2–3 min
Drive from town to Playa El Arenal
~20 min
Boat ride to Isla Iguana
~30 min
Drive to Playa Venao
Jan–Apr
Kitesurfing season at El Arenal
Uncrowded Beaches on Panama’s Pacific Coast
Pedasí is known for some of the best beaches on Panama’s Pacific coast. Panamanians and visitors from around the world come here to fish, surf, kitesurf, bodyboard or simply swim.
The best part is that most of these sandy beaches are rarely crowded. Several are just a few minutes from town, and quieter coves and world-class surf are a short drive away. Here is our guide to the favorites. For more about living here, see our Pedasí Area Guide.
Pedasí’s Best Beaches
Playa El Arenal
Distance: 2 to 3 minutes by car, or about a 20-minute walk
Best for: Boat trips, fishing, Isla Iguana tours and kitesurfing
One of the few beaches in Pedasí that is regularly busy, and the place to go for a fishing trip or an outing to Isla Iguana. Two beach bars serve good local food if you just want to relax for a few hours. Sunday is the busiest day, when local fishermen have the day off and families enjoy the water.
Playa La Garita
Distance: 3 to 4 minutes by car
Best for: Bodyboarding and spotting sea turtles
Also known as Lagarita or Lagart Point, it has steady breaks for bodyboarders and you will see locals out on the waves many days of the year. Most locals know where the rocks are, so be careful and ask if you are unsure. Keep your eyes open for turtles.
Playa El Toro (Bull Beach)
Distance: 2 to 3 minutes by car
Best for: Walking, swimming and families with young children
Probably the second-busiest beach in Pedasí, mostly on weekends. At low tide the rocks along the shore form small pools that are perfect for little ones. Bull Beach Bar on the hill above has food and great ocean views.
Playa Los Destiladeros
Distance: About 10 km south of town, 15 to 20 minutes by car
Best for: A quiet day by the ocean, with lunch or dinner nearby
Surrounded by nature, with stunning Pacific views. There are four restaurants in the area, at Terry’s, Hotel Posada, Hotel Pacific Pearl and Hotel Punta Francia, so you can make a day of it. See Los Destiladeros real estate →
Playa Venao
Distance: About 30 minutes by car
Best for: Surfing, beach hotels and restaurants
The area’s best-known surf beach, with waves for beginners and experienced surfers. It hosted the ISA World Surfing Championships in 2011 and 2012 and has hotels, restaurants and a lively international crowd. See Playa Venao real estate →
Isla Iguana
Distance: About a 20-minute boat ride from Playa El Arenal
Best for: Snorkeling, white sand and wildlife
A protected wildlife refuge since 1981, with white-sand beaches, a coral reef and a large frigatebird nesting colony. Shared tours cost about US$45 to 65 per person, and boats leave from Playa El Arenal.
Isla de Cañas
Distance: A day trip west of Pedasí, in Tonosí, reached by a short boat ride through the mangroves
Best for: Watching sea turtles nest
A protected wildlife refuge with a long, wide beach that is one of the best-known sea turtle nesting sites on Panama’s Pacific coast. Turtles come ashore at night, mainly from July to October. Nesting is protected, so visit with a local guide.
Playa Cambutal
Distance: A day trip further west, past Playa Venao, in Tonosí
Best for: Surfing and a quiet village feel
A well-known surf beach with a small, laid-back village. Nearby Guánico Abajo also has good waves, with beachfront hotels and restaurants.
Photos of Isla de Cañas and Playa Cambutal by Ayaita via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-SA 3.0. Original files: Isla de Cañas, Cambutal.
More Beaches Near Pedasí
Quieter beaches for when you want the sand to yourself.
Playa El Rincón (Mariabé)
Distance: About 15 minutes north of town
Best for: Long beach walks and kayaking
Kilometers of sand with views of Isla Iguana offshore, popular for kayaks, jet skis and ATVs. At low tide you can walk about 3.5 km (2¼ miles) along the sand to Playa El Arenal. There are no services and the last stretch of road is rough, so bring what you need.
Puerto Escondido
Distance: About 20 minutes, just up the coast from Los Destiladeros on the El Limón road
Best for: Calm, sheltered swimming
A sheltered bay with calm water, trees for shade and few visitors. The end of the road can need a 4x4, especially after rain.
