Visiting Santa Catalina, Panama: Beaches, surfing & marine life
Santa Catalina is a small beach town on Panama’s Pacific coast, where life moves at a slow rhythm. It’s a place that takes some effort to reach, but rewards you with untamed beaches, epic sunsets, relaxed surf town vibe and perhaps one of the most impressive marine environments you’ll ever witness.
There are two main reasons why people visit Santa Catalina. It’s a paradise for surfers and the gateway to the spectacular Coiba National Park, one of the top snorkeling and scuba diving destinations in the Americas.
Based on everything I had heard about Santa Catalina, I figured I would like it, but I didn’t expect it to become one of the highlights of my time in Panama! The snorkeling in Coiba exceeded my expectations, and the mellow vibe of the town made me wish I could stay longer.
If you’re planning a trip to Santa Catalina and want to make the most of your days there, this travel guide has all the info you need: how to get there, things to do, where to stay, where to eat and other tips. At the end of the post, you’ll also find a map with the key locations and points of interest in the area.
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A bit of background info about Santa Catalina, Panama
Santa Catalina is located in the south of Panama, on the Pacific coast, in the Veraguas Province. It used to be a tiny, sleepy fishing village, but it has now become a notable tourist destination in Panama.
Despite being known as a surf town, Santa Catalina attracts a nice mix of travelers, not just surfers. We saw young backpackers, older travelers, families, couples, solo travelers, both foreigners and Panamanians.
The ‘town center’ is located near Playa Santa Catalina beach, at the intersection of two main roads, and has a few restaurants, tour operators, dive shops, a mini market and an ATM. To the east of the ‘center’ runs the Calle Estero street, which is another part of the town you’ll definitely spend time at. Here you’ll find several hotels, guest houses, restaurants and the beautiful Playa El Estero beach at the end of the road.
Although Santa Catalina is getting more popular, it has retained its small-town charm and authenticity, and is still quite undeveloped. There are no resorts or big hotels here, and I really hope it stays this way.
Things to do in Santa Catalina
1) Snorkel or scuba dive in Coiba National Park
There is no doubt that the best thing to do in Santa Catalina is to visit Coiba National Park. This protected nature reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 38 unspoiled tropical islands with abundant marine life and some of the best beaches in Panama.
Coiba National Park is about a 90-minute boat ride from Santa Catalina. The most common way to visit it is to take a snorkeling or scuba diving day trip from Santa Catalina, but it’s also possible to stay in the park overnight by camping on one of the islands.
With its coral reefs, turtles, rays, sharks and giant schools of fish, Coiba is an absolute heaven for snorkeling and scuba diving. It was significantly better than Bocas del Toro or San Blas in terms of the amount of marine life we saw, and probably one of the best snorkeling experiences I’ve ever had.
On our way out to the park, we also saw a pod of dolphins from our boat, which is a common sighting on these Coiba Island tours. At certain times of the year, there’s a chance to see whales and whale sharks here as well.
Besides exploring the magnificent underwater world, you can also visit Coiba Island and Rancheria Island. Here you can relax on the fantastic white sand beaches lined with coconut palms and keep your eye out for scarlet macaws and howler monkeys hiding in the treetops.
We did our snorkeling tour with Expedicion Coiba and were happy with our experience. Premier Coiba is another highly-rated tour company, offering a slightly more premium experience. For scuba diving, Panama Dive Center is the most popular option.
Stay tuned for my Coiba travel guide, where I’ll go into much more detail about everything you can expect on a Coiba snorkeling tour and why I decided to choose snorkeling over scuba diving.
2) Explore the beaches of Santa Catalina
Another one of the top things to do in Santa Catalina is to hang out on Playa El Estero and Playa Santa Catalina, the two main beaches in the area.
Playa Santa Catalina is the beach right next to the town center. Here you can go swimming, kayaking or take a walk along its long strip of dark sand. There’s also an Italian restaurant right on the beach. In the mornings, the beach can look a little hectic as this is where all Coiba diving and snorkeling tours depart. During the day, however, it’s a very peaceful and quiet place.
