Panamá Pacific Beaches

The Pacific coast of Panamá is about 1,000 miles long, and the conditions of the water at the beaches may vary from calm to exciting, as the shifting tides make for excellent surfing. The sand on the beaches may be black or pearly white. These are some of the beach destinations you’ll find on the Pacific coast of Panamá.

Your Perfect Pacific Getaway

Enjoy the Pacific coast of Panamá. Visit beaches and coastal towns, each with its own appeal and varied services—from beaches where you can surf the perfect waves to hidden bays where you can explore beautiful mangroves. Discover wildlife refuges and coastal towns featuring luxury hotels and community-based tourism.

Many of these beaches are just a short journey from Panama City by car, ferry, or boat. These beaches and islands are the perfect choice for weekend getaways or even day trips. If you want to visit nearby islands, take advantage of our wide range of boats, yachts, and catamarans for rent, with and without crew.

Mogo Mogo Island

Part of Las Perlas Archipelago, this is one of many islands in Panamá with white sand and turquoise waters that you can explore.

White-sand beach on Mogo Mogo Island with turquoise waters in Panama’s Pacific

Playa Chame

This immense 10-km beach is connected to Playa Caracol. Between these two beaches, you can enjoy the waves and the wind during windsurfing, kitesurfing, and surfing sessions. You can also hike up Cerro Chame to see the vast beach from above.

Person practicing kitesurfing at Playa Chame with waves and wind on the Panamanian Pacific coast

Playa Coronado

Also on the Pacific Riviera, this beach—which may be sparkling black, gray, or white, depending on which part you visit—offers all types of services, restaurants, rental homes, and hotels for maximum comfort.

Playa Venao

Meet the community that was formed around surfing and holistic wellness at this beach on the Azuero Peninsula, next to the charming towns of Pedasi and Tonosi. From here you can also head to the “Tuna Coast,” one of the top fishing spots in Panamá.

Surfer performing a maneuver on a wave at Playa Venao, a surf destination in Panama

La Marinera and Cañas Island

Panamá is one of five countries in the world where the phenomenon known as arribada takes place. During these special nights, thousands of sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Local communities have turned these beaches into turtle sanctuaries to protect biodiversity and offer responsible, enriching experiences of community-based tourism.

Sea turtle eggs on a Pacific beach in Panama protected during the nighttime nesting process

Playa Santa Catalina

This beach on the Pacific Coast of Veraguas is famous for having the perfect waves for surfing. It hosted the ISA World Surfing Games and has put Panamá on the map for surfers around the world thanks to its strong, consistent waves. It’s also one of the ports where you can set off for Coiba National Park, the perfect destination for diving enthusiasts in Panamá.

The park and its biodiversity are so important that they have been declared a Natural World Heritage site by UNESCO. If you go to Coiba National Park, stop by Playa Rancheria, one of the most popular beaches in the park. This is also a great destination on your vacation if you’re a fan of sport fishing. Add a specialized tour to Hannibal Bank to your trip and you’re guaranteed to spend the day reeling in excellent catches.

View of a tropical Pacific beach in Panama with clear waters and palm trees

Isla Iguana

This wildlife refuge is located just a few kilometers from Pedasi, on the Azuero Peninsula. The beach, with its powdery white sand and deep turquoise waters, is the perfect place for snorkeling. A short trail leads to a second beach, where you can see the rich biodiversity on the island, including seabirds, crabs, and even iguanas. The wildlife on this beach amazes every visitor.

Boat with tourists arriving at Iguana Island in the clear waters of Panama’s Pacific