Beyond its pristine natural beauty, Pedasí has transformed into a mandatory stop for all visitors arriving in Panama given the multiple tourism experiences it hosts.
“An ancient fishing town that houses a great and growing community of expats, retirees and second home owners from all over the world. The main attraction is the virgin Pacific Coast. Playa Venao is famous for surfing and it is home to international surfing competitions. Pedasí is also a dream for sports fishing.
Close to the coast, the continental platform drastically drops creating what is known as fishing circles such as the Tuna Coast. This is also one of the best places to go humpback whale watching.
Pedasí has all the amenities for a day to day life, including a public health clinic, two banks, a public library and a small store that sells beach and surf clothes, while still having a cosy town environment and staying relatively underdeveloped.”
US News defines Pedasí in this way, placing it as the 6th best spot for retirement this year. But what makes this place so special?
An amazing ecotourism offer. Sightseeing of special animals such as turtles and whales. Rural architecture and rural gastronomy are also an important factor. Lastly, sports activities such as surfing and windsurfing or diving are frequently practiced.
Tourism in Pedasi and the main sports activities to enjoy in the area.
Whale watching is one of the most renowned and emblematic activities in the area. The Panamanian Pacific coast is the chosen place for an important humpback whale population for both reproductive and mating activities.
For this reason, during the months between April and September, whale watching is common and recurrent.
On the other hand, these beaches also serve as settlement for thousands of marine turtles in nesting times. Together, both activities are capable of attracting thousands of people from all over the world.
Amongst all the sports available, surf takes the main spot. This sport mainly happens in Playa Venao and the location provides a rhythm and height for ideal waves. Other activities are not far behind, including fishing and horseback riding.
Keeping the visitors comfort in mind, the coast is host to 24 lodging establishments, with a total of 400 beds for visitors to rest in.
Two of the main hotels in the area are Villa Marina Lodge & Condos and Selina, in Playa Venao.
How do you get to Pedasi and what are the main tourist attractions to visit?
This particular Panamanian geographical region is reached with a 5-hour trip in car from Panama City. It is located in the southern part of the Azuero Peninsula, just above the Pacific coast of the Santos province. There are a number of flights with charter planes through which a person can arrive in at least 45 minutes.
Another one of the emblematic places to visit by Pedasí is Iguana Island. This island is accessible only from the coast through small guided boats.
It is located 7 kilometers from the beach and is recognized for having exuberant biodiversity. Here, the tourist can find a total of 542 different species of fishes, and its most discussed feature is its 16-acre reef.
