must-visit in Panama CityViewpoint

Ancón Hill

📍 Ancón Hill, Panama City, Panama

1 photos

4.5/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: Panama, Panama City
Category: Viewpoint
Duration: About 1.5 hours return
Opening Hours: Daily 06:00-18:00 (schedule introduced 29 January 2026)
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Free, no ticket office
Address: Ancón Hill, Panama City, Panama
Coordinates: 8.9576, -79.5492

Introduction

Cerro Ancon rises 199 metres, the highest point inside built-up Panama City, and its giant flag can be picked out from most of the city. The name comes from an old term for a bay on the Pacific coast. In 1671, before attacking Panama Viejo, the pirate Henry Morgan used the hill as a vantage point. For most of the 20th century the hill lay inside the US-administered Canal Zone and public access was restricted; in 1906 the poet Amelia Denis de Icaza wrote 'Al Cerro Ancon' about exactly that, and a statue to her now stands near the summit. After the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, Panama recovered the Canal Zone on 1 October 1979 and raised this flag as a symbol of sovereignty. The mast is 40 metres tall, the flag 15 by 10 metres and 44 kilograms, and by decree it is never lowered, not at night and not in rain, a privilege no other flag in the country holds. The hill is now a nature reserve under the environment ministry, about 48 hectares of humid tropical forest recording 68 animal species and more than 210 plants, among them sloths, toucans, tamarins and butterflies.

✨ Highlights

A 40-Metre Mast and a Flag That Never Lowers

The mast is 40 metres, the flag 15 by 10 metres and 44 kilograms, and by decree it is never lowered, at night or in rain, unique in Panama.

Three Views from the City's Highest Point

From 199 metres you take in the old town, the Bay of Panama and the direction of the Miraflores locks, city and canal in one frame.

Symbol of the Canal Zone's Return

After the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties Panama recovered the Canal Zone on 1 October 1979 and raised this flag as a symbol of sovereignty.

48 Hectares of Rainforest in Town

About 48 hectares of humid tropical forest entirely surrounded by city, recording 68 animal species and over 210 plants, a rare urban ecological island.

Sloths and Tamarins as Neighbours

Sloths, toucans, Geoffroy's tamarins, white-nosed coatis and armadillos turn up along the paved road, most often early in the morning.

A Poet's Statue and Quarry Heights

A statue to Amelia Denis de Icaza stands near the summit; higher up, Quarry Heights was the Canal Zone governor's residence and the US Southern Command.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：About 1.5 hours return; roughly 2 km each way on tarmac, with a flight of steps for a faster ascent.

→Facilities：A basic toilet at the top but no shops or food; bring water, and note single-use plastic and polystyrene are banned on the hill.

→Best Time：Early morning 07:00-09:00 or the last hour before closing, all year; the road is largely unshaded, so avoid midday.

→Worth it?：Yes. Free, ten-odd minutes from downtown, and it gives you the old town, the bay and the canal locks together, the best-value hour in Panama City. Go early for sloths.

→Watch out：The ministry bans bicycles, skates, motorbikes and scooters; walking only. The gate shuts at 18:00, so leave time to descend. The slope is unshaded and humid, so carry water and grip shoes.

→Opening Hours：Daily 06:00-18:00 (schedule introduced 29 January 2026)

→Transportation：In the Ancon district of Panama City; about 10-15 min by taxi to the trailhead, with no direct bus, so drive or a ride-hailing app works best.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Free, no ticket office

💡 Tips

• Climb early between 07:00 and 09:00, when it is cool and sloths and toucans are easiest to see.

• Walking only; bicycles, skates, motorbikes and scooters are all prohibited.

• No shops at the top, so bring water; single-use plastic and polystyrene are banned on the hill.

• The tarmac is about 2 km each way; take the steps if you want a faster ascent.

• The summit is the spot for old town, bay and canal locks in one frame; a telephoto helps.

• Pair it with the Metropolitan Natural Park below for a half-day urban nature route.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Ancón Hill?

Daily 06:00-18:00 (schedule introduced 29 January 2026)

How much is the admission for Ancón Hill?

Adult: Free; Free, no ticket office

Any practical tips for visiting Ancón Hill?

Climb early between 07:00 and 09:00, when it is cool and sloths and toucans are easiest to see. Walking only; bicycles, skates, motorbikes and scooters are all prohibited.