Pacific Coast of Panama holidays
Pacific Coast of Panama holidays at a glance
Next to neighbouring Costa Rica, much of the Pacific Coast of Panama remains a wild stretch of shoreline that’s slipped under the radar of international tourists. That is slowly beginning to change as a handful of high-end hotels stake their claim on its beaches and offshore islands. For now, though, you’ll still find long stretches of sand with barely another footprint on them. Where the Caribbean side is steeped in colonial history and indigenous culture, the Pacific is all about islands, surf and open water.
Just over an hour from the airport at David, the beaches and islands around Boca Chica offer sublime sunsets, several excellent hotels and very good surfing. Boca Chica is the gateway to the Gulf of Chiriquí National Marine Park, a protected scattering of green islands and white-sand coves. Further offshore lies Isla Coiba, a former penal colony that is now one of Central America’s most prized and pristine marine parks.
Midway along the coast, Panamanians call the Azuero Peninsula the ‘heartland’ of their country. It has a rich blend of pre-Columbian heritage, cattle ranching and a vibrant Hispanic tradition, best seen in its colonial towns and boisterous festivals. It’s so reliably dry that locals nickname it the ‘desert of Panama’.
At the other end of the coast, 50km off Panama City, the Pearl Islands are an archipelago of more than 100 tiny islands, most of them uninhabited. Their clear water, diving and sailing make them a favourite escape from the capital, and they rank among the finest Pacific beaches Panama has to offer.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Pacific Coast of Panama
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Panama’s Pacific coast remains one of Central America’s lesser-known beach destinations, combining beautiful scenery with a sense of space and tranquillity.
When to visit Pacific Coast of Panama
The region sits well within the tropics and lies outside the main hurricane belt, so temperatures stay above 30°C for much of the year. If you’re weighing up the best time to visit Panama Pacific Coast beaches, it comes down to rainfall and what you’d like to see.
Unlike the rest of the country the ‘heartland’ remains warm and dry throughout most of the year- for this reason, it’s known as the ‘desert of Panama’. Highs on the coast reach 30°- 34°C consistently during this time, making it a great beach destination, with the warmest temperatures in February and March. Carnival falls in either February or March- don’t miss the celebrations in Chitre, with live music, dancing and water fights.
Although this is the wet season, the Azuero Peninsula remains drier during these months than the rest of the country, with the wettest months being October and November. Temperatures remain balmy with highs of 30°C consistently. The three day Festival de Manito celebrated in Ocu during August is a fantastic way to see some of the region’s traditional folkloric culture.
Accommodation in Pacific Coast of Panama
Accommodation along Panama’s Pacific coast focuses on beachside retreats and properties that provide easy access to coastal and marine environments.
Many visitors use the coast as a place to relax after exploring Panama City, the Canal or the highlands.
Luxurious and elegant resort on the Pacific, with stylish and contemporary rooms offering top-notch comfort.
A welcoming and professionally run hotel with chalet-style accommodation and a menu of outdoor activities close to the beach at Boca Chica.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Tailor-Made Pacific Coast of Panama Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature Costa Rica and Panama Coast: Pacific route
Places visited: San Jose, central highlands and central valleys · Osa Peninsula · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Pacific Coast of Panama · Panama City
14 days from £3,800
FAQs about visiting Pacific Coast of Panama
Pacific Coast of Panama is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- Combines With
Panama City and the canal region (6hrs’ drive), a few days at a rural retreat in Boquete ( 5-6 hrs scenic drive) with a visit to a coffee farm; Boca Chica – 3hrs’ drive to the west along a scenic road on the Pacific coast – the gateway to the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine National Park with its many luxuriant green islands, palm-tree-fringed white beaches and a variety of wildlife.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- Getting Local Currency
The national currency, the balboa, is at parity with the US dollar, and only US banknotes are used. (There are some local coins equivalent to US cents). There’s an ATM in Chitre where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK, and amounts may be limited. You are best advised to acquire dollar bills before travelling to the province. Panamanians are sometimes reluctant to accept US dollar notes of higher denominations.
- Getting There
At the moment there are no domestic flights from Panama City to Chitre although there is a usable airstrip there; by road it’s a journey of about 3hrs.
- Key Events
Chitre: Carnival (Mardi Gras) with dancing and water flights; Fiesta de San Juan Batista, patron saint of Chitre, 24 June with bullfights (no killing); city foundation 19 October, with parades and costumes.
Parita: Corpus Christi, with masked dancers;
Ocu: Festival de Manito, August, a 3 day festival dedicated to the maintaining the region’s traditional cultures, with folklore groups; Festival of saint Sebastian, Ocu’s patron saint, January 20-23 approx, with folklore programmes and an agricultural fair. - Language
Spanish, English and native tongues.
- Time Difference
GMT -5 hrs.
- When To Go
Situated within the tropics, the peninsula has a balmy climate with high temperatures (over 30°C) all year round. Although there is plenty of sun the drier months tend to be Feb-Mar and Sep-Oct. The region lies outside the main hurricane belt.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.