How to get to Santa Catalina, Panama
- Laion Cross
- 17. Juli
- 14 Min. Lesezeit
Great choice! You're ready to travel Panama and Santa Catalina is on the radar. There you'll find the best launching option for Panama's #1 snorkel/dive tour at Coiba National Park. Let's break down the four options on how to get to Santa Catalina, Panama. We'll start with the fastest way and the most entertaining option... Fly!
How to get from Panama City to Santa Catalina
Transport | Travel Time | Price |
Charter Flight to Lago Bay | 45 min flight | $875 (3 passenger) |
Hired Car | 6–8 hrs | $100/person |
Rental Car | 6-8 hrs drive | $50-100/day |
Bus to Santa Catalina | 8-9 hrs | $15-20 |
1- Charter Flight – The Fastest Way
Travel Time: 45min | Price: From $875 (3 passenger aircraft)
There is a charter flight option from Panama City's domestic airport to Lago Bay Airstrip. Lago Bay is just outside of Santa Catalina's town center. Depending on the aircraft, the flight time is 45 minutes to an hour. From there, Santa Catalina is a 15-minute shuttle.
If you're going to Coiba, you'll arrive fresh and ready...instead of an all day drive. Lago Bay takes care of ground logistics. For complete service, the vacation home options at Lago Bay will make your experience seamless.
From Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" Airport (PAC)
If you staying in the city, chances are you'll want to get to the domestic airport at Albrook. It's centrally located and easily accessible. Uber is probably the best and easiest way to get from one point in the city to another.
If you don't have Uber on your phone, there are taxis at most every corner in Panama City. Wherever you're staying in the city, a taxi or Uber should be able to get you to Albrook Airport for about $5 USD.
Your flight destination is the Lago Bay Airstrip (MPLY) which is just outside of Santa Catalina. The two charter companies that will get you there are Blue Skies for smaller groups (1-5) or Skymaxx for larger groups (up to 9).
If you are flying with Skymaxx, you'll find their entrance just before (west) of the Albrook terminal entrance. If Blue Skies, you'll be shuttled to their hanger. After a quick stop in the VIP lounge, it's onward to your charter flight.
Aircraft options, weight allowance, prices and contact information can all be found at the Lago Bay website at: https://www.lagobay.com/charter-flights
From Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
From Tocumen, there is an option of departing to Lago Bay Airstrip directly. If your time is limited and you want to skip the city, the charter companies can pick you up from the international airport (instead of leaving from the domestic airport).
You'll have a VIP experience of going through customs then walking down another tarmac where your private charter is waiting for you.
You'll fly into the Lago Bay Airstrip in 45 minutes to an hour depending on the aircraft. The Lago Bay shuttle will take you to your Lago Bay vacation home or the hotel of your choice.
The discount calendar (empty leg) option to fly
Again, this is a flight option but is intended for ultra flexible travelers. The empty leg is basically the part of the charter (coming or going) that is not being used by the charter clients.
The empty portion is available to 'jump seat' at a discounted price from Albrook. The information for the discount calendar can also be found at lagobay.com/fly
Flight experience
Once in the air you'll almost immediately cross over the Panama Canal. This is a great opportunity to get that perfect aerial shot of the canal. You'll fly close to where the Miraflor Locks are located as well as getting both bridges in the same shot. Ask the pilot to give a little tilt. The camera person should be on the right-hand side of the plane. If you're in the copilot seat...perfect.
After 20 minutes or so you'll know that you're halfway there when you look down at several hundred giant windmills. This is the town of Penonome. 10 minutes later you'll fly over a vast area of shrimp farms. You're getting ready for decent as you fly over the Gulf of Montijo.
Directly over the island of Leones you'll see the Lago Bay Airstrip where, depending on the wind, you'll land from the north or circle for a couple of minutes over the Pacific ocean landing from the south. At the Lago Bay Airstrip, your ground shuttle will be there waiting to greet you.
2- Rental Car - From Panama City to Santa Catalina
Travel Time: 6-8 hrs | Price: From $50–$100/day + fuel
Tips:
The rental car option is widely used for a combination of independence and those that want to seek out several stops around the country. The rental car option is fairly standard. You can plan on a $50- $100/day budget for your car + fuel (depending on your vehicle needs).
Most likely you would rent a car at the Tocumen International Airport with one of the usual car rental agencies The same tactics of insurance, fuel, driver(s) etc are used to give you more options to spend more or less with the agency. More than likely there is also a car-rental agency near your hotel if you choose to drive as little as possible.
One note: with the rental car option, it's good to use Waze while on the road. The police can be a little tricky with 'speed traps'. Waze points out where this might occur... along with more detailed traffic information and road hazards. In Panama City, Waze is accurate in reporting traffic both getting into and leaving the city.
