How do I get from Panama City to Coiba National Park?

Take a shuttle from Panama City to Santa Catalina, the gateway town. From there, tour boats run by local operators reach Coiba National Park in about 60-90 minutes. Panama Shuttles can help you book the tour with a local operator.

When is whale watching season in Coiba?

Humpback whales typically pass through the Gulf of Chiriquí from July to October. Sightings cannot be guaranteed, but this window offers the best chance.

White-sand beach and turquoise water inside Coiba National Park

Shared & private shuttles across Panama

Relax. Explore.
We’ll take you there.

Q: What is the best time of year to visit Coiba?

The dry season (December to April) generally brings calmer seas and better underwater visibility. The green season adds whale sightings and lush landscapes.

Q: Can Panama Shuttles help with both the shuttle and the Coiba tour?

Yes. Panama Shuttles books the shuttle and can help you reserve a Coiba day with a local tour operator, timed so you arrive the evening before. The tour itself is run by the operator, under its own conditions.

Comfortable shuttles linking Santa Catalina, Boquete, Bocas del Toro & Panama City — and your ride to Coiba National Park.

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Secure your seat with a $15 deposit per person · pay the rest to your driver · Booking policy

$45per person≈ 340 kmBest seller

Departures: 7:30 AM → 1:00 PM
Pickup: your hotel or hostel in Santa Catalina

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Hotel pickup in Santa Catalina, Central Park in Boquete and Casco Antiguo in Panama City — we confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the day before.

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Choose your origin and destination from our routes and prices.

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Send your date, time and number of passengers — we reply fast with availability.

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Once we confirm, a $15 deposit per person secures your seat (some services: at least 50%). The rest is paid in cash to your driver.

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We confirm the details and meet you at your hotel in Santa Catalina or at the meeting point on your route.

The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel or miss your pickup, and refunded in full if road closures stop us from reaching your destination. Read the booking policy

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52 day trips across the country — from the Canal and San Blas to Caribbean forts, crater towns and cloud forests. We bring the transport and the guide.

Cathedral of Casco Viejo on Plaza de la Independencia, Panama City

Panama CityCasco Viejo · Panamá Viejo · museums

Panama City skyline seen across the bay from the Amador Causeway

Canal & GamboaMiraflores · boat transit · Gamboa

Colonial sentry box and cannon above the turquoise bay of Portobelo, Colón

Colón & CaribbeanPortobelo · Venas Azules · San Lorenzo

Palm-covered island with white sand in Guna Yala (San Blas)

San Blas & islandsGuna Yala · Contadora · Las Perlas

Welcome arch at Las Uvas, where the road to El Valle de Antón begins

El Valle & mountainsIndia Dormida · Olá · Cajones de Chame

Palm-lined beach with thatched ranchos on the Azuero Peninsula

Coiba & AzueroCoiba · La Yeguada · Isla Iguana

Summit cross of Volcán Barú above the clouds, Chiriquí

ChiriquíVolcán Barú · Boquete · Boca Chica

Colourful stilt houses over the water in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del ToroIsland hopping · Starfish Beach · Red Frog

See all 52 guided tours

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A small local team, not a call centre

Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our local team answers — not a booking engine. We confirm your seat, pickup point and timing with you personally.

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Private transfers

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Skip the shared timetable. Travel door-to-door at the time you choose, with the whole vehicle to yourself — ideal for families, groups, early flights and travelers with plenty of luggage.

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Private shuttleTocumen Airport ↔ Santa CatalinaFrom $300 for up to 3 people · departures 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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Choose what fits your trip

What you get	Shared shuttle	Private transfer
Price	Fixed price per person	Per vehicle — ask for a quote
Schedule	Fixed departures on main routes	You choose the time
Pickup	At your accommodation	At your accommodation
Stops	May include brief stops	Direct, or stops you request
Best for	Solo travelers & couples	Families, groups, flights, extra luggage

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Travel your way

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No strangers, no extra stops — just your group.

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Set your own pickup time, day or night.

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Traveling as a group? We quote per van, not per seat

The more of you travel together, the better the price per person. Tell us your group size and we build the trip around you — your departure time, your pickup point, your stops.

Families with kids

Room for strollers and extra bags, departure times we can shift around nap schedules, and hotel pickup on request so nobody walks with luggage and tired kids.

Surf, dive & adventure crews

Boards, dive gear and backpacks travel with you. We plan the route around your surf session or dive schedule.

Hostel & hotel groups

From 4 to 15 passengers in one booking. One contact, one confirmation, one price for the whole group.

Planning a multi-stop trip across Panama?

Panama City → El Valle de Antón → Santa Catalina → Boquete → Bocas del Toro. Send us your dates and we plan the whole circuit, with one van and one driver looking after you the entire way.

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We work with hostels, hotels, surf schools, dive shops and tour operators across Panama. Your guests get a reliable transfer; you get a partner you can recommend without worrying.

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Two dolphins swimming in deep blue water near Coiba

One of Panama’s greatest natural wonders

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.

Book transportation Explore Coiba tours

Getting to Coiba

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:

Day tours from Santa Catalina

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

Granito de Oro & more

Photography

Postcard scenery

Everything you need to know

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

Granito de Oro — a tiny island with easy, spectacular snorkeling
Isla Coibita (Rancheria) — calm, shallow reefs
Canales de Afuera — deeper reefs rich with fish

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.

