Many travelers looking at Panama often wonder about the local sands and shores available in this country. Whilst places like Cancun steal a lot of attention due to their popularity and high tourism, what about somewhere less travelled?
Come along as we show you all the best Panama beaches for each region, and give you all the information you need to be able to discover some of the top oceanfront locations in Central America.
Does Panama have nice beaches?
Panama indeed has some beautiful beaches. Since the country is basically one long stretch of coast with beaches climbing along the shores on both sides, you never have to travel far in Panama to uncover another stunning beach.
In fact, with over 1,700 miles of coastline and over 1,400 islands, finding your favorite beach could take you a lifetime to discover. With literally thousands of options to choose from, Panama not only has some nice beaches, but it has stunning beaches that have often been the filming location for some of Hollywood’s biggest movies and series.
The beaches of Panama are, in short, incredible, especially if you know where to go.
Explore Bocas del Toro, Panama beaches
Bocas del Toro is a Caribbean Archipelago off the coast of Panama near the Costa Rican border and the filming location of the movies Escobar: Paradise Lost and Mister Lonely. It’s a long way from Panama City, so if you are going to visit the Atlantic-side beaches here, you should plan to stay at least a few nights. However, with its true tropical island vibes and easy living, it’s definitely worth it for the experience.
1) Zapatilla Island Beach
Cayo Zapatilla was rated as one of the world’s top 30 beaches in the world. Yes, it’s that good. When you look for pictures of a tropical paradise beach online, sometimes they are of this island.
This uninhabited island is part of a national park, which is likely why this place looks so unspoiled, so pristine, and so serene. This is a white sand haven of beautiful biodiversity and untouched splendor. Book your tour today.
2) Starfish Beach
Shallow, clear waters offer a perfect view of hundreds of orange-red starfish resting on the sands. Whilst we don’t recommend taking them out of the water, they do make for some stunning pictures, and the wave-less ocean is a great place to chill and swim.
This treasured location is on Colon Island, is walkable by a 15-minute path from the main drop-off point, and has plenty of local Caribbean food spots for you to try.
3) Red Frog Beach
Located on Bastimentos Island, this Red Frog Beach is famous for its tiny little poison dart frogs, which the young locals often carry around to show the tourists and try to offer photos for a price. However, despite being known for this endemic wildlife, the beach itself is a picture-perfect golden sand paradise.
You can get here with a fifteen-minute boat ride from Isla Colon, and the beach also leads directly to a short jungle trail ideal for nature lovers.
Find beaches near Panama City, Panama
The primary option for most travelers exploring Panama is going to be a beach within a reasonable travel distance from Panama City, Panama. Whilst this could include San Blas, Colon, and some other locations, here are a couple of nearby islands and some additional coastal options to the west of the city on the Pacific side.
4) Isla Taboga Beach
This has to be, without a doubt, the easiest and most sought-after island escape from Panama City. Within just half an hour’s boat ride from the Amador Causeway, you can be unwinding along tropical sands, ordering Piña Colada cocktails in a literal pineapple, and snorkeling in shallow waters. Probably one of the best ways to experience this island, however, is with a full-day catamaran tour.
If you don’t want to go far, this is your best bet. Just make sure you bring plenty of sun protection, though, because it can get hot hot hot!
5) Playa Coronado Beach
Coronado is a mostly expat community with a lot of beach homes and high-rise beach apartments that are about an hour and twenty minutes from the city if you travel during the week.
These sands stretch for miles and give you swirling marble-like patterns of mostly black sands intermingled with white, creating a very unusual but stunning beachfront for you to enjoy. Make sure to bring some sandals when walking on the black sand.
6) Playa Blanca Beach
Known for its nearby resorts, Playa Blanca Beach is about one hour and 45 minutes away from Panama City. With similar marbling to Playa Coronado, this further stretch of sand has more white than black sand and is slightly more powdery.
Due to its close proximity to all-inclusive resorts, there are also more activities such as paddleboarding, jet skiing, and other water sports available for you to enjoy.
7) Punta Chame Beach
About an hour and a half from Panama City lies a long peninsula with stunning white sand beaches at the end, which served as a getaway for Justin Bieber. Here, there is a watersports center for tourists, kiteboarding lessons, and some extremely remote sands where you can enjoy endless empty beaches and limitless horizons.
Punta Chame beaches offer a lot of different options for travelers and are far from the main towns and hotels, making for some nice opportunities for beachfront seclusion that is not too far from the city.
8) Contadora Island Beach
An elevated option for a more exclusive island experience off the coast of Panama City. Taking about two hours to get here via boat, and with options to fly here via private plane, you will find quiet sands, high-end rentals, and one of the country’s only nudist beaches.
Whilst the main beach you arrive at is nothing special, I highly recommend exploring some of the other, more hidden beaches on the island and hiring a golf cart to wander and discover. Note: Contadora is part of the Pearl Islands, which were a filming location for 2 seasons of the TV series “Survivor”.
9) Santa Clara Beach
Some of the softest sands within reach of Panama City lie an hour and a half west of Panama City on Santa Clara Beach. White sands, calm waters, and stunning ocean views make for some of the best beach days in Panama that you can have.
