Anyone looking for a great weekend activity?  Look no further than Ancon Hill, no need to leave Panama City.  This past Saturday we pulled off Transismica and onto the road leading up Ancon Hill, where the Panamanian flag waves.  After parking at the bottom and looking at the mass of steps leading scaling the hill, I never thought I could possibly make it up.  However, being outnumbered by other more advantageous individuals, I mustered the strength and began my ascent. 

After the first hundred stairs, we reached a road and a part of the hill with a plateau.  We passed a security guard station on foot, and watched as a car was given clearance to drive through.  We shrugged it off and thought of our walk as good exercise.  Yet, I was thankful only moments later when up in the treetops we spotted three tiny monkeys!  We followed the road for about half an our more, slowly approaching the summit, and again we saw a unique animal, the ñeque.  The ñeque looked like a camouflaged piglet, but in fact is part of the rabbit family.

Soon, we arrived at the top of the Hill, where the giant flag stands.  The 360 degree view from here is absolutely stunning.  The Miraflores locks are perfectly visible.  We watched a small plane fly into the national airport close-by.  And the sun setting over the city buildings was simply breathtaking.

I highly recommend not only visiting the top of Ancon Hill, but walking there for this unique experience.

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Filed under: Country Guide on March 4th, 2008