Tips for Traveling to Playa Venao, Panama - What to Know Before You Go
by Rebecca Hollman
updated June 12, 2019
Playa Venao, Panama
Playa Venao is a beach “town” on the Pacific side of the Los Santos province. It almost doesn’t even qualify as a town and more of a collection of a few things around a beach. It is one of the most unique and laidback places I went to in all of Panama. There is not much to do nearby and most people come here to truly be beach bums for awhile. The area is known for surfing and there are a handful of hotels and restaurants around the beach. But other than that, it’s mostly just that very tranquilo beach life here. Playa Venao has a huge Israeli expat community and draws in surfers and people seeking more spiritual experiences.
Unlike most popular beach and surf destinations, Playa Venao takes the whole laid back thing super seriously. Even in the high (and dry) season, you can enjoy solitude on the most popular beaches. Because Playa Venao is blissfully undiscovered by the masses, development and services are a bit more limited than the crowded areas. There is one (overpriced) mini market, several restaurants and bars, a couple souvenir shops, and lots of places offering surf lessons, board rentals and tours and activities.
Going to paradise always requires a little bit of planning. Learn everything you need to know about Playa Venao here - including what to do, where to stay and where to eat.
What to Know
LANGUAGE: The language of Panama is Spanish. Being able to order at a restaurant, or ask for the right bus, etc. will take you very far. There are a good amount of surfers and expats that live in Playa Venao so a lot of people do speak English. Most of the restaurants are owned by Israeli expats and there is a huge community of Israelis here so English (and Hebrew) are very common.
CURRENCY/BANKS/ATM: The currency of Panama is technically a Balboa, but it is exactly equivalent to the US Dollar. Everywhere in Panama accepts US Dollars and it is very rare to see Balboas (except sometimes with coins). There is no need to exchange your money for Balboas. ATMs (cajeros automaticos) seem to be in short supply in Panama. There is no ATM in Playa Venao. I would suggest trying to get out a decent amount of cash beforehand in either Panama City. There might be ATMs in the small town of Pedasí (the closest town to Playa Venao) but I wouldn’t rely on that. A very, very small amount of restaurants and hotels take credit cards, but for the most part cash is still king in Panama. Expect to pay for all your tours and most your food in cash.
WEATHER: In Playa Venao, the wet season is warm and overcast; the dry season is hot, windy, and partly cloudy; and it is oppressive year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 75°F to 86°F and is rarely below 73°F or above 88°F. The best time of year to visit Playa Venao for hot-weather activities is from late December to late March.
GETTING AROUND: The easiest way to get around is definitely with a rental car - the roads are adequate so a small car is totally fine. Playa Venao is spread out in one line along the rim of the beach, making it too far to really walk from one end of the town to the other. If you rent a bike, it would be feasible to go back and forth. You could also stick to one side of the town and keep everything walking distance if you don’t have a car. The more populous side of town is the eastern side so if you don’t intend to walk back and forth, I would find a hotel on this side. There are a few taxis here and there but for the most part there are not many taxis or colectivos in this town. Another thing to note is that there is no gas station in this town and the closest one is in Pedasí, which is about 30-40 minutes away.
SAFETY: For the most part, Panama is safe. Playa Venao is no exception but you just need to be conscious of yourself. If you are walking around at night visibly drunk, then someone may pick pocket you, etc. Just don’t be stupid. The smaller, less touristy towns are actually safer. Playa is a very laid-back destination for surfers and spiritual people and doesn’t really have a party vibe so it might be even safer than other tourist destinations.
How to Get There
FROM PANAMA CITY:
BY SHUTTLE:
Venao Tours has a shuttle that runs from Panama City to any of the hotels in in Playa Venao for $60/person or $250/vehicle round trip. Check their schedule before you book your flight to make sure they have an available seat on the days you’ll be needing one. (There are also shuttles available from Playa Venao to other areas in Panamá, such as Boquete and Cambutal.) While this is a great option, getting around won’t be very easy once you’re here and, without a car, you’ll be missing out on a lot.
BY BUS:
It’s also an option to take the bus—it’s cheap ($10 each way), but will definitely cost you in effort.
