Santa Catalina offers several surf spots and opportunities for water excursions. When planning your trip, you can first compare which waves and what kind of excursion interest you. You can also plan the bus journey as a separate step.

Surfing in Santa Catalina

At Punta Santa Catalina, powerful, tube-shaped waves meet the history of a venue for national and international championships. Punta Brava offers good surf and well-defined tubes, and is also suitable for experienced surfers. Both spots are known for tubes; the championships at Punta Santa Catalina and the explicit suitability for experienced surfers at Punta Brava are distinct highlights.

At Playa Estero, the waves are smaller and the seabed is sandy. In summer, Estero is suitable for beginners and for people who want to improve their technique. Playa Estero also offers surf schools and board rentals. Its suitability for beginners is seasonal, so check before your trip which schools and rental options will be available during your visit.

The surf spots can therefore be compared using several criteria: wave profile, experience level, and season. Punta Brava is also suitable for experienced surfers, while Estero is an option for beginners and for improving technique in summer. Powerful waves and championships are among the defining features of Punta Santa Catalina. This lets you tailor the surfing part of your trip to what matters to you.

Water Excursions

Tours to Parque Nacional Coiba depart from the beach in Santa Catalina. Sport-fishing trips also depart from Santa Catalina, heading toward Isla Cebaco, Coiba, or Golfo de Montijo. Coiba is therefore mentioned in two different contexts: as a destination for tours to the national park and as a destination for a sport-fishing trip. These are two different types of boat excursion.

If you are interested in Coiba, you can first decide whether you are looking for a tour to the national park or a sport-fishing trip. Check the dates and availability of your preferred excursion in advance.

Traveling by Bus

The bus journey to Santa Catalina goes from Terminal de Albrook via Soná, where you continue on a local bus. Keep the journey in mind as two separate legs: first the trip via Soná, then the onward journey by local bus. Check the schedule before setting off, as departure frequency and journey times may change.

When looking for hotels in Santa Catalina, you can decide what your priority is: surfing, a tour to Parque Nacional Coiba, or a sport-fishing trip.

Discover more destinations: La Gorgona, Santiago, Mariato, Atalaya, Santiago District, Mata Palo, El Infiernillo, Farfán.

For the broader travel overview: Veraguas.