The beach of Santa Catalina, the harbor to Coiba National Park. Being here in rainy season meant us seeing brownish water with stirred-up sediment, as well as a proper amount of waste at the beach, may be washed up by the sea. Anyway, a bath in the sea was fun as only a few other folks were around.

People mentioned here on Google this a good surf spot. It might be, but definitelly not in December. If you wanna go to Coiba boats leaving from this beach. Should you wanna go check a trip in one of many shops along the route. Sunrise and sunset are worth to view. There is a one great place to eat El Pacifico(cheaper than many restaurant in the town and have only fresh fish and see food).

Not really that clean. Well-frequented by the locals.

Beautiful main beach in the village. Feels very authentic and not touristy. Lots of kind locals just enjoying swimming and catching up with one another. We really enjoyed it and would love to visit Santa Catalina again!

This is a surfer beach. Mainly young people here. The beach is very clean and pretty. There are also other beaches near by. The restaurants and hotels are within a minute walking distance. There are no luxury hotels here, but the hotels are clean inexpensive and for everyone something. There weren't many people here. It is the off season. However this is how I like it.

Clear waters, idyllic surroundings, everything one associates with a great day at the beach. Minus 1 star for irregular public conveyance to Santa Catalina. Other than this little hiccup, a beautiful place to visit 👌

A must stay place when diving at Coiba National park. Town has been forgotten by authorities. Too bad. Need recycling proposal too much garbage by the road. Very lively place to stay.

High quality service. Clear and safety first briefings. You don't need to do anything just enjoy trip. Lunch is also great between dive stops. Did 3 days diving and each day was wonderful!

We had an amazing time diving with Scuba Coiba, everyone in the dive shop was friendly and welcoming, especially their lovely dog! Herbie was great to communicate with and responded very quickly to any questions we had, he made the booking process very easy as well. Luis was an incredible guide during our 2 days of diving and made it an unforgettable experience for us. The Captain’s and crew were also great, being very accommodating and even treated us to fresh coconuts on the beach, one of the days during our surface interval. They also made the effort to chase down a pod of dolphins for us since, we’d never seen any which was incredible. We truly appreciate the care and effort from everyone involved. I would highly recommend diving with Scuba Coiba for an unforgettable experience! We will definitely be back :)

It was my first dive ever with Cynthia and it was incredible. I learnt and saw a lot. Cynthia takes a lot of time for you, is a very animal loving person and enjoys her job. Thank you for the incredible experience. Anytime again.🫶🏽

Amazing dive center! The staff has lots of knowledge and they really care about your experience. I joined several times for day trips to Coiba National Park and each time was incredible! I had the pleasure to dive with Cory, and with Cynthia. Both really fantastic instructors, with tons of experience and great knowledge about the dive sites! There are quite a few dive sites around Coiba, both for first time divers and experienced ones. Sharks are almost guaranteed to be seen, but I also saw stingrays, frogfish, turtles, lobsters, and many more! On my day trip to Contreras I was lucky to see giant mantas, what a breathtaking experience! Highly recommended to join on the Contreras trip if you’re an experienced diver. Coiba is full of life and Cory and Cynthia are amazing at spotting even the smallest animals! I also can’t thank the boat team enough for helping me with my gear and making the trip very smooth. The breaks between dives are on the beaches around the little islands and I really enjoyed the fruits, snacks and lunch that were included in the trip. Thank you Scuba Coiba!

We had a great experience with Scuba Coiba. We did two full days of diving (3 dives each day). The first day Herbie, the dive shop owner, helped me arrange a private boat with one of his guides, Lukas, who took us to several great dive spots near Coiba Island. The diving was fantastic, and Lukas was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable and professional throughout our dives, and pointed out a lot of sea life along the way. He also had his camera and GoPro along, and took a lot of pictures and videos of my girlfriend and I diving, which was really nice. It made for a great and special trip for us. The second day we went with a small group, led by the dive master Cory, to several dive sites around Isla Contreras. The diving conditions were a bit more challenging than on the first day, but we saw tons of white tipped reef sharks, hammerheads, and giant stingrays. Cory was a great dive master. She was very knowledgeable and professional and kept our group close together in the darker water with lower visibility. Both dives were fantastic, and I cannot recommend Scuba Coiba highly enough. When we return to Santa Catalina in the future for more dives, we will definitely book with them.

