Village centre
Dive shops, foodAlong the main road.
Town guide
Things to do in Santa Catalina
A small Pacific surf village and the gateway to Coiba National Park: a powerful right-hand reef break, diving with sharks, turtles and huge schools of fish, snorkelling around wild islands, and not much else, which is the point.
10
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 1,566 reviews
1
Hour by boat to Coiba
3–4
Days
Surf and Coiba
Santa Catalina is a fishing village on the Pacific coast of Veraguas, about six hours west of Panama City. It has one main road, a handful of hostels, surf shops and dive centres, and a famous reef break that draws surfers from December to April.
Offshore lies Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of islands that were a penal colony until 2004, which kept them almost untouched. Its waters are part of the Eastern Pacific marine corridor and have whitetip reef sharks, turtles, rays, dolphins and, in season, humpback whales.
Give Santa Catalina three or four days.
Where to base yourself
Stay near the main road for dive shops and food, or near Playa Estero for the beach and beginner waves.
Playa Estero
Beach, beginnersThe sandy beach east of the village.
La Punta
SurfersThe point break.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 9 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Santa Catalina
Surf the point break at La Punta, best for experienced surfers, or learn at Playa Estero, a sandy beach break.
Dive or snorkel in Coiba National Park on a day trip, with chances of whitetip sharks, turtles, eagle rays and big schools of fish. Snorkel trips stop on islands such as Granito de Oro.
Watch humpback whales from about July to October, and take a boat to Isla Cébaco for beaches.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Playa Estero and the beaches around town are free, and so is watching the surfers at La Punta.
Sunsets cost nothing.
Coiba trips include park fees.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Small restaurants serve fish, rice and patacones for €5 to €8. Pizza and Italian food are popular, thanks to European residents.
Try fresh ceviche.
There are few shops, so stock up in Soná. A 10 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill first, as some add it.
Nightlife
Going out
Santa Catalina is quiet: a few bars and occasional parties in the high season.
Divers and surfers go to bed early.
A beer costs €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around
From Panama City, take a bus to Santiago (about 4 hours), then to Soná and Santa Catalina (about 2 hours more). Shuttles run from Panama City, Boquete and Santa Fe.
The village is walkable. Dive shops run boats to Coiba, about an hour each way.
Costs
What Santa Catalina costs
Hostel beds start at around €12 to €20 a night. Meals cost €5 to €8.
A two-tank Coiba dive costs about €100 to €160 including park fees, a snorkel trip about €50 to €80, and a surf lesson about €30 to €45.
Panama uses the US dollar, alongside its own balboa coins, which are worth the same. There is no reliable ATM in the village, so bring cash; the nearest is in Soná.
Safety
Safety and scams
Santa Catalina is safe and relaxed. The La Punta reef is shallow and powerful; surf it only if you are experienced.
On Coiba trips, use certified dive operators and follow park rules.
Tap water is safe to drink in Panama City and most of the country, but not in Bocas del Toro or on the islands; use bottled or filtered water there. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Seasons and holidays.
December to April
Coiba diving season
Coiba
Clearest water.
December to April
Surf season
La Punta
The biggest waves.
About July to October
Whale season
Offshore
Humpbacks.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Santa Catalina, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Bambuda Santa Catalina
Dorms from €17 a night
See dates and book
Bodhi Santa Catalina
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Hostal Un Mundo Homestay
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Blasina Santa Catalina
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
La Chamba Surf House
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Casa Manila
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Hostel Villa Vento Surf
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Urbano Pacific Jungle Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Sunset Catalina
Rooms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Hostal Surfers Paradise
Dorms from €23 a night
See dates and book
When to go
December to April is dry, with the best visibility for diving and the biggest surf at La Punta. May to November brings rain and is quieter, with whales from about July to October.
Jan
Dry, surf
Feb
Dry, clear water
Mar
Dry
Apr
Easter
May
Rain
Jun
Rain
Jul
Whales arrive
Aug
Whales
Sep
Whales
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Wet
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Santa Catalina prices.
Treat these as a guide. Diving costs extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Santa Catalina questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to Santa Catalina?
By bus via Santiago and Soná, or shuttle, about 6 hours from Panama City.
Can I dive Coiba from Santa Catalina?
Yes, dive shops run day trips.
Is there an ATM?
No reliable one; bring cash.
Can beginners surf?
At Playa Estero.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
Is it safe?
Yes, it is safe and relaxed.
How many days do I need?
Three to four.
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