New pictures from hotel and restaurant Sol y Mar Santa Catalina Panama

Our stylish sign greets you at the entrance

Views from Room 5 of Hotel Sol y Mar

View from the swimming pool 

Take a dip!!

Santa Catalina fishing

Make the most of Santa Catalina’s fishing opportunity You probably already know that the small and picturesque beach town of Santa Catalina is located in the Central American country of Panama; but did you know that Panama could be translated as ‘an abundance of fish’? With a name like that both the most experienced of fishermen and amateurs alike will have high expectations for the fishing here and you certainly wont be disappointed. There is an enormous variety of fishing opportunities from big game fishing, shore fishing and bottom fishing. Integrate your fishing trip with a walking trail of the coastline or a stroll across the stunning beaches. Hotel Sol y Mar is the best base and choice of accommodation for anyone hoping to do some quality fishing on their trip. They can organise a tour for all levels of fishing expertise so anyone can enjoy the colourful and abundant sea life. Make the most of the opportunity to see and catch wonderful fish such as yellow-fin tuna, Wahoo, Spanish mackerel, Rooster and Dorado to name just a few. You are also very likely to sight reef sharks, turtles, stingrays and other magical marine life so don’t forget your camera to capture the best moments.

Experience the underwater world at Santa Catalina

As a beach side town, it probably comes as no surprise that there is an abundance of water related activities in which to immerse yourself whilst in Santa Catalina but what might come as a bit of a surprise is the sheer quality of each one of the activities, trips and tours available. There is something for everyone so whether you prefer to be under the water witnessing the sea-life on a Scuba diving tour or on top of it catching some of the world class waves on a surf board, you will be happy here! For those who like to stay dry whilst they are on the waters edge, while away the time seeing which of the large variety of fish you can encourage to take the bait. Coiba National Park is but a stones throw away from Santa Catalina and Hotel Sol y Mar, which makes the perfect base for your stay Being a marine reserve is what makes the marine life particularly stunning in this part of the world. The animals, water and islands have been protected so you can relish in the flourishing and untouched natural environment. Whatever you like to do regarding activities, you are sure to have an unmatchable experience here.

Some of the finest food in Panama

Enjoy some of the finest food in Panama from the comfort of your Santa Catalina hotel One of the best parts of any kind of trip or vacation is enjoying and trying all of the different foods that are available in that particular country or town. In Santa Catalina, it is no exception and there are plenty of delicious food options for you to get stuck into. Healthy breakfast to kick start your day We all know the importance of a good breakfast to help get our bodies functioning and energised ready for the day ahead. This is particularly important when it comes to your stay in Santa Catalina because there is lots of physical activities such as surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving, which are best enjoyed on a full stomach. Being a small town, the choice of restaurants, café’s and other eateries is fairly limited but luckily when you stay at Hotel Sol y Mar a good wholesome breakfast is totally taken care of and included in the room rates. Seafood and local delicacies As a beachside town, seafood here is fresh, plentiful and absolutely delicious. Anyone that doesn’t take advantage of the Mediterranean themed dishes is missing a trick and there are lots of fresh fruits and produce delivered throughout the day for you to snack on.

vacation in Santa Catalina

Get active on your other wise chilled out vacation in Santa Catalina You will certainly spend a significant amount of time enjoying doing very little in this charming little town but there is also a number of ways to get active and have some fun thanks to the variety of activities on offer in and around Santa Catalina. Hotel Sol y Mar makes the ideal base for some exploration of the nearby area and tours, trips and other activities can be arranged from this friendly and quaint hotel. You will quickly discover the delights of being in such close proximity to the Coiba National Park and the variety of activities and beautiful sights that this presents. The marine life around the numerous islands within the park is vibrant, colourful and diverse so a snorkelling trip is an absolute must for just about everyone. For those with a desire to go a little deeper, Scuba diving courses and trips are offered for all levels of diver included complete beginners and Santa Catalina is one of the best places in the world to dive. Surfing is also world-class from these beaches, which brings in surfers again of all abilities from all over the world. If you have any questions or want to know the very best spots, ask the friendly and experienced staff at Hotel Sol y Mar.

Santa Catalina Tips

Top tips for enjoying your time in Santa Catalina Every village, city and even country has its own highlights, landmarks and specialist activities and its important to research each place that you visit so that you know exactly what you should take advantage of in each destination. Santa Catalina is no exception and despite being known for its sleepy and laid back atmosphere, there is still plenty to see and do 1. Take your time to explore everything the town has to offer One of the biggest mistakes that people backpacking or travelling to numerous places can do is rush through each place before they can really begin to understand and appreciate what it has to offer. The same can be said for holidaymakers looking for a more luxurious experience, so do give yourself enough time to relax and explore. 2. Take advantage of the world-class eco-system The location of Santa Catalina makes it simply perfect for exploring the incredible un-touched eco-system of Coiba National Park. Take advantage of this by taking in the incredible sights of both the land and marine life. 3. Bring enough cash with you to last your stay The choice of accommodation is limited in Santa Catalina with Hotel Sol y Mar being the best option for comfort and value for money. There is no ATM in the town itself and most places accept cash only so make you have enough to see you through your stay.

Scuba diving around Santa Catalina

Brief overview of the best Scuba diving spots in and around Santa Catalina Being just an hour’s boat ride to the marine reserve of Coiba National Park, the waters around Santa Catalina are supreme and the sea-life plentiful. That makes this area arguably one of the best in the world when it comes to really great quality Scuba diving. Both the waters and the 38 island dotted around are protected and have been largely preserved of all of their natural resources. All diving operators for the area are based in Santa Catalina and they all have access and great local knowledge of the best diving spots for both beginners and advanced divers. As a world-class diving destination you certainly wont be disappointed by what you find and experience here. Another reason to dive here is the fact that you can book a beginners package and learn how to dive from scratch. The excellent Sol y Mar hotel even has a pool for the introduction to shallow dives, which will stand you in good stead for your first open water dive at the stunning Coiba island. Whatever level of diver you are, there is an appropriate course or tour for you so you can experience the majestic sea-life including turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish at your own pace.