Post - Everyday Travel Guides

Cerro Gaital Hike - El Valle de Anton, Panama

by Rebecca Hollman
updated June 15, 2020

Cerro Gaital Hike - El Valle De Antón, Panama

El Valle de Anton, mostly shortened and called just El Valle, is a cool mountain town a short drive away from Panama City. Known as an outdoor adventure spot, it draws a big crowd of Panamanians from Panama City who want to come play in the mountains for the weekend. The town itself is located in a volcanic crater, with the ridges and peaks surrounding it in all directions. These leads to tons of epic hikes just steps away from the edge of the town. Cerro Gaital is one of the peaks on the rim of El Valle. It is a mellow hike in the beginning, meandering through forest until it reaches a lookout platform. From there, the hike changes, leading the scrambling up rocks and a big altitude change. Either way you do it, this hike is worth it for the lush foliage and scenery of the surrounding valley.

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About the Hike:

This hike is the most intense in the area - requiring some technical skills and even some rope assistance in places. However, you can make the trail much easier by only going to the first lookout point. To reach the first lookout point, the trail meanders up through lush green forest for sometime until all of a sudden you pop out from under the trees onto a ridge line. This lookout area has a wooden platform and views of the surrounding farmlands. If you wish to continue further, the trail narrows and snakes past the platform. It immediately starts ascending straight up on a narrow ridge and up rocks. Most of the ascent (and descent) requires scrambling over rocks, using arms and handholds and some ropes. Do not attempt if the trail is wet or if there are strong winds (very common in this area during the dry season). This trail is super fun for adrenaline junkies but can be dangerous so please use caution. It is an out and back that covers only 1.3 miles in total but 1,355 feet in elevation gain.

Trail Info:

This 1.3 mile out and back gains 1355 ft of elevation. The second section of the trail is very strenuous and should only be attempted under good weather conditions. Wind or rain should stop you from attempting the climb. It requires some rock climbing and scrambling knowledge and some rope assistance may be required. The trailhead is marked by a yellow and green hut. Here you can pay your entrance fee to a ranger. You can park along the side of the road next to the hut. There is a gate blocking the trail so you can only enter if you pay.