Hotel Santa Catalina Panama is set on the beach front, 20 meters from the popular surfing spot of La Punta. This property is a 12 minute walk from Playa Estero, the sandy beach in Santa Catalina.
Cheryl
United Kingdom
Great chilled out location not far from the town. Room was spacious & well equipped.
The pool area was great, staff were all friendly.
Villa Coco, in the heart of Santa Catalina, is a luxury boutique hotel and one of the most famous in the small and picturesque town.
Sergio Miguel
Germany
- the outdoor shower
- spacious and comfortable room
- the terrace and the pool to relax
- free bikes
- high quality food in own restaurant
- nice housekeeping staff
- welcome drink while checking in
- everything in walking distance
- our little friend Gigi the cat :)
Located in Santa Catalina, 300 metres from Estero, OceanFront Bungalows - Paradise Rentals provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace.
Peter
Canada
Everything.. we were only planning on staying for 7 days. Less then an hour being here we changed our plans for the rest of our stay in Panama and stayed here for 11 day. We travel many times per year around the world and I admit this location, property, staff and amenities are 10 / 10 exceptional. The staff upgraded us to a complete house. It was aprox 400 sq/ft equipped fully with full kitchen, king size bed, air conditioning and patio overlooking the ocean. Largest houses in the area and very clean. Couldn't have asked for anything better.
Hotel Vista Coiba Villas & Restaurant is set 40 mts from the popular surfing spot of La Punta. This property is a 15 minute walk from Playa Estero, the sandy beach in Santa Catalina.
Offering a restaurant, Hotel Iguanito is located in Santa Catalina, 80 metres from Santa Catalina Beach and 11 km from Lagartero Beach. Free WiFi access is available in all areas.
Featuring free WiFi and a restaurant, Hotel y Restaurante Mama Ines offers accommodation in Santa Catalina. The property is located in front of the beach, and guests can enjoy a drink at the bar.
Offering a terrace, views of the pool and garden Hotel Las Hamacas is centrally located in Santa Catalina. The property is very close to surfing beaches, diving shops and restaurants.
Boasting a bar, Hotel Brisa Mar is located in Santa Catalina in the Veraguas region, 200 metres from Santa Catalina Beach and 1.6 km from Estero.
Tadeáš
Czech Republic
The room was clean and there was a nice terrace to chill in the evening. Shared kitchen was well equipped and also clean. There is a bar underneath the accommodation if you want to have a beer after a trip. Noise from the bar wasn't any problem for our sleep.
Coibahouse is a quaint property located along the beach in Santa Catalina that features 24-hour reception and the friendly staff can assist with the arrangements for island outings and fishing.
Jeanne
France
Amazing view. Direct access to the beach. Very quiet and close to the centers for scuba-diving and diving.
Seemed like the best accommodation of the town. Would 200% recommend!
Located in Santa Catalina, 300 metres from Estero, OceanFront Bungalows - Paradise Rentals provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace.
Fantastisch uitzicht, aan zee en mooie ruime bungalow
Offering a restaurant, Hotel Iguanito is located in Santa Catalina, 80 metres from Santa Catalina Beach and 11 km from Lagartero Beach. Free WiFi access is available in all areas.
Excellent location, great room, daily housekeeping, friendly and helpful staff
This small hotel is located in Santa Catalina and features air-conditioned rooms, free breakfast and an outdoor swimming pools with sea views. Hotel Sol y Mar also has free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Fly into Tocumen International Airport, Panama City. From there, take a domestic flight to Santiago (approx. 40 minutes), then a taxi to Santa Catalina (approx. 90 minutes). Alternatively, direct buses from Panama City to Santa Catalina take around 5-6 hours.
The most convenient airport for both domestic and international travellers is Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. It's approximately 300km from Santa Catalina, offering numerous flight options and good transport links.
Santa Catalina, Panama, lacks public transport. However, the small village is easily navigable on foot. For longer distances, bicycles are available for hire. Alternatively, taxis can be arranged through local hotels. Always verify the fare before your journey. Please note, driving is not recommended due to limited road infrastructure.
Santa Catalina's central area is ideal for visitors, offering convenient access to restaurants, shops, and the beach. It's popular for surfing and scuba diving, with Coiba National Park nearby. For tranquillity, consider the outskirts, still within walking distance to amenities.
