Santa Catalina is a small fishing village on the Pacific coast. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, Santa Catalina is an ideal destination for families looking for a relaxed environment. However, the place is gaining a lot of fame because of its first-class surfing and diving opportunities and is very popular with backpackers. The small, tranquil village doesn't really have much to offer, 2 supermarkets, a few restaurants and a handful of cafes. However, the pristine beaches, the perfect waves and the relaxed atmosphere are worth the trip. We spent a total of 4 nights in Santa Catalina.
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Directions from El Vallé to Santa Catalina
We drove from El Vallé in a rental car to Santa Catalina, about 250 km away. The journey took about 4:30 hours and was very strenuous on the last stretch. It took an hour to get to the village through a crater landscape and bumpy roads. The car journey took us through the Panamanian highlands, past small villages and through larger cities like Santiago.
Beaches in Santa Catalina
The beaches of Santa Catalina are a paradise for surfers and nature lovers. The main beach, Playa Santa Catalina, is known for its impressive waves, which attract surfers from all over the world all year round. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, everyone will get their money's worth here
What you definitely can't expect here are white sandy beaches like on the Caribbean coast. The beaches on the Pacific coast are rather dark and natural. But that doesn't make them any less beautiful.
The Playa El Estero beach is quieter. It is a bit further away from the village center and, in our opinion, nicer. Our accommodation was right on El Estero beach and the view was just beautiful. You actually have to cross a small river to get to the beach. When we arrived (as of March 2024) it was just a small puddle. The beach is particularly suitable for surfing beginners, as the waves are rather flat and consistent. However, this depends on the weather. The children were able to swim in the sea and build sandcastles on the beach without any problems.
Coiba National Park
Coiba National Park is a breathtaking natural paradise off the coast of Panama and the main reason why we actually went to Santa Catalina. The park includes a large number of small islands as well as Isla Coiba. Unfortunately, as far as we know, you cannot get to the national park on your own, but you can do it with a tour. So we booked a Coiba snorkeling tour through our accommodation for around $70 and the children were free. As a family, we were somehow "sorted out" by the European tourists. At first we actually found it a bit strange, but it quickly turned out that it was simply the best thing for us. We ended up on the boat with local tourists from Panama City, communicated with each other using hands and feet and at the end, drank the tequila that the tourists had brought with them. It was such a great experience getting to know these people. The trip from Santa Catalina Beach to the first stop in the national park took about 90 minutes. On the way there we were able to see dolphins. In total we made 4 stops on 4 islands.
While snorkeling we were able to see sea turtles, a variety of fish, corals and manta rays. Now some of you are probably wondering how we could go on a snorkeling tour with 2 small children.
simple - we took turns.
If you are a little luckier, you can also encounter hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, whitetip sharks, etc. It is not for nothing that Coiba National Park is called "The Galapagos of Panama".
We took a lunch break on the main island of Coiba. There were covered places to sit and a ranger station where you had to register. While our guide prepared lunch, we enjoyed the beautiful beach and walked to a lookout point.
If you ask us which beach we
of this tour . EVERYONE! With its rich biodiversity and picturesque landscape, Coiba National Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors from all over the world. No matter whether you are young or old.
Conclusion
We have really grown fond of Santa Catalina. This little place had such a magical effect on us. We met such nice people. Above all, the proximity to Coiba National Park is a huge plus. As already described "The Galapagos of Panama"
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