Things to see and do on a trip to Coiba Island Panama?

The island of Coiba Panama is one of the most spectacular natural areas to see in the country. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, in the Gulf of Chiquiri, and forms the Coiba National Park, famous for its great marine and jungle biodiversity. In fact, its coral reefs attract hundreds of divers every year in search of a unique experience. At the best-known reef, Las Damas Reef, you can swim among manta rays, hammerhead sharks, whales and many other species of fish.

In this post, we tell you everything you need to know to organise your trip to this paradisiacal destination. Although diving is the favourite activity for tourists visiting the island, the truth is that there is much more to do such as kayaking, hiking through the jungle, sunbathing on the white sandy beaches and enjoying nature in its purest form. Here’s how to get to the islands and other tips on how to stay, eat well and get around.

What are the best places to see on Coiba Island Panama?

1. Diving at Las Damas Reef

Coiba National Park boasts some of the most spectacular underwater scenery on the planet. Its coral reefs lapped by crystal-clear waters are home to exotic marine life such as hammerhead sharks, whales, manta rays, sea turtles and colourful fish. It’s a real wonder that you can enjoy even if you’re not an expert diver, as snorkelling excursions are also organised.

These excursions are booked from Santa Catalina, where in addition to transport and equipment, they will arrange the permits to access the island. There are many companies that organise daily departures, but bear in mind that some of them don’t leave until the group is full.

2. Sun and beach in Coiba

The postcard-perfect beaches of Coiba are the perfect place to relax, unwind and forget all your worries. Long white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters are surrounded by thick vegetation where turtles lay their eggs.

The most famous beaches are Playa Damas and Playa Blanca, but there are other beaches a little further afield that are also worth seeing, such as Granito de Oro or Rancheria on the nearby islands.

3. Coiba Island jungle tours

The Coiba National Park is considered a World Heritage Site because of the interesting array of wildlife and vegetation species that inhabit it and make its ecosystem unique in the world. In the island’s jungle, probably the densest you’ve ever seen in your life, you can see a lot of interesting birds and plants, very different from what we are used to seeing in Europe.

There are two viewpoints you can walk to: Cerro Gambute and Cerro de La Torre. Both are reached by beautiful, well-marked trails that are less than 2km long.

Hiking through the jungle is a must-do on the island of Coiba Panama. On your walk you’ll encounter monkeys, iguanas and even crocodiles. It’s an experience not to be missed.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Coiba Island?

1. Granito Island and its pristine beaches

Granito Island is a small islet located next to Coiba. Both share their white-sand landscapes, turquoise-blue waters and coconut groves, but Isla Granito is even less built-up and only accessible for a few hours a day.

The island is also a great place for scuba diving, and its underwater scenery is considered one of the most beautiful in the top 10 in the world.

2. Rancheria Island

Rancheria Island is considered the little sister of Coiba Island, so many people call it “Coibita” despite being the third largest of the archipelago. It shares characteristics with the rest of the islands in the National Park, but the most curious thing is that it is used as a living laboratory because it is home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Every year, new plants and animal species and how to cure their diseases are researched.

If you have the time, this is an essential stop that you’re sure to love. There you can hike, kayak, snorkel and sunbathe on its paradisiacal beaches. The beach is practically virgin, and only tourists and artisanal and sport fishermen come to it in search of tuna, grouper and snapper among others.

3. Santa Catalina

Santa Catalina is the most common access point to reach the island of Coiba Panama, however, the municipality itself is also a very famous tourist destination among surfers in the world for its optimal conditions to practice this sport. So much so, in fact, that it is one of the preferred locations where the world championships are held.

The most particular of Santa Catalina are its beaches, among which the Santa Catalina and Estero beaches stand out. There is also a small path called La Cresta that leads to a viewpoint from where you can see the islands. It is a short trail, but not particularly easy, as it has a lot of stones and is often wet and slippery.

Santa Catalina is also a good place to stay at a good price if you want to visit Coiba. From there, they organise all sorts of excursions and itineraries that cover several islands in the same day.

What to see in 1 day on Coiba Island Panama?

On Coiba, time stands still, so you can spend anywhere from a day to an eternity. In fact, the island itself can be seen in a day. It has only a couple of short jungle trails, two beaches and the reefs. However, the island invites you to spend more time. It is usually recommended to spend at least a couple of days either on the island or on Santa Catalina so that you can also visit the other islands in the national park, such as Granito de Oro or Rancheria.

If you’re a diving enthusiast, then you might want to stay and live here. Throughout the park there are more than 31 authorised dive sites on the different islands. It’ll take several trips to tackle them all.

Where and what to eat on Coiba Island?

There are no restaurants on Coiba Island as it is a very protected area. However, in Santa Catalina you can eat fish and seafood of the highest quality, as well as other local dishes in its restaurants. Here we leave you a selection of some of the best:

• Restaurante Pescao: specialises in Caribbean and Central American-style seafood. The food is delicious, but the best thing is the atmosphere as it overlooks the sea. The price per person ranges from €10 to €20.
• El Pacífico: This is the typical restaurant where you’ll see locals eating. Its speciality is seafood, which, although simply presented, is of the highest quality. You can eat very well for around €15.
• El Chillinguito: is a restaurant with a varied menu that includes Spanish dishes and where the pastas stand out. It is quite moderately priced.

Where to stay on Coiba Island?

Staying on Coiba Island is not as easy as it sounds, as space is very limited and you have to book well in advance because demand is high. This may seem like a big inconvenience, but it makes perfect sense as the main objective on the island is to preserve the park. If you get a place, you’ll be able to stay in beautiful, fully-equipped cabins that are integrated into nature.

Outdoor camping is also possible, but a permit is required from the Ministry of Environment in the Gambute beach area, as well as for access to the park. Read more about accommodation on the island and in the rest of the country in this post: The best hotels and lodging in Panama

How to get to Coiba Island?

The journey to the island of Coiba is a bit complex as you have to take different means of transport. If you’re travelling from Spain, the first step is the plane, which will drop you off at Panama City airport. Once there, there are two possible ways to get to Santa Catalina:

• Bus: Take a bus to Soná and from there another bus to Santa Catalina. The two tickets together cost no more than $15.
• Private Car: is the most comfortable option. This type of transport can be hired from the accommodation itself and costs $35.

From Santa Catalina the only way to reach the island is by boat. The journey takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. You can also take the boat from other ports such as Puerto Mutis, Pixvae and Puerto Vidal. The cost of boat transport is US$55.

What should I consider before travelling to Coiba Island?

• No visa is required to enter Panama, but a passport valid for at least 6 months is required.
• The country is not the safest, so avoid going out at night and keep an eye on your belongings.
• To access Coiba Island you’ll need a permit, which can be obtained from tour operators or the Ministry of Environment. The cost is $20.
• The official language in Panama is Spanish although there are more than 19 languages.
• Vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, MMR, tetanus-diphtheria, typhoid fever are recommended, but not compulsory if travelling from Spain.
• There are two currencies in Panama, the dollar and the balboas.
• It’s best to change money before you start your trip, as there are shops and restaurants that don’t accept credit cards.
• The weather is warm all year round, but May to December is the rainy season.
• Tap water is safe to drink in most parts of the country.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Coiba?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Coiba Island Panama.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Coiba Island