Pacific Coast
Coiba National Park
UNESCO-listed marine reserve famous for diving, snorkeling and big marine life, usually accessed from Santa Catalina.
If you’re dreaming of warm Pacific water, healthy coral reefs and big marine life, Coiba National Park is one of the most impressive places you can visit in Panama. This remote marine reserve protects Coiba Island and dozens of smaller islands, plus a huge area of surrounding ocean – a wild mix of tropical forest, mangroves, beaches, reefs and offshore seamounts.
From here you can snorkel with turtles, dive with sharks and rays, watch humpback whales in season, or simply spend the day exploring quiet islands and white-sand beaches. And with private charter flights to Lago Bay Airstrip, reaching Coiba from Panama City is no longer a long, exhausting journey – it’s a comfortable, scenic hop along the coast.
Available Charter Flights to Coiba
Why Visit Coiba National Park?
Coiba National Park is more than just a pretty island. It’s one of the largest and most biodiverse marine protected areas in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Because Coiba spent decades as a remote penal colony with very limited access, much of its forest, coastline and underwater world remained undisturbed.
Today, Coiba is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sanctuary for:
Big schools of reef fish, snappers and jacks
Sea turtles, rays and reef sharks
Seasonal visitors like humpback whales and whale sharks
Tropical forests full of monkeys, birds and other wildlife
For travellers, that translates into:
Some of Panama’s best snorkeling and diving
Day trips that feel wild and natural, not over-developed
A chance to experience a protected marine ecosystem that’s still alive and thriving
Coiba is ideal if you want to go beyond the standard “beach resort” and actually feel close to nature – above and below the surface.
Where Is Coiba National Park?
Coiba National Park is located off the Pacific coast of Veraguas Province, in the Gulf of Chiriquí, about 25 km (15 miles) from mainland Panama. The park includes:
Coiba Island – the largest island in Central America
38 smaller islands and islets
A vast area of protected marine environment, with reefs, mangroves and open ocean
Most visitors base themselves in or around Santa Catalina, a small surf and dive town on the mainland, and join day tours or multi-day expeditions by boat into the park.
With charter flights to Lago Bay Airstrip, just outside Santa Catalina, Coiba becomes much easier to include in a Panama itinerary that also visits places like Panama City, Boquete or Bocas del Toro.
Things to Do in Coiba National Park
Snorkeling in Coiba
You don’t need to be a scuba diver to enjoy Coiba. Many visitors experience the park through full-day snorkeling trips from Santa Catalina.
A typical day looks like this:
Morning boat departure from Santa Catalina
2–3 snorkeling stops around islands and reef sites (often including spots like Granito de Oro or Ranchería / Coibita)
Beach time for lunch, swimming and relaxing
Return to the mainland by mid to late afternoon
On a good day of snorkeling, you might see:
Green or hawksbill sea turtles
White-tip reef sharks resting on the bottom
Eagle rays or stingrays gliding past
Big schools of jacks, snappers and surgeonfish
Colorful reef life – parrotfish, angelfish, pufferfish and more
Water conditions vary by season, but even from the surface there is usually plenty of life to see.
Scuba Diving in Coiba
For divers, Coiba National Park is often the highlight of a trip to Panama. The park sits in the same marine corridor as Cocos Island and the Galápagos, and you can feel that in the water – especially at offshore seamounts where currents bring in larger marine life.
Depending on the site and season, divers may encounter:
Reef sharks, sometimes hammerheads in deeper or more remote areas
Big schools of barracuda, jacks and other pelagics
Mobula rays and, in the right conditions, giant mantas
Whale sharks in certain months
Dramatic volcanic rock formations covered in coral and sponges
Most dive operations work out of Santa Catalina, offering day trips into Coiba as well as multi-day live-aboard style expeditions.
Beaches, Hiking & Wildlife on the Islands
While the main attraction is underwater, Coiba’s islands are also rich in wildlife and scenery.
On Coiba and nearby islands, visitors may see:
Howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins in the forest
Iguanas and agoutis around the ranger station and beaches
Crocodiles in estuaries and mangroves
A wide variety of seabirds and forest birds, including some that are found only in this region
Many tours include:
Short hikes to viewpoints or ranger stations
Relaxed time on quiet beaches
A chance to learn about the island’s history as a penal colony and its transformation into a protected area
Coiba is not a built-up resort island. It still feels raw, natural and a bit wild – which is exactly why many travelers love it.
Best Time to Visit Coiba National Park
One of the strengths of Coiba is that there is no single “wrong” month to visit, but each season offers different conditions and highlights.
