Veraguas

Veraguas: Rich History

As the only Panamanian province with coasts facing both oceans, Veraguas is rich in history and natural variety.

Columbus visited the Caribbean Coast on his fourth voyage, but it took the Spanish more than two decades to establish a permanent foothold here.

Today, the north remains densely forested and sparsely populated—most settlements are home to indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé communities.

Santiago: Panama’s Provincial Capital

The south is infinitely more accessible, warmly welcoming visitors to quiet towns, idyllic beaches, and pristine islands.

Santiago, the provincial capital, is located on the Interamerican Highway, 160 miles west of Panama City.

Santiago is the region’s commercial center and the site of Panama’s main teacher education facility.

Atalaya and San Francisco de la Montaña: Religious Festivals & Ornate Churches

Renowned for its architecture and richly painted murals, Normal School trains high school graduates to be teachers; educating students in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum.

Outside the city, the towns of Atalaya and San Francisco de la Montaña are known for their religious festivals and ornately decorated churches.

Roughly 35 miles north of Santiago, the mountain town of Santa Fé is famous for the production of rich, shade-grown coffee.

Santa Fé Orchids

Orchids also thrive here, displayed at the local Orquedario.

Even more orchids can be purchased at the central market, alongside textiles hand-stitched by Ngöbe-Buglé artisans.

Santa Fé de Veraguas National Park & The Gulf of Montijo: Wildlife Watching & Sport Fishing

Santa Fé de Veraguas National Park, located in the mountains surrounding the town, is home to:

• Over 350 Orchids
• Around 400 Bird Species
• Tapirs
• Sloths
• A Crayon Box of Colorful Frogs.

Hiking, birdwatching, and whitewater rafting are among the favorite activities at Santa Fe de Veraguas.

Roughly twenty miles south of Santiago, the Gulf of Montijo is one of the country’s most important estuaries.

Migratory shorebirds, herons, pelicans and frigate birds nest or winter in the Gulf of Montigo in great numbers.

Gulf of Montigo Sport Fishing

The Gulf of Montigo is also a popular sport fishing ground. More than fifty species are caught and released here, including:

• Black Marlin
• Blue Marlin
• Roosterfish
• Wahoo
• Sailfish

On half and full-day charter cruises, visitors can also encounter killer whales, sea lions, and sea turtles.

Surfing Playa Santa Catalina

At the western tip of the gulf, Playa Santa Catalina is gaining a reputation for its consistent surf and uncrowded black sand beaches.

Santa Catalina’s waves arrive in powerful barrels, with swells of four to fifteen feet. The breaks continue at Playa El Estero, just east of town and across the river.

Here the waves are steady, approachable, and ideal for body surfing or beginning boarders.

Coiba Island: Tropical Paradise

From Puerto Mutis on the Gulf of Montijo, dive boats launch for the three-hour journey to Coiba Island—a 650,000-acre tropical paradise, surrounded by clear waters and vibrant sea life.

The island split away from the mainland approximately 18,000 years ago, evolving unique flora and fauna.

Coiba served as a penal colony from 1919 to 2004, effectively protecting around 80% of its landmass from human development.

Today, the island is home to a few rangers, outnumbered by scarlet macaws and an endemic sub-species of spider monkey.