Visit Coiba
National Park
Travel comfortably to Santa Catalina and experience crystal-clear water, tropical islands, whale watching, sea turtles, dolphins and world-class snorkeling — a protected marine paradise on Panama’s Pacific coast.
Your trip to Coiba
We drive you to Santa Catalina and can help you book your Coiba day with a local tour operator, who runs the tour. Pick your starting point:
- Comfortable shuttle to Santa Catalina
- Help booking a full-day Coiba tour
- Snorkeling, island hopping & wildlife
- Tour run by a local tour operator
- Comfortable shuttle to Santa Catalina
- Help booking a full-day Coiba tour
- Snorkeling, island hopping & wildlife
- Tour run by a local tour operator
- Comfortable shuttle to Santa Catalina
- Help booking a full-day Coiba tour
- Snorkeling, island hopping & wildlife
- Tour run by a local tour operator
- Comfortable shuttle to Santa Catalina
- Help booking a full-day Coiba tour
- Snorkeling, island hopping & wildlife
- Tour run by a local tour operator
Coiba National Park day tours
Full-day Coiba tours depart from Santa Catalina — snorkeling, diving and marine-wildlife adventures led by local guides who know these waters best. The tours are run by local tour operators; we get you to Santa Catalina on time and can help you choose one.
Each tour is booked with, and run by, the tour operator, under its own conditions.
Snorkeling
Reefs teeming with color
Scuba Diving
Some of the Pacific’s best
Whale Watching
Seasonal humpbacks
Island Hopping
Untouched islands
Wildlife Observation
Reef sharks & rays
Marine Life Encounters
Turtles & dolphins
Beach Exploration
White-sand island beaches
Photography
Postcard scenery
Coiba travel guide
What is Coiba National Park?
Coiba is the largest island in Central America, set in the Gulf of Chiriquí off Panama’s Pacific coast. Once a remote penal colony, it stayed untouched for decades — leaving behind pristine reefs, jungle and marine life now protected as a national park.
Why visit Coiba?
It holds one of the largest coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific and extraordinary marine biodiversity. Clear water, abundant wildlife and very few crowds make it one of Panama’s most rewarding adventures.
Best snorkeling sites
- Isla Coibita (Ranchería) — calm, shallow reefs right off the beach
- Canales de Afuera — deeper reefs rich with fish
- Granito de Oro — the park’s famous postcard islet is closed to visitors so its reefs can recover; tours use the other open sites
Marine biodiversity
Expect whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles, rays, dolphins, huge schools of tropical fish and — in season — humpback whales. Lucky visitors even spot whale sharks.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Coiba National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 for its exceptional biodiversity and its role as a natural laboratory for marine science.
Whale watching season
Humpback whales migrate through these waters roughly from July to October. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the season offers the best chance to see them alongside dolphins.
Best months to visit
The dry season (December–April) usually brings calmer seas and clearer water — ideal for snorkeling and diving. The green season adds whale sightings and lush scenery. There’s no bad time to go.
How to get to Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina is the gateway to Coiba. We shuttle you there from Panama City, Boquete, Bocas del Toro, David and more. From Santa Catalina, boats reach the park in roughly 60–90 minutes.
What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen, hat & sunglasses
- Swimwear, towel and a change of clothes
- Reusable water bottle & light snacks
- Dry bag for phone/camera and any medication
Good to know
Coiba is a protected park: visits go through authorized operators and include a park entrance fee. Tours suit most fitness levels, and life jackets are provided — you don’t need to be an expert swimmer to enjoy snorkeling.
What you actually see underwater
No stock photos — these are real frames from Coiba and the Pacific around Santa Catalina.
Suggested itineraries
3-Day Coiba Adventure
- Day 1 · Panama City → Santa CatalinaMorning shuttle across the country; settle into the beach town.
- Day 2 · Coiba National Park tourFull-day snorkeling, island hopping and wildlife with expert local guides.
- Day 3 · Return to Panama CityRelaxed morning, then your shuttle back.
5-Day Panama Nature Experience
- Panama City → El Valle de AntónCrater-valley town, waterfalls and hot springs.
- El Valle → BoqueteCool mountain air, coffee farms and cloud forest.
- Boquete → Santa CatalinaDown to the Pacific coast and surf town.
- Coiba National Park tourThe marine highlight of the trip.
- Santa Catalina → onward / Panama CityWe handle the connection wherever you’re headed next.
Coiba FAQ
How do I get from Panama City to Coiba?
Do I need to be an experienced swimmer?
When is whale watching season?
What’s the best time of year to visit?
Is there a park entrance fee?
Can you help with both the shuttle and the tour?
Make the most of your visit to Santa Catalina
Already planning your trip? Add a snorkeling or diving day in Coiba National Park with a local tour operator — and we’ll time your shuttle around it.