Santa Catalina, Panama, enjoys a tropical climate with high humidity. Average temperatures range from 24°C to 30°C throughout the year. There are no distinct summer and winter seasons. However, a dry season occurs from January to April, while the wet season, marked by heavy rainfall, spans from May to December. The region is not typically affected by monsoons or hurricanes.
What guests said about Santa Catalina:
6.0
Scored 6.0
Santa Catalina is an interesting place.
Santa Catalina is an interesting place. If I were younger and a surfer, it might be awesome. At this stage it feels like it is still the frontier, the “wild west” of Panama. It is obviously super popular with the crunchy backpacker and surfer crowd, and judging by the development taking place (golf course down the road), it will soon be popular with the expats and gringos as well.
Glen
United States
10
Scored 10
Good place to have a day trip to Coiba, we did an excellent...
Good place to have a day trip to Coiba, we did an excellent snorkelling tour with Watching Dolphins.
Playa Estero is very pleasant for a lazy afternoon ( but better with a car!).
Some pleasant restaurants in the village : We liked lodge bar and restaurant, very good and friendly.
Very disappointed by Los Penguinos, beautiful view and nice for a drink, but very very very long service.
There is an ATM near the Pharmacia and supermarket.
Claude
France
10
Scored 10
I’ve been to Santa Catalina about 9x in the last 15 yrs.
I’ve been to Santa Catalina about 9x in the last 15 yrs. It’s clearly a place I enjoy. I’m there for the diving. If you go there to dive you should visit Isla Coiba … it’s world class. Of course you also have surfing, kayaking, fishing, walking on the beach or just relaxing at your hotel pool. Highly recommend getting out and enjoying one of the many restaurants. I also really like the people, who I find friendly and hard working. Hangout by the beach at sunset and you’ll find locals & tourist playing volleyball or just sitting over a cold beer enjoying the view.
Joe
United States
8.0
Scored 8.0
Santa Catalina is quiet surf town.
Santa Catalina is quiet surf town. During the day, most of the restaurants were closed. There are two beaches, the nicer one is Estero beach, which is good place to surf, even for the beginners. You can do snorkling trips, diving, surf or kayaking to the Santa Catalina island, where the beach was great and water clear.
RiikkaJJ
Finland
10
Scored 10
Santa Catalina is an extremely nice surfer town!
Santa Catalina is an extremely nice surfer town! It is definitely one of my favourite spots in Panama in general! It is more remote so if you are a solo traveler I would suggest staying in a social hostel.
The people are friendly and it is a really nice town as a beginning surfer or advanced.
And you should do the coiba tour!!! It is so beautifull, i have no regrets paying a little more for a tour like this.
A
Anonymous
10
Scored 10
One of the top places I've been to for scuba diving, I've...
One of the top places I've been to for scuba diving, I've been there a few times and I've seen whale sharks, bull sharks, white tip sharks, giant oceanic rays, cownose rays, eels, sea turtles, sea horses, frogfish, etc.
Loved eating in Hotel Iguanito, Ai Mamita (in Villa Coco Hotel), and for breakfast: Café Panachocolat and Sugar Mamas.
Not super easy to get around, you basically need a shuttle or car to go through the bumpy road. Once there, it's a bit hilly for the average walker/bike rider. If you stay in the intersection where all the dive centers are located, and you're there to scuba dive, then you're walking distance from everything you need.
Wonderful hostel, very nice and clean. Vincenzo the Italian owner was very helpful with everything we needed. The family room was perfect for our family of 4, it could even accommodate up to 6. Fantastic location in the village center, opposite the small supermarket and a short walk from the beach. Breakfast is tasty with yummy coffee and the restaurant offers fresh bread and authentic Italian cuisine. Fast WiFi!!
Hostel Vieja Panaderia is excellent value and we can’t recommend it enough. Thanks Vincenzo for hosting us!
10/10 ⭐️
I had the best experience at Hostel Villa Vento Surf! The owners Steven & Daniel were extremely helpful and you can always have a laugh with them. Besides that the rooms, bathrooms, pool, and kitchen are getting cleaned regularly. There is enough space for guest to hang out, play games, cook, and socialize.
