Hiking Ancon Hill in Panama City, Panama

When exploring Panama City, don’t miss the opportunity to hike up Ancon Hill.

Found in a lush jungle within city limits, this easy-moderate hike offers tranquility, wildlife encounters, and rich history.

You can search for monkeys and sloths while soaking in breathtaking views of Casco Viejo, the Pacific Ocean, and the iconic Panama Canal. Seeing the baby monkeys play in the trees was my favourite.

Let’s get right into how to hike Ancon Hill in Panama City, Panama including how to get here and the best time to visit.

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Table of Contents

Ancon Hill Trail Overview

Distance: 2.4 miles | 4 km

Elevation Gain: 120 m | 393 ft

Trail Type: Out-and-Back

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Duration: 1-1.5 hours

Facilities: Parking lot, Bathrooms at the hilltop

Different types of trees, including palm trees, surrounding a Panama flag at the top of Ancon Hill in Panama on a cloudy day. The Panama Flag is in the center of the image, surrounded by the trees.

About Ancon Hill

Ancon Hill stands as the highest point in Panama City, soaring to 654 ft (199 m). Its lush jungle spans 106 acres.

Once part of the Panama Canal Zone, it was returned to Panama in 1977. And a monumental flag was proudly installed in 1979 to mark the historic moment.

A 4km out-and-back hike, you will use the same path to and from Ancon’s peak.

It takes 20-40 minutes to hike from the parking lot to the summit. Making this a great trail for hikers of all ages. It’s only considered moderate because of the hill incline.

The panoramic views from the top include Casco Viejo, the Pacific Ocean, Panama City, and the iconic Panama Canal.

Ancon Hill in Spanish is known as Cerro Ancon. And its name is an acronym for Asociación Nacional para la Conservación de la Natueleza (National Association for the Conservation of Nature).

The trail is not just a hike, it’s a great wildlife-spotting opportunity, where you can search for sloths, monkeys, toucans, and various bird species along the way.

Melissa on top of Ancon Hill in Panama on a cloudy day with some sun peeking through. She is looking at the buildings and skyscrapers of Panama City right behind green trees and bushes. You can get sweeping views of Panama City from Ancon Hill. Beyond the skyscrapers and historical buildings of Casco Viejo, you can see the Pacific Ocean with blue waters and a bridge over it.

Best Time to Visit Cerro Ancon

You can hike Ancon year-round but the best time to visit Cerro Ancon is in the dry season, from December to April.

While it’s not the longest hike in Panama City, being in the jungle gets hot! You’ll be sweating in no time from the humidity.

The humidity is worse during the wet season, from May – November. You can still do the hike like I did in October, just bring more drinking water.

To increase your chances of seeing wildlife, hike during the early morning or late afternoon. This will also help you avoid hiking in the mid-day heat.

Taking under 2 hours, it’s easy to fit this hike into your Panama vacation itinerary.

Ancon Hill Hours & Entrance

Ancon Hill opens its gates at 5:30 am and closes at night, and the best part is there’s no entrance fee!

The early open time means you can catch a sunrise at the top of Ancon Hill, head back to Casco Viejo for breakfast and take a stroll past historic buildings. Or sleep in and enjoy Ancon Hill in the afternoon like I did.

If the guard is on-site at the fenced gate, they will ask you to sign in with your name, home country, and phone number to ensure everyone returns before the gates close each evening.

They weren’t there when I hiked so I didn’t need to check in with anyone.

What to Pack to Hike Ancon Hill

Comfortable shoes
Reusable water bottle
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Camera
Binoculars

Road with a grey car at a distance driving towards Ancon Hill, Panama, and a small house on a gray day. Right in front of the car and the sign, there is a yellow diamond-shaped pedestrian sign with a symbol of a person walking.

The road is surrounded by bright green grass and tall green trees.

On the foreground, there's a green sign with an arrow pointing up and icons of a human walking. The sign says in Spanish: "Hacia La Cima del Cerro Ancón" which means "Towards the top of Ancon Hill". Below the sign, there's a large symbol with the letter "P" in white, indicating something about parking.

To the right, it says "En Mi Pueblito", is where people visiting Ancon Hill can park their cars for free.

How to Get to Cerro Ancon

To get to Cerro Ancon, you can drive, take a taxi, Uber, or ride the bus.

Just a 10-15 minute drive from Casco Viejo, Ancon Hill is easily accessible.

Uber rides start at just $4 USD, and my taxi ride cost $3 USD from my hotel in the historic district.

To bus from Casco Viejo, take the C862 bus from Parque de Santa Ana. Ride for 7 stops to Mi Pueblito. The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs $0.50 USD.

And if you are driving, there is a free parking lot at Mi Pueblito.

