This New Wellness Resort Has The Largest Spa In Central America—And Sits Inside A Volcanic Crater

Forbes

6 hours ago

Hotel La Compañía del Valle, located in El Valle del Anton, Panama. Hotel La Compañía del Valle
For decades, Costa Rica has been a magnet for wellness-centered getaways packed with surf, sun and spas, setting it apart from anywhere else in the region. But what of this Central American haven's next-door neighbor, Panama?
Despite sharing much of the same natural beauty, excellent connectivity, and impressive biodiversity, Panama is only just getting started when it comes to drawing tourism, of the wellness-focused variety and otherwise. The debut of Hotel La Compañía del Valle, complete with the largest spa in Central America, will change that. At a time when Panama is poised to draw more stopover travelers than ever, this mountain retreat helps put one of the most beautiful corners of the country on display as a destination worth traveling for, offering a wellness experience travelers are craving.
The property has a focus on art and wellness, including a one-of-a-kind sculpture park. Hotel La Compañía del Valle
With its eponymous canal and bustling business center, Panama City has long been thought of as more of a place to pass through than to savor. But those in-the-know travelers who've heard the whispers about just how cool Panama City really is will recognize the name of Hotel La Compañía.
After a years-long restoration and transformation of centuries-old buildings in the Casco Antiguo neighborhood of Panama City, Hotel La Compañía debuted in 2022 and immediately set a new standard for travelers in the city.
The hotel occupies an entire city block within Panama City's historic center, with edifications dating back to the 1600s when Jesuit missionaries from La Compañía de Jesús built the first foundations of the property. Now, the 88-room luxury boutique hotel comprises a Spanish colonial era wing, an 18th century French wing, and a 20th century American wing, each with their own unique style and historical details.
Anchoring the revitalization of Panama City's historic center and creating arguably the first luxury property of its kind in the city, Hotel La Compañía has felt nothing less than revolutionary. Its new sister resort located in El Valle de Anton seeks to inspire the same excitement around one of the country's most serene spots.
"Hotel La Compañía is our guiding light," said Chris Lenz, the owner and visionary behind La Compañía Hotels & Resorts, as we walked the grounds at the newest property. "We knew we had to keep them similar in their essence and feel, and in several of the important details and luxuries. But this is not designed to be a carbon copy of the city property; it can't be.'
Instead, Lenz offers an important comparison: 'Hotel La Compañía del Valle is like [Hotel La Compañía] in that it is made exclusively for its location, fitting the experience travelers are looking for when they come here."
Hotel La Compañía del Valle has 70 rooms and suites. Hotel La Compañía del Valle Inside Hotel La Compañía del Valle
Travelers come to El Valle de Ancon looking for rest and relaxation, and they'll certainly find it here. Hotel La Compañía del Valle is a Tuscan-inspired boutique property spread across several sprawling acres that blend into the forested sides of a long extinct volcanic crater. The hotel's four wings each make the most of breathtaking mountain views and seem to magnify the fresh mountain air that had beckoned city dwellers for generations.
Each of the property's 70 rooms and suites offers an oversized balcony or terrace, bringing the outside in in a way that feels intimately authentic to the reason visitors make the journey to this Eden in the first place.
Rooms and suites are thoughtfully designed with furnishings and decor pieces that marry modernity with elegance, with tranquil color palettes that draw in glimpses of the lush surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities include Molton Brown bath products and Nespresso machines for preparing fresh Panamanian coffee. Beds here are so cozy that you'll want to order the same bedding for your own home.
Hotel La Compañía del Valle also prides itself on its collection of one-of-a-kind art and sculptures. Its sprawling sculpture park is just as much designed to get visitors into a reflective state as the oversized wellness center is.
A rendering of the spa at Hotel La Compañía del Valle, set to debut within the next few months. Hotel La Compañía del Valle A Wellness Getaway
The Elysium Spa, an 18,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art space, will tie together the entire experience. El Valle de Anton has always been first and foremost a retreat from the city, so this expansive wellness-focused space feels like a natural fit for the destination.
Though work continues at the spa, with its expected opening date scheduled for later this year, I got to peek behind the curtain while I visited and wow, is it impressive. Stone-clad changing rooms and relaxation spaces lead down to Roman baths, where a waterfall invites guests into an indoor-outdoor pool. Some of the most important leaders in the wellness world consulted on creating the space and the extensive menu of treatments it will offer. Think floatation therapy, chocolate and wine therapies, and more, far beyond just a traditional menus of spas, facials and scrubs.
Hotel La Compañía del Valle within the crater of a long inactive volcano. Hotel La Compañía del Valle Panama's Untouched Interior
With such an expansive spa, this mountain resort is a place to easily spend an entire weekend without setting foot off the property. However, the beauty of the destination is also part of the hotel's appeal. The town of El Valle de Anton is admittedly tiny, but the stunning mountainsides surrounding are the the perfect addition for a more active wellness getaway.
Hikes range from the relatively easy to more adrenaline pumping, but most offer sweeping views as a well-earned reward. Before I set out on my trek to La India Dormida, the hotel concierge answered all my questions, though they also arranged guides for experiences ranging from hiking and horseback riding to e-biking and day trips further afield.
Venture outside of the resort and you'll notice that despite being a weekend escape for Panama City's elite, there's truly nothing like Hotel La Compañía del Valle in the area. Though Panama has welcomed a handful of upscale resorts along the coast in recent years, especially in blossoming Bocas del Toro near the border with Costa Rica, there's little in its lush, ecologically diverse interior to speak of. La Compañía Hotels & Resorts is, again, the first of its kind.
Sculptures on the property at Hotel La Compañía del Valle. Hotel La Compañía del Valle Pieces of Panama
Many guests will spend a few days in Panama City at the brand's original Casco Antiguo property before heading into the mountains to unwind at the new resort; the properties were designed to fit together well within one travel experience, and they accomplish their goal.
But more than just building brand loyalty, Lenz expresses pride that the new hotel opens travel into areas of the country that many people still have yet to experience. 'Panama has everything going for it, and we're excited to welcome more visitors to see it in a new way,' he says. After all, it's the guiding light of a brand making a meaningful impact in one of the region's most exciting new destinations.