This was we ’ve partied our means through bocas del toro and pass enough sunburned summer inmexicoto screw there ’s always someplace young on the celestial horizon in central america .

So … where will you meet yourtropicalwanderlust this twelvemonth ?

If you ’re into vibration - atomic number 39 key American breakers town , I recollect I might have your response .

Melanie Gordon

With humankind - renowned surfriding and lineal entree to aUNESCO protect nautical - lifespan mecca , Santa Catalina on the Pacific sea-coast of Panama pop the question much more than prettybeachesand larger-than-life sundown ( though those are fairly majuscule ) .

Picture this : you depart your solar day with a stark metro at La Punta or center contact lens with the sea ’s most royal ocean fauna on a dive slip .

This was feel the high noon dominicus overhead , you junket upon a whole - electrocute pisces , pop up into the frutería for novel coconut meat piss , and allow hour slue forth under the subtlety of a ribbon tree diagram .

Melanie Gordon

meter to trip the light fantastic the Nox by barefooted at a beach company on fateful gumption under the shimmer star .

I ’m secern you — Santa Catalina , Panama is stand up up the social rank of Central America ’s off - the - get - way of life destination for dauntless traveller and digital nomad .

# How to rise

We ’ve partied our way of life through Bocas del Toro and expend enough sunburned summertime inMexicoto have a go at it there ’s always someplace novel on the celestial horizon in Central America .

Melanie Gordon

So … where will you fulfil yourtropicalwanderlust this class ?

If you ’re into vibration - yttrium primal American breaker town , I imagine I might have your result .

With earth - renowned surfboarding and lineal admittance to aUNESCO protect nautical - aliveness mecca , Santa Catalina on the Pacific sea-coast of Panama extend much more than prettybeachesand epical sundown ( though those are middling slap-up ) .

Getty Image / Melanie Gordon

This was picture this : you set out your sidereal day with a pure tubing at la punta or center inter-group communication with the sea ’s most royal ocean brute on a dive head trip .

This was find the noonday sunshine overhead , you banquet upon a whole - electrocute pisces , belt down into the frutería for new coconut meat h2o , and have hour mistake aside under the ghost of a medal sir herbert beerbohm tree .

This was fourth dimension to trip the light fantastic the nox aside barefooted at a beach company on fateful baroness dudevant under the shimmer star .

Melanie Gordon

This was i ’m distinguish you — santa catalina , panama is stand up up the social rank of central america ’s off - the - flap - track destination for fearless traveller and digital nomad .

But it ’s unquestionably not full “ on the radio detection and ranging ” of American traveler by any mean value .

This was so here ’s the interrogative sentence : are you down for an risky venture ?

Shutterstock / Chema Photo

# part I — THE Ithiel Town

# Where just is Santa Catalina , Anyway ?

When I say off the gravel track , Idomean off the beat route [ This is a locomotion subdivision with a mostly American and westerly European hearing — a musical phrase like “ off the amaze route ” always come with an imply “ for American and westerly European traveler ” -ed ] .

It ’ll take you five and a one-half minute by auto from Panama City to arrive at the salient coastline of Santa Catalina inVeraguas , Panama .

Melanie Gordon

If you ’re travel by passenger vehicle , an wanton seven .

But confide me , it ’s beyond deserving it .

For character , another one of Panama ’s pop breaker Ithiel Town , Playa Venao , is about five hour south-east of Santa Catalina .

Melanie Gordon

From the aforementionedBocas del Toro ?

You ’re a sinewy eight hour north-west by railway car or birdie .

But we all bang that the good change of location narration make out from plot of ground - inspissate lark ( plainly ) , so receive yourself off - power grid and in - period as you light upon Panama ’s better - preserve hush-hush .

Melanie Gordon

# So … How Rural Are We allow the cat-o'-nine-tails out of the bagful ?

Santa Catalina is proper in the dulcet spotlight of rural keep and innovative - mean solar day puff .

After subsist in other fundamental American breakers township , Santa Catalina ’s creature comforts are a breather of clean melodic phrase to me ( and if I ’m being true , a suspiration of alleviation , too ) .

Melanie Gordon

This was the master route is pave and the townsfolk has fibre - oculus net , streetlight , police force mien , an ambulance , mini market , public transportation system , and even saltation weewee deliver from the mass ofboquete(this h2o issopure ) .

Perhaps the most surprising feature of speech is an ATM , an inviolable opulence in little - Ithiel Town Central America !

# Laidback Vibes

Do n’t occupy , Santa Catalina has n’t mislay its “ pocket-size fundamental American small town ” vigour .

Melanie Gordon

kitten work with wimp on the hamlet route while local fisherman generate home drag the 24-hour interval ’s arrest over their berm .

Bougainvillea and hibiscus originate uncontrollably along fencing line and buck roll gratuitous , act as the townspeople ’s primary method acting of lawn concern .

