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, 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.
A new resort with the intriguing name of " Gone Fishing Panama Resort" in Boca Chica offers big game fishing, in-shore fishing, swimming, and surfing.
Nearby, on a small island in the Chiriqui Marine Park is the eco-friendly, luxury boutique hotel Cala Mia which boasts two pristine beaches.
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Panama's wild and beautiful: Caribbean coast has numerous beaches to offer the visitor too.
The closest beach to Colon is Maria Chiquita which has a 'Turicentro' offering facilities. Playa Langosta is a few miles further on. Several companies offer facilities for skin diving, diving and snorkeling. Equipment can be rented for a moderate price.
Isla Grande,a beautiful island about 40 minutes drive from Colon, has an excellent beach. The island boasts two hotels and a number of cabin style hostelries. It offers diving if you take your own equipment, snorkeling and even surfing. Isla Grande has been host to various international surf competitions.
One of the most elegant resorts in Panama is Bananas Village, a small beach hotel on a coconut plantation on the very private seaward side of Isla Grande. Bananas offers comfort, quality and seclusion.
Pacific Islands: The island beaches of Panama are magnificent and all quite different.
Contadora: 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.
Taboga: Remains the fragrant "Island of Flowers" with the pedestrian width streets Pizarro knew. Call: 264'6096 or 261'0350 for launch schedules.
Taborcillo: A secluded island resort once owned by John Wayne
On the Caribbean coast of Panama lie the San Blas islands, home of the Kuna Indians. Pristine desert island beaches await here for the adventurous traveller.