Before 2018 you could take a taxi to the top, but then you’d miss seeing the animals along the way. So it’s good that they stopped cars driving up.

Melissa wearing an olive green top and pants, in the center of a paved trail that is the path you take while hiking Ancon Hill Panama on a cloudy day. She is surrounded by different trees, including palm trees, and brown leaves on the ground.

Ancon Hill Hike – What It’s Like

When looking for a fun and easy hike, Ancon Hill in Panama City was my top pick. It combined some of the best Panama adventure activities into one single hike.

The hike takes 20-40 minutes each way, depending on your pace. But with all the stopping to admire baby monkeys playing in the trees, seeing a toucan for the first time, and visiting both lookouts, I took slightly over 2 hours.

The trail starts in the parking lot, so you will need to pass some private houses before you feel like you are in the right place.

Expect a steep, constant uphill climb along a paved road. The guard car drives by on occasion, so listen out for it while you are walking on the road.

The trail is shaded, which is perfect for me who can’t be in direct sun without burning. But oh was it still hot! The incline and the humidity had me in a sweat! I hadn’t sweat this much on a hike since Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica.

Along the way, you’ll pass a fence with a guard hut, but you don’t need to stop unless the guard is there to check you in. You can keep going otherwise.

While you don’t need a guide, you might prefer a local guided tour to help you find the animals tucked away in the trees. I wasn’t able to spot any sloths on my own, but I did see monkeys and a toucan.

Black toucan with a white stipe on its wing and yellow colouring around its eye, with a green, red, and yellow beak, standing on top of a branch, located in Ancon Hill in Panama City Panama.

Every time we saw another hiker, we’d chat about if we’d seen any wildlife and where we saw them. I helped a few people spot a toucan at the top of Cerro Ancon.

Once near the top, you’ll reach a staircase. Take it and at the top will be two trails that lead to the lookouts.

Melissa sitting away from the camera on a green bench on the peak of Ancon Hill in Panama, looking at the skyscrapers of Panama City and the Pacific Ocean, on a cloudy day.

View Points

There are two viewpoints at the top of Ancon Hill. Once you go up the staircase, you can either make a left or a right:

The lookout on the left side of the top of Ancon Hill hike in Panama, with views of Panama City's skyscrapers, Casco Viejo's historical buildings, and the Pacific Ocean, on a partly cloudy day.

Left Path Lookout

The left path has a great Panama City view that overlooks Casco Viejo and the Pacific Ocean. This was my favourite lookout. I loved seeing the contrast between the skyscrapers of Modern Panama City and the historic Casco Viejo.

The lookout on the left side of the top of Cerro Ancon, with views of the Miraflores Lock of the Panama Canal and the Bridge of the Americas

Right Path Lookout

The right path offers views of the Miraflores Lock of the Panama Canal and the Bridge of the Americas. While it’s cool to see the locks from this perspective, I highly recommend you visit the Miraflores Lock Visitors Centre or ride a boat on the Canal.

You’ll find bathrooms available at both viewpoint areas.

The hike ends when you reach the locked gate that houses the grand Panamanian flag.

Ancon Hill Map

Here is a map of Ancon Hill in Panama City. Make sure to park or take the bus to Mi Pueblito.

Other Hikes in Panama City

Metropolitan Natural Park – A park with 7 trails offering city views and a chance to see sloths in Panama City
Soberania National Park – A park with 2 trails known for birdwatching and wildlife spottings

My favourite hike near Panama City: Cerro Cara Iguana in El Valle. If you are planning a day trip idea from Panama City to go hiking, I highly recommend going to El Valle. I loved the view from the top of the extinct volcano.

Melissa wearing a black top on a patio in Panama on a cloudy day. She is looking at the skyscrapers in Panama City and the historic terracotta-coloured roofs in Casco Viejo.

Where to Stay in Panama City

Make the most of your Panama City adventure by staying in the historic Casco Viejo, offering a unique blend of culture, history, and modern amenities.

Sofitel Legend – a 5-star waterfront hotel with a spa, pool deck and skybar

American Trade Hotel – a 4-star hotel with a 1920’s style jazz club and a rooftop pool

Selina Casco Viejo – a 3-star boutique accommodation with a rooftop bar and pool (I enjoyed my stay here)

Final Thoughts on Ancon Hill Panama

Whether you are looking for stunning views, encounters with monkeys and toucans, or a quick adventure, Ancon Hill Panama has it all.

Perfect for all ages, this easy-moderate hike has lookouts over Casco Viejo, the Pacific Ocean, and the Panama Canal.

And while you are still planning your time in Panama City, don’t forget to add other fun activities like swimming in a rooftop pool and visiting historic sites like Panama Viejo.