Hotel Santa Catalina Panama

We stayed as a family of 5, 3 teenage boys. I booked direct via email which was very easy. The hotel is a short way out of town by car and has a large plot with attractive looking rows of rooms (white with terracotta roofs). We had a huge open plan room with a single bed and a king sized double bed below and on the mezzanine level another single and a normal double. It’s all pine clad so you feel like you’re in a ski chalet. It’s a little dark even with all the lights on. However the fan and AC worked well, although the mezzanine was always a little bit warmer. It’s rather hard to cook in the small kitchen space but was fine to prepare breakfast. There was no salt pepper etc. It had a cleaning cream block but no washing up liquid. It did however have a huge fridge. I recommend you do a supermarket shop before you get to Santa Catalina, as the shops are small and expensive and bring condiments and coffee/tea/salt pepper etc. The gardens are well kept. At the end of the plot is a swing, the restaurant and bar and then beyond that the lovely pool. It’s all very nicely done. The beach beyond is not one you’d sit on as at high tide there is very little beach and at low tide it is covered in rocks and trees. Apparently you can surf directly off the beach but this is only recommended for very good surfers. The boys cycled down to the other local beach, the bikes aren’t exactly road worthy but did the job. My husband and I drove the boards down. The boards are free to use. They also have SUP and kayaks but due to the surf you are unlikely to use them on the beach in front of the hotel and would need to take them to one of the other beaches by car. The hotel restaurant does amazing cocktails (get the passion fruit margarita) and drinks aren’t too expensive. The food was a bit below par (see other review). I did a yoga class $18, which was fantastic. It’s on an outside yoga podium and they provide mats. They do yoga retreats here. They are also very helpful when you leave items in arranging for them to be sent on. We left my sons phone and they delivered it to our hotel in Panama city which was lifesaver. It’s a lovely hotel with lovely views.

We booked for four nights and booked an extra two once there. Big clean basic rooms, recommended for families. Good Wi-Fi and aircon and security, locked cupboards etc for camera gear, dive gear, not just a safe. Some surfboards for use for free and rentals also for shortboards - some boards over 7ft for bigger point days - possibly no need to pack an extra board. The good thing about this hotel is that it’s halfway to the beach and halfway to town. Plus a quick paddle to the point. The thing we liked was the yoga pavilion - what a great place - very good yoga instructor Helena and good new mats, blocks etc. and yoga is every late afternoon at 5pm. Just so nice before dinner: the free bicycles are convenient but lethal - check the brakes, seats, loose handlebars etc. pool is lovely - afternoon shade and cool. The restaurant is okay, good enough. The staff is excellent - Mr Rafa is super helpful and professional. And the cleaners etc are great. Don’t bother looking at other places.

Adjust your expectations. This is a basic hotel. It’s clean, but the staff are neither friendly nor helpful. The beds are comfortable. The restaurant lacks many ingredients and even coffee is a struggle for them. Service is mediocre. At least there’s an ocean breeze.