Villa Vento is the place to stay at in Santa Catalina, if you want to get to know travelers, locals, and cuddle with Flocki. 🐶
The property is beautiful! Definitely the best spot to be in Santa Catalina as it’s located right on Playa Estero, the main surf beach. I had so much fun waking up, grabbing a board and surfing all day. The property offers surfboard rental for just $10 a day & the bungalows are located right on the beach ( you can hear the waves crashing all night. )
The owner also drives people to the bus stop in town which is really helpful.
As the cheapest option on Booking, this hostel receives a high rating according to its price for value you'll get. The hostel is very authentic - especially the host Pablo himself. He is a super chill, kind and helpful person - a great guy with a passion for music. We went surfing together at Playa El Estero which was a blast haha. I feel like I found not only a host but a friend!
The property was beautiful and peaceful. The grounds were well maintained and natural. The rooms were very comfortable and private. The outdoor shower was so enjoyable. The restaurant had many u unique touches. The pool was clean and welcoming. It was just a quick walk down to the ocean and close to the Santa Catalina a beaches. The use of bones was a great bonus.
Great location and facilities! It's close to the shops and restaurants. The staff are nice and they are willing to help with anything! The room and the pool area are amazing and the cafe in front, Sugar Mama, has really good breakfast. Since we like Santa Catalina and the hotel, we extended our stay. It great for solo travelers, couples and families with kids.
Santa Catalina is not very huge, so everything is next to the hostel - beach, supermarkets, even an ATM.
The cabins are very comfortable, with its own bathroom and sitting area infront of the cabin.
We could book a snorkeling trip to Coiba Island when we checked in. That was very comfortable and easy to handle (just cash). The Wifi quality is very good.
The hotel is right on the ocean -- the surfers walk down the stairs to the beach and start surfing. My room had a lovely view of the water and there are plenty of terraces with comfortable chairs that also look out on the ocean. The staff is very laid back but very helpful. The restaurant/bar is open all of the time, and the food is good.
I actually booked a private room but some issues with booking appeared so i switched to the dorm. Beds are comfortable, room is huge and even without aircon you are able to sleep properly.
Really nice owner who makes the best Arepas i've ever had. Try the shrimp arepas, it is worth it!
Close to Downtown Santa Catalina.
A great hostel run by a super friendly family from Santa Catalina. The bungalow in the front with a private terace a great view and direct acces to the beach is mind blowing. The people speak fluently english. I had a problem with my car and the family did the whole conversation with the rental company for me.
We had a wonderful visit with family. Great setting, high above the beach, nice view. Exceptional sunsets!! Nice large pool, centrally located, great place to gather. Property manager, Israel, was helpful along with other staff. Breakfast was very good. Close to surfing areas & other restaurants. Easy parking.
Nice view and location near a great surf break. We rented the 1st floor apartment and it met our needs for space and spreading out. Rented an additional single room for our 2 boys to sleep, but we were all able to hang out in the apartment. The pool was nice and kept clean. Food at the restaurant was good.
Fantastic garden area with a view of the beach, easy access to town beach, supermarkets and the handful of restaurants. Very helpful and friendly staff. Plenty of hammocks and places to relax. Nice friendly atmosphere and very easy to meet people. Also, plenty of free coffee!
Gino made my stay perfect. He organized a snorkeling trip to Coiba and a horseback riding trip on such short notice for me and I loved both trips. I can also really recommend the food in the hotel restaurant. It was authentic and very delicious.
We thought I would be more like a hostel, but I'ts a hotel kind of vibe. Very nice pool with a great view though . The road to get to Santa Catalina however is in very bad shape so keep this in mind.
The hotel rooms are nothing special, but they get the job done. The wifi is decent, AC worked. The restaurant below is probably the best food in town, so don’t miss it! The owners were very nice.
Impressive views from the terrace. Very relaxing. Direct access to santa catalina beach (although it's not the best beach in the area).
The shower (shared) had hot water and good pressure.
overall the hotel and pool area were nice, staff was friendly and helpful, included bicycles were nice to use to bike to other parts of the town easily. room was quite large as well.
You can relax on the terrace or at bar and swimming pool. Manager of the hotel named "Dino" is very helpful. Without his services, our hotel rating would have been worse.
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