Santa Catalina, Panama: travel guide
Laid-back Pacific fishing and surf village in Veraguas, the main gateway to the UNESCO-listed Coiba National Park and its world-class diving.
- Country
- Panama
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Panama
Top places to visit in Santa Catalina
Playa Santa Catalina
Beach · about 2 h
The village beach and one of Central America's best surf breaks, with consistent right-hand reef waves.
Coiba National Park
Nature · about 8 h · entry USD 20
UNESCO-listed marine park around former prison island Coiba, with pristine reefs, sharks and rich sea life.
La Punta (surf point)
Beach · about 2 h
Rocky point at the edge of the village delivering Santa Catalina's famous long right-hand wave.
Granito de Oro
Beach · about 2 h
A tiny reef-fringed islet off Coiba, one of the top snorkelling spots in Panama.
Isla Cebaco
Nature · about 4 h
Large offshore island with quiet beaches and fishing grounds south of the Veraguas coast.
Playa Estero
Beach · about 2 h
Wide sandy beach a short walk from town, good for beginner surfers and sunsets.
Things to do
- Coiba National Park Diving Day Trip Adventure · 8 h · from USD 120 per person
- Coiba Snorkelling & Island Tour Adventure · 8 h · from USD 90 per person
- Santa Catalina Surf Lesson Adventure · 2 h · from USD 35 per person
- Whale Watching (seasonal) Nature · 4 h · from USD 60 per person
Day trips and tours
- Coiba National Park Day Trip 9 h · from USD 95
Where to stay in Santa Catalina
- Santa Catalina town about USD 70 per night
Village centre close to restaurants, dive shops and the beach.
- La Punta about USD 90 per night
Headland near the famous surf break with ocean-view hotels.
Hotels
- Oasis Surf Camp 2-star · USD 60 to USD 110 per night
- Hotel Santa Catalina 3-star · USD 85 to USD 150 per night
- Hostel Iguana 1-star · USD 12 to USD 45 per night
Where to eat
- Los Pibes Argentine, Grill · about USD 15 per person
- Jamming Pizza Pizza, Italian · about USD 12 per person
- La Buena Vida Cafe, Healthy · about USD 14 per person
- Donde Vianca Panamanian, Seafood · about USD 10 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Boat main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.