Top Hotels in Santa Catalina
Top Restaurants in Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina Hotels | Places to Stay in Santa Catalina
Discover the best hotels in Santa Catalina, Veraguas Province including Hotel Santa Catalina, Villa Coco, Hotel Sol y Mar, Mama Ines Hotel, Tiki Lodge Bar & Restaurant, Hostel Villa Vento Surf Santa Catalina, Rancho Estero, Hotel Las Hamacas, Oasis Surf Camp, Hotel Vista Coiba.
Restaurants in Santa Catalina
1. Hotel Santa Catalina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 691 reviews
Hotel Santa Catalina is a 18 room boutique beachfront hotel located directly in front of the world class surf break in Santa Catalina, Veraguas Province of Panama. The hotels location is ideal for anyone coming to Santa Catalina to surf, dive, snorkel, fish or just hang out at the beach or islands. Short walking distance from all the restaurants, bars, village center and other beaches. Coiba Island and Cebaco Island is within a short boat ride from the property for diving and snorkeling activities. Santa Catalina Island is just a 10 minute paddle on Kayak or Stand-Up Paddle Board (SUP), which are both free to our guests. The hotel offers rooms with comfy high quality beds, 100% cotton bed linens, air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with hot water, mini-refrigerator, cable TV, safe, and kitchenettes in the suite rooms. Our award winning ocean front "Pescao" seafood restaurant serves a hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner (not included in room rate), open every day of the week from 7 am to 10 pm.
Great restaurant
Reviewed By DougFirDinoI didn’t stay at the hotel but enjoyed two wonderful meals at the restaurant. Staff spoke good English. Delicious food and mixed drinks, for reasonable prices. We especially liked the fish. The restaurant is right on the beach, so you can walk on the sand with drinks while waiting for the meal.
2. Villa Coco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
Villa Coco is a beautiful boutique hotel, located in the small Panamanian fishing village of Santa Catalina, only footsteps away of the world known surf break “La Punta” and Unesco world heritage Coiba island. The carefully designed cabañas, cocooned in a paradise of lush greens and a myriad of colorful flowers, provide a space of tranquility and a sense of timelessness. Unwind in the hammocks and canvas chairs on your private terrace, dwell on reading your favorite book or sip on a cool drink from the bar. Restaurant “Ai Mamita” offers fresh seafood and other tasty delights. Catch some morning waves to start perfectly into a day full of bliss, relax at the magnificent infinity pool and zen out. Wake up, breathe in and feel good at Villa Coco.
Great Vibe
Reviewed By MikeK909The whole place has a lovely beachy feel, the colour scheme is sunwashed pastels, and each room is individually and tastefully decorated. Outside showers just add to the experience. The restaurant was lovely, the food delicious and the service first class. Don't miss the cocktails. Nice pool area and in-keeping sound track Will be going back.
3. Hotel Sol y Mar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 263 reviews
Located along the main street in Santa Catalina,600 meters from Santa Catalina beach,on a hill overlooking the ocean,Sol y Mar offers 9 spacious rooms, all with air conditioned, private bath with hot shower, satellite TV, mini-fridge,safe-deposit box,terrace, internet (in restaurant area). Six of the rooms have two double beds and a sofa-bed, so they can accommodate up to 5 people Some of the rooms has an additional bunk bed,so can sleep 7.There are three new rooms each with a King bed. We also have a restaurant with pool table,ping-pong and a swimming pool.
Cool little cabins in the hills!
Reviewed By jewels246This is a beautiful spot to stay when in Santa Catalina. We are not surfers and are not young but this is a cool little coast town. Accommodations were clean and comfy. Great size cabins for 2, 4 adults might be tight. Staff was amazing…all of them and food was delicious, every meal! One must be aware that there is ALOT of stairs. Although Manager Gino will get you up and down when you need. XO
4. Mama Ines Hotel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 200 reviews
The property is right in front of the beach. We are equipped with a restaurant, surfing boards rental, surfing classes, We have Private Rooms and Shared Dorm, a balcony bar with a beautiful view to the beach. We offer free wifi to our guest and free bicycle during your stay.
Best location in Santa Catalina
Reviewed By Yasmin RCute hotel with all you need. Comfortable rooms, a small store to buy beach essentials, great restaurant, and the best is that it has direct access to the beach. Everything on the restaurant menu is delicious. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Has terraces and rooftop to hang out. The decor is of good taste and full of nature. First day , we went to an island near by for a few hours. Next day we went to Coiba for the day. Third day we chilled at the hotel and felt very comfortable just like home. Loved this place and would come back here in the future.
5. Tiki Lodge Bar & Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 96 reviews
Tiki Lodge Santa Catalina with our almost famous tiki bar and restaurant, make us a top choice for anyone traveling in Panama. Stay in one of our private tiki huts or our air conditioned dorm and enjoy our many common areas with free WiFi, hammocks, kitchen, free breakfast, nightly movies, live entertainment and don’t miss our happy hour with cervezas at a special price, from 5 to 6pm! Surfboard and kayak rentals are available at the lodge and we can organize all your tours and activities including snorkeling, diving, horseback riding, surf lessons and more. We are conveniently located in the center of Santa Catalina providing you with easy access to all of the beaches, markets and the best surf breaks.
Nice place to stay
Reviewed By Natasha0606I did like the Tiki Lodge. Location is great, the staff is friendly and the dorm and bathrooms were always clean. It is a bit sad that reception opens so late in the mornings and I found it weird that our bathrooms were also the bathrooms of the restaurant's guests. They could watch us brushing our teeth while having their dinner. A bit strange. But if you don't mind that, the place is great. I would stay here again. You can also rent surf gear from them and they help you book tours.