Playa Panamaes
Distance: About 20 minutes, the last of the beaches on the El Limón road, down a 3.5 km dirt road
Best for: Surfing away from the crowds
Rarely busy, with good surf, and a sea turtle nesting beach. There is little shade and no services, and a 4x4 is recommended after rain.
Playa Achotines
Distance: On the coast near Playa Venao
Best for: Sea turtle nesting
A quiet beach where sea turtles nest, best visited from July to October. It is also home to the Achotines Laboratory, a tuna research station.
Things to Do on the Water
01
Surfing and Bodyboarding
Playa Venao is the main surf spot, with surf schools and waves for every level. Closer to town, Playa La Garita has steady breaks for bodyboarders.
02
Sport Fishing
Pedasí sits on Panama’s Tuna Coast. Fishing trips leave from Playa El Arenal for sailfish, roosterfish and snapper year-round, and for tuna, dorado and wahoo mainly from November to April.
03
Kitesurfing
Steady dry-season winds make Playa El Arenal a kitesurfing spot from January to April.
04
Whales and Sea Turtles
Humpback whales pass offshore roughly from July to October, and whale-watching tours leave from Playa El Arenal. Sea turtles nest on Isla Iguana and nearby Isla de Cañas.
Beach Tips and Safety
Most beaches have no lifeguards, so swim with care and watch for currents.
Check the tides. Some beaches change a lot between high and low tide, and rocks can be hidden at high tide.
Ask locals about rocks and conditions before you surf or bodyboard somewhere new.
Bring water, sunscreen and shade, especially to quieter beaches with no services.
Carry some cash for beach bars, boat trips and taxis.
Respect wildlife. Keep your distance from nesting turtles, never swim near whales, and take your trash with you.
Living Near the Beach in Pedasí
Many of our clients come for the beaches and stay for the lifestyle. Around Pedasí you can find homes and lots minutes from Playa El Arenal and Playa El Toro, ocean-view land in Los Destiladeros and condos near Playa Venao.
Beaches in Panama are public, so oceanfront property stops where the beach begins. Your attorney will confirm boundaries, title and any coastal restrictions before you buy.
Buyers pay no agent commission when they buy with us. Read our Buyers Guide to learn how buying works in Panama.
Want to Live Near These Beaches?
Our office is right here in Pedasí and we know these beaches well. Tell us what you are looking for and we will show you homes and land close to the water.
Buyers pay no agent commission when they buy with us.
Panama Properties
Unit 1 Plaza Pedasí (Super Pedasí Plaza)
Pedasí, Los Santos 7401, Panama
WhatsApp: +507 6169-2453
Email: ken@panama-properties.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Which beach is closest to Pedasí town?
Playa El Arenal and Playa El Toro are both 2 to 3 minutes by car. You can also walk to Playa El Arenal in about 20 minutes.
Can you visit Isla Iguana from Pedasí?
Yes. Boats leave from Playa El Arenal and the ride takes about 20 minutes. Shared tours cost about US$45 to 65 per person.
Which Pedasí beach is best for a quiet day?
Playa Los Destiladeros, about 10 km south of town, is quiet and surrounded by nature, and has four restaurants nearby: Terry’s, Hotel Posada, Hotel Pacific Pearl and Hotel Punta Francia.
Is there surfing near Pedasí?
Yes. Playa Venao, about 30 minutes away, is the area’s best-known surf beach. Playa La Garita has steady breaks for bodyboarders, but watch for rocks.
Where can you kitesurf near Pedasí?
Playa El Arenal, mainly during the windy dry season from January to April.
Where can I see sea turtles near Pedasí?
Sea turtles nest on Isla de Cañas, Playa Achotines, Playa Panamaes and Isla Iguana, mainly from July to October. Nesting is protected, so go with a local guide.
When can you see whales in Pedasí?
Humpback whales pass offshore roughly from July to October. Whale-watching tours leave from Playa El Arenal.
Are Pedasí beaches busy?
Rarely. Playa El Arenal is the busiest, especially on Sundays, and Playa El Toro gets busier on weekends. Most other beaches are quiet.