Panama has a variety of amazing beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Each of them is unique and offers a different experience. While some are quite calm, others are active with waves, while still others are full of life and music and seaside restaurants. Based on what you are looking for, you can find a beach to suit preferences.
The Pacific Coast has wide beaches with large waves that are suitable for surfing. On the other hand, the Caribbean Sea has smaller beaches, and the waters are calm, ideal for swimming. The Caribbean side sometimes experiences passing showers, so you should come prepared for the weather. Most beaches here are remote and difficult to access. However, you can fly to the Bocas del Toro islands, making it possible for you to get to these beaches.
The Pacific Coast side experiences more sun and warm breezes that travel all the way to the mainland. The beaches are easily accessible, and some will only take you a few hours to get there.
1. San Blas Islands Beaches
The San Blas Islands are remote islands found on the Caribbean side of Panama. They have some of the most beautiful beaches in Panama, characterized by fine white sand and palm trees that sway in the wind.
The islands belong to the Kuna people, and staying there means following a particular process and making a reservation. They offer accommodation, three meals daily, and transport.
If you are looking for a great place to spend some alone time and unwind, you will fall in love with these beaches.
If you are wealthy and want to have a memorable experience visiting the islands, you can travel by private sailboat, which will allow you to make stopovers at various islands. You can also eat and sleep on the boat. With the help of your captain, you will discover the best spots for standup paddleboarding, kitesurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, or even swimming. You can hire an entire boat with a crew, but you can also save money by hiring a cabin and sharing the boat with other people.
2. Red Frog Beach
Red Frog Beach is a fantastic beach located in the Bocas del Toro region. Its name comes from the small frog that lives in the Isla Bastimentos. From Bocas del Toro, you can travel there by boat and take a 10-minute walk through the jungle.
This beach is among the most extensive beaches in Panama, and although it receives a lot of visitors, it never seems overcrowded. Its waves are small and suitable for people who enjoy calm water.
If you want to sit comfortably on a chair under an umbrella as you enjoy the ambiance of this beach, you can rent a chair and an umbrella at a fair price. Alternatively, there is the option of spreading your towel under a palm tree and watching the beach from there.
In case you get hungry, several restaurants offer food and drinks, or you can choose to bring your own food. It is important to note that visitors are charged for walking to the beach across private land.
If you plan on staying here for a few days, book your accommodation in advance since the place receives lots of visitors, especially during the high season. Whether traveling on a budget or looking for luxury accommodation, you will find something that meets your needs.
3. Starfish Beach
This is one of the safest beaches in Bocas del Toro if you are traveling with small kids and family. It has calm waves, and its waters are shallow, making it the safest beach for children in Panama.
Some of the activities you can engage in here include swimming, renting a kayak or floating chair, snorkeling, or going wakeboarding. You don’t have to bring food because restaurants, set amid the swaying palm trees, serve local and international dishes.
To get to Starfish Beach, you need to take a short taxi ride from Bocas del Toro to Boca del Drago, and then a short boat ride.
4. Bluff Beach
This beach is located in the Bocas del Toro area on Isla Colon beach. Despite having large waves, people can still swim it. If you enjoy surfing and boogie boarding, you will love this beach.
The soft golden sand stretches for eight kilometers, making it easy to choose a favorite spot and watch the waves crash.
This is another great place to go if you want to take a break from your everyday routine and just loosen up.
There are some restaurants nearby, but it is best to bring your own food to avoid any inconvenience. The road leading to this beach is bumpy and sometimes muddy, but it is worth the trouble. You are likely to see monkeys and sloths hanging from trees along the way.
5. Punta Duarte
This fantastic beach is located on the Pacific Ocean side of Panama. The location is stunning, with an outlying island that connects to the mainland during low tide.
Because of its angle, Punta Duarte is one of the few beaches on Panama’s Pacific coast that has small waves, making it swimmable.
After the tide has receded, you can spot huge tide pools and take a stroll along the rocks to watch eye-catching fish and other sea creatures.
You will spot the Punta Duarte Garden Inn on one end of the beach. This small restaurant serves breakfast, and if you alert them early enough, they can prepare takeaway dinner for you.
The beach is only 1.5 hours from Panama City along the Sunset Coast highway.
6. Punta Chame
Are you searching for a beach that has shallow waters where your children can swim comfortably without fear? Punta Chame will meet your needs. This beach is calm, with shallow waters, making it suitable for kids and adults who aren’t solid swimmers.
Kitesurfers flock here during the windy season between December and April. Punta Chame is, without a doubt, Panama’s best kitesurfing beach. It is also a favorable place for learning how to kitesurf. This hidden gem is about a 1.5-hour drive from Panama City, so you can make it back to the city the same day.
7. Coronado Beach
Coronado Beach is located near Panama City, so it is a popular weekend getaway spot for people living in the city as well as visitors. The beach is surrounded by lots of hotels and restaurants that serve local and international dishes.
Coronado Beach is easily accessible from Panama City, compared to most other beaches. However, unlike the other beaches that are popular for their beauty, this one is well known for its neighborhood and its surroundings.
It is possible to swim here, but you should be on the lookout since waves get big in some areas. Coronado town is just a few kilometers from the shore; it is a vibrant town with lots of stores and restaurants.
8. Playa Venao
Playa Venao is situated on the Peninsula de Azuero and is one of Panama’s most popular surfing destinations. This does not mean that you should not visit if you are not a surfer; you can watch the surfers as they ride on their surfboards.
In Playa Venao, waves come in different sizes, making it easy for interested people to learn how to surf. There are also various accommodation options, and you will find something based on what you are looking for.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the many beaches in Panama. If you are the kind of person who enjoys surfing, swimming, paddleboarding, kitesurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, or any other water activity, you should consider traveling to this amazing country.