PANAMA & SANTA CATALINA
SANTA CATALINA PANAMA: THE BEST uNTAPPED DESTINATION FOR A SURF CAMP & YOGA RETREAT IN CENTRAL AMERICA
MAGICAL SANTA CATALINA, PANAMA
A Dreamy Surf Destination Far From The City Lights
Uncrowded village & beaches, world-renowned surf and a laid back vibe all in one of Central America’s safest countries.
“Magical is an understatement! ✨ 🇵🇦 ”
Our Surf Oasis: Santa Catalina Panama
It’s the town you see in the surf movies, an adventurous far off place that’s hard to get to, but so worth it. It’s the town you imagine visiting and getting lost in, when everywhere else feels overcrowded and impersonal. A remote beach town on the Pacific Coast where local fishermen and their families gather every day to enjoy the sunset, surfers ride on skateboards to the beaches and families commute by horseback for the school drop-off. This is our home of Santa Catalina Panama, where the ocean is our second home.
Why You’ll Love Santa Catalina
LAIDBACK VILLAGE LIFESTYLE
No Starbucks or burger chains in sight, just locally owned low-impact businesses - not even an ATM!
Small, uncrowded and safe community - around 500 locals and only 50 or so expats
There’s not a beach bar or disco in this town. Our days begin and end with the sun, with an early-to-bed and early-to-rise lifestyle. The sunrise at Playa Estero you don't want to miss
WORLD-CLASS SURFING AND DIVING
A world-class wave for advanced surfers at The Point
A gentle wave and uncrowded beach break for beginners to intermediates at Playa Estero
World-class diving and snorkeling at nearby Coiba National Park
WELLNESS
Plenty of fresh organic fish and seafood caught by the local fisherman and local produce from neighboring farms in Chiriquí
Wellness awaits - when it’s time to get out of the sun and surf, we retreat to yoga and massage
REMOTENESS
A 5.5 hour drive from Panama City keeps all the minivan tourist buses at bay. Here you’ll truly find time and space to tap out from your city life. The drive is long but trust us, it’s worth it
DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
What Others Have to Say About Our Oceanside Oasis
“Under the brutal noonday sun, when I, along with seemingly everyone else in town, retreated to a hammock in a spot of shade, I found myself daydreaming about being swallowed up by this little town too. I could find a new rhythm, dictated by when the waves were good for surfing and the visibility was good for diving, in a place where even the Wi-Fi takes things slow, restaurant menus depend on what’s been caught that day and everything is just quieter.”
“People who came here and never left….That’s what happens: Santa Catalina draws many in with La Punta, its world-famous surf break. Then it seduces with its stillness, silence, space and slower pace of life.”
“You’ve been there, done that in San Juan del Sur, Nosara or Santa Teresa and you’re in search of the next off-the beaten path surf spot before it becomes the new ‘It’ place that’s suddenly teeming with tourists. Or, you just need to leave life behind for a week of true, quiet, all-encompassing seclusion. Word is slowly getting out about Santa Catalina, so get there while you can.”
“The pace of Santa Catalina was refreshingly dictated not by the backpackers passing through, but by those who are from here. During my stay, the Panamanians I met where just as excited about the oncoming swell as the visitors.”
Our Main Waves in Santa Catalina Panama
Playa Estero
The Perfect Wave for Beginner to Intermediate Surfers
Playa Estero (Estero Beach) is one of the best beach breaks in Central America for beginner & intermediate surfers. And we believe the best in Panama with gentler waves compared to our neighbouring Pacific beaches in Venao and Cambutal and more consistent than Bocas Del Toro. Playa Estero is an uncrowded beach with a soft sand bottom and no dangerous rips. And it’s only 400m away. An easy walk on a paved road, or jump in our complimentary shuttle.
La Punta
A World-Class Wave for Intermediate to Advanced Surfers
La Punta (The Point) has built a reputation as being one of the best waves in Central America because of its consistency seen almost nowhere else in the region. It works between 3-15ft depending on the swell. The main wave is a right hand that can run 400 meters on a good day and also gives you a short left that is super fun too. There are many other waves to explore by boat surrounding the area.
Why Choose Santa Catalina Panama; for a Surf Camp & Yoga Retreat?
Panama has long been understated, falling into the shadow of the neighboring tourism-rich Costa Rica or the seemingly alluring untouched beaches and culture of Nicaragua, Guatemala or El Salvador. Over the years we’ve travelled and surfed all of these lands, and none have compared to Santa Catalina Panama for us. Here, we’re rewarded with an incredibly safe country, low crowds, rich local culture and unique breathtaking landscapes.
“(Panama) A place where warm uncrowded waves always seem to break perfectly, and the past is the present which is also the future,”
10 Reasons Why You’ll Love Panama:
UNCROWDED BEACHES
Uncrowded beaches and local village off the ‘gringo trail’ - finally, beautiful beach towns that aren’t overdeveloped and seething with tourists.
SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND
Peace of mind that comes with a safe country with an active and respected police presence (compared to other Central American countries, Panama’s crime ratings are very low). A stable democratic government and economy - no fears of civil uprising, or on the more simple end, knowing you can leave your flip flops on the beach and that they will still be there when you get back ;)
US DOLLARIZED ECONOMY
Panama began using the US Dollar alongside the Panamanian Balboa shortly after its independence from Colombia in 1903. This means that Panama has a more stable currency, that is less at the whim of rising and falling markets and the socio-economic effects that can follow.
FIRST WORLD MEDICAL FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Know you’re in the best of care should something happen, and that you don’t have dodge potholes and carve through dirt roads to get the help when you need it.
LAIDBACK, GENUINE, AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE
Always willing to help, always with a smile.
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Including nearby Coiba National Park (greatest diversity of birds & marine life) and the stunning old town of Casco Viejo in Panama City.
THE CULTURAL SOPHISTICATION OF PANAMA CITY
There’s a huge diversity of museums, parks, shopping, international cuisine and nightlife.
Over the past 20 years, Panama has come into its own more than ever before. Cultural progress is most visible in Casco Viejo, the city’s old town, which has transformed into a stylish hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site rolled into one.
— Vogue MagazinePANAMA IS HOME TO SIX INDIGENOUS GROUPS
The Ngöbe-Buglé, Emberá-Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), Guna (Kuna), Bri Bri, and Bokata. Take a trip to the San Blas islands of the Caribbean and experience the Guna tribe, or up jungle rivers to the Ember.
ABUNDANT NATURE
Hike volcanoes in Boquete and witness the beauty of the Pacific and Caribbean oceans from one vantage point.
EASILY ACCESSIBLE
With direct flights from many cities including New York, LA, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Madrid.