Via Santiago
From Panama City you'll drive to the approximate center point of the country to the town of Santiago. The distance is around 250 kilometers with a straight shot. This portion of the drive is usually 3.5 - 4 hours (without traffic).
Santiago is a good place to get lunch, gas up and get some supplies. Santiago has good options for groceries, drinks and snacks compared to the area of Santa Catalina. You can pick up a Porterhouse, a single malt and a pack of Gouda cheese. Around Santa Catalina you'll not come across many creature comforts.... seafood being the exception.
Passing Santiago, there is a nicer bypass that helps you avoid this small town's difficult infrastructure. There is also a decent amount of traffic on the main street (calle Central) that is good to avoid during most times of the day. The bypass is 7 kilometers after Santiago (you can use the McDonald's sign as a marker). At the smaller town of La Pena, you'll see the sign for the Santa Catalina turn off.
After leaving La Pena, you'll have another 50 kilometers until the town of Sona. Just before Sona, you'll take another left at the Delta Gas Station that indicates the highway to Santa Catalina. From this intersection, you'll have another 50 kilometers until reaching the last intersection just past the hospital at Tigre Amarillo. Once again, the sign is clearly marked for Santa Catalina.
After another left turn, you'll have about 15 kilometers until you dead end into Santa Catalina. The end of the road.
3- Private Shuttle - Panama City to Santa Catalina
Travel Time: 6-8 hrs | Price: From $100/person
Private shuttles are valid options for those that don't mind the length of drive time, but still want to make their group experience more intimate and catered. WiFi is a good bonus here where you can get work done while on the road. You'll also have a driver that can stop when the group wants to stop.
The price for a medium-sized group (4-6) usually works out to about $100 per person. Fewer passengers would increase the price while more passengers could push the price down 10-20%.
The drive from Panama City to Santa Catalina is listed at 6 hours. Keep in mind that 6 hours is without traffic. Also keep in mind that there is always....traffic. You can count on 8 hours. You're expectation threshold will be much more positive as a result.
Below you'll find different companies, times, prices etc.
4- Public Bus - Panama City to Santa Catalina
Travel Time: 8-9 hrs | Price: From $15-20
The public bus system in Panama is very inexpensive. That's the best part. Depending on your goals, budget and time frame in Panama, the public bus option could be right for you.
Leaving Tocumen or your hotel from Panama City, you'll have the options of the Metro, a public bus, taxi or Uber to get you to the Albrook Bus Terminal. The Metro is a great budget option.
Even for the most hardened budget traveler, I would not look for the public bus option from Tocumen. The Metro is much easier and about the same price (cheap). If you plan to have the public bus option chances are that you won't have much luggage.
A backpack is perfect for the metro where you'll need to walk a few hundred yards from the airport and you'll need to make one metro line change. If you have any weight that you're carrying then I might suggest splurging on an Uber.
A collective shuttle is also an option. If you're traveling alone it might be slightly less expensive. Using your negotiating skills you may be able to score a ride for $15 to the terminal. Uber costs about $17.
From Albrook Bus Terminal to Santiago or Sona
Once at Albrook Bus Terminal, you'll need to keep in mind that not all bus companies are equal. Your next destination is Santiago or preferably Sona. You'll have four options that are all the same price (currently $9 to Santiago $4 to Sona).
From Panama City - Sona
The best option is to coordinate your departure with the Sona option. Sona is closer to Santa Catlina and will leave you with just one more transfer. The Santiago option doesn't take much more time but involves a transfer to continue onwards to Sona.
Buses leave Santiago every 30 minutes to Sona. If you have the decision of waiting an extra 30 minutes or more for the Sona bus...then I'd say catching a bus to Santiago would be the better choice. Keep in mind, however, that you'll need to arrive to Sona before 4pm to catch your Santa Catalina bus connection. (The other option is a taxi from Sona-Santa Catalina for $35-45.)
The Sona Bus option takes about 5.5 hours (you guessed it...without city traffic).
Departure schedule Panama-Sona
6:45 AM, 8:20 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:40 PM, 2:20 PM, 4:20 PM
Departure schedule Sona-Panama
12:00 AM, 4:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:30-4:00 PM
To see if there are timetable updates click here.
From Panama City - Santiago
The next best bus option after a direct Sona bus is to get one of the larger, more comfortable buses that run to David. Just make sure that you tell the ticket agent that your destination is Santiago. You'll know if they understood you by the cost. Santiago is $9 and David destination is $18. If you don't speak Spanish well...then hand them a $10 bill. They'll figure it out.