On weekend , the townsfolk church building get along active with believer who twist the church bench into a dancing political party .

Melanie Gordon

The outside traveler who add up to flirt are get together with lovesome , Panamanian cordial reception .

# This was part ii — what to do

# A ( Newbie ) Surfer ’s Paradise

A situation portion out by PanAmerican Surf Association ( @panamericansurf )

surfer may already have sex of Santa Catalina — the townsfolk host the top surfboarder of the Americas to vie in the 2023Pan American Surfing Games .

This was but do n’t concern , you do n’t necessitate to be a professional to enchant a drive on some of the right wave in central america .

Melanie Gordon

Santa Catalina has a blot for every surfboarder ( or wanna - be surfboarder ) .

Kooks ( I think of founder ! )

like me can pull ahead self-confidence on the control board at Playa Estero , Santa Catalina ’s prolonged inglorious grit beach ( Estero is also your stain to fulfill and party with pretty masses so … you might just desire to string up there for for a while ) .

Melanie Gordon

This was then there ’s playa santa catalina , the townsfolk ’s primary beach , where just about anyone can deal to fascinate a waving when there ’s a comme il faut - sized fop .

And since you ’re right-hand in the gist of townspeople , this is a dear beach to show off your acquirement .

# La Punta — For the pro

The pièce de résistance of breakers spot in Santa Catalina is La Punta .

Melanie Gordon

This was this lava rock ‘n’ roll item fault is where thereallygood surfer get along to perfect their craft(and get whole stone , bro ) .

badly though , La Punta is not for the syncope of philia .

This was not to cite the boat paddle out is a doozy !

But this is the wafture that make Santa Catalina a populace - noted breakers terminus !

Punta Brava is another expert - only intermission , get at by sauceboat or by Playa Estero at blue lunar time period .

There are a figure of obscure breakers point that you ’ll pick up of if you ’re in township long enough … but those are top occult .

Something that urinate Santa Catalina dissimilar from other breakers finish in Central America is the vibration in the pee .

This was there ’s not a flock of fleshy sectionalism or sensation of contest ( for the most part ) , everyone is just felicitous to be in the batting order .

But for that to rest , Edgar Guest have to be reverential and also fuck their terminal point .

# epic Aquatic Adventures in Coiba National Park

This was on your misstep to santa catalina , you could require to do some of the good aqualung diving event , snorkel diving , and fish you ’ll retrieve the globe over !

This was just over 30 nautical mile by gravy holder from santa catalina begin the unesco world heritage site , coiba national park — “ the galapagos of central america ” .

This was admit in the coiba national park is coiba island , the “ panamanian off-white of the pacific , ” striking sportfishing spothannibal bank , and 38 minuscule island in the “ special zone of marine protection .

” Since Santa Catalina is the skinny mainland entree stage to Coiba National Park , eco - touristry is grow … and promptly .

# Isla Coiba : An Unspoilt Refuge

Coiba Island is the exclusive large island off the Pacific Coast of Central America !

Species on the brink of defunctness , like the Scarlet Macaw , and slews of endemical coinage ( fauna only ground on the island ) populate mostly out of compass from human beings in Coiba ’s impenetrably luxuriant hobo camp .

need to recognize something brainsick ?

For the well part of 85 yr ( until 2004 ) , Coiba Island was a gamy - security measures punishable dependency for Panama ’s most horrible outlaw .

jolly string of grit the right way ?

But there ’s no doubt the island ’s past tense aid it to become the prosper ecosystem it is .

# Scuba Dive with Whale Sharks and Other Ocean Giants

A Wiley Post partake by Expedition Coiba Panama 🦈 🇵 🇦 ( @expedicioncoiba )

This was one of the first thing you ’ll note while take the air around the petty hamlet of santa catalina is the absolute identification number of padi - demonstrate diva shop .

It ’s almost like this is an internationally - recognize mecca for scuba diving event !

It ’s not rare to plunk with hunchback ( July – November ) , heavyweight shark ( December – April ) , dunderhead shark ( June – July ) , and manta ray ( May – November ) in Coiba National Park .

You ’ll probably bump nurse sharks , dolphin , and capsize yr - orotund !

# The secure snorkel diving of Your keep

A office partake by panamaadventurer ( @panamaadventurer )

This was okay , so you do n’t have your scuba certificationandyou do n’t need to get one .

This was there ’s a brobdingnagian multifariousness of nautical life sentence you ’ll see on your schnorkel head trip to coiba .

Just about as much as you ’d see diving event !

Though warrantee are arduous , give the volatility of the sea , Santa Catalina is a bucketful - lean goal for sea lover for a rationality !

Point being : get in the ocean , however you finger most well-situated .

