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A 5-hour drive fromPanama Cityis Santa Catalina, a small surfing village starting to make big waves as a travel destination.
The definition of village is sometimes loosely applied in a travel sense.
Moderately sized towns are often labelled as villages in an attempt to sound more appealing to the unknowing traveler. In the case of Santa Catalina though, village is the correct term.
The local population is approximately 500 people.
Santa Catalina has a slow pace of life, and most people are here to relax. If you are looking to spend your days in a hammock, sipping cold drinks overlooking the blue Pacific then Santa Catalina could be ideal.
Above all, there are unspoiled rainforests all around adding to the relaxed atmosphere.
Several beaches are prime for swimming and surfing, making outdoor recreation a big draw to the area. The sunsets are, of course, gorgeous as they drift into the Pacific.
The growing tourist market of Santa Catalina, Panama, is also ripe for expats who aren’t quite ready to retire.
So, if you have an enterprising spirit, you could find or create opportunities here.
Expats have started businesses like hotels, restaurants, dive shops, even a bakery. The possibilities for creative types are near-endless…
What Santa Catalina is not, is a commercial district. There are no banks, ATMs, or grocery stores—except for twotiendas(small corner stores). Santa Catalina is not a shopping destination…
Santa Catalina is located in the region of Veraguas. If you are driving, we recommend you leave your starting point early enough to arrive during daylight hours.
You can get to Santa Catalina by car or bus in about 5 hours from Panama City. From Coronado andDavidit takes about 3.5 hours.
The bus service from Panama City is regular and quite dependable.
Most importantly, you can expect to pay up to US$15 for a bus and they all have air conditioning. The bus service from David is less frequent but there might be about 3 buses a day.
Santa Catalina has a growing expat community. It’s still quite a small community but its tight knit.
It’s become a popular destination among foreigners due to its laid-back beach town lifestyle and natural beauty. This is a beach town known for its world-class surf breaks, diving, and outdoor activities.
In fact, many foreigners who’ve moved to Santa Catalina have set up their own businesses such as surf schools, restaurants, and eco-lodges.
Santa Catalina is one of Panama’s best surfing destinations and the waves here compare with anywhere in the world.
You’ll find that these tropical water waves are suitable for all standards, from beginner, up to the professional. There are three main breaks, Estero which is a river mouth break, La Punta which is strictly for advanced surfers and Punto Brava which is a reef break and also for advanced surfers.
Surfing lessons are available at Playa Estero with board hire to get you up and running.
The spots with the better waves are more difficult as they break over volcanic rocks, unforgiving on boards and bones. You can hire a boat to take you to Isla Coiba or a few other secret spots around the area.
The biggest swells arrive between March and August and a few Santa Catalina surf spots can hold over 20ft waves.
Santa Catalina has some of the best Scuba Diving inPanama. Instructors offer a full range of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses from beginner through to expert, and the chance to become a fully certified diver.
While you can dive throughout the Santa Catalina area, Isla Coiba is by far the most popular spot to dive. Boats leave Santa Catalina in the morning, take you out to Isla Coiba, and return in the evening.
The underwater world here is spectacular. You can see reef and nurse sharks, dolphins, turtles, devil and sting rays, jacks, barracudas, snappers, and a host of other tropical fish species.
From January to April you might see a whale shark, and from July to September you have the chance to see humpback whales who come looking for the warm tropical waters to raise their calves.
Isla Coiba used to be a high security prison and is now a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During your visit, expect to see huge crocodiles as well as iguanas and plenty of birds and butterflies. This is a wildlife lovers paradise due to having incredible biodiversity.
Hire a boat and head out to sea where you can take advantage of Panama’s best fishing waters.
Day trips usually include all equipment as well as food and a cold beverages. Ice filled coolers are provided for any fish you catch and wish to cook and eat when you return to shore.
Yellowfin Tunas are a popular fish and there are plenty to be found. They can reach 300 pounds. early in the year and are excellent for sport fishing.
The restaurant scene is growing in Santa Catalina, Panama. Different cuisines are available, but the Panamanian food is especially good.
Most importantly, there is some excellent, freshly caught, sea food available including some great ceviche with hot sauce.
Surprisingly, Santa Catalina is one of the few Panamanian small towns where you can safely drink the tap water.
