Tradition Calls
Join a drum circle and learn about a diverse group of indigenous cultures and people. Read More
The Ocean is Calling
Panamá is where worlds converge. Where cities bustle by ocean and islands meet. Where waves meet breathtaking sandy beaches. Where marine life thrives just outside the lush green rainforests. Where your aquatic adventure begins. Experience the world like you never have before. Experience Panamá.
With beaches lining the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, visitors have plenty of options when it comes to exploring the marine ecosystem that surrounds our country. Dive and snorkel among multicolored fish, surf the waves, sail into the ocean and see what kind of fish you can catch. Why choose one ocean when you can experience both? Everything is possible in Panamá waters.
What to Do
Not only is Panamá one of the best places for diving and snorkeling being one of the most bio-diverse ranges in the world, but it’s also the only place where you can dive & snorkel in both oceans in one day, and see two completely different underwater marvels. Visitors can witness amazing marine life, including 250 species of reef and game fish, five species of sea turtles, humpback whales, whale sharks, reef sharks as black-and-white-tips, tiger sharks, yellowtail snappers, butterfly fish, dolphins, schools of tuna, and so much more.
Descend into our waters for a chance to see stunning coral reefs–including the most extensive coral reef in all Central America at Coiba National Marine Park–rocky drop-offs, majestic mangroves, and even shipwrecks, so you can explore what pirates left behind. These corals are known to house even more marine species like cowries, arrow crabs, and Nudibranchia.
Our most popular diving areas in the Pacific are Coiba National Park, Pearl Islands Archipelago in Panama City and Azuero Peninsula. On the Caribbean side Portobelo in Colon, and the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.
For fun on the Surface, there’s no place like Panamá. With 1,500 miles (almost 3,000 km) of coastline between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Panamá has multiple year-round surfing destinations. With an incredible mix of beach, reef and point breaks, for enthusiasts and beginners alike, Panamá is a surfer's heaven! We welcome you to the stunning shores of our fishing villages, vibrant and secluded beach towns. Here, you'll find community, passion, and waves fit for every surfer, no matter the experience level. For newbies looking to experience new activities or intermediate surfers looking to improve their surf skills, there are surf schools and camps available all over our Panamanian shores. The top place to practice surfing on the Caribbean side is Bocas del Toro Archipelago, in any of the three main islands, Isla Colon, Bastimento and Carenero’s Island. On the Pacific side, the Riviera Pacifica is only a 1 hour drive from the city and has plenty of surf spots, like Playa Venao Guanico and Cambutal in Los Santos Province. Santa Catalina in Veraguas across from Coiba National Park has one of the longest beach breaks in Central America.
For those looking for a catch or two, Pinas Bay's along Panamá's southern Pacific coast in the Darien Province, holds more IGFA (International Game Fish Association) world records than anywhere else in the world. At the Pacific coast of Veraguas province find prime fishing spots such as Motijo´s Gulf, Cebaco and Coiba. Visitors can also enjoy great fishing opportunities and specialized lodges at Boca Chica in the Gulf of Chiriqui, the Pearl Island Archipelago near Panamá City, and Pedasi in Los Santos Province. It's no wonder why Panamá means “abundance of fish.”
What to See
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of whale watching, and in Panamá, the experience is unlike any other. That’s because Panamá is one of the only two regions worldwide where humpback whales from the Northern and Southern hemispheres migrate for breeding and birthing.
Panamá is also home to more than 200 turtle nesting beaches dispersed between the Pacific coast and the Atlantic. Thanks to the diversity of habitats, ecosystems and its strategic geographic position, the country offers ideal conditions for 5 out of the 7 sea turtles species in the world to thrive. Sea turtle conservation is a priority in Panamá since the five turtle species found in Panamá are classified as either endangered, critically endangered, or vulnerable by the World Wildlife Fund.
There is nothing quite like the once-in-a-lifetime experience of observing a mama sea turtle digging her hole in the sand and laying her eggs. Visitors can spend time at one of our many sanctuaries and even be a part of their conservation volunteer programs.
Where to Go
With over 3,000 kilometers of coastline, Panamá offers access to both black sand and pearl-white sand beaches where visitors can set up for a surf session, nature exploration, or simply an active day in the sun at the Pacific Riviera. Want to try surfing for the first time? Look no further than the surf school at Playa El Palmar, where board rentals and expert teachers make it fun and simple. The Pacific Coastline boasts lush vegetation, lots of sun, and if you’re lucky, humpback whales, while the beaches of the Caribbean Sea offer crystal clear waters, white-sand, green palms, and Caribbean vibes. Not to mention, with more than 1,000 islands, you will always have a beach to visit when you’re here.
The Adventure Continues
Get the most out of your trip and truly discover all that Panamá has to offer.
Nature is Calling
Hike among centuries-old trees or get lost in crystal-clear waterfalls. Read More