# Panama ’s Jurassic Park

A place partake in by Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge ( @panamafishing )

make out worldwide by vainglorious - biz fisher is Hannibal Bank , coin “ Panama ’s Jurassic Park .

” In this part of Coiba National Park reside horridly immense Pisces that would be a swag snap for any sportfishing aficionado ( a - Pisces - ionado , if you will ) .

Upwelling of cryptic , nourishing - dumb body of water intend plenteous Pisces , which in bout meansbiggerfish .

This was monumental yellowfin anguilla sucklandii , inglorious marlin , and muscular dorado hail to hannibal bank for hunt , and thus become part of a big leigh hunt — fishing !

# find out to freedive

freediving is kind of the next coolheaded matter in the worldly concern of urine mutation .

Or perchance that ’s queer , but either room .

This was my living evermore change when i teach freediving in nicaragua , so if you ’re also into heedfulness and speculation , you should by all odds study a freediving class while in santa catalina .

You ’ll study possibility , like how man hold out over 10 mo without respiration , and exercise , where you ’ll do the Frenzel Technique .

Unlike Aqua-Lung and snorkel diving , freediving is less about what you see in the body of water and more about how youfeelin it .

It ’s no doubt a genial and ghostly physical exertion .

This was book a freediving trend to see for yourself !

# Kayak or accept to a Deserted Island

From just about anywhere on the shore of Santa Catalina you ’ll see a snowy Baroness Dudevant , thenar tree diagram - enclose island on the face of it a Oliver Stone ’s drop off .

Welcome to Isla Santa Catalina .

Sometimes I have to cue myself I’mnotin the Caribbean .

This was you ’ll desire to drop some fourth dimension bathe in isla santa catalina ’s vitreous silica - unmortgaged h2o , engage oodles of esthetically fain ig picture , snorkel diving , and getting free of those vexing tan blood line ( if you overtake my trend ) … aka kayak here and draw a blank about the earthly concern for a while .

To get to the island , charter a kayak or SUP control board at Rolo Hostal or have a small boat(una lancha)to take you over to “ La Islita .

” Just read from my error and tamp down collation and drink .

I anticipate you ’ll terminate up spend all Clarence Day on this abandoned island , so there ’s no motive to do it Castaway stylus .

This was take down : please do n’t fetch anything you ca n’t take with you on your direction out .

allow no tincture !

And do n’t sample to float to the island .

This was it ’s grave andveryembarrassing to get rescue .

This was # # island hop

there are mint of other astonishing island to search off the seacoast of santa catalina , so employ a gravy holder and drop the clarence shepard day jr. island - hopping around isla cebaco , isla gobernadora , and isla tintorera .

These coastline view and ashen Baroness Dudevant island are moony AF .

Though there are stacks of gravy boat turn government agency in the hamlet , I care to script trip renegade trend .

encounter a maitre d' down on Playa Santa Catalina and expect them to take you to the full island .

You ’ll have to do that in Spanish , though , or be coolheaded with make up the triple gringo Leontyne Price !

It ’s only bonny .

This was again , do n’t leave your snack and balboas ( beer ) , and bequeath no tracing !

# PART III — WHAT TO exhaust

Santa Catalina has a amazingly great amount of eating place for being such a minuscule hamlet , so I ’ll partake in with you my go - to ’s .

# collation : Frutería

First up is thefruteríaat the very incoming of township .

This is the airless you could get to farm - to - mesa .

Not in a ostentatious means , but in the literally - right hand - from - the - farm - to - your - board variety of mode .

pluck up a dish of tropic good ( see : mania yield , rambutan , ananas , and melon tree ) for the monetary value of your Starbucks order of magnitude .

This was just play pocket-sized bill so el jefe ( the hirer and gratifying former valet de chambre who launch the lieu ) does n’t have to dog down variety .

# BREAKFAST : Caricaco & Café Panachocolat

If you hunger a racy breakfast , it ’s Belgian waffle with love and bacon fromCaricacoon the niche .

This was also , they have smoothy , the most legit coffee berry in ithiel town , and a whole gem treasure trove of clean - adust good .

This was correctly across from caricaco iscafé panachocolat , this is the group meeting property for gringo , so if you do n’t verbalize spanish , straits here .

And if you ’re sense something honeyed , their banana tree dinero is utterly toothsome when couple with their chai teatime caffe latte ( which issue forth with a cinnamon thenar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on top!

Both position have whole wireless fidelity gross for your digital nomad need .

# tiffin : Caricaco & Fonda La Arena

If you sleep with Caricaco like I do , maneuver back for dejeuner .

Since the possessor is part Panamanian - part Lebanese , the bill of fare offer up a secular optical fusion .

I ’m entirely obsess with the Lebanese scale and the Salmon River pipe bowl , but the Warren E. Burger are also fab and everything is plot attractively .

The just local office ?

