Climate and Weather in Santa Catalina, Panama
Are you thinking about booking a plane ticket to the pristine, luxurious beaches of Panama?
There are many decisions to consider when planning your vacation - the ultimate being the time of year in which to plan your visit. Here in Santa Catalina, we welcome you with open arms whenever you decide to check out our paradise. There is a reason to be in Santa Catalina during each month of the year.
January is the busiest month in Santa Catalina and one of the best times to visit as it is the start of dry season. Panama is a country with two, six-month seasons: rainy and dry, and in Santa Catalina, in both seasons, temperatures hover between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30-34 Celsius) during the day and drop into the 70’s (20’s C) at night.
Santa Catalina offers world class diving, and January is one of the best months of the year for it. Whale sharks can be seen on Isla Coiba during this time, attracting a crowd of SCUBA divers looking to bring in the New Year with the blessing of these gentle giants. January is a month with almost no rain, creating perfect sunny days spent relaxing on the beach and in the crystal blue ocean.
February through May mimic January’s dry air, warm sun, and cool waters. Catering to the diving crowd, March is the season of the giant Mobula manta rays which can be seen on Isla Coiba while diving or snorkeling. The waves in this time of year are beginning to improve from the smaller waves of the beginning of the dry season.
Starting in June, Santa Catalina enters the start of rainy season. Rainy season is different every year in terms of when the rain begins, how long it lasts and total precipitation. June calls for a light, much-needed rain, typically once or twice per week. In this time Santa Catalina receives light rain showers during the mid-afternoon, cooling off the atmosphere and creating a relaxing breeze. The end of June is the beginning of Whale season, bringing in the orca and humpback whales to begin calving.
June, July, and August are all busy months in Santa Catalina as tourists from all over the world visit on their summer vacation. The surfing crowd begins to get bigger too as it chases big waves throughout Central America.
September through November is a quiet time in Santa Catalina because rainy season has officially set in bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms until December. A common misconception of travelers is not to travel through Panama and Santa Catalina during these months, but it is also the best time for world-class surfing as barrel waves greater than four meters tall hit almost every day at the point break.
Santa Catalina provides a reason to visit at any time of year and has just what you are longing for in each season. For more information about Santa Catalina, please visit our homepage at www.santacatalinabeach.com. We hope to see you soon in Santa Catalina, Panama.
Surf Camps in Santa Catalina
Many popular surfing destinations in Panama have surf schools and surf camps that offer lessons, and Santa Catalina is no exception. Surf camps for beginner and intermediate level surfers provide overnight stay, meals, daily lessons and surfboard rentals.
Rancho Estero in Santa Catalina provides a comprehensive and affordable solution allowing surfers to enjoy one-on-one and group classes, taking advantage of the variety of surfing conditions available to visitors of Santa Catalina.
Rancho Estero offer a good range of boards to rent: softtop beginner boards, short boards, longboards, fun boards and a Standup-Paddle-Board (SUP).
Learn more about the Rancho Estero Surf Camp Packages:
|
2 Day Surf Camp |
3 Day Surf Camp |
4 Day Surf Camp |
|
Price per person: $225 |
Price per person: $298 |
Price per person: $369 |
|
Includes:
|
Includes:
|
Includes:
|
Click here to get more info and to make a reservation.
Coiba National Park
Coiba National Park (Nacional Parque Coiba) is group of 38 islands including Coiba Island (Isla Coiba) and the waters surrounding them. Coiba National Park is located in the Gulf of Chiriquí off of Panama’s Pacific coast covers 430,825 acres.
Because of its rich and well preserved natural resources Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. Cited for its high levels of endemic mammal, plants and birds and ongoing evolution of new species, Coiba National Park is consider by UNESCO to be an “outstanding natural laboratory for scientific research” and a key to the survival of numerous pelagic fish and marine mammals.
Access to Coiba National Park
Management of Coiba National Park is administered by the National Authority for the Environment (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente, ANAM). The park is accessible only by permit from ANAM. A number of tour operators in Panama offer ecotours, fishing, and scuba diving trips to Coiba (see details) and can assist in obtaining appropriate permits. The tour operators depart from several different places on the Panamanian coast. Santa Catalina is the closest access point with about an hour and fifteen minute boat ride from Santa Catalina’s beach to Isla Coiba.
Overnight on Isla Coiba
The only overnight facility available in the Coiba National Park is at the ANAM ranger station on Isla Coiba. The station offers 6 modest 2 room cabins with air conditioning. To Contact ANAM call (507) 998-0615, fax (507) 998-4387, or the National Park office (507) 998-4271
The Islands of Coiba National Park
Coiba National Park covers 60% of the continental shelf and 90% of the islands within the Gulf of Chiriqí. The 38 islands that are included in Coiba National Park exemplify tropical paradise. White sand beaches, hardwood tropical forests and wildlife found nowhere else in the world make these islands breath taking. Islands: Coiba, Jicaron, Brincaco, Uva, Rancheria, Canal de Afuera, Jicanta, Pajeros, Afuera, Montuosa and 28 smaller islets.
