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Santa Catalina, Panama is a small fishing village located on the Pacific Ocean in the province of Veraguas. It is home to black sand beaches and world class surf. First discovered in the 1970s by adventurous surfers, the waves were kept secret for years, but today people from all over the world travel here to surf Santa Catalina’s incredible waves. Santa Catalina is quickly transforming from a remote secluded little village to one of the most recommended places to visit during your trip to panama. Please check our Surfing section for more specific info on the various surf spots in town.

There is much more to Santa Catalina then just surf. It is also the closest access point to Isla Coiba which is literally a tropical paradise, offering a plethora of wildlife to spot, jungle to explore, and sea life to dive or snorkel with.

There are two primary beaches in Santa Catalina, Playa Santa Catalina which is located at the end of the main road in town, and Playa Estero which is on the eastern edge of town at the end of the dirt road. Both beaches are wide black sand beaches created by rivers flowing from the surrounding hills. The tide level determines the width of the beaches, and there is quite a wide range in Santa Catalina. Tide changes can range as much as 20 feet in a given cycle, which means that an additional quarter mile of beach is created each and every day. This has allowed Santa Catalina’s beaches to remain uncluttered and unpolluted.

Santa Catalina is like taking a step back in time. Literally at the end of the road, its beautiful beaches, local charm and friendly people make it a great place to visit whether you are coming to surf, dive or explore Coiba on a sea kayak expedition.