Santa Catalina’s other beach, Playa El Estero, is located to the east of the town and is my preferred choice. The beach is lined with palm trees and has a huge stretch of soft black sand that creates beautiful reflections during low tide. It’s also cleaner and less developed than Playa Santa Catalina. Thanks to its gentle waves, it’s a popular beach for beginner surfers.
Another reason I like Playa El Estero is the Oasis Beach Bar. It’s the perfect spot to just chill with a cocktail in your hand, your toes in the sand, palm trees above you and the view of the Pacific Ocean in front of you. They also host some pretty nice parties (more on this later).
Be aware that to reach Playa El Estero, you have to cross a river. At low tide, the river is just ankle-deep and very easy to walk through, but at high tide, it can reach all the way up to your chest. There was a man with a boat who took people across the river at high tide, but I wouldn’t count on him being there.
I recommend checking tide times and doing the river crossing at least an hour before or after peak tide, when the water level is lower. Or you could just wear your swimwear and wade through the river, carrying your bag above your head, like we saw many people doing.
Related post: Best beaches in Bocas del Toro
3) Watch the sunset from the beach
One thing you shouldn’t miss when you visit Santa Catalina is its breathtaking sunsets. The best places to catch the sunset are the two beaches, Playa Santa Catalina and Playa El Estero, since they provide a wide-open view of the sky. Bring a beach towel and some beers, and enjoy the show.
We headed to Playa El Estero around the golden hour and got to witness one of the most spectacular sunsets we’ve seen in a long time. The sun dipped behind the horizon and lit up the whole sky with streaks of neon pink and orange while everyone on the beach stared at it in awe. It was mesmerizing!
4) Go surfing
You can’t talk about activities in Santa Catalina without mentioning surfing. With its world-class waves, Santa Catalina is by far the best surfing destination in Panama and one of the best in Central America.
For beginners, the best surf spot in Santa Catalina is Playa El Estero, thanks to its gentle, rolling, small waves and sandy bottom. For experienced surfers, La Punta surf break is the place to be. Known for its powerful right-hand break, the waves here can reach up to nine meters (30 ft) during the swell season between March and October.
There are surfable waves in Santa Catalina year round, and the water is really warm (about 28°C/82°F), so you won’t need a wetsuit. Many surf shops and hotels around the town (for example, Hotel Oasis Surf Camp, Rancho Estero and Hotel Mama Ines) rent out surfboards for 5-10 USD for half a day.
If you’ve never tried surfing before, I recommend taking a surf lesson to get the basics right. Local businesses offer private lessons for about 35 USD per hour. If you’d like to book your lesson online or prefer to read reviews beforehand, check out this option.
5) Visit Isla Santa Catalina
Isla Santa Catalina is an uninhabited island just across from Playa Santa Catalina. Despite its proximity to the town, it is very tranquil and barely receives any visitors.
The side of the island that faces the ocean is rocky and inaccessible, whereas the side facing the mainland has a long sandy beach. Unlike the black sand beaches on the mainland, the beach at Isla Santa Catalina has white sand, giving this place the classic tropical island vibe.
During our visit, we were entertained by thousands of little hermit crabs scurrying around the beach. They even climbed on our feet while we were lying on the sand.
Note that the beach will be in shade in the afternoon (after about 3 pm), so I recommend coming here earlier if you want to enjoy some sun. There are no facilities on the island, so bring everything you need. There’s also a short walking trail through the interior of the island with a couple of viewpoints along the way. It’s worth walking if you get bored of lying on the beach, but it’s definitely not a must.
Isla Santa Catalina is very easy to get to. You can either take a boat taxi from Playa Santa Catalina and be there in 5 minutes or rent a kayak and paddle there in 30 minutes. We opted for the boat.
There are usually guys with boats waiting on the beach to take you there. Otherwise, simply ask the locals. The standard price is 30 USD for a round trip. Kayaks can be rented at Hostal Familiar Rolo near the beach and cost 30 USD for a double kayak.
6) Party at Oasis Beach Bar
Oasis Beach Bar on Playa El Estero is where you’ll find the best parties in Santa Catalina. Every Saturday, there’s a beach party where you can dance the night away with your feet in the sand.
On the night we were there, things started out pretty calm, but by about 10.30 pm, the bar got busy with both locals and tourists vibing to reggaeton and international hits. Entrance is free of charge.