Shot on our tours

What you actually see underwater

No stock photos — these are real frames from Coiba and the Pacific around Santa Catalina.

Sea turtle swimming just below the surface near Coiba — Green sea turtles

Coral heads and reef fish in clear water at Coiba — Reef and tropical fish

Plan your trip

Suggested itineraries

3-Day Coiba Adventure

Quick escape to the Pacific

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

Highlands, valleys & marine wonders

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.

Build my Coiba itinerary

Questions & answers

Coiba FAQ

How do I get from Panama City to Coiba?

Take our shuttle from Panama City to Santa Catalina — the gateway town. From there, your tour boat reaches Coiba National Park in about 60–90 minutes. We can help you book the tour with a local operator.

Do I need to be an experienced swimmer?

No. Life jackets are provided and many snorkeling spots are shallow and calm. Guides stay close and tailor the day to your comfort level.

When is whale watching season?

Humpback whales typically pass through from July to October. Sightings can’t be guaranteed, but this window offers the best chance.

What’s the best time of year to visit?

The dry season (December–April) generally means calmer seas and better underwater visibility. The green season brings whales and lush landscapes — both are great.

Is there a park entrance fee?

Yes. Coiba is a protected national park, so visits go through authorized operators and include a park fee. The tour operator arranges the park visit.

Can you help with both the shuttle and the tour?

Yes. We book your shuttle and can help you reserve a Coiba day with a local tour operator, timed so you arrive the evening before. The tour itself is run by the operator, under its own conditions.

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.

Plan my Coiba trip

Get in touch

Questions about a route, a private transfer or a Coiba tour? Reach out — we usually reply within a few hours.

+507 6093 0562

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Before you book

A $15 deposit per person secures your seat (some services require at least 50%); the rest is paid in cash to your driver.
Confirm with us first: please wait for our confirmation before sending any payment.
The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel, even at the last minute.
Be at your pickup point 10 minutes early. If you miss the pickup, the deposit is lost.
Full refund if road closures or blocked roads stop the trip to your destination.

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Booking

Quick answers before you book

How do I reserve and pay?

Send us your trip on WhatsApp or by email. Once we confirm availability, a $15 deposit per person secures your seat (some services require at least 50% of the trip) — by PayPal, Wise or a secure card link (card payments include the processing fee). Please wait for our confirmation before sending any payment. The rest is paid in cash to your driver on the day of travel.

What if I cancel or miss the pickup?

The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel — even at the last minute — or if you are not at the pickup point at the agreed time, so please be ready 10 minutes early. If road closures or blocked roads stop us from reaching your destination, we refund it in full. Read the booking policy

Where do you pick me up?

In Santa Catalina, at your hotel or hostel. In Boquete, Panama City, David and Bocas town, at a central meeting point (Central Park, Casco Antiguo, Supermarket Barú and Express Isla Colón). Anywhere else, tell us where you are staying. We confirm the exact pickup by WhatsApp the day before.

Can I bring a surfboard or extra luggage?

Usually yes — tell us the sizes when you book so we confirm the space in the van.

Shared shuttle or private transfer?

Shared shuttles run on set routes with a per-person fare. A private transfer is just for your group, at a time that suits you between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM: from Tocumen Airport or Panama City to Santa Catalina it costs $300 for one to three people, $395 for four to six and $470 for seven to ten.

When do you confirm my trip?

We reply on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours (every day, 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM), and we confirm your pickup time the day before travel.

Relax. Explore.We’ll take you there.

Find your route

Convenient pickup points

Modern A/C vehicles

Local expert drivers

Book in minutes

Beyond our shared routes

Airport transfers

Group charters

Custom routes

Multi-stop trips

Best-selling routes

Explore Panama at a glance

Visit Coiba National Park

How it works

Pick your route

Message us on WhatsApp

Pay the deposit

We pick you up

What’s waiting for you in Panama

Explore Panama with a local guide

A small local team, not a call centre

Ready to travel?

Where can we take you?

Your own vehicle,your own schedule.

Choose what fits your trip

Travel your way

The vehicle is all yours

Depart when you want

Direct routes

Extra luggage welcome

Anywhere in Panama

Comfort & safety first

Traveling as a group? We quote per van, not per seat

Families with kids

Surf, dive & adventure crews

Hostel & hotel groups

Planning a multi-stop trip across Panama?

Send your guests with us

Visit CoibaNational Park

Your trip to Coiba

Coiba National Park day tours

Snorkeling

Scuba Diving

Whale Watching

Island Hopping

Wildlife Observation

Marine Life Encounters

Beach Exploration

Photography

Coiba travel guide

What is Coiba National Park?

Why visit Coiba?

Best snorkeling sites

Marine biodiversity

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Whale watching season

Best months to visit

How to get to Santa Catalina

What to bring

Good to know

What you actually see underwater

Suggested itineraries

3-Day Coiba Adventure

5-Day Panama Nature Experience

Coiba FAQ

Make the most of your visit to Santa Catalina

Get in touch

WhatsApp

Email

Hours

Before you book

Book your trip in 30 seconds

Quick answers before you book

Panama travel blog

Relax. Explore.
We’ll take you there.

Your own vehicle,
your own schedule.

Visit Coiba
National Park