Coiba Island National Park
Coiba Island National Park
Coiba Island National Park
4.5
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4.5
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Brett
Santa Catalina, Panama22 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Hola Adventurers,
I live in a neighborhood, Lago Bay, close to Santa Catalina and always enjoy visiting Isla Coiba. I try to go at least twice a year. With over 200 dive sites, there is always a beautiful new experience.
Traveling to Coiba recently got much easier. Lago Bay certified its airstrip and its possible to fly private charters out of Albrook. The drive is a 7-hour zig zag. Flight time is around 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the aircraft). Lagobay.com has the information and inquiry box. If you only have a week or so in Panama and want to experience the best surf and diving in the country...you may want to fly to Lago Bay then just a quick shuttle to Santa Catalina. From there, there are daily tours to Isla Coiba.
Saludos,
Brett
I live in a neighborhood, Lago Bay, close to Santa Catalina and always enjoy visiting Isla Coiba. I try to go at least twice a year. With over 200 dive sites, there is always a beautiful new experience.
Traveling to Coiba recently got much easier. Lago Bay certified its airstrip and its possible to fly private charters out of Albrook. The drive is a 7-hour zig zag. Flight time is around 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the aircraft). Lagobay.com has the information and inquiry box. If you only have a week or so in Panama and want to experience the best surf and diving in the country...you may want to fly to Lago Bay then just a quick shuttle to Santa Catalina. From there, there are daily tours to Isla Coiba.
Saludos,
Brett
Written February 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NYCJim
Dominican Republic14 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Great day trip but agree with many others, you don’t really experience Coiba but the snorkeling. There was a croc at the beach we are at but I think that the tour guides must feed it to make sure it appears for the tourists. We were getting stung by what I assume were sea lice and my girlfriend got a bad skin reaction. I love being on a boat so the long ride was pleasurable for me. I’d recommend it and would do it again.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Surrey 13
London, UK1,330 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
We were sailing on the Star Clipper and the tender took about 20 of us to the island. White sands., but useful to have beach shoes as a bit stoney.
The water is very clear and lots of small crabs and fish. The relics from the Penal colony are very interesting.
The beach has a number of roped swinging beds which are lovely.
A very peaceful 2 hours
The water is very clear and lots of small crabs and fish. The relics from the Penal colony are very interesting.
The beach has a number of roped swinging beds which are lovely.
A very peaceful 2 hours
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerhard M
Freising, Germany14 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
The Coiba excursion is offered from $55, directly on the beach and up to $90 at the hotel, entrance National Park additional for locals or residents 5 dollars, for Touris 20 dollars. The indicated food was only available in simple form (noodles, instead of rice with chicken and also without indicated frutas. There was a big water bottle and a big Coke for everyone. So it's better to bring food and drinks yourself. The ride itself is lengthy and boring and board hard, about 1.5 hours straight out, back and forth the same. Then some unspectacular snorkeling opportunities and the visit to the national park with mini museum. Only at the end there is a really very beautiful dream beach with crocodile watching in the river. A real but also only highlight. Maybe too little for such a long day trip. You wouldn’t miss very much if you visit the beautiful beaches in Santa Catalina alone and forgo the excursion instead.
Automatically translated
Written September 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skaramoosh
Edmonton, Canada4,204 contributions
Jan 2022
If you visit Santa Catalina, Isla Coiba is a must. Even if you don't scuba or snorkel just head out there and embrace the well preserved National Park which was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO back in 2005.
We went with Coiba Express and we enjoyed ourselves. We were grateful that they didn't pack us like sardines. All 7 of us were comfortably seated. The boat ride was about 90 minutes and we had a pod of dolphins following us for a short while. Snorkeling was great and the marine life was awesome.
Bring along water, sunblock, mats and hats. Some of the stops it's almost impossible to find shade. Lather your back with sunblock while snorkeling.
It wasn't unreasonably priced but it should warrant a better lunch package.
As this is a well preserved National Park visitors should be mindful and responsible regarding picnicking and such.
The entire trip door to door (hotel to hotel) is around 9 hours.
Highly Recommended!
We went with Coiba Express and we enjoyed ourselves. We were grateful that they didn't pack us like sardines. All 7 of us were comfortably seated. The boat ride was about 90 minutes and we had a pod of dolphins following us for a short while. Snorkeling was great and the marine life was awesome.
Bring along water, sunblock, mats and hats. Some of the stops it's almost impossible to find shade. Lather your back with sunblock while snorkeling.
It wasn't unreasonably priced but it should warrant a better lunch package.
As this is a well preserved National Park visitors should be mindful and responsible regarding picnicking and such.