On Wednesdays, they host salsa nights, starting with a free salsa class where you can learn the basics from a teacher.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to be aware of tide times when going to El Estero Beach, where Oasis is located, since it requires crossing a small river. You might want to avoid doing the crossing at peak tide because the water level gets pretty high. Oasis also runs a free shuttle from the center of the town, and can pick you up anywhere along the road leading to the bar.
Tip: While you’re at Oasis, be sure to also head to the beach for some stargazing. There’s very little light pollution in this area, so the night sky looks absolutely incredible.
7) Take a day trip to Cebaco Island
Another island you can visit by boat from Santa Catalina is Isla Cebaco. This lesser-known island has lush nature and kilometers of undeveloped beaches lined with palm trees. It’s a great choice for those looking for isolation and tranquility, since you probably won’t meet any other tourists here.
There are a couple of tour operators (for example, Unlimited Adventures Coiba) in the center of Santa Catalina that offer day trips to Isla Cebaco. The boat journey there takes less than an hour, and the tour usually includes snorkeling stops and a visit to the pristine white sand beach of Isla Tintorera.
Related post: Best day trips from Panama City
8) Take a yoga class
If you feel like taking a break from all the beach and water activities, join a yoga class. The best-known yoga studio in town is Waluaa. They offer surf & yoga retreats, but also have drop-in classes for 20 USD per person on their oceanfront yoga deck at Hotel Santa Catalina.
Another hotel that offers yoga classes is Catalina’s Hideaway, which is a 15-minute drive from the town. They have morning yoga classes five times a week that cost 15 USD for non-guests.
How many days you need
I’d say that three nights is the ideal amount of time to spend in Santa Catalina. This is enough to do most of the activities I listed above without feeling rushed. But if you want to spend more time relaxing on the beach or working on your surfing skills, you could easily spend a week here.
If the only reason you’re going to Santa Catalina is to do the Coiba tour, you need two nights – one before the tour and one after.
Where to stay in Santa Catalina
Although the town is small, it’s quite spread out, and it takes about 25 minutes to walk from one end to the other. At the western side of the town, there’s Playa Santa Catalina, which is where all the Coiba tours depart from, and on the eastern side, Playa El Estero, which is where you want to go for surfing, beach time, sunset and partying.
Most likely, you’ll want to spend time on both of these beaches, so the most convenient area to stay would be somewhere in between, which is where the majority of the hotels are located anyway.
In terms of accommodation options, Santa Catalina has plenty of charming boutique hotels, simple cabins, a few hostels and thankfully, no resorts.
Be sure to book your accommodation well in advance because the nicer hotels get snatched up quickly. We learned this the hard way when we wanted to book a place a week before our stay and there was hardly anything available anymore.
Below are some of the best hotels in Santa Catalina, depending on your budget:
BUDGET & MID-RANGE: Bambuda – This beautiful boutique hotel attracts travelers of all ages and nationalities. There are dorms, ideal for budget travelers, as well as family rooms and stylish king suites. They’ve got a fabulous oceanfront location on top of a cliff and a gorgeous infinity pool.
MID-RANGE: Hotel Oasis & Surf Camp – Located literally a few steps from El Estero Beach, amidst tall palm trees, Oasis has cozy wooden bungalows with an ocean view. The setting here is so idyllic and right up my alley, but unfortunately, they were fully booked during our visit. I recommend booking one of their deluxe rooms because the other rooms are older and not nearly as nice.
LUXURY: Villa Coco – This family-run boutique hotel is one of the best hotels in town and has boho decor and a luxurious feel. They’ve got a lush garden, an infinity pool, an on-site restaurant and beautiful bungalows with outdoor showers.
Where to eat
For such a small town, Santa Catalina has a lot of places to eat – from local eateries serving Panamanian classics to trendy cafes, restaurants with ocean views, casual pizza spots and ice-cream shops.
Here’s where to find the best food in town:
- Panawok – This is where I had my best meal in Santa Catalina. It’s a build-your-own wok bowl kind of place, and the food was incredibly delicious. The atmosphere is really nice, the quality is great, and the portions are huge.