My friends and I had a great experience diving for 10 days, the owner Hermi was very friendly and helpful, the guides Luis, Ivan and Laura were fun and knowledgeable about the area and wildlife, they were attentive and chose great locations for breaks and lunch. The assistant Will and the captain made sure we were comfortable. I highly recommend it.

I loved diving with ScubaCoiba, the communication to make a reservation with Herbie was clear and fast; Cory is a super experienced dive master with lots of experience in the area, she knows the dive sites very well and showed us the best. The dive in Contreras Islands with Hammerheads was sttuning cause all the crew take care of the smallest details to have perfect dives.

I was at this restaurant the night these people gave bad reviews. What they are not telling you is they were a group of 20 people. The restaurant was full and they placed their order closer to 7pm and got their food around 8:30. 1.5 hours for a small restaurant with 2 cooks and such a large group is normal. The owner was was not rude he was just frustrated by how this group was behaving. I come to this restaurant all the time. It has the best food and the owners are wonderful. If you expect fast service go to a fast food restaurant. If you come here enjoy the atmosphere, have a drink, maybe take a swim and relax. The food is worth the wait.

We had a great time at restaurante pingüinos with one of the best spots to Watch the sunset in the area. I would recommend to bring with you some mosquitoes OFF or the staff can lend you some. For the food the shrimp and lobster were good!! You can make a reservation through the webpage you can find on instagram.

Beautiful spot, right on the beach. We were a group of 6, and the only ones in the restaurant. The service was incredibly slow, even for Panama. As the only table in the restaurant, ordering pretty simple dishes, we waited over an hour for our food. If you’re not in any kind of rush, and looking for some Italian food with a nice setting, give it a try. I wasn’t blown away by the food. Our pasta was incredibly oily, and the fish was dry and didn’t have much flavor. The tiramisu was great! Overall an ok experience, but next time I’ll try other restaurants in the area.

The pasta tastes nice, and the lobster is super fresh. It might take longer to prepare the food but should be quite worth it.

Fantastic food, great view and relaxed environment. The food is inspired by the owner’s Sardinian background. Wine was good as well. Highly recommended!

Honestly this is a gem - the food is amazing. I got the whole mackerel, grilled instead of fried and the lobster linguine in white wine sauce, with a watermelon juice. The mackerel was perfectly grilled and honestly just so fresh and filleted. There’s a smokeyness to mackerel and it really hits different having it by water. The watermelon juice is fresh and so hydrating and tasty. The real prize is the lobster linguine in the white wine sauce. I could eat this again and again! The pasta is perfectly Al center and the lobster is perfect cooked, head and all. During the day it’s much calmer and you can see and hear the ocean waves. At night time the music and lights really make a wonderful experience. I can see why people say the service might be lacking but I don’t agree - the owner has a very friendly smile and just very sweet to be honest. He may be brisk but I can appreciate the efficiency! 10000% recommend.

Real Italian made pasta! We had pesto linguine, and a side order of shrimp; the chef came out and personally greeted us and asked how we would like our meal!! It was full flavoured and exquisitely authentic. I prefer quality over quantity. Very reasonably priced. Agreed when it’s busy you have to wait, but food like this cannot be made on a production line. Get in early to this quaint seaside place, enjoy a drink… you will not be disappointed! Worth every penny.

Just came back from a 2 night 3 day camping/kayaking trip on Coiba Island with Fluid Adventures!! wowow!! Loved it! Fresh and Delicious Vegetarian food, camping on a private beach with no one else! Kayaking to park ranger and cocos islands was easy and safe with Adam the guide giving us great instructions and safety tips! Small group, slow and relaxing pace all day long! Awesome to be able to enjoy nature and see many birds, monkeys, crocodile and little animals tracks in the sand! This is the best way to explore and enjoy Coiba National Park away from the craziness of the snorkeling trips!! I highly recommend this trip!!