The David buses are usually the quietest, smoothest and always have a restroom. The biggest drawback is that you'll arrive in Santiago along the Inter-American Highway where you'll need to catch a $2 taxi to the Santiago Bus Terminal. From there buses leave every 30 minutes to Sona.
The other two buses both go directly to the Santiago Bus Terminal. Expreso Veraguense is the much better of the two for both speed and comfort.
SanPasa is the other company. Both are slightly cold...but Sanpasa is colder. You might think that is exactly what you want...especially on a hot day.
At least bring a long-sleeve layer because you'll be happy after hour number four or five when all of the windows have clouded over and your teeth aren't chattering. Noise pollution is also a consideration. It's blasting.
Whether it's Salsa music or Sylvester shouting out his Rambo lines in dubbed Spanish SanPasa once again wins the prize in making your trip slightly difficult to manage. Headphones with your favorite frequency meditation tones? Earplugs? These are definitely two considerations.
With Expreso Veraguense expect a 4 hour ride to Santiago. With Sanpasa...don't expect anything.
From Sona - Santa Catalina
In Sona you've made it to your last transfer. This is the tricky part because there are fewer buses that don't exactly run on a smooth time frame. Click here to see the schedule.
Once on the Santa Catalina bus, you'll have another 2 hours until you reach town center. Keep in mind that these smaller buses don't have a restroom. You'll want to take care of snacks and breaks in Sona.
Departure schedule Sona-Santa Catalina
Mondey to Saturday
4:20 AM, 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 8:40 AM, 11:20 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:45 PM
Sundays
5:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM
Departure schedule Santa Catalina-Sona
Mondey to Saturday
6:15 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 10:40 AM, 1:15 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:20 PM
Sundays
7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 1:15 PM, 3:30 PM
How to Get to Santa Catalina from Bocas del Toro
Transport | Travel Time | Price |
Charter Flight to Lago Bay | 40 min flight | From $2310 (3 passenger) |
Ferry + Private Shuttle | 8–9 hrs | $70/person |
Ferry + Rental Car | 8-9 hrs | $40-80/day |
Ferry + Bus | 11-13 hrs | $30-40 |
1- Charter Flight – The Smartest Way
Bocas has an easily accessible airstrip that has been functioning for quite some time. Because Bocas Town in on an island, taking a charter flight helps in a variety of ways. You can skip both the drive and the boat ferry.
The charter flight from Bocas to the Lago Bay Airstrip is only 40 minutes. Directly from the island, you'll fly over the Continental Divide, past Boquete and onwards to your other coastal destination, Santa Catalina. Seeing the two oceans back-to-back is amazing. Leaving the Caribbean flare of Bocas, you'll fly directly to the magical Pacific.
If you're taking the trip to compare the surf, you'll be in for a treat. Santa Catalina's waves at 'The Point' are more consistent and more powerful than those of Bocas. If you're signing up for the Coiba National Park tour, you'll also be surprised with the changes both above water and below. Coiba is the perfect complement to Bocas for snorkel and dive.
You'll find large species of rays, turtles, whale sharks and whales at Coiba. A great combination from the colorful Caribbean to the mystically island park of Coiba.
Upon arrival at the Lago Bay Airstrip, your ground shuttle will be waiting on you to get you to your hotel or to your vacation home at Lago Bay.
You can find information regarding aircraft, prices, weight and contact information on our Fly to Bocas del Toro page.
2- Private Shuttle - From Bocas del Toro to Santa Catalina
From Bocas, there are several private shuttle options that can get you from Bocas del Toro to Santa Catalina. The companies will even assist with your ferry transfer and have the shuttle waiting for you on the mainland at Almirante.
The ferry time is from 30-45 minutes. From Almirante the drive is sometime between 6.5 – 7.5 hours depending on conditions. The good news is that the shuttle driver is taking the same shortcut that will save you about 30 minutes.
Compared to any public option the private shuttle is both much quicker and much more comfortable. You'll also have WiFi more than likely. That makes a big difference if you need to communicate or just to help pass the time.
Prices vary for private shuttles costing $60-$70 per person.
3- Rental Car in Bocas del Toro
From Bocas, you'll have a couple of disadvantages with a rental car. While visiting the island, you'll need to park your rental car at Almirante on the mainland. The cost isn't that bad ($3-$5 a day) but it's slightly inconvenient.
So... from Bocas you'll need to ferry over to your rental car. The ferry is $7 per person and lasts 30-45 minutes.
The drive from Almirante to Santa Catalina is about 375 kilometers. These kilometers aren't flat however. The road changes elevation in a radical drive winding up and over the Continental Divide. The drive takes about 6.5 hours and it's good to coffee up beforehand. You'll need to pay attention to the road!
