Canopy Adventure in El Valle de Anton
My forth day in El Valle de Anton started so well. After a great sleep I got, I started walking from Cariguana Spa, bought some bananas at the market and headed to Chorro El Macho waterfall. I was hiding in the shadow along the road and singing. It was not too hot yet when I arrived to Canopy Adventure entrance, maybe around 9.30 am.
I was greeted by smiling young staff. Once I signed a security form, I was shown a map of the ziplines, Chorro El Macho waterfall and a natural swimming pool. Then I got all the necessary gear and we were to start the Canopy Adventure in El Valle de Anton.
Abel, my 32-year-old guide, was a really pleasant local. We spent chatting about many things when hiking for some 30 minutes up to the first zipline. We crossed a suspension bridge, saw Gaital mount, a banana farm, an armadillo hole, some butterflies and colourful birds. Abel explained you can see monkeys or slots there early in the morning too. Unfortunately, we were not so lucky.
The hike in the cloud forest was not difficult and there are benches to relax on the way if needed. The highest point of the hike was 680 m a.s.l. and then we walked a bit downhill again until we reached the first out of 4 canopy adventure zip lines.
Canopy Adventure in El Valle de Anton
For safety reasons, there’s always a staff member going first before you and then one after you too. Abel first explained me how to sit, where to hold my hands and how to break – at the 1st, 2nd and 4th zip lines you have to break with a glove, while on the 3rd one a staff member breaks for you. Easy.
I have to say this Canopy Adventure is one of the easiest zip lines I’ve done so far. Easy to do, not so scary high as zip line at El Chiflon waterfall in Mexico, nor so super fast as zip line at Bootleg Canyon in Las Vegas. No need to worry with breaking as it is not difficult at all.
The one I enjoyed the most was the third zip line when Abel pulled the break for me in the middle of the adventure and on my right side I could see the stunning Chorro El Macho waterfall, one of the main attractions of El Valle de Anton.
On the last zip line Luis, another member of the staff, took a video of me ziplining. He was not so talkative as Abel, but also very sweet and helpful.
Chorro El Macho waterfall
Once done with all the 4 zip lines, I was left on my own to enjoy the rest of Canopy Adventure forest. There’s pretty cool signs both in Spanish and English around explaining you how to protect the nature, what is the oldest member of this area – a tree called Don Bateo, etc.
My favorite one was a pendulum with a sign next to it advising us to just move the pendulum and listen to the forest, the creek splashing next to us, the birds singing above us … just enjoy the present moment.
I walked a few more suspension bridges overlooking the lively creek surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature until I got to the Chorro El Macho waterfall from closer. Took some photos of myself and a fellow family visiting too, then headed off to the natural swimming pool.
Pool time :)
I spent like half an hour on my own in the pool. Abel told me the water was really cold there but I assured him I would swim there anyway. He was not there with me any more but just to show myself I was strong enough to keep my word of bravery, I did walk into the pool. After a few minutes of swimming, I didn’t feel cold any longer and just enjoyed the fresh air on a hot Panamanian Friday afternoon.
A local family from Panama joined me soon and for my biggest surprise, a sister of one of them has lived in Slovakia for years! The world is so small. Usually, the only reply to my ”I’m from Slovakia” is a no idea face but it was cute to find someone who knows our capital and even has a family member living there.
Check out my post about other 13 things to do in El Valle de Anton.
Many thanks to Canopy Adventure in El Valle de Anton for giving me a chance to experience their zipline and pure nature around El Chorro de Macho waterfall. The trip was part of my Adventure and Spa project in Panama.
*** It took me 3 hours to write this post.
Adventure Kenya
| #
What an amazing blog, It’s looking great with the snapshots of your adventurous trip. I hope you enjoyed a lot and I’m also planning for this kind of adventurous trip. Hope I’ll go as soon as possible because I love these kind of trips. I’d like to say thanks for sharing your awesome experience with us.