Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The town's surroundings are instantly impressive. Spectacular stream-filled cloud forests
envelope the elevated mountain reserve of
Monumento Natural Cerro Gaital
, which
provides first-rate birdwatching opportunities, and visitors can also explore the puzzling pet-
roglyphs of
La Piedra Pintada
and the spectacular falls of
Chorro El Macho
. If you enjoy
fresh mountain air, meanwhile, there are enough decent hiking, horseriding and cycling op-
portunities to keep you in El Valle for several days.
The market
Av Central • Daily 7am-6pm
Town life revolves round the daily
market
, which draws the largest crowds at weekends,
especially on Sundays, when farmers and artisans pour in to sell fruit, vegetables, flowers
and handicrafts. Though small, it's Panama's best-known craft market outside the capital;
you'll find a decent range of ceramic figurines, painted wooden trays (
bateas
) and soapstone
carvings (mostly by Ngäbe or Buglé artists) alongside Guna
molas
and Emberá or Wounaan
basketry as well as straw hats.
The serpentarium
Signposted to the right (2 blocks) from Av Central at the town entrance, after the petrol station • Daily 8am-5pm
- though you may have to ask around to get someone to open up • $3 • 983 6680 or 6569 2676
The town's
serpentarium
could display its charges more appealingly - specimens are
crammed into home-made boxes - but if your Spanish is up to it, you can still be treated to
an informative tour, finding out how to tell a (venomous) true coral from a (harmless) false
coral snake. Plus, you get a chance to handle a friendly boa.
APROVACA Orchid Nursery
Signposted to the left on the way into town, next to ANAM • Daily 9am-4pm • $2 •
983 6472,
