In Panama you can enjoy all outdoor activities most of the year.
Fishing, Cycling and Golf
Panama is a country with tremendous amounts of nature to practice outdoor activities, and although almost all kinds of sports are carried out, tourists come in search of packages that offer sport fishing, golf and professional cycling. Here is a guide for all those passionate about these activities.
—–Sport fishing—-
Panama offers some of the best offshore fishing in the world, with 2,988 km of coastline, so finding a place to fish is no problem. Freshwater anglers tend to fish for trout and bass, while sport fishing – beyond just a hobby – sail the seas in search of tarpons, sailfish and marlin. Freshwater fishing can be practiced freely in rivers in the Chiriqui Highlands and in Veraguas. In the Canal Zone you can fish peacock bass in Gatun Lake as well as in the Chagres River.
-Pacific Coast
These parts offer some of the most action-packed places for fishing in the world. The waters that surround islands such as Coiba, Jicaron, Montuosa, Isla Secas and Las Perlas, are well known for the presence of fish such as wahoo, horse mackerel or GT, snappers, the dorado known as mahi mahi in Hawaii and other species. Many areas offer pelagic fish very close to shore like Pedasi.
At Piñas Bay, Darien, more fishing records have been broken than anywhere else on the planet, according to the International Sport Fishing Association. In this magnificent place the only accommodation is Piñas Tropic Star Lodge.
The seas that surround the island of Coiba are home to several species coveted in sport fishing such as yellowfin tuna, guajus, dolphin-dorados, caranidae and parrots.
-Atlantic Coast
The abundance of coral reefs and its clean waters make San Blas an excellent area for fishing. Beyond reefs, various species of deep-sea fish breed, while coastal species stalk prey at river mouths and hide on coral reefs. The bounty of the sea provides fish such as snapper, mackerel, and snook. Fishing in the San Blas Islands is as easy as casting a line in the water.
The Bocas del Toro Province is known for its small waves (2−3 feet), and colorful tropical reefs. The archipelago is a reference for fishing sailfish, yellowfin tuna and red snapper between the months of March and April. The depth of the fishing area is normally 60 to 200 feet deep and only 1 or 2 miles off the coast of Isla Colon. The depth of the water reaches 2,000 feet at 3 miles and 5,000 feet at just 9 miles from the coast in some areas of Bocas del Toro. This makes it possible to have an impressive amount of fish at your disposal.
—-Luxury Fishing—-
If you are looking to do sport fishing with more comforts and without worries, any visitor who wants a high level experience can have access to luxury yachts. Several companies offer boat rentals of more than 50 feet, either motor or sailboats. These always include a crew with the best preparation to satisfy the most demanding tastes and requests. Apart from ensuring the best possible fishing, the tourist will receive a higher quality service with a gastronomic experience of international category.
—-Golf—
Panama is also known as an international golf destination, as it has golf courses both on the beach and in the mountains, including a course that is considered the best in Latin America. The advantage is that the tropical Caribbean climate allows the practice of this sport throughout the year. But if we talk about experiencing a game of golf on one of the best courses in the world, Panama has two courses designed by “Nicklaus Designs”, one at Santa Maria Golf Club with 18 holes on 284 hectares within Panama City. The second is the sensation of the Pacific located on Buenaventura Beach, at the “Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection”, and is on par with the best courses in the United States.
If you are looking for a golf course next to the Panama Canal, you find Tucan Country Club & Resort, which has a field and first-class service that will make your experience the best. This golf course is operated with a luxury residential center.
This beautiful sport can also be practiced at The Summit Golf Club, has an 18-hole course surrounded by tropical forest with panoramic views, and is only 30 minutes from the center of the Panamanian capital.
But if you are looking for an experience where you can be close to the beach and mountains at the same time, you can visit the Vista Mar Golf Course located on the Pacific Riviera, which was designed by award-winning architect J. Michael Poellot.
Following the journey through the beaches of the Pacific, the “Mantarraya Golf Club by Royal Decameron” has been a classic of golf on the beach for years. It has 18 holes, a practice area, and even a 3-hole section with lighting to play even if the sun has already set.
To close with a flourish, in Valle Escondido, Boquete there is a nine-hole course that is played through a coffee plantation. Being located in Tierras Altas, Chiriqui, the field remains green and with a cool climate all year round.
—-Cycling—-
It is a sporting activity practiced by both Panamanians and foreigners who come to visit. In Panama City, as in other urban sectors of the country, in recent years there have been invested in the creation of bicycle lanes to practice this sport safely. The most important is on the Cinta Costera with miles of views of the skyscrapers facing the Bay of Panama. Likewise, the Amador “Causeway” has bicycle lanes with views of the city’s “skyline” and made the entrance to the Panama Canal in the Pacific, a privileged “cycle tour”.