Magical two nights on Coiba with our four adults and five kids - we saw so many turtles, several reef sharks, and countless beautiful fish, with enough snorkling time to really relax and enjoy the reefs. Monkeys and lots of birds, gorgeous beach - the only time our kids haven't asked for video possibly ever. On the camping, equipment was sturdy and clean, food plentiful, and guides very helpful - more car camping than glamping. I wish we'd had more nights and was sad to go. I just read the one-start reviews, and maybe these people just don't like camping? If you've never camped (not like a Cochella yurt - like, set up your own tent and cooked your own food without a cooler), maybe this isn't the time to test it. You're on Coiba for the nature, for a night with no light but biolumenescent algae and stars, for no sound but waves and bird song and random howler monkeys across the bay. The guides weren't Applebees friendly or used to kids, but we all got along fine. Do Not Come for the Michelin star or concierge service - that's not what you're paying for.

My trip with fluid adventures was spectacular! We went on a three day kayaking trip to Coiba and camped on a lonely beach which we shared only with some monkeys, beautiful birds and a lot of hermit crabs - simply beautiful. Adam our guide not only made sure we got to kayak to different nice island and gave us good instructions on how to use the kayaks properly, he also cooked delicious food. The meals we ate right at the beach for lunch dinner and breakfast were very enjoyable and with the view we had even better. I would love to go back some day and 100% recommend doing a multiple day tour with them!

We had an amazing time on the camping/kayaking overnight excursion to Coiba Island. It was truly a unique way to visit a wild place and experience it in a deeper way than the typical day trip tour where a dozen tourists are crammed into a boat and zipped around without enough time to truly appreciate the place. Danika and Matt were a great team and took excellent care of our two families including our young children. I know this is something that the kids will remember for the rest of their lives. It seems unfair that Fluid Adventure's rating got dinged by two people from the same group giving a one-star rating a year ago... They may have been people who expected some sort of concierge glamping experience which this is not. But you are very comfortable considering how remote of a location you're in and the food is basic but very good, and you will be one of the few people that get to see Coiba Island in a detailed and intimate way. We also did surf lessons with all four of our skeptical kids who didn't think they wanted to go surfing, but by the end of it were standing up on the boards with giant smiles on their faces and all begging to keep surfing after the lesson was over. Thank you very much Michael for organizing everything and we would recommend you to anyone traveling to Santa Catalina.

We had booked the 3-day tour to Coiba. Right from the start, the coordination seemed a bit disorganized. Information was only provided on request. The guide who spent the days with us was extremely unmotivated, unfriendly and inflexible. We felt very uncomfortable, although at least our group was really great. The tent wasn't even swept clean, one of the self-inflating mats was completely flat, the other was already quite "decrepit". The food was not really tasty and sparse, except for filling dishes such as rice or noodles. Coffee was calculated in such a sized way that there were only 2 cups for breakfast. Not enough for an afternoon coffee. Inadequate price/performance ratio. Not recommended

Michael provides top quality service accommodating a beautiful camping experience on Isla Coiba! Isla Coiba is a beautiful venue with amazing wildlife. Michael provides a unique experience by taking guests off the beaten path to remote locations. The ability to camp on a quiet secluded beach on Isla Coiba is a must not miss opportunity!

Just a chilled, epic crew. And the shop is literally right on the beach so if your hiring a kayak you don't have very far to carry it at all. Ask them about the camping trips you can do out to Coiba Marine Park. Definitely worth doing. A proper break from the hustle & bustle of the modern world.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Italian food (bruschetta, pasta bolognese) and a large tasty Greek Salad. The Italian owners were sweet and so welcoming. They surprised us with two muffins for our young kids as we prepared to leave. My husband didn’t love his burger, but we can let it slide for the rest. Recommended for lunch!

I would reconsider changing the restaurant style cause they most definitely cannot make good Italian. Pizza bread was hard as a stone and the toppings were from canned ingredients. I know that olives are not local stuff but the greatest disappointment was the tuna which was also from can even that the waiter told us it was from local fisherman.

Amazing bakery/restaurant with integrated hotel, the owners and staff are amazing and super helpful, they even went out of their way to make vegan pancakes for me (the breakfast is INCLUDED in the very fair price of the rooms!) We stayed for two nights and felt super comfortable. There are rooms with or without a small in-room kitchen, and you can eat at a long table just by the restaurant, with hammocks to chill in, and cute dogs to pet.. the best!

