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Pacific Side
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Last update: November, 2009

Fronting two oceans, Panama offers a connoisseur’s choice of beaches, both on the mainland and on islands just offshore.

PACIFIC SIDE

Cross the Canal from Panama City, over the Bridge of the Americas, or the Centennial Bridge onto the Pan American Highway and you are beachward bound.
From Punta Chame to Farrallon stretch 40 miles of sun-blessed Pacific beaches for surfing, sunning, swimming snorkelling and senorita-watching. The nearest of them —beaches, not senoritas — is 50 miles up the Panamerican Highway from Panama City.

From that point on, nothing but beaches. Mostly white sand, some sparkling ebony black, shot with myriad colors in the ebbing waves. Punta Chame, Nueva Gorgona, Playa Coronado, Turiscentro San Carlos, El Palmar, Rio Mar, Santa Clara, Farallon all have facilities for stopping over.

Several tour agencies run day trips from Panama City to beach resorts. Should you (1) suffer a disinclination towards group tours, or (2) lack your own or a rented car, low-fare buses swarm up the Pan American Highway from the terminal in Albrook. They drop you near the Pacific beach of your choice. Surfboards get by as carry-on baggage. How much carrying-on can be brought to fruition on a surfboard is a matter that has long bemused this publication in its ceaseless striving for balance.

AZUERO - Further afield in Panama are beaches that are shoreside shrines of solitude. The Azuero peninsula from Chitre to Punta Mala and around to Tonosi is girt by long, lovely strands where the horizon and all of time are your private fief.

CHIRIQUI - While Chiriqui is mainly known for its mountainous regions, it also has glorious beaches. Las Lajas, an hour from David to the east on the Panamerican Highway, is popular with Chiricanos.

A few miles to the west of David is La Barqueta Beach, 28 km long. Hotel Las Olas Beach Resort is located here and is a perfect place for exploring and enjoying the beach.

On the island of Boca Brava, 10 minutes by boat ($ 1.00 per person) from the coastal community of Horconcitos, a small cabin resort and restaurant is run by Yadira and Frank Kohler. Day trips encouraged.

CARIBBEAN SIDE

Between Colon and Palenque lie many beautiful beaches in the area known as “Costa Arriba”. Maria Chiquita and Playa Langosta beaches both have visitor facilities.

ISLA GRANDE - The main beach is on the landward side of the island which lies a few hundred yards offshore. On the other, more secluded side is the elegant Bananas Hotel, ideal for a Caribbean sojourn.

Out on the reefs, good spear-fishing and snorkelling. Plus maybe the odd Piece of Eight.

AZUERO - Further afield in Panama are beaches that are shoreside shrines of solitude. The Azuero peninsula from Chitre to Punta Mala and around to Tonosi is girt by long, lovely strands where the horizon and all of time are your private fief.

CHIRIQUI - While Chiriqui is mainly known for its mountainous regions, it also has glorious beaches. Las Lajas, an hour from David to the east on the Panamerican Highway, is popular with Chiricanos.

A few miles to the west of David is La Barqueta Beach, 28 km long. Hotel Las Olas Beach Resort is located here and is a perfect place for exploring and enjoying the beach.

The area of Boca Chica about 40 minutes from David is becoming very popular. Several small resorts cater to beach buffs and fishermen. It is a beautiful stretch of coast with many offshore islands.

Nearby, at Boca Brava on a small island in the Chiriqui Marine Park is the ecofriendly, luxury boutique hotel Cala Mia which boasts two pristine beaches.

PACIFIC ISLANDS

The island beaches of Panama are magnificent and all quite different.

CONTADORA - (See Focus on the Pearl Islands) complete with hotels, casino, golf course, tennis courts, convention facilities and an air shuttle from Albrook airport.

SAN JOSÉ - With its own landing strip is home to the exclusive Hacienda del Mar resort.

TABOGA - (See Focus on Taboga Island) Remains the fragrant Island of Flowers with the pedestrian width streets Pizarro knew. • Call: 390-2402 for launch schedules.

TABORCILLO - A secluded Island resort once owned by John Wayne.

CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

ISLA GRANDE - The main beach is on the landward side of the island which lies a few hundred yards offshore. On the other, more secluded side is the elegant Bananas Hotel, ideal for a Caribbean sojourn.

Out on the reefs, good spear-fishing and snorkelling. Plus maybe the odd Piece of Eight.

SAN BLAS - (See San Blas section) The Kuna Indiana live on hundreds of tiny islands which dot the Caribbean coastline. Many are uninhabited and you can hire a canoe to take you to a desert-island paradise for the day.

BOCAS DEL TORO - (See Focus on Bocas del Toro.)