Going through David is optional. If you need supplies, it's advised to stock up in the larger town of David. They have an excellent Rey supermarket. Both selection and price are better than your smaller town options. Gassing up is also advised and getting cash out from an ATM in David might also be helpful.
Once on the Inter-American Highway, head East towards Santiago. Check your Waze or Google Maps for the shortcut that takes you directly towards Sona after Boca Chica. This will save you about an hour on your drive at the same time putting a little more coastal scenery along your route.
After passing Sona refer to the above directions to finish your drive to Santa Catalina.
4- Public Bus - Bocas del Toro - Santa Catalina
These days I'm reluctant to write the public bus option. It will save some cash...but only the die-hard budget traveler will find that this option is going to be worth the cost of time and patience. If you take this option, you can practice your Zen.
With all of the transfers and backtracking you can still expect to pay $30-$40 per person. The total travel time from Bocas to Santa Catalina will probably exceed 10 hours. You'll go from Almirante to David. From David you'd bus to Santiago. After Santiago you'll get to Sona then onwards to Santa Catalina.
I've taken all options in the past. I doubt that I'll ever take option #4 in the future.
How to Get to Santa Catalina from David (near Boquete)
Charter Flight #1 - From David to Lago Bay
From David the flight to the Lago Bay Airstrip is about 20 minutes. Comparing distance, price and convenience, the charter flight option doesn't make quite as much sense as Panama City or Bocas, however it all depends on your time frame and budget.
The charter flight option is once again the fastest and the most entertaining. With this leg you can refer to the lagobay.com/charter-flights or directly consult with Blue Skies or Sky Maxx depending on the aircraft that you would like to charter.
Ground Options from David to Santa Catalina
The drive from David to Santa Catalina is basically explained above regarding the Bocas to Santa Catalina route. When coming from Bocas, whether you're in a car, shuttle or bus, you'll pass close by to the town of David. David is the capital of the province of Chiriqui. You'll find the relevant travel information from David above in the Bocas section.
Tips from the Tocumen International Airport
Immediately walking out of the Tocumen Airport, you'll have an assortment of taxis drivers and hustlers holding up signs and saying 'mister mister'. I always avoid these guys because prices are double and the service isn't any better than walking out of the door. My favortie option is Uber if I need ground transportation.
An Uber driver is usually more professional and is cashless. That cuts out negotiations and prices usually fall at around $17 for a trip to your hotel. If you want a cultural experience and hone your negotiating skills, I'd still walk out into the open air and try my luck with a taxis or one of the collective shuttle buses. A taxis is usually $25-$30 and a seat on the private shuttle is usually about the same.
What to take to Santa Catalina
Chances are you're going to Santa Catalina for either the surf or the adventure that Coiba National Park has to offer. Either way you'll need protection from the sun. Sunscreen and a hat are good items to pack. Bug repellent will probably come in handy. Flip flops or sandals are a must. If you are surfing the point, there are volcanic rocks that can be unpleasant without aquatic shoes. Don't forget sunglasses. If you want to try out surfing, a rash guard is also a good option.
If you are driving in and staying at a place with a kitchen or grill, you'll want to get the appropriate supplies before arriving in the remote area of Santa Catalina. Steaks, olives, cheeses, wine, drinks, and various snacks are hard to come by after Satiago or David. If you're flying in, Lago Bay has a grocery concierge for guests.
What to expect in Santa Catalina
The boutique hotels and restaurants in Santa Catalina are very pleasant. There is great seafood and with a prominent Italian expat community, there is fantastic pizza and pasta. Estero Beach has a nice beach break for beginner surfers and a fantastic beach bar for helping with any muscle pains afterwards.
The biggest attraction in the area is the Coiba National Park. This article has plenty of information regarding the park and the tours https://www.lagobay.com/coiba-tour-pack
The town in general is very active for outdoor sporting activities like surfing, diving, kayak and paddle board. There is also massage and yoga to help recharge. Take a look at the Top 10 Activity page if you'd like to plan some of your activities in the area.
Santa Catalina is not as much of a party area like Bocas. Energy is much more focused on the outdoor activities. When you take your day tour to Coiba, you can expect to be ready for a nice meal and some good rest. If the diving, hiking and snorkeling didn't expend all of your energy, the sun and salt-water finish the job.
If you eat out in town, you'll need to have patience. The coastal pace is a little slower than the larger towns and much slower than Panama City. You'll find dining recommendations on the Activities Page. These restaurants all place more emphasis on quality as opposed to speed.
Santa Catalina and the area is a place to unwind and unplug. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing testimonies to living each day. If you visit in the dry season, you'll be amazed at the number of stars. The wildlife is truly incredible.
The locals are friendly. If you add up all of the little things...on top of great surfing and diving, you'll find that Santa Catalina is a truly adventurous destination with much to offer.