Visit the Pacific Riviera: 40 km of coastline where you’ll find so many beaches that the options for activities and accommodations seem endless.
Start this beach journey less than two hours from Panama City. Travel through destinations with different sand colors and tides so dynamic they transform the landscape every six hours. Discover lush natural scenery, towns with personality, and all-inclusive resorts. Here, there are adventures for every taste: surfing, nature, golf, fishing, local cuisine, and much more.
Discover some of the best beaches of the Riviera Pacífica and how to enjoy them in the following list.
1. Punta Chame, the Immense
Just one hour from Panama City (89 km, 50 miles), you’ll find the turnoff to Punta Chame, the first beach of the Riviera Pacifica.As soon as you enter this huge peninsula, over 10 km (6 miles) long, you’ll enjoy sea views on both sides.
You can visit Punta Chame year-round, but its true charm appears between January and May, when strong winds make it Panamá’s capital for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and foiling.
But Punta Chame isn’t just for extreme sports lovers. On this immense stretch of white sand, you’ll find a natural landscape with little human intervention. Less than 1 km from the beach entrance, the town of Punta Chame offers lodging and dining options for all tastes: traditional restaurants, all-inclusive hotels, hostels, and rental homes.
2. Playa Caracol: A Beach to Make Friends
At the same latitude as Chame, but on the opposite tip of the peninsula, you’ll find Playa Caracol. This option features a large beach club with all services: beach chairs, umbrellas, café-bar, changing rooms, showers, and bathrooms—everything for a comfortable day.
It’s a bit busier, especially in summer, also because it has schools for the area’s star sports, board rentals, and everything you need for surfing, windsurfing, or kitesurfing.
3. Surf and Good Vibes at Playa Malibu
Here the sand is white, but with small black patches giving it a grayish tone. The sea is more turquoise and has the Chame river mouth. It’s a truly striking landscape.
Malibu is a key spot for surf lovers in Panamá due to its proximity to the city and, above all, for its long tubular waves breaking right at low tide and left at mid-tide. The break point is in front of the river—a view not to be missed.
The beachfront is very natural and you won’t find many services, but nearby there are kiosks, restaurants, and surf schools.
4. Gorgona and its Colorful Sands
As part of the Nueva Gorgona area, this beach is another paradise for local surfers. From your board, enjoy the waves and the effect of the Chame River flowing into the sea, and on the beach, admire the beautiful effect of the sun on the mix of white and black volcanic sand.
On weekends, this beach can be busier, as it’s a common destination for city dwellers, especially in summer. Thanks to this, you’ll find many dining options and tourist infrastructure: hotels, rental homes, restaurants, surf clubs, and more.
5. Coronado, the Original
If you continue along the Pan-American Highway, about 2 hours from Panama City (88 km, 54.6 miles), you’ll reach Playa Coronado. The first beach to develop a coastal vacation area for Panamanians, and still the most developed and visited in the Riviera Pacífica. In Coronado, besides great food, you’ll find everything you need close by and never far from the sea.
The color of Coronado’s beach is a mystery and depends on the area. In some places, white sand mixes with black volcanic sand, and in others, the sand is so black it shines in the sun.
Here you can enjoy endless activities: jet ski rentals, water skiing, kayaking, four-wheelers, surf and kitesurf boards, and even horseback riding on the beach. There are also beach volleyball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, and even a large golf course.
If you want to get off the sand, you can visit the Tropical Dry Forest, a hidden gem protected to allow flora and fauna diversity to thrive. There you can go birdwatching or take a guided tour to see caimans. In short, Coronado is the alternative for those seeking luxury and comfort.
6. Playa Teta, the Surfer’s Hideaway
The main attractions here are the natural state of the beach, the good vibes, and, of course, the surf.
This hidden gem has two famous spots: Frente de Teta and Punta Teta, where you’ll find exciting waves. Teta also has a river mouth, where you can cool off in fresh water.
7. Playa El Palmar, Your First Waves
El Palmar is another surf spot, ideal if you’re just starting out, as there are several schools and board rentals.
On the beach, you’ll find restaurants, bars, rental huts, showers, and, very importantly, lifeguards. El Palmar offers accommodation options ranging from hotels and hostels to camping areas. Plus, it’s very close to Playa Ensenada and the town of San Carlos, so you have several options to alternate between locations or get products and services.
8. Playa Ensenada
In the district of San Carlos is Ensenada, a beach with much calmer seas. The beach has some local businesses, bars, showers, and bathrooms.
Although options right on the beach may seem limited, the nearby town has everything: hotels, a beach club, a soccer field, and even a heliport. From Ensenada’s port, you can also hire small boats for open sea rides or fishing tours.
9. Playa Río Mar, Between Salt and Fresh Water
This beach is the last surf spot on the Pacific Riviera. It’s ideal for experienced surfers, as its waves are usually quite high and sometimes there are strong currents.
As the name suggests, this beach also has a river mouth. The Calabazo River forms a small lagoon just before reaching the sea, perfect for a change of scenery.
10. Playa Corona, Guaranteed Fun
This is the last beach in the province of Panama Oeste. Enjoy hotels and seaside resorts that rent chairs and umbrellas.
It’s a fairly popular beach, especially in summer, so it offers other amenities like parking, showers, and changing rooms.
11. Playa Santa Clara, the Name Says It All
Now in the province of Cocle, you’ll find Santa Clara. As the name suggests, the sand and water here are clear, contrasting with the black sand beaches of Panama Oeste.
Santa Clara is perfect for those who want to spend a day at the beach, but not necessarily in a big hotel. For about $10, you can rent a typical beach hut with a palm roof, table, chairs, and hammocks.
There are also several restaurants in Santa Clara, ranging from local to Mediterranean cuisine, and they offer shower services for an extra fee.
12. Beaches with Resorts: Bijao, Playa Blanca, Buenaventura, and Farallón
The next stretch of beaches is known for having the most complete offerings on the Riviera. Each of these beaches has its own hotel, some luxurious, others all-inclusive. In any of them, you’ll find spacious facilities, a variety of daytime and nighttime entertainment, water sports facilities, different dining options, beach bars, shaded kiosks, and pools.
In this area, you’ll also find the best golf courses in Panamá, some with more than 7,000 yards and others with 18 holes and an excellent setting.
And at the end of what is known as the Pacific Riviera is Farallon beach, with public access, a lively atmosphere, several restaurants, and small beach bars.
To reach this sector of beaches, you can travel along the Interamericana or take a charter flight from Panama City to Scarlett Martínez International Airport in Río Hato.
Riviera Pacifica
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