The chocolate croissant was very good, but the pizza, was not. Plus the service was weird. They are very, very stingy with their WiFi. I sat down at a table with some friends and they wouldn't give me the password until I ordered. Then when I went back the next morning for the croissant they cut the internet off while I was eating their food! He looked directly at me while he did it too.

VERY nice owners, plein de délicatesses et attentions. Super clean, very good breakfast served early so I could be full of energy for my dives, THE BEST LASAGNA, good coffee, good location. The owners were always ready to help people around: they also took care of me and I feel lucky I ended up here.

Asked for a munster cheese sandwich and it came with mayo, tomato and lettuce. I dont mind the veggies but mayo was way too much. I was expecting a grilled cheese sandwich, but is not even close. Bread is too puffy, it make you feel bloaty all day. Tried the pizzas once and were soggy and salty. Ask how plate is prepared before you buy anything. Cooks here have their own way to prepared the most basic dish.

Misplaced on the map. Unfortunatelly food is really not worth to try. I specifically asked about tuna in salad, if it is not from can. Waiter told me that no, it is from fishery here. Well it was from can what is of course huge fail by the shores of Pacific ocan...

(Translated by Google) In the distance you can hear the soft murmur of the sea, but as you approach the beach, the panorama is desolate. The once golden sand is now covered in debris: plastics glistening in the sun, empty bottles partially buried, and remains of fishing nets tangled in seaweed. The waves bring with them more debris, leaving behind a picture of neglect. The air, which should smell salty and fresh, carries with it a touch of acrid and rancidity. In the distance, a pair of seagulls hover, searching through the trash for something to eat. The natural beauty of the place struggles to stand out among the human chaos. (Original) En la lejanía se escucha el suave murmullo del mar, pero al acercarse a la playa, el panorama es desolador. La arena, antes dorada, ahora está cubierta de residuos: plásticos que relucen bajo el sol, botellas vacías enterradas parcialmente y restos de redes de pesca enredadas con algas. Las olas traen consigo más desechos, dejando tras de sí una estampa de descuido. El aire, que debería oler a sal y frescura, lleva consigo un toque acre y rancio. A lo lejos, un par de gaviotas revolotean, buscando entre la basura algo que comer. La belleza natural del lugar lucha por sobresalir entre el caos humano.

Bellisimo

Nice

(Translated by Google) Excellent place to walk with the family, the street is a little deteriorated, but you can easily get there without any problem, there is a bit of fish and patacones at a good price, a safe and clean place. (Original) Excelente lugar para pasear en familia, la calle un poco deteriorada, pero con calma se llega sin problema, ha pescado y patacones de todo un poco a buen precio, lugar seguro y limpio.

(Translated by Google) That beach is beautiful There are more than 20 cabins to stay in, more than 5 inns with good food and very, very calm waves. The road is bad from San Lorenzo since those 20 minutes are eternal because you are avoiding gaps There is a shortage of water in the pipes in that place Bring repellent, there are too many chitras and mosquitoes (Original) Bonita esa playa Hay más de 20 cabañas para quedarse, más de 5 fondas con buena comida y las olas muy pero muy tranquilas La carretera si está mala desde San Lorenzo ya que esos 20 mins son eternos por andar esquivando huecos Hay escasez de agua en las tuberías en ese lugar Lleven repelente hay demasiadas chitras y mosquitos

(Translated by Google) Excellent Place, the sea is very calm, especially for Children, Chocolate sand beach, excellent attention from the locals. I'll be back soon (Original) Excelente Lugar, el mar es muy tranquilo, especial para los Niños, playa de arena Chocolate, excelente atención de los lugareños. Pronto volvere

(Translated by Google) Be careful, in low season (June-September), everything is deserted! There is almost no one there... take water and a picnic. Very nice for swimming far from Santa Catalina which is not the best place to enjoy the beach. (Original) Attention, en basse saison (juin-sept.), tout est désert ! Il n'y a personne ou presque... prenez eau et pique-nique. Très chouette pour se baigner loin de Santa Catalina qui n est pas le meilleur endroit pour profiter de la plage.

