Sunday, August 17, 2008
Santa Clara Beach, Panama
About 16kms (10 miles) West of Coronado is the beautiful Santa Clara Beach.It is 1 hour and 15 minutes drive from Panama City and the entire drive is on the fairly well maintained Pan-American Highway. After about 100kms, turn left at the Santa Clara turning and follow the local pot-holed road a short way to the beach. This is the closest pretty beach to Panama city. Further east are the strange black volcanic sands of Coronado. The Pacific coast of Panama has excellent year-round sunshine in which to enjoy the picturesque beaches and scenic views.
Santa Clara is still an unspoilt corner of paradise. A little further down the coast at Farallon is the Decameron all-inclusive resort, and several builders are creating upmarket private communities there. There are many mega-homes lining the beach at Santa Clara, but they are well set back behind fences and walls, and ensure that high-rise development is not likely to spoil the beach here in the near future.
There are several small hotels and local restaurants close to or on the beach, and cabanas for rent, but from Monday to Friday the beach is very quiet, apart from the local fishermen who unload their day’s catch. The freshly caught corvina (Chilean sea bass) is served in the local restaurants and is cheap and delicious. There are a couple of beach bars at Santa Clara which sell cheap icy beers for around a dollar and serve cafe fare as you sit at the wooden benches and enjoy the ocean views to Farallon Island. On weekends the bar and beach tends to be busier, and noisier with local boom-boxes, jet skis, kids, dogs and the like.
The beach is excellent for walking along, as the sand is firm at the water's edge and runs for miles. There is usually a breeze to keep temperatures bearable but if you prefer, there are cabanas for rent, complete with hammocks and you can laze away the day in peace. There is parking for a nominal fee right on the beach, and toilets and showers are also provided. Swimming is good and safe in the clear waters. This became one of my favorite beaches when we stayed in the Coronado area and well worth the drive.
Santa Clara is still an unspoilt corner of paradise. A little further down the coast at Farallon is the Decameron all-inclusive resort, and several builders are creating upmarket private communities there. There are many mega-homes lining the beach at Santa Clara, but they are well set back behind fences and walls, and ensure that high-rise development is not likely to spoil the beach here in the near future.
There are several small hotels and local restaurants close to or on the beach, and cabanas for rent, but from Monday to Friday the beach is very quiet, apart from the local fishermen who unload their day’s catch. The freshly caught corvina (Chilean sea bass) is served in the local restaurants and is cheap and delicious. There are a couple of beach bars at Santa Clara which sell cheap icy beers for around a dollar and serve cafe fare as you sit at the wooden benches and enjoy the ocean views to Farallon Island. On weekends the bar and beach tends to be busier, and noisier with local boom-boxes, jet skis, kids, dogs and the like.
The beach is excellent for walking along, as the sand is firm at the water's edge and runs for miles. There is usually a breeze to keep temperatures bearable but if you prefer, there are cabanas for rent, complete with hammocks and you can laze away the day in peace. There is parking for a nominal fee right on the beach, and toilets and showers are also provided. Swimming is good and safe in the clear waters. This became one of my favorite beaches when we stayed in the Coronado area and well worth the drive.
Labels: Coronado beach, Farallon Island, Pacific coast, Panama, Santa Clara, walking
# posted by Your travel girl @ 1:14 PM 
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