Dry Season (roughly December to April)
This period usually brings:
More consistent sun and less rain
Generally calmer seas (though conditions can still change day to day)
Often better visibility for snorkeling and diving
Marine life is always present, but many travelers enjoy the dry season because boat rides are smoother and the ocean can feel clearer and brighter.
Green / Rainy Season (roughly May to November)
During the green season you can expect:
More chance of showers, especially in the afternoon
Occasionally choppier seas
Very active marine life, with nutrient-rich waters
This period overlaps with the main humpback whale season, when mothers and calves move along Panama’s Pacific coast. If you’re lucky, you may see whales on the way to or from Coiba, or hear them underwater while snorkeling or diving.
Big Marine Life by Season
Humpback whales: Most commonly seen from July to October, sometimes into early November.
Whale sharks: Often associated with dry-season months when conditions are right.
Manta rays and other pelagics: Appear at different times of year, especially around seamounts and deeper sites.
Because marine life is wild and unpredictable, no responsible operator will guarantee specific animals – but Coiba has a strong reputation for “big-animal” encounters compared with many other sites in Central America.
Conservation, UNESCO Status & Park Rules
From Penal Colony to Protected Area
For decades, Coiba Island was used as a remote penal colony, which ironically helped protect its forests and reefs by keeping most development away. Once the prison was closed and the ecological value of the area became clear, Panama moved to protect it.
Today, Coiba National Park is:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
A key part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor
A refuge for endemic and threatened species on land and at sea
When you visit, you’re not just going on a day trip – you’re stepping into a living conservation story.
Park Regulations You Should Know
To keep Coiba healthy, there are strict rules in place. Operators and visitors are expected to:
Visit with licensed guides and authorized boats
Respect all instructions from park rangers
Avoid touching or standing on coral
Never collect shells, plants, rocks or any natural material
Avoid feeding wildlife or chasing animals in the water
Use reef-safe sunscreen whenever possible
There is also a daily park fee for visitors, which helps fund conservation and management. Some tours include this in their price; others ask you to bring cash to pay the park directly. Always check the latest details with your tour operator.
Where to Stay for Coiba: Santa Catalina & Lago Bay
Most travellers exploring Coiba National Park choose to stay on the mainland and join daily boat tours into the park.
Staying in Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina is a small, laid-back town on the Pacific coast and the main departure point for Coiba tours. Here you’ll find:
Surf lodges and guesthouses
Budget hostels and simple cabinas
Mid-range hotels and small boutique properties
Dive shops and tour operators running daily trips into Coiba
Santa Catalina is a good base if you want to combine:
Coiba tours
Surf sessions at Playa Estero or the more advanced breaks
Quiet days at the beach, local restaurants and sunset views
Lago Bay: Vacation Homes with a Private Airstrip
Just outside Santa Catalina, Lago Bay offers another option: vacation homes and beach accommodations next to a private airstrip. This makes it uniquely attractive if you plan to fly in by charter instead of driving.
From Lago Bay you can:
Land directly at Lago Bay Airstrip on a private charter flight
Reach Santa Catalina in about 10–15 minutes by road for your Coiba tours
Enjoy a quieter, more private setting with easy access to the ocean
For families, groups and travellers who value comfort and time, combining a stay at Lago Bay with charter flights can turn Coiba into a much smoother, more premium experience.
How to Get to Coiba National Park
Most visitors reach Coiba National Park by travelling to Santa Catalina on the mainland and then joining a boat tour into the marine reserve. The big decision is whether you prefer to arrive by road or by air.
Fastest Route: Charter Flights to Santa Catalina
If you want to save 6–9 hours of driving and arrive fresh for your Coiba adventure, the easiest option is to fly by private charter to Lago Bay Airstrip, the closest runway to Santa Catalina and Coiba.
A typical journey looks like this:
Fly from Panama City to Lago Bay
Departure from Albrook Domestic Airport (PAC) in Panama City
Scenic 45-minute flight along Panama’s Pacific coastline
Comfortable aircraft suitable for couples, families and dive groups
Short shuttle to Santa Catalina
After landing at Lago Bay, a road transfer takes you to Santa Catalina
Travel time is usually around 10–15 minutes, straight to your hotel, vacation rental or dive shop
Boat tour into Coiba National Park
Join your chosen operator for a full-day snorkeling or diving tour
Most trips include several stops for reefs, islands and beaches
Instead of spending your first day in Panama on a long highway drive with multiple bus changes, you can:
Fly from Panama City in the morning
Check into your accommodation near Santa Catalina
Be out on a Coiba tour as soon as the next day – or even the same afternoon, depending on your plan
For groups and families, this is often the most time-efficient and comfortable way to visit Coiba.