The entire trip door to door (hotel to hotel) is around 9 hours.
Highly Recommended!
Written February 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Regine G
4 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Scuba Coiba organized a great 3-day trip with an overnight stay on Isla Simca. Small group, great accommodation and food, great dives. Everything was perfectly organized and the support from Corry was excellent and very personable. 100% recommended.

Written February 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gene R J
Silver Spring, MD10,975 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
We stayed 4 nights at "La Bueno Vida" to visit this difficult to access Unesco site. Having to choose among Santa Catalina's many tour operators, our hotel manager recommended "Watching Dolphin", 100 meters down the road, as they specialized in snorkeling/hiking tours of the park. We continued our research with a dive center, a hotel outfitter, and a local bird expert, and they all confirmed this operator, managed by their French-English-Spanish speaking guide, a good choice.
My wife and I, 3 German girls, 2 French men, and a French couple with a 6 year old boy, met at 7:45AM at "Watching Dolphin" office to meet Francois, pay $60 + $20(National Park fee), fill out the Release Form, and choose our sized fins. Then we all gathered again at 8:15AM at the beachfront to follow Francois 100 meters to the riverside boat, outfitted with petrol tanks and food/drink cooler. The driver, his son, another guide, Benito, and Francois helped everyone aboard, find seats, and don life jackets. We were soon off at high speed over the moderate morning waves of the open Pacific.
90 minutes later, we arrived at a small island just off the long 123,000 acre Coiba Island(site of a 100 year prison that finished in 2004 and a year later claimed by UNESCO for its 80% "virgin tropical moist forest"). Here, everyone joined Francois for the 1st guided snorkel, while we were taken across to the main island with Benito, to walk the 1.7km Los Monos Trail. With a gain of 50 meters, the improved trail through the virgin forest provided several highponts; excellent photos of a large scrambling family of Capuchin monkeys, a Rufus-vented ground cuckoo, huge Monkey Ladder vines, and numerous calls of the Howler Monkey.
Picked up at our beach drop off, we went to another small island for the group's 2nd guided snorkel. The 35 minute swim involved fighting the current for 1/3 of the way, then drifting along the coral reef spotting 2 reef sharks, a large Pacific Green Turtle, and schools of Angel fish/Surgeon fish/a Needle fish, and more. Back aboard, we were delivered to the National Park Headquarters - museum, restrooms, and official buildings including a large shelter with tables for our provided picnic lunch. We also viewed the resident crocodile, "Tito", and climbed to the viewpoint behind the station, before the group departed for their 3rd guided snorkel, while we and Benito(and driver's son), climbed the 500 meter Cerro Gambute Trail. Its 130 meter gain(sometimes very steep) led through the tall canopy banyan trees that halfway up revealed 6 Howler Monkeys(endemic sub species isolated from the mainland for 10,000 years). With Benito's encouragement, they began barking away while we took close up photos, a wonderful and rare encounter. Later at the top, there were excellent views to the back bays of the island's northwest side, and also to the southeast, high above the park station. Returning down the steep trail, we searched for the elusive Scarlet Macaw but happy to settle for 3 Black Faced monkeys asleep on a large branch.
We rejoined the group and boarded for the 90 minute return along the Panama coast to try to spot dolphins. The waves varied from nearly smooth between the islands, to a hard chop in the open sea, when finally about 2/3rds of the way back, we saw large pods of feeding Pacific Spotted Dolphins. With Francois beaming in his intense desire to provide a full experience, we were soon back at the calm Santa Catalina Beach and the short walk to our showers, capping off an exhilarating day's experience.
My wife and I, 3 German girls, 2 French men, and a French couple with a 6 year old boy, met at 7:45AM at "Watching Dolphin" office to meet Francois, pay $60 + $20(National Park fee), fill out the Release Form, and choose our sized fins. Then we all gathered again at 8:15AM at the beachfront to follow Francois 100 meters to the riverside boat, outfitted with petrol tanks and food/drink cooler. The driver, his son, another guide, Benito, and Francois helped everyone aboard, find seats, and don life jackets. We were soon off at high speed over the moderate morning waves of the open Pacific.
90 minutes later, we arrived at a small island just off the long 123,000 acre Coiba Island(site of a 100 year prison that finished in 2004 and a year later claimed by UNESCO for its 80% "virgin tropical moist forest"). Here, everyone joined Francois for the 1st guided snorkel, while we were taken across to the main island with Benito, to walk the 1.7km Los Monos Trail. With a gain of 50 meters, the improved trail through the virgin forest provided several highponts; excellent photos of a large scrambling family of Capuchin monkeys, a Rufus-vented ground cuckoo, huge Monkey Ladder vines, and numerous calls of the Howler Monkey.
