Curator’s statement
My husband and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in the cool mountains of Panama at Hotel La Compañía del Valle. After spending the last nine months living the equatorial sun and salty beach life, ascending to the cool and fresh mountain air was a wonderful reprieve for us. This hotel was very pet friendly as well, which simplified our plans since we were able to take our 6-month-old puppy, Bonnie Lass, after our pet sitter fell through.
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Where to stay in Panama
This luxury spa hotel is a true spa experience. Since no cameras are allowed in the spa, I was unable to capture any images, but take a moment to envision this: In true Hellenistic fashion, you descend a stone spiral staircase into an underground Roman warm mineral pool. With tall, vibratory domed ceilings made of clay brick and locally sourced limestone, the expansive feeling of being both held and released at once is transformative. I haven’t experienced a true spa in quite some years, so this felt very supportive to me after the past year of navigating life’s challenges.
Statues
The main pool is worth it on its own, but then you move into the other areas:
Dry sauna with optional wet stones
Steam hammam with eucalyptus
Cold plunge
Jacuzzi
Locally sourced mud station
Baleotherapy floating mineral pool stone room
The full list of spa services available includes massages, scrubs, sound therapy, and so much more. The architecture of the hotel and spa is so beautiful; everything is built from natural materials from the area. The volcanic mountain area itself is potent with energy, making this such a special location to stay for a spell.
Poolside
I was fortunate enough to meet with the general manager, Diego, and he shared some exciting plans for the future. The spa and wellness aspect is expanding to triple in size by the end of year. He and the spa manager, Beatriz, are working on building out and designing retreats meant to truly expand and help one integrate long after the retreat ends. They have wellness as their top priority for this property, and will include an onsite herbal garden for housemade aromatherapies using Portuguese copper alembic stills.
Mocktail mountain view
Though there were a few families with small children in attendance while I was there, I think this place speaks more to those who are looking for an opportunity to reconnect to themselves, with a partner, or to friends. There is a separate area of 17 rooms for retreats, which are all adults only. This could also be a fantastic non-working corporate wellness retreat destination.
King suite
There are three terrific restaurants onsite. Terra is a Mediterranean vegetarian option, complete with a bulk loose-leaf tea and tisane selection for all those herbalists out there who favor a proper cup at the end of a meal. My dessert was probably the most unique I have ever had. Fuego is a wood-fired grill that I did not actually eat at, but it made my mouth water each time I walked by. And Tiempo has an international mix of flavors and is also where you will take your complimentary breakfast with perfect and strong Panamanian coffee.
Terra dessert
We stayed two nights, but I would stay at least three next time. You need an extra day to go for one of the four nearby hikes and take in the outdoor pool. The small and charming town of El Valle has a sweet energy of its own that is best explored by meandering the well-kept sidewalks. There is a farmers’ and artisans’ market open seven days a week, with the liveliest day being Sunday. Getting there from Panama City takes less than 2.5 hours, which makes this one of the easiest places to get to in Panama outside of the city. The hotel concierge can provide airport transfer arrangements with their highly trained and professional staff for those who do not want to rent a car.
Third-floor happy hour
Honestly, I love this place. Many times people I know will want to come visit me where I live, but I know that in the end, my location is not a great fit for everyone. But this mountain gem is much easier to get to for those in more of a time crunch, and for those who prefer to explore another side of Panama that is not beach-related.
Dog-friendly patio
Happy anniversary
Need to know
There do not seem to be desks in any of the rooms. Come here to relax or for wellness-related activities, not to work, if possible. They offer complete personalized itinerary customization for any on- or off-site activities you might like to pursue in the area.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Panama page.