6. Hostel Villa Vento Surf Santa Catalina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Brand new hostel in santa catalina town at just 5min walking from the beach. We ofert a nice atmosphere at our pool area, with a big full equiped kitchen and a helpfullstaf. also we have a minimarket and restaurant at the front side of the hostel.
Social, clean and centrally located hostel
Reviewed By Vera vI would recommend staying in this hostel while in Santa Catalina. It's in the middel of the village, little supermarket is attached to the hostel, great pool and kitchen and the hostel is very clean. It's a great place to meet people. The free pancakes in the morning are also very practical. With some cheap fruits of the cute little fruit market in town you van make yourself a awesome breakfast. Only downside is no laundry service. The kitchen is indeed closed between 22:00 and 07:00 but I've not experienced that as a problem. The outside lights are turned off after 22:00 as well, but you can still sit outside.
7. Rancho Estero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Rancho Estero is located at the end of the road to Playa Estero and is on the bluff overlooking the beach and the surf. The view from this property is simply amazing. We have a series of small cabins that can accommodate 1 to 6 people. We offer free internet access and a common kitchen. There are plenty of hammocks, chaise lounges and decks to relax on. Several restaurants are located close by. The town and the surf break "La Punta" are in walking distance. Rancho Estero is a very popular choice because of its priceless views, unique location and friendly vibe.
Exceptional stay. Truly paradise.
Reviewed By eyeswideopen1073My partner and I stayed here for 2 weeks in paradise. The vibe is extremely chill and the hosts Elli and Zigor were great. The main bonus, other than the great views, is the fact that you share a kitchen with the other guests. There are fridges in which you can put your food, and everything that you need to make yourself a meal. This is a huge plus for travelling on a budget, and from what we saw around, is a unique feature for the location).The resort has its own water filtration system so you can drink the water right from the tap with zero issues (as opposed to needing to buy water like the other places around). You are steps from the beach, but can also chill in the many hammocks available throughout the resort. The whole place is small, with 7 or 8 bamboo huts and cabins, so you get to know the travellers that come and go. A walk to town (Santa Catalina) will take you 20min. There are 2 small mercados there to buy essentials. There are restaurants along the way too. So no need to stray far for a meal. Try the Argentinean Restaurant called Los Pibes. On the road towards Santa Catalina on the left. To get there from Panama City is easy, but takes almost an entire day. Take the bus from Albrook station to Sona (milk run of about 5 hrs), and then a smaller bus from Sona to Santa Catalina (local bus that takes about 1.5 -2 hrs). When you get to Santa Catalina, ask the driver to drop you off at Rancho Estero, sometimes if you're nice, they will :). As for surfing, my partner is a beginner-intermediate surfer and had no problems there. And for me, a non surfer, the beach is simply amazing. At high season, we counted 20 people total on the beach on a week day. It's quiet and peaceful. Weekends are busy, and the locals provide ample music from their vehicles below on the beach to keep you entertained. But by 11pm, all was done. We walked to other hostels around Playa Estero and none compare to Rancho Estero's vibe. Oh, and another bonus, the wifi is sketchy...so leave your phone in your bag and enjoy the beach, read a book while sitting in a hammock, or spend some time chatting with the other guests...it will do you wonders. Hoping one day to go back. Or at least to send friends and family that way.
8. Hotel Las Hamacas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Good hotel with bad WiFi
Reviewed By DougFirDinoGood hotel, hot showers, good AC, nice bed, beautiful pool, excellent location, friendly helpful staff, clean, well-equipped kitchen, but bad WiFi. The WiFi was too weak to run most websites such as Trip Advisor, and frequently disconnected. Except for the WiFi, it was wonderful and I expect to stay there again.
9. Oasis Surf Camp
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 170 reviews
The Oasis Surf Camp located in the Estero beach, Santa Catalina province of Veraguas in Panama, is the only hotel in front of beach that provides a comfortable and relaxing family atmosphere, where you can enjoy your stay without going anywhere.
Warning food poisoning
Reviewed By DennisUser01The place is nice even if I have seen nicer and more welcoming ones in Panama. If you are willing to stay there, don’t eat at the restaurant. We had a food poisoning and “fun” in the bathroom for two days. The staff didn’t care and said, it could be a virus. Maybe we had bad luck with the food. I would recommend to skip the place.
10. Hotel Vista Coiba
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Welcome to Hotel Vista Coiba, your Santa Catalina “home away from home.” Hotel Vista Coiba aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year. Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, a kitchenette, and a refrigerator, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the small hotel. Hotel Vista Coiba features a 24 hour front desk, sun umbrellas, and beach chairs, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts a pool and a lounge. If you are driving to Hotel Vista Coiba, free parking is available. If you’re looking for a Mediterranean restaurant, consider a visit to Hotel Iguanito or Pinguino Cafe, which are all conveniently located a short distance from Hotel Vista Coiba. Hotel Vista Coiba puts the best of Santa Catalina at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.
Nice residential with lovely staff
Reviewed By Ineke1984Santa Catalina is a cozy village with very good food and wonderful surroundings. We had the ground floor villa/apartment in Vista Coiba. This was pretty outdated and humid. We had some bugs because of cracks in the walls. We heard the neighbors upstairs, but for me that was not a problem. The shower was excellent: spacious, an unlimited amount of hot water and very high pressure. The beds were good and of a good size. We even had an extra bed in the living room as we requested. Breakfast was simple (eggs or pancakes and some sliced fruit) but good. All staff was extremely friendly. Especially Israel, he was very helpful with figuring out how and where to pay our traffic fine, which is pretty complicated in Panama (you have to go to an office which is 2 hours driving from Santa Catalina).
