There are places in Panama that require a four wheel drive, a boat, a complicated bus connection and a generous supply of patience to reach.

And then there is Isla Santa Catalina.

You can see it from the village of Santa Catalina. It sits just offshore, looking almost suspiciously easy to reach. And that is part of its charm. While many visitors come to Santa Catalina for surfing or use the town as their jumping off point for the spectacular waters of Coiba National Park, a surprisingly simple little adventure is waiting almost directly in front of town.

Grab a kayak, paddle into the Pacific and go explore an island.

The island you can see from town

Isla Santa Catalina, sometimes affectionately referred to as La Islita, is a small undeveloped island immediately offshore from Santa Catalina in Veraguas Province.

It is not Coiba. It is not a giant tropical archipelago. There are no resorts, restaurants or beach clubs waiting for you.

That is exactly the point.

The island feels like a little escape from the little escape that is Santa Catalina.

The mainland village itself is wonderfully relaxed, but once you paddle away from the beach and look back toward the coast, the perspective changes. The fishing boats, surf beaches, jungle covered hills and scattered buildings of Santa Catalina become part of one enormous Pacific panorama.

And suddenly you understand why people make the trip.

Kayaking to Isla Santa Catalina

The most fun way to reach the island is under your own power.

Kayaks and stand up paddleboards can be rented in Santa Catalina, with several local operators offering equipment and organized paddling trips.

From Playa Santa Catalina, the crossing can take roughly 20 to 40 minutes in reasonable conditions, depending on your speed, the tide, wind and swell.

That makes it an unusually accessible island adventure.

You don't need to spend half a day bouncing around in a speedboat.

You don't need a complicated expedition.

You paddle.

The first few minutes are particularly enjoyable because Santa Catalina gradually changes behind you. The beach gets smaller, the village disappears into the greenery and the island ahead becomes the only thing you're thinking about.

Of course, the Pacific is not a swimming pool. Conditions can change, particularly during windy or rainy weather, so this is an activity where checking local conditions and tides before leaving is considerably more intelligent than simply deciding, "It looks fine from the beach."

And then there is that beach

One of the great surprises of Isla Santa Catalina is the contrast with some of the beaches on the mainland.

The island has a beautiful white sandy beach, with clear water and tropical vegetation behind it.

You paddle toward the beach, pull your kayak onto the sand and suddenly the day becomes wonderfully uncomplicated.

Swim.

Explore.

Lie in the sand.

Look for interesting shells.

Eat your packed lunch.

Go for a little wander.

Then realize you've spent an hour doing absolutely nothing and somehow feel extremely productive.

The island is undeveloped, so don't arrive expecting a café to appear when you're thirsty. Bring drinking water, snacks, sun protection and anything else you want for the day. The lack of facilities is part of what makes the place special.

Bring your snorkel

The waters around Isla Santa Catalina can also be fun for a little snorkeling, particularly around the rocky sections and coves.

You should keep your expectations realistic, though.

This isn't a replacement for a full Coiba National Park snorkeling trip. Coiba is the heavyweight champion of the region when it comes to marine biodiversity.

Isla Santa Catalina is more about combining several pleasant things into one easy adventure: kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, exploring and hanging out on a beautiful little Pacific island.

And sometimes that is exactly what you want.

You don't always need an epic expedition.

Walk around the island

Once you're on the island, don't immediately spend the entire afternoon lying on the beach.

Take a little time to explore.

Recent local information describes a short, relatively easy trail with viewpoints looking back toward Santa Catalina and out toward the surrounding Pacific.

The island's vegetation, rocky edges and changing views make even a short walk worthwhile.

And remember to look back.

This is one of the best reasons to visit.

Santa Catalina looks completely different from the water.

The town sits against the green hills of the mainland, while the Pacific stretches away toward the islands of the Coiba archipelago. Depending on the weather, the combination of deep blue ocean, green coastline and brilliant white sand can look almost ridiculously tropical.