You will catch one of the frequent buses from the Albrook Bus Terminal to Las Tablas and settle in for about five hours, then take the bus from Las Tablas to Playa Venao for an additional 1-1/2 hours. (You’ll need to make SURE you arrive in Las Tablas before 6 p.m. to catch the Playa Venao bus AND take a taxi from your arrival stop to your departure stop. It’s also an option to take a taxi from Las Tablas to Pedasi for about $25.00.) You can check the bus schedule here.
What to Do There
1. SURF: The surf is one of THE main reason people are flocking to Playa Venao. The beach has waves for all levels, depending on which end you’re on. Most hotels and hostels offer surfboard rentals and surf lessons. Surf Dojo, Beach Break, and Selina are a few of the spots that offer surfboard rentals (typically starting at $10), lessons, and surf camps. If you don’t feel comfortable surfing, you can always try body boarding, standup paddle boarding, or just watching the surfers from the beach.
2. VISIT ISLA IGUANA: Playa Venao is a paradise for surfers but the Pacific ocean is strong and the water is dark. Luckily Isla Iguana is a gorgeous island off the coast of Pedasí surrounded by calm, crystal clear water that you can visit for the day. Selina provides a direct tour here that includes round-trip transportation, from Playa Venao to Pedasí, boat transport to Isla Iguana, snacks, bottled water, and a soft drink for $42. Otherwise, if you have a car, you can drive yourself to Pedasí and find a tour from there for slightly cheaper.
3. WHALE WATCHING: If you happen to be in Playa Venao from July – September you can see humpback whales jumping and playing in the warm waters of Pedasí. The whale watching tour offered by Selina costs $53 and includes round-trip transportation from Playa Venao, 2-hours of whale watching, and 3-hours relaxing on Isla Iguana with snacks and juice included.
4. HIKE TO THE WATERFALL BEHIND ECO VENAO: Behind the beach is a full jungle for you to explore. I recommend heading to Eco Venao and doing the hiking trails that they have on the property. We saw monkeys on the way and got to enjoy swimming around the waterfall. There is a small entrance fee to pay to do the hike if you’re not staying there, but it’s worth it.
5. SPEND A DAY AT LA PLAYITA: The water here is super calm, clear, and the sand is light-colored, in stark contrast to the beach of Playa Venao. The only thing is that it can be rocky at low-tide so be sure to look up the tide schedule for the day and plan your time to be there for high-tide. To get here, walk to the end of the beach towards where Selina is and you’ll eventually see a small path. Walk down the path for about 20-minutes and you’ll see Playita Resort. You can pay $5 for a day pass which grants you access to the beach, chairs, and restrooms.
Where to Stay
Selina - Catering to the 20’s and co-working crowd, this hostel offers platform tents, as well as dormitory and private rooms with bathrooms. They have an onsite restaurant, beach volleyball court, yoga, co-work space, swimming pool, communal kitchen, social activities, and surf school/rentals. Selina also offers shuttles to other Panama destinations as well as tours to Isla Iguana.
Eco Venao - Settled back farther from the beach on the rainforest side of Playa Venao, this eclectic hotel offers different levels of accommodation (basic to luxury) and offers an onsite restaurant, cafe, spa, hiking trails, ice cream stand, and surf board rental store. This is a great place to stay if you have your own car.
Beach Break - An oceanfront project offering simple rooms with private baths and hot showers. Onsite surf school/rentals, swimming pool, jiu jitsu studio, communal kitchen, and bar/restaurant.
Villa Marina - A very high-end accommodation that offers entire apartments/condos to rent. This would be ideal if you are traveling with a whole family or a big group and want to rent a fully furnished multi-room apartment. It also has a pool and restaurant on-site.
Where to Eat
Coleo’s Cafe - Coleo’s is a local favorite known for their huge portions that are a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine with lots of vegetarian options. It’s easily a spot you’ll end up eating at several times in Playa Venao. Cash only.
El Sitio - This restaurant and hotel is located right smack in the middle of Playa Venao and it’s open air seating gives views of the waves. They serve up typical seafood and “American” dishes. This is also a popular spot for drinking and partying and even hosts two different music festivals throughout the year.
Taco Flow - You honestly can’t go wrong with beachfront tacos and an ice-cold beer. Taco Flow serves up authentic Mexican food with options of tacos, burritos, guacamole, and more in a super chill setting.
La Bicicleta - This ended up being my go-to breakfast spot as they have a complete breakfast for $4. They also have a $5 menu of the day for lunch, making this an enjoyable spot for people on a budget.
