Unveiling Panama's Hidden Gem: Boquete, Santa Catalina, and the Enchanting Coiba Island

We spent four days in Boquete, but could have easily stayed a week. The atmosphere, climate and possibilities are different to what one might expect from tropical paradise Panama. First of all, Boquete is a lot cooler than both the Caribean and the Pacific side of the country, which allows you to sleep well, take a break and go hiking! This combination has attracted many retired people for years now, and I have to say, it appealed to us as well. In addition to that, people in Boquete appeared a lot more friendly than the ones in our previous destination Bocas del Toro.

During our stay we aimed to explore the area and hike a few trails. Initially we wanted to summit Volcán Barú, but the better, and much nicer hiking trail to go up turned out to start from the other side of the volcano; Paso Ancho. Hence, we changed plans, and did the Pianista Trail, the pipeline trail, and went to the Tres Cascadas (three waterfalls). If you'd want to you could combine the latter two in one day, but I would recommend to take it easy, so as to not feel rushed, and to spend a day for each activity. The three waterfalls we're one of the best waterfalls we've seen on our seven month trip through Central America, so I'd definitely recommend going there! 

During our time in town, we walked around the market hall, took some time to practice our spanish, and had a few lovely dinners at Otto Gatronomica. This Italian cuisine has great lasagna, and some typical Italian desserts that are worth trying!

Santa Catalina is famous for UNESCO World Heritage Site Coiba island. Many people arrive to the beachplace to explore the unique underwaterworld of the island, spot whalesharks, turtles, dophins and all kinds of fish. The passway in between the mainland and the island is used by many underwater mammals, which increases the chances of spotting something extraordinary. Coiba island is not without reason often referred to as the Galapagos island of Panama. It contains a capture of the perfect blend of sand, sea and pristine wilderness.

As we wanted to explore the island and its surroundings in the best way possible, we decided to pay a little more for our snorkling tour than the usual tour operators charge. Discover Coiba is an organization that focusses on details, aims to provide you with the perfect trip, and spends the entire day off shore for 80USD. Their boat was significantly more comfy and faster than the ones of the operators, which allowed us to be first everywhere. This resulted in a 20 minute long encounter with a group of dophins, who followed and played with our boat whilst we could watch them from the bow. This in itself was already a breathtaking experience.

Close to the island, we went to three different snorkling spots, and were rewarded with several encounters with turtles, sharks and mantarays. Eventhough the tour was way over the daily budget of our trip, I loved every second of it, and would easily do it again.

Aside from this highlight, Santa Catalina has not much too offer. The village revolves around Coiba island tourism, and a bit of surfing. If you’re a beginner in this sport Playa el Estero is the place to be. The waves are not as high as you may expect from the Pacific, and there are usually not that many people in the water there. Hence, more waves for you!