You can also take a boat

If paddling across the Pacific isn't your idea of a relaxing vacation, don't worry.

Local boat operators can take visitors across from Playa Santa Catalina, and the crossing is very short. Reports from travelers put the boat ride at only several minutes, with round trips commonly arranged directly on the beach.

That option is particularly useful if you're traveling with people who aren't confident kayakers or if ocean conditions aren't suitable for paddling.

You can simply arrive at the beach, arrange your ride, spend some time on the island and organize your return.

When should you go?

For kayaking, morning is generally the smart choice.

The Pacific can become more challenging as wind and weather develop during the day, and tides can also affect the shoreline and the route. Local paddling operators specifically recommend considering tide and conditions when planning the crossing.

A calm morning can be spectacular.

The water is often more inviting, temperatures haven't reached their afternoon peak and you have plenty of time to enjoy the island without worrying about rushing back.

And if you're lucky, you may have large portions of the beach to yourself.

That is one of the great things about Santa Catalina in general. Even though it is famous among surfers, divers and travelers heading toward Coiba, it still has plenty of moments where you can feel like you've wandered away from civilization.

Isla Santa Catalina versus Coiba

It's worth understanding the difference.

Isla Santa Catalina is the easy little adventure.

You can reach it from town by kayak or boat, spend a few hours swimming and exploring, and be back in Santa Catalina the same day without committing your entire schedule.

Coiba National Park is the big adventure.

It involves a boat trip farther offshore and opens the door to some of the most impressive marine wildlife in Panama, including exceptional snorkeling and diving opportunities. Santa Catalina is one of the principal gateways to Coiba, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

So don't think of Isla Santa Catalina as competing with Coiba.

Think of it as the appetizer.

Coiba is the full course.

A perfect half day in Santa Catalina

One of my favorite ways to think about Isla Santa Catalina is as a half day adventure.

Get up in the morning.

Have breakfast in Santa Catalina.

Walk down to the beach.

Rent a kayak.

Paddle across to the island.

Spend some time snorkeling and swimming.

Explore the beach and little trails.

Eat the lunch you packed.

Lie in the shade and listen to the Pacific.

Then paddle back toward Santa Catalina.

By the time you reach the mainland, you've had a proper little ocean adventure without spending an entire day on a tour.

And that's what makes this place so appealing.

You don't have to overcomplicate it.

A few things to remember

Bring water. There are no convenient shops waiting for you on the island.

Bring sunscreen and a hat. There isn't an endless supply of shade.

Take your rubbish back with you. An undeveloped island stays beautiful largely because visitors don't treat it like a garbage can.

Check the weather, tide and ocean conditions. A short distance on a map does not necessarily mean easy paddling.

Don't underestimate the Pacific. If the conditions look rough, take a boat or wait for another day.

Bring snorkeling equipment if you have it. Even if the snorkeling isn't your main objective, you'll want the option to jump into clear water when you find a promising spot.

Start early. You'll generally get better temperatures, more comfortable paddling and more time to enjoy the island.

The little adventure most people overlook

Santa Catalina is famous for big experiences.

There are enormous waves at La Punta.

There are world class diving and snorkeling trips into Coiba.

There are fishing excursions, wildlife encounters and boat journeys deep into the Pacific.

But Isla Santa Catalina is something different.

It is small.

It is simple.

It doesn't require a huge budget or a full day of planning.

You can literally stand on the beach in Santa Catalina, look toward the island and think, "I wonder what's over there?"

Then rent a kayak and find out.

And sometimes those are the best adventures in Panama: not the ones that require an expedition, but the ones sitting right in front of you that you almost didn't notice.

For travelers staying in Santa Catalina, Isla Santa Catalina is one of those wonderfully uncomplicated Panama experiences that deserves at least half a day on the itinerary.Isla Santa Catalina: The Little Island Hiding Just Offshore in Panama