Though it’s technically winter in the northern hemisphere, in Panama, January through March is considered “Summer” as it’s the hot, dry season. And while some Panamanians and expats may have vacation time, many who work are limited to being weekend warriors, who get there outdoor summer fix in day trips to places close to the city. Lucky for them there are some great, underrated beaches just a short drive from Panama City. Here’s a quick list of our favorite Panama beach day trips:
Playa Grande
Located on what’s quickly becoming Panama’s “Golden Coast”, Playa Grande sets itself apart with its simplicity. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Panama City, and lies within reach of some of Panama’s biggest Pacific beach resort communities. But despite its location, the beach remains relatively untouched. Soak up the rays on white sand and hit the waves with no crowd, no traffic, and no mega hotels to distract you from the natural beauty of your surroundings.
Playa La Angosta
This beach is on Panama’s northern Caribbean coast just outside of Colon, and for that reason alone, is underrated and relatively unspoiled. While many tourists limit their beach vacations to San Blas, or beaches on the Pacific, Colon’s upper coast offers picturesque Caribbean scenery. And while it is an entire ocean away from Panama City, you can get there in an hour’s drive, with hardly any traffic to slow you down. The beach is perfect for swimming with mellow shallow waters to wade into, and is popular amongst locals who live in the area. Weekends can get a little crowded, but it can also be a fun beach scene with food and drink stands serving the beach goers.
Playa Teta
This beach gets the nod as one of Panama’s most underrated because it’s hiding in plain sight. It’s next to the popular beach community of Coronado, but until recently didn’t even have a paved road. This beach is a hot spot for surfers in the know; so if you’ve got the chops to jump in the waves, make sure to bring your board. This is a no frills beach that’s close enough to the highway to make it accessible, but hidden enough to keep the crowds away. Even if you don’t surf, you’ll have plenty of beach to enjoy, and very little distraction.
Isla Grande
Not to be confused with “Playa Grande”, Isla Grande is another northern beach worth visiting if you’re looking for a cool, unspoiled beach experience. Isla Grande is about a 2 hour drive from Panama City, and 30 mins. from Portobello, although you’ll need to take a short boat ride to get there. Once there, you’ll find the setting is right out of Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s got beautiful turquoise waters, long hanging palm trees, and a very cool, yet quiet crowd. There are partygoers that visit on the weekends, but without a big infrastructure it’s still untouched by big hotels and resorts.
Farallon
This beach is right on the cusp of being in the heart of Panama’s mega beach development area, and for that, it has to make the list. The little sleepy town of Farallon is within eyesight of some of the country’s biggest resorts, yet surprisingly, is completely unspoiled. There is one main road that leads to the beach, and when you reach its end you’ll find a restaurant that rents out cabanas and umbrellas, and that’s about it. This is Playa Blanca without the hotels, and has some of the best white sand beaches around. It’s also easy to find. Just head towards the Decameron Resort, and stay on the road until you reach the end.