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | Not included here as too variable. | |
| HOA Fees | N/A | |
| Property Taxes | 1.75% to 2.1% | On properties over US$120,000 |
| Transportation | – | No transport needed within town. |
| Gas | US$5 | For cooking. |
| Electricity | US$65 | Slightly more if using air conditioning. |
| Water | US$8 | |
| Cell Phone | US$70 | |
| Internet | – | Bundled with telephone fee. |
| Cable TV | – | Bundled with telephone fee. |
| Household Help | US$80 | Four visits a week. |
| Entertainment | US$350 | Couples’ cost for eating out and drinks twice a week. |
| Groceries | US$400 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym Membership | – | |
| Medical Appointment | US$25 | Basic checkup in a public hospital. |
| TOTAL | US$1,003 | Property tax fee not included. |
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | US$500 | Unfurnished, two-bedroom, comfortable house. |
| Transportation | – | No transport needed within town. |
| Gas | US$5 | For cooking. |
| Electricity | US$65 | Slightly more if using air conditioning. |
| Water | US$8 | |
| Cell Phone | US$70 | |
| Internet | – | Bundled with telephone fee. |
| Cable TV | – | Bundled with telephone fee. |
| Household Help | US$80 | Four times a week. |
| Entertainment | US$350 | Couples’ cost for eating out and drinks twice a week. |
| Groceries | US$400 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym Membership | – | |
| Medical Appointment | US$25 | |
| TOTAL | US$1,503 |
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | US$100 | Cheapest part of town, most basic kind of rental. |
| Transportation | – | No transport needed within town. |
| Gas | US$5 | For cooking. |
| Electricity | US$20 | Without air conditioning. |
| Water | US$8 | |
| Cell Phone | US$70 | No plan. Just buying prepaid cards when needed. |
| Internet | – | Bundled with telephone fee. |
| Cable TV | – | Bundled with telephone fee. |
| Entertainment | US$160 | Couples’ cost for eating out and drinks twice a week. |
| Groceries | US$200 | Shopping in local stores only. |
| TOTAL | US$563 |
Santa Catalina started out as a fishing village of just a handful of people but now has a population of some 500. Despite the expansion, it’s stayed true to its small-town roots. Everyone knows each other here.
Santa Catalina is also safe… and compact. You can walk the winding roads from one end of town to the other in under 30 minutes.
Crime rates are low, especially major crimes. However, as with any tourist destination there is a chance of pickpockets or other petty crimes, so take the same precautions you would anywhere else.
As a tropical country, Panama has just two seasons: dry and wet.
In Santa Catalina, the changing of the seasons affects the natural world. Temperatures here are relatively constant year-round: During the day, 90˚F is the norm, while at night, it drops down to around 70˚F.
The dry season is roughly from January to May. This is the best time to experience Panama’s Pacific for scuba, as the ocean’s visibility is at its best.
Light rains begin to fall in June and continue through August. Because of the excess water, Santa Catalina’s swells begin to grow and surfers—the most common visitors—arrive in large numbers.
Heavy rains and dramatic thunderstorms become daily occurrences starting in September and lasting until December. This is when the town is at its quietest, but don’t write off a visit.
The inner daredevil in you may want to see Santa Catalina’s surf at its most powerful—waves reach up to 13 feet this time of year.
There is a hospital in Santa Catalina now, but it lacks doctors and staff to run it. When it is functional, it’ll be a great service to the people of Santa Catalina, which is only a 20-minute drive away.
In the meantime, locals and expats make the two-hour drive to Santiago for regular procedures and checkups. For anything more serious, it’s five hours to Panama City.
If you’re looking for a first-world environment with all the conveniences, comforts, and trappings of a big city, Santa Catalina is not the place for you.
Santa Catalina doesn’t have an ATM, let alone a local bank branch. Internet is available, but you’ll have to pay by the megabyte to use it. None of Panama’s grocery store chains are found here…
For many basic needs (even gas for your car), you’ll have to venture outside of town.
The nearest gas station is an hour away in Soná. For many products, trips to Santiago—two hours away—are necessary.
Santa Catalina is best known for its wildlife (both terrestrial and aquatic), scuba diving, and for being the main point of departure if you want to head out to the gorgeous Coiba Island.
It is safe to drink tap water in Santa Catalina, Panama.
While Santa Catalina, Panama, may not be for everyone, if you’re an outdoorsy person who enjoys surfing, swimming in the ocean, diving, and living in a small town with a sense of community, then it’s worth your attention.
Your expenses in Santa Catalina will depend on the lifestyle you choose. For example, if you stick to local grocery items and opting to not use the air conditioning all day, you could live here in a monthly budget of US$1,200. A penny-pincher’s budget can be brought down to US$800.
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