The Lost Paradise of Panamá

The town of Antón is in western Panama, and is spread out on either side of the Interamericana Highway. If you’re traveling west from Panama City, Antón is near Rio Hato, or only a few kilometers past Playa Farallón and the huge Decameron Resort. Many of the resort workers come from the Antón and Juan Diaz area. You might even see a private bus driving around that picks up and drops off the employees of Decameron.  Antón is also close to the turnoff to El Valle de Antón, commonly known as El Valle, which is a completely different town. However, if it’s your first trip to this area, it could be a little confusing.

If you’ve been traveling west by car or bus, Antón is a good place to stop, stretch your legs, get a bite to eat, and use the restroom. I recommend stopping off at Tio Julio. They have a nice restaurant with a variety of food selections, and clean bathrooms.

Tio Julio

If you do stop in Antón, ask where the old cathedral is. From what I gathered, this one was built in 1692. Although it’s old, it’s not nearly the oldest. In fact, less than an hour down the highway between Penonomé and Aguadulce is the town of Natá. The church here is considered to be the oldest still in use in the Americas (1522), followed by the church on Isla Taboga (1524). There was a wedding on the day I was at the Antón church, so I wasn’t able to take any pictures of the inside.

Church in Antón