Santa Catalina and the Coiba Marine Park are two destinations that are related thanks to the proximity between both and the activities full of natural adventures. The Visitor who wants to visit Coiba usually passes through Santa Catalina, which is only 1 hour away by boat. And whoever wants to live the experience of Santa Catalina ends up taking a tour to Coiba, which is a World Biodiversity Heritage Site.
Santa Catalina, Surf Destination and Departure Point to Coiba
What was once a small fishing village, in recent decades has become one of the most visited places by lovers of diving, scuba diving, fishing and, above all, one of the best places to do surfing. This destination has big waves that attract surfers from all over the world, which allowed this town to host the Surfing World Cup in 2010.
In San Catalina you can find restaurants serving typical national and international food that satisfy even the most demanding palates, as well as a variety of hotels, some located on the beach. These amenities make this destination the ideal starting point for visiting the Coiba National Park, as it is the closest point for tourist tours.
Visiting the Coiba Marine Paradise
Coiba National Park, located in the Gulf of Chiriqui, protects Coiba Island and 38 other smaller islands and islets, as well as the surrounding marine areas.
The Coiba humid tropical forest is a place of formation of new species and the last refuge of several endangered species such as the harpy eagle.
Since Coiba hosted a prison from 1919 to 2004, access to the island was limited, but today it has about 270,125 protected hectares, of which 70 are marine, making it one of the most diverse biological environments in the world.
Coiba is a first-class diving destination, located in the same marine corridor as the Galapagos Islands, with access to the Damas Bay reef, the largest on the western coast of the American continent. Between the tropical forest and the marine park, the visitor can marvel at coral reefs, crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas, manta rays, hammerhead sharks and more than 147 species of birds, among other exotic species.
Enjoy the Santa Catalina – Coiba Experience
These two destinations create unique experiences where the Visitor can enjoy a variety of water sports such as surfing, diving and snorkeling or simply relax on stunning beaches and enjoy the beautiful sunsets that both offer.
To get to Santa Catalina by car you must drive from Panama City to Santiago, in Veraguas province and from this point take the highway to Sona to connect with the road to Santa Catalina, a journey that takes just under 6 hours. If you do not have a car, you can take a bus at Albrook National Transportation Terminal (Panama City) and take the Panama-Sona route, then take a bus or taxi to Santa Catalina.
