Whale season in Santa Catalina and Coiba

Whales are on their way!!!!

Every year between June and September thousands of  Humpback whales  travel thousands of miles from  Antarctica to the warm waters of Panama, and Coiba Island is one of their favorite places .They come here to reproduce ,and after giving birth stay for a few months ,as the warm waters of Panama are ideal for the first period of the calf life . Here they will learn how to swim ,feed and communicate.

This makes Santa Catalina and Coiba the ideal place for whale-watching as the whales will not only be seen with their calves but will often remain at the surface for a long time as they are nursing.

There are several fisherman in Santa Catalina that took courses provided by the government on how to take tourists on whale-watching tours without affecting the normal routine of the whales or disturbing them ,so that the tourists can see this magnificent creatures in a sustainable way.

We can help you organize your whale-watching adventure that can also be combined with snorkeling ,for Coiba has amazing sea-life, so besides Humpbacks you will have the chance to see dolphins, turtles ,sharks and amazing amount and variety of sea-life.

Contact us by following this link and we will be able to organize your adventure in every detail,from transportation to accommodation ,food ,boat tours or whatever other services you may need in Santa Catalina Panama

Come have the adventure of a lifetime and help the locals make a sustainable future for the tourism in this area.

Check our page http://www.solymarpanama.com/en/activities/visit-coiba/ for more info on activities,and don´t forget that hotel and restaurant sol y mar is your best option to stay and eat and we can organize all your activities so that your only task will be to relax and enjoy nature

Visit Santa Catalina

Quick update for all Santa Catalina and Sol y Mar Hotel Lovers:

March is as expected busy here in our little paradise,as usual the surfers are surfing,divers diving,and a number of people are out there having fun fishing,snorkeling,bird-watching,kayaking……

Our chef keeps surprising,word is out of how good his food really is so every night we are getting busy,not only our guests don´t go eat anywhere else but we are getting a lot of walk-ins,praise is the norm at the end of the meal

The surf has been small but perfect,winds off-shore every morning,afternoon have been changing,but next week the off-shores will stay the whole day again.

If you are interested in knowing the tides for Santa Catalina here goes:

 

Today Saturday, 8th of March of 2014, the sun rose in Santa Catalina at 6:34 amand sunset will be at 6:37 pm. The moon set at 12:23 am at 289º west. Then, the moon rose at 71º east at 12:27 pm. In the high tide and low tide chart, we can see that the first low tide was at 2:40am and the next low tide at 3:04 pm. The first high tide was at 8:53 am and the next high tide will be at 9:13 pm. If you want to come stay with us go to Sol y Mar Hotel website

Hello Santa Catalina Lovers
The last time I did a blog entry was 6 weeks ago,and the hotel has been full everyday!!!Haven´t had much time to write in here.Here goes
Temperatures have been high (35-36 celsius) and the winds off-shore,cloudless as expected in the dry season in Santa Catalina Panama (which for those who don´t know goes from December to May).The pool side is very popular to relax and cool down with this heat
Surfwise not much to talk about,has been small and today there was some waves but missed it.Have to get out there tomorrow morning as after is going to get fat again.
That is just fine for our guests,which this week consists of a group of 10 people from Canada,all divers and a couple that went to Coiba snorkeling and the other days have been beach-combing in a different beach each day.
We still have some rooms from next Sunday and till the 1st,after that full till March 7th.
March is the month I expect the waves will start and hopefully the next season will have fantastic surf at the Santa Catalina point

Top places in Panama

Top places in Panama that are not to be missed

Panama is a country in Central America that is peaking the interest of holidaymakers and backpackers from all over the world. It offers plenty of things to see and do and travel here can be done on a budget or in more luxurious style. Whatever your projected spending, here are a few top tourist attractions and places of interest that shouldn’t be missed.

1. Panama City

Panama city has been compared to Miami and is a city bustling with arts, culture and modern living. There are numerous tourist attractions in this city alone including the Panama Canal and Panama Viejo, the first city founded back in 1519.

2. Santa Catalina and Coiba National Park

A laid back coastal town, Santa Catalina offers a different experience altogether, mainly focused on relaxing and marine life. All water sports from surfing and sailing to diving and fishing can be done from here and a base such as Hotel Sol y Mar will be able to help you arrange all sorts of trips and tours.

3. Hiking or white water rafting

There are numerous national park offering incredible hiking trails and white water rafting on the Chagres River is another awesome experience.

4. Coffee Tasting

Panama coffee is now considered to be amongst the best in the world, and the coffee-making region of Boquete is well worth a tour.

Back to basics in Santa Catalina

Get back to basics in Santa Catalina

In the modern world in which we live, most of us have become accustomed to having everyone and everything we may ever need permanently at our fingertips. There is a certain charm about places that are still slightly basic and simple. Santa Catalina, and the Hotel Sol y Mar in particular are one example of a destination and choice of accommodation that has found the perfect balance of home comforts and charming simplicity. The hotel itself is well decorated with comfortable beds and plenty of modern amenities. It is even equipped with up to date technology such as air-conditioning, Sky TV and WIFI Internet access. The green garden and spacious swimming pool top it all off. 

Where the back to basic simplicity comes in, is in fact with the town itself. As a small beachside town most visitors here come to enjoy the untouched marine life of the national park and the beautiful white sand beaches. There is a limited choice of eateries in the town but fresh produce can be bought straight off the trucks at certain times of day. There is one store selling basic supplies and a few bars in which you can enjoy a cheap drink in the evening but be prepared for the doors to close by 10pm.

Coiba National Park

Become reconnected with nature in Coiba National Park

Nowadays most of us live a life that is centred on our smart phones and the Internet, and it would be hard to imagine a life that isn’t surrounding by technology in one form or another. What of the truly beautiful aspects of life in Santa Catalina is that you can take a step back from all of that for a moment and remember what it means to live a life that is surrounded by the most amazing and beautiful examples of nature. This part of Panama really does have it all from the white Sand beaches of Santa Catalina to the greenery of Coiba National Park and the dazzling blue ocean that frames it all.

However you prefer to connect with nature, you can be sure that you can do it from your base in Santa Catalina. From surfing the fierce and awesome crashing waves to bumping noses with tropical fish as you dive the clear blue waters or simply sitting on the water whilst you sail around the islands, it is all possible here. The Hotel Sol y Mar makes the ideal base, which has just about everything from modern décor to a swimming pool and even WIFI for those who cant bare to be without internet access.

Santa Catalina Carnival

Experience the festivities of the Santa Catalina Carnival

Carnivals and festivals and fun and vibrant in all countries but there is something extra special and colourful about those hosted in Central and South America. A yearly Carnival takes place in Panama every year a few days before Ash Wednesday and is a chaotic and flamboyant celebration that is embraced by the entire country. Las Tablas is a town located about 5 hours from the capital of Panama City and is one the places with the most extravagant celebrations. Expect the streets to be packed with shops, bars and restaurants whilst the upper and lower parts of town compete with other for the best decorations and fire-works. The whole community gets involved with everyone from young children to elderly people enjoying the festivities. 

If you need some down time after experiencing a Panamanian Carnival, then Santa Catalina is the ideal place for some rest and relaxation. Stay at the Hotel Sol y Mar to enjoy the swimming pool and the fresh air of the quiet coastal town. Lay about in a hammock, whilst you read your book or catch up on your tan on one of the white sand beaches. Once you have regained some energy enjoy snorkelling or diving in the colourful untouched ocean.