(Translated by Google) That beach is beautiful for a walk 👪. (Original) Es hermosa esa playa para paseo en 👪.

We didn’t really enjoy our breakfast at this restaurant. Staff was not really friendly & I received my food at the time my boyfriend had already finished his whole plate. So I waited like 40+ minutes in total for some basic pancakes. They were pretty salty for my taste as well. So food is not really extraordinarily good, waitresses seem kind of annoyed to be there & the prices were WAY TOO MUCH for the quality. Not recommending this place - there are better options for better prices nearby!

Do not miss this delightful breakfast spot in Santa Catalina, Panama. Best breakfast and coffee we had in all of Panama during the trip I think. Plus, fresh juices that were so delicious. The one employee managed three tables all by herself and she was so lovely. The owner was not there that day but we were told she is a local woman who has been praised for her ecological pursuits. The space is adorable with attention to fun details like the painted murals and fresh flowers on the tables. And the food was delicious. Do not miss if you are in Santa Catalina, Panama.

We had an amazing burger and yogurt bowls. The girl is very nice and she puts so much attention to details, everything is super decorated and took care of.

What a great place. Take your time when you ate here, as only 2 ladies serve and cook. Dishes are as so tasty. It takes some time to prep these, as they add a lot of soul to it. Enjoy!

It is a nice place with a small seating area. I had a crepes and frappe, not a huge portion and I paid $15. It is really expensive place. Brekfast (meal and coffee) would coast you $13-20 for a person.

We were unfortunately misled by the signage during dinner. The board advertised a "Catch of the Day" served with rice, salad, beans, and ripe plantains. However, when we asked what the catch of the day was, the server seemed confused and didn’t know what we were referring to. After some back-and-forth between the cook and the server, we were eventually told it was Red Snapper—which, by the way, was already listed on the regular menu, just further down. Spoiler alert: This was clearly not a fresh catch of the day. The fish was extremely tough—impossible to cut and very difficult to chew, suggesting it was likely frozen. The sides were also disappointing: The plantains were cold. The salad came without any dressing. The rice tasted like it had been sitting around since the day before. The only halfway decent part of the meal were the beans.

Sugar Mamas was our favorite breakfast spot on our recent trip to Santa Catalina. Delish food and drinks! Everything is made homemade and uses fresh ingredients! The whipped cream they use is to die for!!!

Good restaurant on Hotel Santa Catalina. Gluten free options (pasta, banana pancake) and very nice view of the ocean. Lovely staff and great atmosphere to relax

This place was just absolutely amazing, the food was really good breakfast, lunch and dinner. Spectacular staff, super friendly! Yarius was my server many time in the week I was there, she has the two braids and she’s just the sweetest. Taking out her translator to make sure the food is exactly how I want it! They have some amazing frozen drinks which are my favorite of course beer, and almost any liquor. They have a pool table, ping pong table for the kids or adults of course and the tables overlook the pool, and the pool over looks the ocean it is just a beautiful scenery to eat at❤️ Everything I ate was a 10/10❤️

The view is nice, the service is friendly, and the food is actually quite good.

I hate to do this because I know it’s a small town and i’m sure they try hard but the food really was not so great. Apparently one of the nicest places in town and most expensive hotels so maybe that set our expectations too high Service was sweet but it took nearly 40 minutes for our food despite us being the only customers.

I loved a lot about Pescao. I had a great dinner there. Breakfast and coffee were a bit less than great, but certainly decent. The staff at Pescao were so nice and very tolerant of our almost nonexistent Spanish. The seating was a bit awkward, whether at a table or at the bar. But great views of a surf point and a lovely infinity pool made up for it. Overall I would visit again.

Stayed for several nights in December at the hotel. Pescao is delicious with a view that can't be beat. Every member of staff was personable and friendly, as well as patient. We ate at Pescao every day we were at Hotel Santa Catalina because it was so outstanding and delicious everytime.

Probably one of the best views in town but my food was horrible and the drinks were bad. The only edible part of my meal was the salad. I couldn’t even it the French fries because they were cold and the curry shrimp was disgusting. My husband ate the snapper, he said it wasn’t bad but he would it anything.