2 Surf Lessons over 2 Non-Residential Days in Santa Catalina, Panama
Short Surf Experience Panama
Santa Catalina sits on the South Pacific Coast and is an ideal place to learn to surf, offering a wide variety of waves suited to all skill levels.
Key information
- Format: Mornings or afternoons, due to the weather
- Total duration: 2 lessons over 2 days
- Opening hours: 07:00 - 17:00
- Starting point: Los Arrieros surf school
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- 60 to 90 minutes of surfing per day
- Free use of surf equipment
- Skillful surf guide
- Access to the best surf spots for your skill level
- Flexible scheduling based on weather conditions
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Types
2 days with instruction in English
Average daily hours of activity: 1.25
Program
You will take part in two surf lessons in two days, once per day because it is very tiring. The lesson is usually one-to-one, but sometimes it can be one instructor for two people, depending on the availability. The lessons go from one to one and a half hours each. The surf lessons are usually in the morning, but as surfing is a sport that depends on the weather and conditions of the ocean, they can be changed at any time of the day depending on when it is better. They usually take you to the big sandy beach of Santa Catalina, where the waves are softer and easier to learn, avoiding the risks of the waves over the rocks.
The staff is multilingual with teacher certification and can teach you surfing in the best fashion. Los Arrieros Surf School will pick the best spots at the beach to help with your surf. They offer lessons for first-timers, beginners, and intermediate-level players. They offer clinics for expert and advanced surfers. There are soft surfboards and hard fiberglass boards.
Opening hours
- 07:00 - 17:00
Seasonal information
Rainy season is from June until December, and dry season is from January until June.
Instructors
Gabriel Salgado
Born in a family of surfers he started surfing when he was 6 years old. Lives in Santa Catalina for all his life and knows the place, the beaches and the waves very well.
Location
Santa Catalina is located on the Chiriquí Gulf in the state of Veraguas, Panama. It is a fishing village that existed in quiet seclusion until discovered by adventurous surfers in the 1970s. Protecting their hidden world-class surf, Santa Catalina was kept secret by the surfers for quite some time. The village offers a smattering of surf camps, low-cost hotels, and a few eating establishments. Still fairly secluded, the closest town with an ATM, grocery, and other basic services is Soná, which is about an hour away. Your surfing sessions are complemented by very good nearby spots. Literally a tropical paradise, Santa Catalina offers some of the best surfing in Panama.
The closest access point is Isla Coiba with its world-class diving, great local dives and fishing, and quiet charm for relaxing. Its beautiful beaches, lush forest, and friendly people make it a great stop for travelers wanting to enjoy some of the best of Panama's natural beauty and local flair on a minimal budget. The Mecca of surf in Panama for more than three decades has been the favorite of many of the best surfers of all time. The perfect wave will make you live one of your best experiences at a destination. Santa Catalina is one of the most important ports to visit Coiba National Park, a protected area of the most important of Panama with the status of a World Heritage site, where you will find nature in all its splendor, a true natural paradise you should know.
The main street in Santa Catalina is the end of the road from Soná. The pavement ends at the Santa Catalina beach, where local fishing boats anchor just past the beach, waiting for their next fishing expeditions, and surf and scuba visitors mix with locals to pick up from Santa Catalina, Panama. The climate in Santa Catalina is tempered by its location on the Pacific Ocean. Tropical year-round, it is divided into the dry season during Panama’s “summer” from December through May and the wet season or “winter” from June to November. The entire year, temperatures hover between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 34 degrees Celsius) during the day and drop into the 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) at night.
Distances
- Soná - 1 hour
What's included
- 2 surf lessons
- Use of surfboard
- Instructor
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation
- Meals
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Tocumen International Airport
260 km away from your destination
Driving directions from Panama City
- Go to Santiago de Veraguas, which takes four hours.
- Then, go south to Sona, which takes one hour.
- One kilometer before Sona, turn left to Santa Catalina.
- After driving for 35 kilometers, turn left in El Tigre.
- After 15 kilometers, you are in Santa Catalina.
- Once there, follow the way to the beach of Estero.
- Turn left in the downtown intersection.
- On the way to Estero, past Hotel Santa Catalina.
Arrival by bus
Santa Catalina is in the province of Veraguas, 400 kilometers away from Panama City (a six-hour drive). Buses depart from the Albrook big bus station and change buses in Santiago and in Sona. The cost is about 20 USD. From Albrook Station, you can take the buses to the town, Santiago (three hours). From Santiago, you change buses to go to Soná (one hour). And finally, in Soná, you change for the Santa Catalina bus (one and a half hours).
Start traveling in the morning because the last bus from Sona to Santa Catalina is at around 4:00 p.m. When you arrive at Santa Catalina, you hop off at the center of town in the main intersection. From that intersection, you want to go to Estero Beach. You take the steep road going up towards the Estero beach. You keep walking on the paved road for one kilometer.
Arrival by train
When you are in Panama City, you take the metro train to the last stop, Albrook Station.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
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