Retiring in El Valle de Antón
El Valle de Antón is a village inside the crater of an extinct volcano, at about 580 m (1,900 ft), about 2.5 hours from Panama City. UN Tourism named it one of its Best Tourism Villages in 2024.
It rains much more than on the coast below: about 3,000 mm a year.
Living in El Valle de Antón
El Valle is a walking town. The trails include the 30 km Caldera route, La India Dormida and Cerro Gaital, above 1,000 m. There are more than 300 bird species and the golden frog, a market of organic produce and crafts, an orchid garden and a butterfly house.
Population
The El Valle district counted 7,595 people in the 2023 census; the wider district of Antón, 59,194.
Climate
The El Valle station, at 580 m, recorded about 3,000 mm of rain a year. January to April is dry, December is a transition, and October is the wettest month, with 554 mm on average. There is no official temperature series for El Valle.
| IMHPA station | Altitude | Average | Months under 100 mm of rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Valle De Anton (136-001) | 580 m | 3,018 mm of rain a year | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
Getting there
The drive is about 2 hours on the Inter-American Highway to Las Uvas and 45 minutes more up the side road. Buses leave Albrook every 30 minutes. The nearest airport is Río Hato.
Health care nearby
El Valle has a Ministry of Health center with beds. The reference hospital is Aquilino Tejeira in Penonomé.
- Centro de Salud de El Valle (MINSA, centro de salud con cama)
- Hospital Aquilino Tejeira (MINSA), Penonomé
Cost of living
There is no official cost of living figure for Antón: the district is not part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance food basket.
Your residency, wherever you live
The Pensionado visa is the same in every province: the US$1,000 monthly pension, or US$750 with a property of more than US$100,000, and the same documents, wherever you plan to live. The discounts of the retiree law apply all over the country.
Choosing where to live before you apply? Tell us the town and we will check what changes for your case, if anything.
Free consultationPlanning your retirement in Panama?
Book a free 15-minute call. We will check your pension and tell you exactly what you need.