Situated in the Veraguas Province, along the country’s pacific coast and just west of the Azuero Peninsula, Santa Catalina is synonymous with surfing. As well, it serves as a gateway to Coiba National Park, which offers intrepid travelers world class scuba diving, snorkeling, white sand beaches, in addition to numerous other outdoor activities. Once a small fishing village off the beaten track, the town of Santa Catalina is still relatively small, but it’s growing quickly.
Arguably Panama’s most famous surf spot, local and international surfers frequent Santa Catalina to enjoy its consistent and powerful surf, not to mention its relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Budget hotels, surf board rentals, and surf camps offering all levels of instruction help ensure a steady flow of surfers in search of the perfect break.
Santa Catalina has two beaches, Estero Beach and Santa Catalina Beach, but which is which? Well, it all depends on who you ask. The road that leads into town, if you follow it to its end, will take you to the ocean’s edge, which on most maps in referred to as Catalina Beach (Playa Catalina) Some call it Town Beach and others Estero Beach, but regardless, there is no surfing done here, rather it is most frequently used by dive/tour agencies as a departure point for trips to Coiba National Park. There are several small islands just off the beach, one of them being Santa Catalina Island.
The second beach, most commonly referred to Santa Catalina Beach, is located just a few minutes east of town, but oddly enough the maps have this labeled as Estero Beach. This is where where all the surfing is done, so go figure! If you ask any local or surfer where Santa Catalina Beach is, they’ll send you here. The beach itself is long and crescent shaped, with just one small section that extends outward, about midway to its end. Most of the surfing is done near to the
To get there, you can either walk along the road that runs from town (it splits off the main road right in front of the supermarket, this is the only intersection in town), which climbs up over the hill and then back down the other side, where you have to climb down a series of steps to reach the beach. Or, if the tide is low, you can walk along the rocky coastline, around the two points that separate both beaches. The rather uneventful walk along the road takes approximately 10 minutes, whereas the walk along the coastline could take 20-30 minutes, depending on how quickly you walk. If the tide is out, normal sneakers or even sandals will do, the rocks are relatively smooth and rounded. If you’ve got a camera we recommend walking along the beach, there are some nice cliffs you can climb that offer wonderful ocean views.
The tide change at both beaches is tremendous, during low tide you'll find yourself having to walk quite a ways to reach the water. It's not uncommon to see trucks driving way out on the beach during low tide. As well, large sections of both beaches are littered with blcak, volanic rock, so make sure you know the area well before surfing!
The town of Santa Catalina covers a short distance, and the road is lined with residential homes, hotels, restaurants/eateries, dive shops, fishing outfitters, and numerous tour agencies. There is only one intersection, near to the ocean, and on the far corner you'll find the local supermarket, but don't expect too much here. Most do their shopping in Sona or Santiago, this is a small market for last minute items only.
The road from Santiago to Sona is new and well maintained, however, the portion from Sona to Santa Catalina, while paved, is littered with pot holes.
Getting To Santa Catalina
By Bus - you can take a direct bus from Panama City to Sona, which costs $8.00 and takes approx. 5 hours. These buses depart throughout the day and briefly stop in Santiago to drop off and pick up passengers before continuing on to Sona. From Sona, you can take a mini-bus to Santa Catalina, which takes approximately 1.5 hours and costs $3.00. Buses from Sona to Santa Catlina depart 4 times daily, 5:30, 11:15, 2:00, and 4:40. From Santa Catalina to Sona, buses depart at 7:00, 8:20, 1:15, and 4:00.
You can also take a bus from Panama City to Santiago (314-6230/998-3818), which takes appoximately 3.5 hours and costs $7.50. The buses that run between Panama City and Santiago tend to be larger and more comfortable than those which depart directly for Sona. From Santiago, you’ll need to catch a mini-bus to Sona, and from there another bus to Santa Catalina. Buses from Santiago to and from Sona depart every 30 minutes and cost just $2.00
By Car - from Panama City, turn left in Santiago at the Shell station (Ave. Central) Follow this street for approximately 2 miles, passing the church on the left side. At the second crossroad, turn right and continue until you reach the next Shell station, just before reaching Sona (approx. 25 miles). At this station, turn left and follow the sign to Santa Catalina. After approx. 28 miles, turn left in El Tigre de los Amarillos, following the sign for Santa Catalina, Lagartero. Continue along this road until you reach the intersection in, turn right and continue along this road until you reach Santa Catalina. The trip trip from Panama City to Santa Catalina takes approximately 6 hours.