quality but I always end up putting them in a draw as a backup pair and go back to these.

What Camera Gear We Use.

• Digital Camera: Sony A7riii
• Drone: DJI Mavic Pro
• Landscape Lens: Sony 16-35mm F2.8
• GoPro: GoPro Hero 12 Black
• Favorite Lens: Sony 24-70mm F4
• Circular Polarizer: Hoya Digital PRO1
• Power Bank: Anker Portable Charger (A little heavy but amazing especially for multiday adventures)
• Tripod: Vanguard VEO 2 265AB