The attraction to Santa Catalina, Panama is the amazing foliage, ocean views and some very nice villagers. With its beautiful black sand beaches and excellent surfing conditions, Santa Catalina is the starting point for fantastic ocean adventures and a peaceful fishing village.
Surfing is the main attraction for travelers to Santa Catalina for more than 40 years now. The other main reason Santa Catalina exists is its access to abundant fish populations. Fishing and scuba diving are very popular here because of this.
The same type of volcanic formations that create the amazing surf break at Playa Santa Catalina, creates excellent diving and fishing spots all around Santa Catalina, Panama. A short boat ride from Santa Catalina gifts the diving and angling crowd with huge populations of fish and underwater coral reefs.
Dozens of islands can be found around this area, just a short boat ride from Santa Catalina. Many of these islands offer relatively unexplored white sand beaches with awesome surf breaks that equal and sometimes outpound the world renowned break at La Punta of Santa Catalina, Panama. Rancho Estero partners with various Santa Catalina tour providers to offer a variety of boat tours and diving trips in both Santa Catalina and Coiba Island. Make your arrangements as you get into Santa Catalina, or email us in advance.
Santa Catalina has clean tropical beaches, good food and affordable accommodations. Visitors to Santa Catalina come for outdoor recreation and relaxation. With flocks of wild exotic birds, warm water and pristine beaches, Santa Catalina, Panama offers travelers the option for a quiet getaway or an activity filled experience. Bring your sunscreen!
The two primary beaches in Santa Catalina are Playa Santa Catalina and Playa Estero. These are black sand beaches produced from an adjacent river and offer gentle waves with large tide changes throughout the day. While Playa Santa Catalina is the busier of the two, Playa Estero is a huge, clean beach with a very consistent smaller break for bodysurfers, boogie-boarders, beginning surfers and longboarders.
The beach waters around Santa Catalina are routinely tested are have been awarded the Bandera Azul Ecologica or Ecologic Blue Banner award for their purity. This means the water is super CLEAN. Playa Santa Catalina
Playa Santa Catalina is the main village beach located at the end of the main road that comes in from Sona. This is the center of activity for the fishing village of Santa Catalina. We refer to this area as Main Street. Most of the scuba diving trips and fishing boats leave from Playa Santa Catalina. In front of the beach is a view of Isla Santa Catalina and La Punta. Playa Estero
Playa Estero is east of Main Street across the small river at the end of the dirt road which starts at the intersection in town by the phone booth and the Vasquez store. Playa Estero has less activity throughout the day and is often totally deserted. The beach here has nice consistent sets of waves rolling in for body surfing or beginners to learn to surf. Except during very heavy rains, the river is only ankle deep and can be crossed very easily.