Surf Vacations in Santa Catalina Panama
You can’t stop the waves but you can learn how to surf. Panama offers just that, specifically Santa Catalina. Rising to fame, Santa Catalina has hosted two ISA surf competitions, drawing competitors from all over the world. Latin American competitions frequently take place in Santa Catalina, giving surfers the chance to catch a wave on Santa Catalina’s infamous point break - La Punta (The Point).
Accommodations
Whether you are headed to check out the waves for a competition or to cure your hunger for three to five meter barrel waves, or you are determined to learn how to surf in a renowned surf spot, Santa Catalina has the perfect accommodation.
Rancho Estero (www.ranchoestero.com) offers idyllic tiki huts resting on the edge of Estero beach, creating the perfect getaway for surfers to catch a wave. If you are a beginner surfer, you are in luck. Rancho Estero lies on Santa Catalina’s best beach for beginners. Rancho Estero is equipped with surfboards for rent, ranging from short boards, fun boards, to foam beginner boards. For prices and availability contact Rancho Estero at www.ranchoestero.com/surf-camp.php
If you are a surfer in need of a hotel with access to the point, Surfside Inn (www.surfsidepanama.com) has just that. Overlooking the scenic view of the point, Surfside Inn has dorms and private rooms suiting your needs. Surfside Inn does not have surf board rentals, so make sure to bring your own or rent a board from Surf and Shake.
Surf Shops
If you are looking to buy, sell or rent a surfboard, Santa Catalina Surf Shop (www.santacatalinasurfshop.com) provides a wide selection of boards, both new and used. The surf shop offers unique Santa Catalina shirts as a souvenir to show you surfed the infamous waves of Panama.
Now that you have a surfboard in your hands, be sure to visit Surf and Shake (www.surfandshake.com) for some wax, sunscreen, or fins. Try their delicious fresh fruit shakes before heading out to catch the renowned waves of Santa Catalina. Surf and Shake also offers surf lessons for beginner taught by surfing export, Zigor. For 25 dollars, you can take a one and a half hour lesson and a surfboard rental.
2014 Season
The start of 2014 has been comparable to the waves in the past few years. The waves of Santa Catalina are typically smaller during the months of January through April. The waves begin to get bigger as rainy season begins.
Conclusion
Santa Catalina provides a nice getaway for surfers looking to catch big and small waves for beginners and experts. If you are looking to surf the infamous waves of Santa Catalina, make sure to book your hotel reservations in advance. Chances are you aren’t the only one escaping reality to surf the wave of a lifetime.
Eating in Santa Catalina, Panama
Eating in Santa Catalina is relaxed and affordable. Most eating establishments in this part of Panama are open air facilities. The food is homemade and very good. Santa Catalina offers a surprising variety of food both in type and ethnicity. Options include Italian pastas, Argentinean steaks, Pizza and authentic Panamanian food.
A few of the restaurants are located a long the paved main street of Santa Catalina, however most are along the dirt road to El Estero and the roads that branch off of it toward the sea. They are located either in the various surf camps and hostels or along the road to them.
Few are open all day, instead having specific times for each meal. For breakfast, the most dependable choice is Vasquez at the corner next to the store. It is not the best, but usually open and works in a pinch. When they are open, the best value for a home cooked meal at a cost of about $1.00, is the Tropical Fruit stand on the main street. It is 1 block from Playa Santa Catalina. Either of these will also prepare a sandwich to take on day boat trips for visitors headed to Isla Coiba or other near by islands. Also check with Mike and Michelle at La Vida Buena to see if their American style café is open for breakfast and lunch.
Most establishments open for dinner around 7:00 pm. In Santa Catalina, dinner is often a combination, evening meal and social event. Visitors gather to share experiences in the day’s surf, dive and fishing trips. One of the favorite spots is the Pizzeria Jamming shop where a very good brick oven pizza is shared over a local Panama or Atlas beer.
Donde Viancka’s is the best choice for a locally owned restaurant offering high quality Panamanian meals and is one of the few open most of the day. The charming Viancka operates the open air eatery herself with the help of a pair of nice local ladies. She offers local seafood purchased fresh daily and other local dishes. It is a great place to sit and spend a lazy afternoon as locals and visitors make their way up and down the adjacent road.
Other popular spots are Los Pibes and the Oasis Surf Resort restaurant. Both are east of town. Los Pibes is down the road to Playa Estero and up one of the side roads. The turn is well marked. It is an Argentinean owned restaurant which offers steaks and an excellent burger. The Oasis is located at the end of the main dirt road and across the river that creates Playa El Estero. At the Oasis, Italian brother and sister David and Sylvia oversee the creation of authentic pasta dishes.
