Santa Catalina was one of our favourite beach side towns with so many activities to do! Here you’ll find great restaurants, stunning scenery, water activities (surfing, snorkelling, diving, fishing), & so much more. Check out this mini guide for our favourite things to do & places to eat for your visit to Santa Catalina (we HIGHLY recommend you put this place on your Panama itinerary!).
One of our favourite spots in Panama - stunning beaches, great marine life, abundant islands, and most important relaxed and great vibes.
Add to
Details
How To Get Here & Around
We recommend you have a rental vehicle for you stay in Panama, but honestly within Santa Catalina, everything is for the most part walkable so you will not need transportation whilst you are here.
How Long To Stay
We stayed in Santa Catalina for 2 nights and 2 days, and didn’t feel it was enough time - we definitely rushed it. We would recommend atleast 3 days if not 4 in this beautiful spot to really relax & take advantage of the activities! However, it really depends on how big of a water person you are. If you’re really into diving you may want more days to take advantage of all the marine life here. If you have a great hotel, taking one day to just relax by the pool is never a bad option in our opinion!
Where To Stay
We stayed in an airbnb for our stay here and it surpassed our expectations. The place was so stylish, comfortable, and clean. Plus the pool in the sun was a huge plus. Heres the link:
This hotel is right beside one of the restaurants we visited and is so beautiful nestled into the trees! The property is stunning with great amenities, such as a pool right beside an amazing bar that serves up some yummy drinks.
This hostel is the perfect option for meeting new people, spending a little less money, and still having a great place to stay.
Add to
Details
What To Do
Snorkelling / Scuba Diving: Coiba National Park is so close to Santa Catalina and makes it an epic diving or snorkelling location. We booked our snorkel expedition through Expedition Coiba (below) and can HIGHLY recommend it - we saw turtles, reef tip sharks, tons of fish, and beautiful beaches.
This paradise is a day trip away from Santa Catalina and known as a great spot for diving and snorkelling activities. The marine life here is something else!
Add to
Details
Surfing: Surfing is one of the best things to do on many of the coasts of Panama. There are locations that are recommended only for experienced surfers, and also locations for more beginner and intermediate levels (such as Playa El Estero). Check out a surf lesson if you want to learn more.
The main beach in Santa Catalina with lots going on!
Add to
Details
Where To Eat
This little town has so many great places to eat at! We were pleasantly surprised at the options AND how good they were. Check out some of these options:
Be careful of the closing time - you may have to go in the late afternoon! But this spot has delicious homemade ice cream and drinks, and even ice cream sandwiches which we LOVED!
Lots of different breakfast options, fresh baked goods, and delicious coffee (I had the coconut latte and it was surprisingly weird and amazing at the same time!).
We were SO impressed by this restaurant. It served some great meat options which are perfect if you have a good craving. The outdoor vibe and menu make this a great dinner spot.
This spot offers delicious seafood and meat options in a truly stunning location. The food is fresh, the drinks are delicious, the service was excellent, and the location was the cutest scene. Plus they have happy hour at the pool side bar just before dinner opens!
Add to
Details
See You In Panama!
If you are looking to visit Panama and see everything it has to offer, consider checking out our three week itinerary (that is EASILY adjustable for more or less time with our input!).
With a full time job, there are twenty five days a year I want to FILL with travelling and have been doing so every year. We love to research, plan, and travel to new destinations around the world as much as possible. We travel at least twice per year and quite a bit for work, and love to share our favourite places along the way with everyone who wants it!