Picked up at our beach drop off, we went to another small island for the group's 2nd guided snorkel. The 35 minute swim involved fighting the current for 1/3 of the way, then drifting along the coral reef spotting 2 reef sharks, a large Pacific Green Turtle, and schools of Angel fish/Surgeon fish/a Needle fish, and more. Back aboard, we were delivered to the National Park Headquarters - museum, restrooms, and official buildings including a large shelter with tables for our provided picnic lunch. We also viewed the resident crocodile, "Tito", and climbed to the viewpoint behind the station, before the group departed for their 3rd guided snorkel, while we and Benito(and driver's son), climbed the 500 meter Cerro Gambute Trail. Its 130 meter gain(sometimes very steep) led through the tall canopy banyan trees that halfway up revealed 6 Howler Monkeys(endemic sub species isolated from the mainland for 10,000 years). With Benito's encouragement, they began barking away while we took close up photos, a wonderful and rare encounter. Later at the top, there were excellent views to the back bays of the island's northwest side, and also to the southeast, high above the park station. Returning down the steep trail, we searched for the elusive Scarlet Macaw but happy to settle for 3 Black Faced monkeys asleep on a large branch.
We rejoined the group and boarded for the 90 minute return along the Panama coast to try to spot dolphins. The waves varied from nearly smooth between the islands, to a hard chop in the open sea, when finally about 2/3rds of the way back, we saw large pods of feeding Pacific Spotted Dolphins. With Francois beaming in his intense desire to provide a full experience, we were soon back at the calm Santa Catalina Beach and the short walk to our showers, capping off an exhilarating day's experience.
Written February 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oslogeek
Oslo, Norway16 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
I stayed in this fantastic place for 3 days, and I loved every second of it. The Island is remote, and it all is as tranquil as it can be. The beds are humble if you stay in dorms, but clean and comfortable. The beach are busy with tours and other tourist two hours a day, the rest of the 24 hours you will get the feeling of having it to your self. To me it felt like a peace of paradise wich I did not expect. In my first day I saw Nekus, monkeys, Tito the huge crock and more crabs and birds then I can count. We also saw a turtle out in the sea, and whales from fare, but they where there. This Island is not putting the name "little Galapagos" to shame. The rangers are extreemly friendly and even shared their food with us.
To go here you need the following: Bikini, and a throwover. Food and water for your stay, mosquito repelent and your camera.
Shuttle is ordered from Santa Catalina ap. 70 USD, and so is diving if you want to that. Diving is spectacular here, and on one of our dives we saw 7 sharks at once... that is spectacular anywhere :)
Do your self a favour and go!!!!! One tip is to do a diving trip or any other trip, have them leave you at the Island and then pick you a few days later. That will save you the transport fee and get yo u two for one. I paid 200 USD for two dives and 3 days on the Island. That was the cheapest one I could find.
To go here you need the following: Bikini, and a throwover. Food and water for your stay, mosquito repelent and your camera.
Shuttle is ordered from Santa Catalina ap. 70 USD, and so is diving if you want to that. Diving is spectacular here, and on one of our dives we saw 7 sharks at once... that is spectacular anywhere :)
Do your self a favour and go!!!!! One tip is to do a diving trip or any other trip, have them leave you at the Island and then pick you a few days later. That will save you the transport fee and get yo u two for one. I paid 200 USD for two dives and 3 days on the Island. That was the cheapest one I could find.
Written September 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
El_Chiners
Panama City, Panama2,055 contributions
Sep 2012 • Friends
For years, I've been wanting to visit Coiba Island. I'm a Panamanian citizen living abroad, and before moving away from Panama, whenever I thought about Coiba, the only idea showing up in mind was that of a harsh prison island full of dangerous residents. Just what every other Panamanian like me thought for decades. It's precisely that notion what has kept Coiba in a pristine condition, as few people were interested in visiting it until recent years. Only a few foreigners, brave enough to venture to a little-known country when compared to Costa Rica, were interested in visiting it, because of all of the natural marvels that Coiba has to offer.
Coiba is a haven for a great number of inland and sea-dwelling animals, just like other isolated islands off the Pacific coast of the Americas, like Cocos (Costa Rica), Malpelo (Colombia) and Galapagos (Ecuador). As a matter of fact, these wonderful biological reserves form a marine corridor where pelagic animals abound.