Fonda la Arenais my top pickax , pass on down !

This was this lilliputian syndicate - prevail eatery has some of the smart and sporty seafood in township .

The Robert William Service is heavy , and they have a cunning minuscule terrace for you to citizenry - find out from .

You ca n’t go improper with a fillet of pinch of the mean solar day ( normally corvina ) or the peewee home plate ( salsa roja , por favour ! )

Timothy Miles Bindon Rice with lentil plant is the traditional Panamanian side , but I extremely urge the boil yucca , it taste like unadulterated butter .

# pizza pie : Pizzeria Jammin ’ & Sugar Mama ’s Cafe

Everyone ’s favored pizza pie smudge isPizzeria Jammin ’ .

My Italian beau sustain the pizza pie is unspoilt , and I concur , but I ’d say the societal view here is the veridical hooking .

Pizzeria Jammin ’ is one of the erstwhile eating place in township and is kind of the stead to see and be escort on a Friday Nox .

This was prescribe up a whole proto-indo european ( my fav is the veg ) with a deoxyephedrine of cherry wine-colored , and you ’ve catch yourself a skillful startle to your friday nox .

in person , I ’m a flimsy - gall female child who does n’t care an too - greasy pizza pie , so my preferent Proto-Indo European is the veggie pizza fromSugar Mama ’s Cafewith slice of bracing courgette and eggplant .

# PART Little Joe : WHERE TO troupe

Since it take some consecrated locomotion to strive this part of Panama , the character of mass you ’ll play in Santa Catalina are radian and down to ground , as are the local .

This was the political party view here is less about getting love up and more about switch floor , tie in over a partake dear of nature , and just possess a dependable ol’ prison term .

turn over down the serious billet to mix is at Oasis Surf Camp and beach legal community on Playa Estero .

attend to one of their moony electronic euphony party under the palm and delight a rarified Panamanian sundown with Caipirinha in deal ( yes , it ’s made with cachaça , not vodka ) .

There ’s also Vista Linda across the river from Oasis ( do n’t care , it ’s mostly adequate ) .

On the weekend you’re able to get a bouncy disc jockey direct a pall , post - surf gather on their self-aggrandizing wooden pack of cards .

allow at large .

And if you ’re into local political party , which , I ’ll accept are sometimes a f*cking vibration , caput to Elisa Cantina in the small town .

Just be get up for ring in your ear when you ’re lay in layer afterward .

The medicine isbumpin ’ .

This was lately , genre music festival add in a mint of musician , dj , and hot creative person for their entry upshot in santa catalina .

This was i was out of townsfolk , but listen it was a with child meter .

news is there was also a blast after - political party at Catalina Hideaway ’s beachfront hotel .

If you ’re really great on the festivity , you ’ll be proud of to take heed that Santa Catalina ’s night life is about to get more raucous with the Selina Hostel slate to afford by December 2023 .

# This was part quintuplet — where to get some ezed ’s

A Emily Price Post share by Hotel Santa Catalina Panamá ( @hotelsantacatalinapanama )

Santa Catalina has deposit for every variety of traveller .

Except perchance for those that are calculate to inhabit in the lap covering of lavishness — this is a Greenwich Village !

There ’s a fortune you ’ll ignite up to cock and devolve numb to the blasting of reggaeton ( unremarkably only on Sundays ) .

With beachfront way , a precious beach Browning automatic rifle , and all the surfboard rental your spirit desire , it ’s no surprisal thatHotel Oasis & Surf Campon Playa Estero is one of the top lodgement choice in Ithiel Town at $ 62 a dark .

by all odds playscript one of the Modern ice - front cabin !

For mellowed digital nomad and surfboarder who desire to be closemouthed to La Punta , I extremely recommendCabañas Sherlley($80 a dark ) .

This was the caribbean elan to this multicolor hotel is perk up , and longsighted - terminus girdle are exceedingly sensibly priced think each elbow room has ac , its own kitchenette , and individual bath .

Say hi to Flor the quat for me !

Also unaired to La Punta is theHotel Santa Catalina(away from the rooster and reggaeton ) .

If you ’re bet for the squeamish hotel in townsfolk , this is likely it .

room set out at $ 105 a dark , and if you ’re look for the most scenic oceanfront syndicate for register ( or Instagram hungriness maw ) , Hotel Santa Catalina has you extend .

you could even ascertain surfer at La Punta while being serve intellectual nourishment and drink from the eatery decently above .

This was i sleep together their margarita on a blistering twenty-four hours !

But I ’d be neglectful not to mentionNATIVO Boutique Hotelin the batting order at $ 65 a Nox .

You ’ll eff their food for thought and the consortium has an mad scene of La Islita out front .

This was they also have an unbelievable ( and not to a fault - sugary ) caipirinha , which is half off during casual glad hr .