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Light sandy beach with palms and vegetation beside the sea.

Panama · Coiba and Santa Catalina

Departure ports for Coiba

Santa Catalina has the widest choice of tours and lodging. Pixvae is the port closest to the park and Puerto Mutis the closest to Santiago.

4 places

  1. 1

    CultureOpen

    Santa Catalina village

    South coast of Veraguas, at the end of the road from Soná.0 km from the centre

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    Former fishing village in Soná district, now a base for surfing, diving and fishing. It is the most touristic port for Coiba, with lodging and dive centers.

    Source: Santa Catalina – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Bring cash: according to the operator Premier Coiba Tours (page checked October 2026), there is only one ATM in the village, not every restaurant takes cards and frequent power cuts knock out card payments; Soná has ATMs and a bank.

    Nearby: Scuba diving Coiba from Santa Catalina (0.4 km) · Humpback whale watching (0.6 km) · Coiba snorkel day tour (0.6 km)

    Sources: Santa Catalina – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Coiba National Park – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Travel Information – Premier Coiba Tours

  2. 2

    CultureOpen

    Pixvae

    Veraguas coast northwest of Santa Catalina, facing the north of the park.41.9 km from the centre

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    Coastal community in Las Palmas district, in Coiba's buffer zone. Visit Panamá names it the port closest to the park.

    Source: Parque Nacional Coiba – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: According to the operator The Ark Divers (undated page, checked October 2026), the road was finished in February 2024 and there was no electricity as of 2021 (homes run on solar panels, generators or candles); the same page says there is no phone signal or ATM, although Infoplaza public wifi can sometimes be picked up next to the police station and there is a public phone. Bring enough cash.

    Sources: Parque Nacional Coiba – Visit Panamá (ATP) · About Pixvae – The Ark Divers (operador) · Un camino y varios planes buscan que Pixvae despegue como destino turístico – TVN · Dive Trips with Scuba Coiba (operador)

  3. 3

    CultureOpen

    Puerto Mutis

    Montijo district, south of Santiago de Veraguas.39.2 km from the centre

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    Port on the Gulf of Montijo, near Santiago. MiAmbiente and Visit Panamá list it as one of the boat departure points for Coiba.

    Source: Coiba National Park – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Visit Panamá presents Santa Catalina as the port with the most lodging and dive centers; Puerto Mutis is farther from Coiba. Crossing time not confirmed by the official source at the time of review.

    Sources: Coiba National Park – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Se restablece capacidad de carga del Parque Nacional Coiba – MiAmbiente

  4. 4

    BeachOpen

    Santa Catalina beach

    Santa Catalina cove, west of the village.0.7 km from the centre

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    Main beach in front of the village, next to the dock where boats leave. It also has surfable waves during big swells.

    Source: Santa Catalina, Panama – Premier Coiba Tours · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Panama's beaches are not usually supervised by lifeguards and rip currents are common (Government of Canada, 2026). Ask locally before swimming.

    Nearby: Coiba snorkel day tour (0.2 km) · Scuba diving Coiba from Santa Catalina (0.2 km) · Humpback whale watching (0.4 km)

    Sources: Santa Catalina, Panama – Premier Coiba Tours · Panama travel advice – Government of Canada

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