Top 12 Beaches in Panama to visit

Panama is fortunate to have wonderful beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Beaches in Panama has its own personality: some are calm and quiet, others shake with the waves of the Pacific Ocean, while others have a fun and lively atmosphere with music from seaside restaurants. Whatever you want, you will find the perfect beach in Panama.

As a rule, the beaches on the Pacific coast of Panama are mostly long and wide with big waves perfect for surfing, while the Caribbean side has smaller beaches with calm waters perfect for swimming and relaxing. Many of Panama’s best beaches are located on palm-fringed islands in the Caribbean.
On the beaches to the Caribbean Sea, there is a nice breeze from the water and the weather can be wet and rainy at times.

This side is further away, but the Bocas Del Toro Islands are accessible by plane, making them more accessible than they look.
The Pacific side has more sun and warm winds that sweep inland. Access to Pacific beaches from Panama City is easy and some are even day trips.
Help plan your trip by exploring the best beaches in Panama.

Beaches of the San Blas Islands, Panama

The most beautiful beaches in Panama are found in the remote Caribbean islands of San Blas. These are the amazing stretches of white sand that you often see in pictures, consisting of turquoise water and small islands with palm trees swaying in the wind. The San Blas Islands are owned by the Kunas and you must follow a certain process and book with them to stay here. They provide relatively rustic accommodation, three meals a day and all transport to these magical places. If you really want to get away from it all and disconnect from the world in a wonderful yet rustic setting, this is the place to visit.

Another much more luxurious and expensive way to visit the island is on a private sailing boat, stopping at various islands along the way and sleeping and eating on board. The captain will take you to the best spots for snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding or even kite surfing. Trips are usually all-inclusive and the boats are luxury catamarans between 0 and 50 feet. You can rent the whole boat with the crew, or a cheaper option is to rent a cabin and share the boat with others.

Red Frog Beach, Panama

Another incredible beach in the Bocas Del Toro area is Red Frog Beach. Named after a small frog that lives on Isla Bastimentos, the beach can be reached by boat from the capital, Bocas, followed by a 10-minute walk through the jungle.Although this is a popular beach with many visitors and a good spot for people watching, it is large enough that it doesn’t seem overrun. The waves here are smaller than places like Bluff Beach, perfect for those who want to get in the water without bowling.

Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for a modest fee or you can spread out your towel under the palm tree behind the beach. Some restaurants offer food and drinks, or you can bring your own beach picnic. Please note that there is a fee to walk across private land to the beach.If you want to spend a few days here, don’t forget to book accommodation in advance.

During high season, the area is often booked. Budget travelers might consider the Selina Red Frog, which offers a variety of accommodations from bungalows, standard rooms and suites to dormitories. If you are looking for luxury accommodation in the area, Red Frog Beach Island Resort is probably the place to be.

Starfish Beach, Panama

Ideal for families with small children or travelers looking for a postcard perfect and quiet beach. Starfish Beach is one of the best beaches in Bocas del Toro. It is a small beach with shallow, azure water and no waves, and is known for its abundance of starfish. The beach is located behind Isla Colon in the Gulf of Bocas del Toro and is protected by ocean waves.

You can laze on the beach, swim, rent a floating chair, kayak, snorkel or, for the more adventurous, ride a wakeboard. Just back from the beach, among swaying palm trees, are restaurants serving local and international cuisine.From the capital, Bocas, it’s an easy taxi ride to Boca del Drago, followed by a short boat ride to Starfish Beach.

Coiba Island in Coiba National Park, Panama

Adventurers will want to head to Coiba Island to enjoy an uninhabited jungle island with stunning beaches and abundant wildlife. The main beach here is a beautiful crescent of sand and a small island right in the open sea. Other beaches, completely untouched and completely deserted, are just around the corner.
Some beaches offer calm waters, while other beaches, on the other hand, have big waves and are usually visited only by serious surfers looking for the ride of a lifetime.

Snorkeling here is amazing and divers can add it to their bucket list to swim with whale sharks.
From the beach, this is a nature lover’s paradise. More than 200 different birds, crocodiles, snakes and turtles live on the island. The best way to get to Isla Coiba is by boat from Santa Catalina.

Bluff Beach, Panama

This is one of the few beaches on Colon Island in Bocas del Toro that has big waves and is still swimmable. It is a popular destination for surfers and boogie boarders. The soft golden sand stretches for eight kilometers, so it’s easy to find a spot in paradise and watch the waves roll in.

It’s very quiet here.You will likely see very few other people and if you want to get away from it all, this is the place to be. There are a few restaurants nearby, but for the most part it’s best to bring your own food and supplies.The road to Playa Bluff is dirt in many places and can be bumpy, but the trip is worth it. You have a good chance of seeing sloths hanging in the trees and monkeys swinging loudly.