I spent 3 days in Coiba Island with a group which included good friends and my mom, and we had a great time. It was humpback whale mating season, so we couldn't help see a bunch of whales whenever we set out every single day from our camp. Sometimes even without leaving the camp, just across the bay. And there was wildlife everywhere we looked: scarlet macaws flying around the southern parts of the island; dolphins and whales jumping all over the place; reef sharks, rays, turtles and countless schools of fish in the countless coral reefs surrounding Coiba and neighboring islands, howler monkeys waking you up while taking a nap; etc.
The best part of it: we never saw any other person as far as our eyes could see whenever we left the camp, where there were between 10 and 14 more people (including park rangers and tour operator staff). It seemed like all of this natural bounty was flashing its beauty for our eyes only.
Now I just have to go back during another season. I already witnessed the humpback whale season, now I'd love to see the largest fish come to Coiba's waters during the whale shark season, from December to April...
Coiba is a haven for a great number of inland and sea-dwelling animals, just like other isolated islands off the Pacific coast of the Americas, like Cocos (Costa Rica), Malpelo (Colombia) and Galapagos (Ecuador). As a matter of fact, these wonderful biological reserves form a marine corridor where pelagic animals abound.
I spent 3 days in Coiba Island with a group which included good friends and my mom, and we had a great time. It was humpback whale mating season, so we couldn't help see a bunch of whales whenever we set out every single day from our camp. Sometimes even without leaving the camp, just across the bay. And there was wildlife everywhere we looked: scarlet macaws flying around the southern parts of the island; dolphins and whales jumping all over the place; reef sharks, rays, turtles and countless schools of fish in the countless coral reefs surrounding Coiba and neighboring islands, howler monkeys waking you up while taking a nap; etc.
The best part of it: we never saw any other person as far as our eyes could see whenever we left the camp, where there were between 10 and 14 more people (including park rangers and tour operator staff). It seemed like all of this natural bounty was flashing its beauty for our eyes only.
Now I just have to go back during another season. I already witnessed the humpback whale season, now I'd love to see the largest fish come to Coiba's waters during the whale shark season, from December to April...
Written September 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reny v
14 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Coiba is a beautiful nature reserve. We went snorkeling and saw so many different fish, turtles, whales, dolphins. Amazing. But we didn' t get to see Coiba Island. The 20 dollars we had to pay for entering the park weren' t payed there but were kept by Vincento, the guy who organised the trip. He had told the guide we only wanted to go snorkeling. Luckely our hotel helped us to get some of out money back. But we never get to see the island and the naturereserve missed out of a lot of money. So don' t let this happen to you. The entrencefee is paid ay the rangerstation on the island and nowhere else.
Written July 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Es posible alojar en Coiba? Para buceo, Febrero es recomendado?
Written September 26, 2022
Is it posible to rent a boat from Santa Catalina to leave us in Coiba and then pick us up in the afternoon? Any idea on pricing?
Written July 6, 2021
Hi there,
Is Coiba national park going to open on week of Nov 3rd,2020?
Appreciated your reply.
Written October 18, 2020
We arrived in Santa Catalina today and we heard that Coiba is closed because of the Corona virus.
Is this true?
Written March 14, 2020
233zinka
Caorle, Italy
hi,I would like to know the price of the 2 days trip to Coiba
Written November 28, 2019
Do you have any other recommendations for snorkeling in Panama? We are headed there in May for 2 weeks and had Coiba on our list but maybe we should consider some other places too?
Written March 25, 2019
Hola! voy a estar viajando con mi pareja a Panamá desde Argentina el prĂłximo mes y querĂamos visitar Isla Coiba para hacer snorkel. No sabemos bucear ni surfear.
QuerĂa saber si vale la pena conocer esta isla solo para hacer snorkel, si con solo 1 noche de alojamiento alcanza y quĂ© empresas recomiendan para el tour?. Por Ăşltimo, tenĂamos pensado llegar a Santa Catalina desde la Ciudad de Panamá a travĂ©s del bus que va a Soná, es seguro este medio de transporte? Desde ya muchas gracias!
Written June 23, 2018
Dove posso dormire a Isla Coiba? Per accedere all’isola occorre un permesso? Se sì, come si fa? Grazie
Written December 21, 2017
Hello. Could you give us some mails for the agencies which they go day tours in coiba?
Written November 9, 2017
We would like to stay at the ANAM ranger station at Coiba for a few nights. Does anyone know the price?
Thank you!
Written April 20, 2017
They only speak spanish. Booked with help from the wonderful people at Panama dive centre. $20 a night for a dorm bed with ac. No sheets. Kitchen was not really offwred for guests, i reccomend bringing prepared food/ non parishable. Lots of fun!! The rangers are really nice and helpful (and put up with our weak spanish skills haha)
Written May 15, 2017
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