SANTA CATALINA

Among Central America’s top surf spots that attract surfers from all over the world, Santa Catalina has right and left breaks comparable to Oahu’s Sunset Beach on a good day. Enjoy it while it’s still somewhat remote, undeveloped and home to some seriously awesome surf. There is a wave for every type of surfer here. The most popular surf break in Santa Catalina is La Punta. It’s classed as one of the best waves in Central America and is only meant to be surfed by the pros. Killer waves can be found year-round. Playa El Estero is ideal for learning, since it has small waves, without many people. Lessons are around $25 per hour and board rentals are $5 for half day/$10 full for a full day at Playa El Estero. There are no dangerous reefs or rocks since this beautiful beach has a sandy bottom. After this beach is Punta Brava, where another famous wave is located. You can even surf the public beach of the town, Playa Santa Catalina when there is a big swell. The water is warm year-round in Santa Catalina and wetsuits are not needed.

You can rent a kayak for around $40 USD per day or stand up paddleboards for around $30 USD per day in the town of Santa Catalina. Half-day rentals are also possible. Isla Catalina, or Santa Catalina Island, is about an hour paddle away and boasts pristine white sand beaches and snorkeling. You can also just stay closer to Santa Catalina mainland and enjoy the beautiful views if you don’t feel like paddling that far.

Santa Catalina boasts world class sport fishing, including Wahoo, YellowFin Tuna, Snapper, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, and more! The warm waters in Santa Catalina, Panama attract seasonal fish from both the northern and southern hemispheres escaping their winters, making it an abundant fishing location year round. Half day, full day, and multi-day trips can be arranged, with half day trips starting as low as $50 per hour. There are lots of local “panga” boats going out daily, so reserving your spot on a boat does not necessarily need to be done before you come.