Ancon Hill makes a perfect afternoon adventure in Panama City
One of the absolute best things about traveling in Panama with kids is how accessible rainforest adventures can be. Panama has a higher percentage of its land covered in rainforest than any other country in Central America (63.4%), and the land in and around the capital is no different.
In the midst of Panama City’s urban jungle sits Ancon Hill, a small slice of actual jungle that’s just perfect for adventuring with young children.
Where is it?
Ancon Hill
Hours – Every day from 6 am – 5 pm
Cost – Free!
How to get there – The easiest way to get to Ancon Hill is to get a taxi or an Uber and ask them to take you. They will drop you just at a small guard booth at the bottom of the hill. Just let them know you plan to walk up the hill and they will let you in!
For those that decide to drive themselves, parking is free.
What is it?
Ancon is a 653-foot tall hill overlooking the Panama Canal in Panama City, giving it an excellent view of both the canal and the city itself, and making it the perfect location to spend a couple of hours exploring with kids.
It’s also the highest elevation point in Panama City, which is actually a large part of the reason why the hill is still a jungle stronghold today.
A bit of history…
As the highest elevation point in the area, Ancon Hill has often been used as a place to look out over the city, and in the early 1900s, it was the location where the administrators over the construction of the Panama Canal set up shop. From the hill, the area where the canal would be built was laid out below them, allowing them a bird’s eye view of the proceedings.
Eventually, the administration camp at Ancon Hill became a United States military base meant to house a US presence in the Panama Canal Zone. The hill was annexed by the United States and fell out of Panamanian control.
In the meantime, Panama City continued to grow nearby, becoming the city that it is today.
When the Canal Zone was eventually given back to the Panamanians, in 1977, Ancon Hill was part of what was returned.
Since the Americans had not continued developing the hill, it had become an island of jungle in the midst of the very modern Panama City. In 2001, it was given protected status to help preserve the hill as an island of beauty and biodiversity for future generations.
What should you do there?
In a country famed for its rainforests and biodiversity, Ancon Hill is still a jewel due to its easy accessibility and beautiful views. Whether you’re just coming for a chance to get out of the house, or because you’re looking to see some unique animals, Ancon Hill is an amazing place to get into nature.
Walking Trails
Ancon Hill only has a single trail, leading from the base of the hill all the way to the top, so it’s definitely easy to know which way to go! The trail itself is a little more than half a mile, and it’s paved the whole way. There are very occasionally cars that you might see on the road, but access to the road is limited, so you don’t need to worry too much about that.
Since it is a hike up a hill, there is a bit of an incline to deal with, but overall it is a great place for taking a walk with kids, and our 5 and 6-year-olds both made it without a problem.
Of course, you can go walking pretty much anywhere, so it is really the things that you can see while walking that set Ancon Hill above the rest!
Wildlife
If you keep your eyes open on the trail, Ancon Hill has a huge variety of tropical creatures to find!
In fact, Ancon hill has more than 68 different species of animal known to call it home, including sloths, tamarins, toucans, and more! My family originally chose to visit the hill in hopes of spotting our first wild sloth, and we were not disappointed, spotting one in the treetops next to the road about halfway up the hill.
On our way back down, we also happened upon a large group of Geoffroy’s Tamarins!
While we had seen both of these animals before in zoos, this was the first place that we’ve ever seen either in the wild!
Scenic Lookouts
If you climb the hill all the way to the top, you will be greeted by some outstanding views of the surrounding city.
On one side there is a spectacular view of the Amador Causeway, Casco Viejo, and Panama City’s Downtown. From the other side, you can see more of the city, and, of course, the Canal itself extending into the distance.
On the day we went, we had the hilltop almost to ourselves, and the quiet and solitude were almost as amazing as the views themselves.
Ancon Hill isn’t the kind of trip that you plan a visit to Panama for. It’s neither as famous as the Panama Canal nor as wild as a trip to the Rainforest Discovery Center might be. But it is an absolutely wonderful trip to take with your kids if you are already in Panama and looking for a great way to spend the afternoon.