It’s a very calm place during the week but gets lively with a lot of music on the weekends. Due to shallow and calm seas, it’s an ideal option for weaker swimmers and is a great spot for long walks along the ivory coast.
Discover Los Santos Panama beaches
A little farther away from Panama City is an area called Los Santos where there are some very remote, very sought-after, and privileged beach locations for you to explore. These beaches, whilst they share the same west coast as beaches like Playa Coronado, are far superior in their quality, their views, and their overall seclusion.
10) Playa Venao Beach
Literally translated to “Deer beach,” this horseshoe-shaped cove is a surfer’s paradise with regular waves that are 2-5 feet high almost every day, but that can reach up to 10 feet tall during peak months (April to October).
This whole area is designed around surfing, relaxing, evening indulgence, and overall beach vibes. With waters that deepen gradually and soft sands underneath your feet, it’s a nice place to enjoy and a perfect place for a day tour.
11) Santa Catalina Beach
About five hours from the city are the gorgeous Pacific-side black sand beaches of Santa Catalina. Whilst the main beach is the hub of activity, with a river running right through it that leads towards Coiba Island and Catalina Island, there are some beaches nearby like La Coquita and Punta Brava that defy all expectations.
It’s worth looking online at some photos to see where you want to go, but my take would be La Coquita, which is magical to explore on horseback. It’s one of the widest beaches I have ever seen and has amazing ocean reflections.
12) Coiba National Park Beach
Coiba is known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sands, and untouched palm groves. It is about an hour and a half boat ride from Santa Catalina, but it is 100% worth it. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a national park where nature invites you to embrace its beauty for a day of wonder and blissful tranquility.
Enjoy some hiking trails, reefs for snorkeling, and jungle-side beaches that are ideal for nature spotting and birdwatching.
Visit San Blas island’s Panama beaches
Want to explore an untouched indigenous paradise? Head Northeast of Panama City to the 365 islands of San Blas in Guna Yala. Whilst that is still too many beaches to choose from, here are a few of our favorites that you may want to experience.
13) Dog Island Beach
Probably one of Panama’s best spots for snorkeling. Isla Perro, or “Dog Island,” is an incredible beach that allows you to swim around a sunken gunboat that has been overcome with underwater wildlife.
It’s tropical, it’s beautiful, and swimming through the ship is a once-in-a-lifetime snorkeling experience to discover. This island is also often included in tour bundles that include multiple islands.
14) Pelican Island Beach
Isla Pelicano, or Pelican Island, is famous as the sensational filming location for the series “Money Heist”. If you remember that series, then you remember how beautiful the tropical sands and Caribbean island beaches truly are.
With gentle waves and calm shores for swimming, this is a photo-worthy spot that makes you feel like a movie star.
15) Dutch Cays Beach
The Dutch Cays of Panama are uninhabited paradises of singular beauty. They are so quiet that sometimes you even get the beach all to yourself. If you are looking for remote relaxation, it doesnt get more secluded than this.
These unspoiled sands are perfect for private photo sessions, or just a peaceful day to yourself by some of Panama’s best beaches.
Relaxing beaches near Colon, Panama
About an hour and thirty minutes north of Panama City, awaits the authentic architecture of Portobelo, where you can head to several tropical beaches that are just waiting to be explored and are bustling with vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture. Note that Colón is a district and is not to be confused with Isla Colón, which is in Bocas del Toro.
16) Isla Grande Beach
About two and a half hours’ drive from the city is a pedestrian-only island that is only 5 minutes off the coast of La Guaira. Famous for its lighthouse, snorkeling, and easy walk around the island, this is a place to unwind and enjoy some local vibes.
Whilst offering one of the smallest beaches on the list, this island has a nice Caribbean ambiance that invites you to enjoy some cold drinks and enjoy some lazy days.
17) Isla Mamey Beach
Vibrant turquoise waters lie just 10 minutes away from Puerto Lindo by boat. White sands, calm waters, and uninhabited island experiences await for a real Caribbean beach day. This is a great place for swimming and offers a pool-like experience with shallow ocean waters.
It’s a great spot for camping and sharing beachfront memories with friends and family. Plan out your Isla Mamey tour here.
Where to stay in Panama for the best beaches
Wherever you stay in Panama, you will be close to the coast. However, there are some locations that are worth exploring more than others. For the best all-round experience and access to some of Panama’s best beaches, Panama City offers a central location where many tour operators offer pickup and transport to some of the country’s most desirable beach locations.
The only exception to this would be beaches located in Bocas Del Toro, which require at least a few days’ stay up there to fully experience it and make it worth the travel time. However, for the rest of the beaches on this list, you can enjoy day trips and tours from the comfort of your accommodations in and around Panama City, Panama.
For a varied experience, try picking a beach or two from each region. Start by visiting Isla Taboga with a Catamaran tour or Contadora via private plane, then spend a day in San Blas exploring a selection of Guna Yala islands, do some snorkeling in Playa Venao, get some Kiteboarding lessons in Punta Chame, and then finish up with a tour of Portobelo and Isla Mamey.
The best beaches in Panama are ready to welcome you to days of sunshine, serenity, sports, and sunsets as you have never seen before.