Beaches in Panama
2 beaches · 2 beach worlds
Two coasts an hour apart by road and unalike in every respect. The Caribbean side holds the archipelagos — Bocas del Toro and Guna Yala — with reef and shallow water; the Pacific side has swell, dark sand and tides that move six metres. The two coasts are a few hours apart and completely unalike — the Caribbean has the reef, the archipelagos and the rain, the Pacific has the surf and a tidal range of several metres. The San Blas islands are governed by the Guna rather than by Panama City, with their own entry fees, rules and prohibition on foreign land ownership, and that authority is real. Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side has the other island group and a wetter climate than anywhere else in the country. Practicalities: the San Blas islands are reached by four-wheel-drive transfer from Panama City then boat, and the road is rough; Bocas del Toro is reached by air or bus and boat. Neither is a short trip and both need planning.
The two are different kinds of shore. Both sit on open ocean, and both are locally built. Together they account for 2.8 km of shore. · computed from the 2 records below