- Cafe Bex – An excellent spot for breakfast or lunch. The shakshuka here was outstanding. If you need a break from the tropical heat, they have an indoor area with A/C (unlike most restaurants in town).
- Café Panachocolat – A popular breakfast and lunch spot with a chill vibe. Smoothie bowls here are great and I also enjoyed my couscous bowl, but skip the croque madame.
- Restaurante Donde Vianca – This place is basically just a local family’s front yard turned into a restaurant, but apparently they serve the best ceviche in town, as well as other seafood dishes.
- Panaderia La Piccola Italia – A tiny Italian spot serving authentic pizza, sandwiches and baked goods.
How to get to Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina is quite far from other tourist destinations in Panama – about 360 km (220 mi) from Panama City and 270 km (170 mi) from Boquete – but is absolutely worth the long journey. Thankfully, you can choose between various options to get there depending on your budget and needs.
If you’re planning to travel from Panama City to Santa Catalina, here are your transport options:
- Bus – The cheapest and slowest option. From Albrook bus station, take a bus to Soná and then a bus to Santa Catalina. The total journey takes 7-8 hours and costs approximately 20 USD. To save some time, you can also do the last leg of the trip by taxi, which costs about 40 USD.
- Shuttle – A popular and convenient alternative to the public bus. The price is 60 USD per person for a shared shuttle. You can book both private and shared shuttles on Shuttle In Panama.
- Car – This is the option we chose since we like the flexibility and enjoy taking road trips. It’s a 6-hour drive from Panama City, and while it was definitely long, it was rather easy. For the first 4 hours, you’ll be driving on the Inter-American Highway before turning off to a smaller road. The final stretch of the road leading to Santa Catalina used to be bumpy and full of potholes, but has recently been paved and is in perfect condition. Take a look at Discover Cars to find great deals on rental cars in Panama.
- Plane – The fastest but the most expensive option. Small planes fly from Panama City to the Lago Bay airstrip near Santa Catalina in just 45 minutes. The price is 150 USD per person.
If you’re traveling to Santa Catalina from Bocas del Toro, Boquete or David, your best options are to drive or to take a shuttle with HelloTravel Panama, but it’s also possible to do it by bus.
A map of Santa Catalina, Panama
To get an overview of where everything is located in Santa Catalina, check out the interactive map below, where I’ve marked the locations of all the attractions, hotels and points of interest in this Santa Catalina travel guide. Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map for more details.
Final tips for visiting Santa Catalina
- Best time to visit – For the best weather and calmer ocean, visit Santa Catalina during Panama’s dry season, which runs from December to April. The wet season, however, offers the best waves for experienced surfers. For the best chances of seeing whale sharks in Coiba, visit between January and March. The worst time to visit is October and November, because these are the rainiest months and some businesses close then.
- Card vs cash – Many travel blogs tell you that you can only pay by cash in Santa Catalina, but that’s no longer the case. We were able to pay by card everywhere, apart from the boat taxi to Isla Santa Catalina. Be aware, though, that most places charge a 7% credit card fee. Nevertheless, it would be a good idea to bring some cash with you just in case. There is an ATM in the town center, next to the pharmacy, but it often runs out of cash.
- Mobile data – I recommend getting an eSIM when you’re in Santa Catalina so you can always google tide times, contact your tour operator or shuttle driver, or find directions to get around. I always use AirAlo eSIM when I travel because it’s affordable and easy to set up, and I also used it in Panama. If you haven’t tried it before, you can use the code NEWTOAIRALO15 to get 15% off.
- Drinking water – Tap water in most places in Santa Catalina is safe to drink, but I recommend checking this with your hotel to be 100% sure.
- Insurance – I never travel anywhere without insurance and highly recommend that you don’t either, especially if you’re going surfing or scuba diving, like you probably will in Santa Catalina. My go-to choice for travel insurance is always SafetyWing.
- Safety – Santa Catalina is a very safe and peaceful place, where all the locals know each other and the crime rate is low. We felt totally safe walking along the roads at night. We also saw the tourism police patrolling the town on several occasions.
I hope this post gave you a good understanding of what to expect from this little beach town and how to prepare for your trip. If you have any questions about visiting Santa Catalina, leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try my best to answer them.
For more useful insights and travel inspiration for Panama, check out my other posts:
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