This renovated museum housed in a beautiful blue-and-white colonial building is small but does a thorough job examining the history and traditions of Coclé and, by extension, Panama, with a surprisingly good collection of pre-Columbian pottery, religious art and traditional furniture.
Museo de Penonomé
Coclé Province
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Basílica Menor Santiago Apóstol
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Natá's principal draw is this 16th-century cathedral, thought to be the oldest church built in the Americas still in use today. Indigenous artisans did…
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One of El Valle's top attractions allows you to walk among up to 250 butterflies as they flutter by in a screened 'flight house.' Learn more about these…
7.53 MILES
This local cigar factory enjoys quite a reputation internationally for its unique hand-rolled Cuban-seed puros (cigars). Depending on the time of year, a…
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Located 9km southeast of central Aguadulce, this saltworks is a crucial habitat for marsh and shore birds. The area draws local and international…
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The most famous waterfall in the El Valle region is 35m-high Chorro El Macho, one of four cascades located about 2km north of town; it's a 15-minute walk…
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About 1km north of Av Central, this zoo set in the forest is home to everything from tapirs and capuchin monkeys to jaguars and more than 50 species of…
Panama Amphibian Rescue & Conservation Project Center
17.29 MILES
This conservation center was created in 2007 with the support of Houston Zoo to help save amphibians from a deadly virus threatening their numbers around…
17.3 MILES
For the largest selection of orquídeas (orchids) in the region, visit this idyllic, not-for-profit garden east of the center, run by the local association…
Nearby Coclé Province attractions
1. Basilica Mayor San Juan Bautista
0.18 MILES
Dominating the central plaza, this 'major basilica' (a title bestowed on certain Roman Catholic cathedrals) stands on the site of an original 16th-century…
7.53 MILES
This local cigar factory enjoys quite a reputation internationally for its unique hand-rolled Cuban-seed puros (cigars). Depending on the time of year, a…
3. Mercado de Artesanías La Pintada
8.05 MILES
La Pintada’s artisans' market – specializing in sombreros pintados, the 'painted hats' unique to Panama and especially famous in Penonomé and surrounds –…
4. Parque Arqueológico del Caño
12.83 MILES
This archaeological site, under extensive renovation at the time of research, contains three pre-Columbian mounds dating from between AD 500 and 1200. The…
15.4 MILES
The most accessible of the waterfalls around El Valle is Chorro Las Mozas, located about 2km southwest of town; you can reach it on foot from the center…
15.96 MILES
Located in the northwestern corner of the valley, La Piedra Pintada is a huge boulder adorned with pre-Columbian carvings. Locals sometimes fill in the…
7. Museo Histórico Padre José Noto
16.54 MILES
The most interesting exhibits in this small, very central museum divided into seven sections are the ones focusing on petroglyphs and ceramics produced by…
8. Basílica Menor Santiago Apóstol
16.67 MILES
Natá's principal draw is this 16th-century cathedral, thought to be the oldest church built in the Americas still in use today. Indigenous artisans did…