Explore El Palmar beach in San Carlos Panama

El Palmar is one of the most well known and traveled to beaches near Coronado Panama. Just 10 km from Coronado, El Palmar has the quiet small town appeal that many seek in a weekend retreat to the beach. The area is well known by surfers and those seeking to learn how to surf while visiting Panama. 

While there are no major grocery stores, or mini supers inside El Palmar there are several restaurants where hungry beach goers can grab a bite to eat. Many of the restaurants in El Palmar are attached to small boutique hotels, that are beachfront or steps away from the black & white sandy beaches this area boasts.

Restaurants & Hotels in El Palmar Panama

Manglar Lodge Boutique Hotel & Restaurant (507 345-4014)
Manglar Lodge is one of the nicest places to stay when vacationing in El Palmar. The private guesthouse-style hotel is located at the end of main street and shares a parking lot with the Bayview Hotel. The hotel offers fresh food in their restaurant serving homemade burgers and fresh seafood. There are 3 rooms in the hotel, One room has 2 full size beds, another with one king bed, and one with two queen beds. All three rooms are $120 + tax, two people per room. All rooms are equipped with hot water, AC, TV and Wifi.

Bayview Hotel & Restaurant (507 240-9621)
The Bayview hotel has been open since 2002. Bayview is a family friendly hotel & restaurant with a swimming pool and terrace over looking the ocean. Their restaurant is open air and casual serving a variety of seafood and beach cocktails. The hotel has 27 rooms with AC, hot water, TV and free Wifi. Rooms range from $76.50 - $87.50 a night.

El Refugio Hostel (507 6526-6721)
El Refugio is located footsteps from the beach and offers both shared and private accommodations starting at $15.00/night. The Hostel has a large pool and outdoor area for guests.

Hotel Palmar Surf Beach & School (507 6615-5654)
With several cabins, a surf school and restaurant, Hotel Palmar has it all. The restaurant is a small open air beach bar, serving up local favorites like fried fish and patacones (fried plantains) offering one of the best views of the beach. The Palmar Surf School also has a large parking lot where you can park your car safely for $5 per day.

Surfing at El Palmar beach in Panama

Whether you are a beginner surfer or already an avid surfer El Palmar Panama is an ideal spot for surfing on Panama’s Pacific coast, mainly because it is one of the most consistent places to surf. What many people do not realize is that while there are many surf spots along Panama’s pacific the majority of them are not consistent, meaning that there are not always waves even when the reports are calling for swell. For those seeking to learn how to surf while in Panama this can make things difficult. Fear not, at El Palmar there are almost always some baby waves and white wash, the perfect place for those who are learning and practicing the beginning motions of surfing to play.

The beach break at El Parlmar makes playa El Palmar the ideal beginner surfer’s beach. The beach break is a long stretch of beach spanning from the Bayview Hotel all the way to the Surf Camp & Restaurant, where a tall break wall cuts the beach off at high tide. Smack dab in the middle, footsteps from the beach, is the Panama Surf School.

The point break at El Palmar is located around the break wall in the far bay of El Palmar to the right of El Palmar Surf Camp. The beach in front of the point break is a wide open with a few local homes and the El Palmar Residences, two large towers in the final stages of completion. The point is recommended for intermediate to advanced surfers, as it is quite a distance from the beach and can be a powerful wave in the right conditions.

Surf Schools on El Palmar beach in Panama

Panama Surf School (507 6673-0820)
Panama Surf School rents boards and offers lesson for beginners and those looking to advance in the sport of surfing. Call ahead or drop by the school on Calle 4ta Sur. in El Palmar to find the best time based on tides and conditions for a lesson. Panama Surf School also offers weekend clinics for beginners and intermediate surfers with surf coaches teaching skills like surfing etiquette, wave selection, ocean safety and awareness. Intermediate surfers have the opportunity to work with coaches to enhance their skills and learn turns, tricks and wave strategy. The Palmar Surf school is footsteps from the beach and is equipped with showers and change rooms for clients. Panama Surf School also offers a variety of other activities including parasailing, jetskiing, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Palmar Surf School (507 6615-5654)
Palmar Surf School, located at the end of Calle 6ta Norte, offers board rentals and lessons. The school is located on the beach, and offers shaded bohios, a restaurant and parking for clients.

Beachfront Real Estate in El Palmar Panama

While the community El Palmar retains its small town feel there is no doubt it is growing. With the El Palmar residences in the final stages of completion, for the first time the condo lifestyle will be available on El Palmar beach Panama. However, condos are not all that is available for those seeking a longer visit or more permanent getaway in El Palmar, there are also several beach homes for rent and sale in the El Palmar community. The majority of beach homes in El Palmar are villa style homes with an ocean view or footsteps from the beach.

For a Real Estate tour in El Palmar and Panama’s top beach communities call (507) 6881-3214 or email Jeff@Panama1925.com

Getting To El Palmar Panama beach

El Palmar is 93km from Panama City and just 10km past Coronado Panama. To get to El Palmar take the Pan-American highway. Just past the town of San Carlos, you will pass under a walking bridge over the highway. There will be a police station on the left hand side and then a Texaco gas station. 500 meters after the gas station is the entrance to El Palmar on the left hand side of the road. Across the highway there is a restaurant called Carlitos and a couple of hardware stores. It is illegal to make the left turn into El Palmar, it is best to drive past the entrance to the returno and travel back to make the right hand turn into the town.

Coming from David drive past the town of Divisa towards Panama City on the Panamerican highway. Drive through Penonome passing the small towns of Anton, Rio Hato, and past the large all-inclusive resort developments of Playa blanca Panama and Decameron. Passing the small town of Santa Clara, you are approximately 30km from the El palmar entrance which will be on your right hand side. Look for Carlitos Restaurant on the left hand side, if you reach the Texaco gas station on your right you have gone to far.