Playa Blanca Vacations
A decade ago, Panama’s town of Farallón was mostly a little fishing village. Today, the area, including Playa Blanca, is one of the country’s top beach destinations, attracting locals and travelers from across the globe.
Spanish for “white beach,” Playa Blanca’s sugary sands offer an ideal spot to swim or take a relaxing afternoon siesta under the warm Panamanian sunshine. There’s also plenty to do beyond the shore, from jet skiing to sportfishing.
Region:
Panama
Featured Playa Blanca Hotel
Overview
The warm beaches of Playa Blanca are located along the Pacific Coast, about a two-hour’s drive from bustling Panama City. It’s an easy trip from Panama City via the Pan-American Highway. Smaller beaches at Coronado, San Carlos and Santa Clara offer pleasant diversions along the way.
Visitors looking to cool off can drive toward El Valle, a fertile valley an hour north of Playa Blanca built in the crater of an extinct volcano. Hikers and bird enthusiasts can spend hours trekking through the cloud forests above the city.
On Sunday mornings, a popular market in the center of El Valle caters to locals and travelers looking for authentic handicrafts, art, ceramics, fresh fruits and vegetables. These are but a few of the ways to blissfully spend your vacation time around the sunny Panamanian beach town of Playa Blanca.
What To Do
There are plenty of enticing water sports to tempt the adventurous traveler along the shores of Playa Blanca. Dive right in and kayak, jet ski or charter a boat on the cobalt seas amid an ocean of fish.
Go horseback riding or play a round of golf with an ocean view.
Head for the hills about an hour away in El Valle, a town built in the crater of an extinct volcano, surrounded by mountains and lush forest. Or hike through Cerro Gaital National Park and the cloud forests of Gaital National Monument with its cooling waterfalls and thermal hot pools.
Explore the region’s pre-Colombian petroglyphs and hike to the top of Sleeping Indian Woman Mountain to view local birds and wildlife.
When to Go
The best time to visit Playa Blanca in Panama is during the dry season from mid-December through mid-April. Temperatures generally remain in the mid-60s F to the mid-80s F throughout the year in the Farallón and Playa Blanca area. Up in the mountains at El Valle, temperatures are even a little cooler.