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Path through tall grass on a hillside at El Valle de Antón.

Panama · El Valle de Antón

Golden frogs, orchids and wildlife

The EVACC Foundation sanctuary is where golden frogs can be seen in El Valle, in captivity. The Square Trees trail is next door; in town are the APROVACA orchid centre and the butterfly house.

5 places

  1. 1

    WildlifeOpen

    EVACC Golden Frog Sanctuary

    Next to Hotel Campestre, north-east of town, at the start of the Square Trees trail.2.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Last known: Feb 2, 2023
    Hours
    Sources disagree
    Booking
    Not stated

    The non-profit EVACC Foundation breeds golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki) and other threatened amphibians and shows some of them to the public. The golden frog is considered extinct in the wild; in El Valle it can only be seen in captivity.

    Source: EVACC Foundation – Home · 2026 · +4

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Donation: US$3 adults and US$1 up to age 15 according to EVACC's visitor page of 2 Feb 2023 (US$4 and US$1 for the adjoining trail). Current amount not confirmed.
    Hours
    EVACC's own sources disagree on the days: its website home page says Wednesday to Monday, while its visitor page of 2 Feb 2023 says every day from January to April and closed on Thursdays from May to December; both give 9:00 to 16:00. An August 2026 Zoo Atlanta article confirms the centre is still active. Confirm before going.

    Tip: It is no longer inside El Níspero zoo: the zoo facility closed in 2019 and the collection was split between the PARC project in Gamboa and the EVACC Foundation. Every 14 August, Golden Frog Day, there is a parade in El Valle.

    Nearby: Square Trees trail (0.4 km) · Cerro Gaital Natural Monument (1.5 km) · El Níspero zoo and plant nursery (1.5 km)

    Sources: EVACC Foundation – Home · History – Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project · Hope for a species on Golden Frog Day – Zoo Atlanta · Valle de Antón itinerary – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Visit the Square Trees Trail & Golden Frog Sanctuary – EVACC Foundation

  2. 2

    NatureOpen

    Square Trees trail

    Next to Hotel Campestre, north-east of town.2.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    Last known: Feb 2, 2023
    Hours
    Sources disagree
    Booking
    Not stated

    Short trail with a hanging bridge among Quararibea asterolepis trees, whose trunks are almost square for the first few metres. Birds, butterflies and, with luck, agoutis and sloths can be seen.

    Source: Square Trees Trail – Ven al Valle · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Donation: US$4 adults and US$1 up to age 15 according to EVACC's visitor page of 2 Feb 2023; Ven al Valle (checked Oct 2026) gives the same figures. Current amount not confirmed.
    Hours
    EVACC's own sources disagree on the days: its website home page says Wednesday to Monday, while its visitor page of 2 Feb 2023 says every day from January to April and closed on Thursdays from May to December; both give 9:00 to 16:00. Confirm before going.
    Time needed
    About 1 km and 30 minutes; easy.

    Nearby: EVACC Golden Frog Sanctuary (0.4 km) · Cerro Gaital Natural Monument (1.6 km) · El Níspero zoo and plant nursery (1.8 km)

    Sources: Square Trees Trail – Ven al Valle · EVACC Foundation – Square Trees Trail & Golden Frog Sanctuary · Valle de Antón itinerary – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Visit the Square Trees Trail & Golden Frog Sanctuary – EVACC Foundation

  3. 3

    NatureOpen

    APROVACA orchid centre

    South of the centre, Calle Los Millonarios.0.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    $2
    Hours
    9:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Conservation centre of the El Valle and Cabuya orchid growers' association, founded in 2001. It displays more than 100 orchids, most of them native, and grows the Holy Ghost orchid, Panama's national flower.

    Source: Vivero de Orquídeas APROVACA – Ven al Valle · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Adults US$2; retirees US$1; children under 6 US$1; students US$0.75–1 (Ven al Valle, checked Oct 2026).
    Hours
    Not confirmed by an official source at the time of review. The local guide el-valle-panama.com (checked October 2026) lists daily, 9:00 to 16:00; PanamaSpot (June 2026) says mornings only.

    Tip: Flowering varies: at times no orchids are in bloom. The local directory recommends the dry season and Holy Week, or calling ahead.

    Nearby: Victoriano Lorenzo Museum (0.5 km) · Butterfly Haven (0.8 km) · El Valle craft and produce market (1 km)

    Sources: Vivero de Orquídeas APROVACA – Ven al Valle · APROVACA – Wikipedia · What to do – El Valle de Antón (guía local)

  4. 4

    WildlifeOpen

    Butterfly Haven

    Town centre, two and a half blocks from Avenida Principal.0.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $7
    Hours
    9:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Butterfly house with a short talk on the life cycle and an enclosure where you walk among hundreds of local butterflies, such as the blue morpho.

    Source: Mariposario Butterfly Haven – Ven al Valle · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    According to the Ven al Valle directory (checked October 2026): foreigners US$7 adults, US$3 children and US$3.50 retirees; Panamanians US$5 adults, US$2 children and US$2.50 retirees; infants aged 0–1 free. The local guide el-valle-panama.com (checked October 2026) quotes US$5 adults and US$1.50 under 13. Current official fee: not confirmed.
    Hours
    Not confirmed by an official source at the time of review. The local guide el-valle-panama.com (checked October 2026) lists 9:00 to 16:00, closed Tuesdays, last entry 15:30.

    Tip: Its official website is no longer active: check that it is open before going.

    Nearby: El Valle craft and produce market (0.4 km) · Victoriano Lorenzo Museum (0.6 km) · APROVACA orchid centre (0.8 km)

    Sources: Mariposario Butterfly Haven – Ven al Valle · What to do – El Valle de Antón (guía local) · 33 Things to Do in El Valle de Antón (2026) – PanamaSpot

  5. 5

    WildlifeOpen

    El Níspero zoo and plant nursery

    North of town, Avenida Los Guayacanes.1.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    $4
    Hours
    7:00 to 17:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Private zoo with more than 90 native and exotic animal species —tapirs, monkeys, birds— and a plant nursery. It began as a private collection and opened to the public with an entry fee.

    Source: Zoológico El Níspero anuncia incremento de sus precios de entrada – Panamá América · 2022 · +4

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Since January 2023: Panamanians US$4 adults and US$2 children aged 1–12; foreigners US$6 adults and US$3 children (zoo announcement reported by Panamá América; same figures in Ven al Valle, checked Oct 2026). PanamaSpot (June 2026) quotes US$5 adults and US$2 children.
    Hours
    Not confirmed by an official source at the time of review. Two 2026 guides list daily, 7:00 to 17:00; a local blog gives 8:00 to 16:00.

    Tip: Some guides still say golden frogs can be seen here: the zoo's amphibian centre closed in 2019. To see them, visit the EVACC sanctuary next to Hotel Campestre.

    Nearby: Victoriano Lorenzo Museum (1 km) · El Valle craft and produce market (1.1 km) · Cerro Gaital Natural Monument (1.2 km)

    Sources: Zoológico El Níspero anuncia incremento de sus precios de entrada – Panamá América · El Nispero Zoo – Ven al Valle · History – Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project · El Valle de Anton – Things to do – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 33 Things to Do in El Valle de Antón (2026) – PanamaSpot

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