Panama Special Reports

In this Panama Special Report, we introduce you to Santa Catalina, Panama, on Veraguas province’s Pacific coast. What first brought outsiders here some 40 years ago is the same thing that draws them today: the surf.

Santa Catalina is off the beaten path, and as a result, disconnected from the realities of day-to-day life. It’s home to a small but diverse expat population who’ve brought with them vestiges of their home cultures. This is especially true when it comes to gastronomy: From authentic Italian pizza and gelato to Panamanian ceviche to Argentinian empanadas, the dining options in Santa Catalina run the gamut.

Santa Catalina’s proximity to Coiba National Park is another major reason people journey here. In the not-too-distant past, Isla Coiba was a penal colony synonymous with death. Today, the island and its surrounding waters are world-famous for the abundance of life they support—nature-lovers and adventurists won’t be disappointed. It’s not easy to get to, but whether you go to surf, scuba dive, or simply unwind, Santa Catalina is worth the trip.

In this Panama Special Report, we bring you the Pacific coastal towns of Venao, Tonosi, and Cambutal.

This is a natural paradise, a region of Panama that boasts some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world, plus surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Around Coiba lies the largest coral reef on the Pacific side of the Americas.

If you like outdoor activities, then this is a region ripe with opportunity to get out and explore.

From April or May to December or so, Panama’s rainy season (also called the wet season) sets in. During this time—the majority of the year—you can safely expect a downpour per day. The rain may last mere minutes but, more often than not, the precipitation doesn’t let up for a couple of hours. After several months of no moisture in the dry season, though, the country is a dustbowl, so by the time the rains roll back in, many welcome the wet weather.

Early months, say, from April to August, may not see rain at all—but storms usually occur in the afternoon, and often the sun shines bountifully before and after. At the height of the season, though, November and December, say, you can almost set your watch by the thunderstorms, and entire days tend to be overcast. You might even see the occasional all-day storm during these months—a true rarity in the tropics.

By no means should you let the wet season rule your life—there’s no reason to hibernate for these overcast and unpredictable months. Wondering what all there is to do that won’t get rained out? This rainy season survival guide puts the best of Panama’s indoor opportunities at your fingertips…