Panama City to Santa Catalina: the Six-Hour Drive that you'll want to avoid.

You’ve seen the photos of Coiba National Park with whale sharks, turtles, humpbacks, giant manta rays and an incredible array of fish gliding through the water. You want to put the best marine-life snorkel tour on your Panama itinerary. Your plotting your travel map and you already have your push pin stuck on Santa Catalina, the best launching pad for Coiba Island. Now, you're just trying to figure out how to get there while avoiding the six-hour drive.

This is the Panama you came for

So you book your dream Eco-lodge, you schedule your dive trip, and you map the route from Panama City. And that’s when you see it: 6+ hours. One way.

Suddenly, a full day of your precious vacation is destined to be spent in a car, watching the yellow lines go by at 80 km/h. It’s has been the standard way.

The only way.

Until now.

Trade the Highway for the Horizon

A full day of vacation spent watching the world go by on the InterAmerican Highway is not a great start. Imagine trading the highway for the horizon for the first leg of your Panama journey.

Instead of navigating city traffic, you’re at an airfield, boarding a private charter plane. The engine hums to life, and in minutes, the concrete jungle gives way to a vibrant green patchwork below. One immediate benefit is a quick aerial shot of the Panama Canal while you're still ascending. Soaring just a few thousand feet you'll see the coastline to your left and get a great view of Panama's countryside to your right.

In 45 minutes, you’re descending towards the lush landscape of the Veraguas coast. You land at the Lago Bay Airstrip, refreshed, exhilarated, and with a full afternoon of vacation ahead of you.

Sound interesting? This is the new way to get to Santa Catalina with an impressive transition from an ultra-modern city straight into one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world.

Panama City to Santa Catalina

Let's be honest, you didn't fly all the way to Panama to become an expert on the Pan-American Highway. You came for the beach and all of the glory of the vast Pacific Ocean. By flying, you cut straight to the chase:

• The Best Way to Reach Coiba: Flying into Lago Bay is, without question, the fastest route to the wonders of Coiba National Park. Instead of arriving exhausted at sunset, you can land, check in, and enjoy your afternoon getting the lay of the land.

• Estero Beach with the beach bar, kayak rentals, paddle boarding and some international restaurants that are fantastic, you'll want to spend a little time here at the beach.

• The sunsets of Santa Catalina are some of the best. Relaxed with a front-row seat is the way to go.

• The Surfer's fast route: For surfers chasing that legendary wave in Santa Catalina, this is your ultimate shortcut. More time in the water, less time in traffic. Period.

• The Nature Lover: That extra half-day is another chance to go birding, a golden opportunity for the perfect sunset photo, or time to cast a line for world-class sport fishing.

  
  

Fly into Lago Bay without the six-hour drive

The Lago Bay Airstrip offers various aircraft to fit the size of your group. 1-3 passengers fly in a Cessna. Mid-sized groups (1-5) would plan with an Aztec and larger groups, the Kodiak. We’ve partnered with the best—Blue Skies and SkyMaxx—to offer a seamless charter flight experience. Whether you’re a couple needing the nimble Cessna or a larger group with surfboards and gear that fits perfectly in the spacious Kodiak, we have your flight covered.

So, when planning your logistics and you want the fastest option, plan to fly from Panama City to Santa Catalina. Plan to skip the 6-hour drive and start your Coiba tour relaxed and refreshed.

Your vacation time is your most valuable asset. Don't waste it on the bumpy highway.

Fly Panama City to Santa Catalina-

Ready to claim back your day? See the planes, check the details, and book your 45-minute shortcut to Santa Catalina and Coiba Island at lagobay.com/charter-flights.