Cocle Province is one of Panama’s
central provinces, and is located on Panama’s southern coast, near the provinces
of Panama, Colon, Veraguas and Herrera. It is about 1 ½ hours by car from Panama
City. Cocle is primarily an agricultural area, but is fast developing into a
popular tourist destination. Cocle provides produce to much of the country of
Panama, and is most famous for the production of tomatoes and sugar. The capital
of Cocle is Penonome, which is located on the Chiriqui river in central
Cocle.
Anton Valley
One area worth visiting is Anton Valley , a beautiful
and exotic valley which has become a popular tourist attraction. It is the only
place in the country where you can find the square trees, and is one of the best
places to find the famous golden frogs. Here you can also go hiking, rappelling,
bird watching, horseback riding, or bicycling. There is also the Nispero zoo and
a botanical garden. Another feature of this area is the local market, which is
held on the weekends and is known as one of the best in the country.
Cocle encompasses many sites of archeological
importance, with significant artifacts being recovered from burial sites and
ruins throughout the region. Two important sites are the El Cano archeological
site, and Sitio Conte, which was the location of the first major find. Cocle
artisans were known for their pottery, featuring colorful bird, animal and human
decorations.
Tourist Attractions
Parks and museums located in the province of Cocle
include the Museum of the History and Traditions of Penonome, The Archeological
Park of El Cano, The Museum of Salt and Sugar, The Museum of Anton Valley and
El Cope National Park
