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Contadora Island is located in the Pearl Island Archipelagos in the Gulf of Panama. This archipelago is made up of over 200 islands and islets just 30 miles (48 kilometers) off the coast of Panama City. Isla del Rey is the largest island in the archipelago and second largest in Panama, after Coiba. This island is inhabited, just like Saboga, Contadora, San Miguel and Pedro Gonzalez. Other islands only have hotels, such as San Jose Island with Hacienda Del Mar Resort and Bolaños with Sonny Island Resort.
These Pearl Islands became famous after the show Survivor filmed on several islands. Other TV shows have been filmed in these islands as well. In 1979 the Shah of Iran moved to the island of Contadora after being exiled. He lived in the Contadora Resort which is now abandoned. You can visit that beach, which also has an abandoned boat on its shores, just on the other side of the airport runway.
There are no ATMs on Contadora Island, so it’s best to bring some cash. There is a small grocery store and a few restaurants which are pricey since most of the food has to be brought from the mainland. Your best bet is to order fresh seafood. Contadora has a few hotels and some short term rental options.
How to get to Contadora Island?
This tranquil island is a tourism destination close to Panama City. Air Panama used to fly daily to Contadora Island, but the flights have been suspended for a while. Flights from Panama City to Contadora are quite quick, arriving in just 20 minutes. However, it is a short landing strip with small planes, so some people may not like this option.
A new airline called FlyTrip flies regular flights on Sundays and Fridays. This charter airline can do private trips any day of the week. FlyTrip has two plane models which are the Cessna Grand Caravan, with capacity for 12 passengers, and the Kodiak Quest 100 with capacity for 9 passengers. This Panamanian airline is pet friendly.
There is also a ferry from Panama City to Contadora Island which operates daily. This ferry takes about a little under two hours since it also stops in Isla Saboga and sometimes in Isla Bolaños. The morning departure from Panama City is at 7:30 a.m. and the return is at 3:30 p.m. There are food and drinks for sale on the ferry or you can bring your own. Ferry tickets include one luggage and carry-on. Kids under four travel for free and the child rate is between 5 and 12 years. Pet fee applies.
What to do on Contadora Island?
Contadora Island Day Pass
This Contadora day pass is a great option for those looking to spend a day on this beautiful island in Panama. It includes the ferry from Panama City to Contadora and return. There are two options for spending the day. The first option is in Playa Larga, close to Playa Galeon where the ferry arrives and departs. It is the longest beach on the island where the old Contadora Resort was located. It is very calm with sand and palm trees, ideal for swimming.
The second option is in the Mar y Oro Hotel in Playa Cacique, which is considered the most beautiful beach on Contadora Island. This beach is full of mansions and is great for swimming and snorkeling. There is free transport included in this option, as well as bathroom and shower. Both options include beach chairs, umbrellas, lunch and two beverages.
Explore Contadora Island
The best way to explore the Island of Contadora is by renting a golf cart, scooter or ATV. There are few cars on the island which gives it its peaceful charm. It is possible to walk or ride a bike but you would need to be in pretty decent shape since there are some steep roads on the northeast of the island near the Contadora airport.
There are several beaches on Contadora Island including Playa Larga, Playa Galeón, Playa Canoa, Playa Caracol, Playa Lucas, Playa Roca, Playa Camarón, Playa Cacique, and Playa de las Suecas, which is Panama’s only nudist beach.
Full Face Snorkel Mask
$35.99
This full face snorkeling mask comes in 16 different colors for you to choose your favorite. There are two sizes: small / medium and large / x-large. The snorkel has outstanding performance in breathing and air intake, while the mask has an anti fog design. It is possible to mount a camera on this snorkeling mask.
Island Hopping
We can organize boat tours to take you to visit several islands nearby. Islands such as Mogo Mogo, Chapera and even some sand banks are located nearby Contadora. Some of these islands are completely uninhabited so they will be all yours. This area has little tourism so it is very possible to pick your island to spend a few hours there. It’s recommended to bring food and drinks for island hopping in the Pearl Islands.
Snorkeling
Contadora Island is a great destination for snorkeling. You can bring your own gear or rent it in the visitor center. It is possible to snorkel on the island around the rocks. Panama’s Pacific Ocean is calmer with better visibility in the islands in comparison with the mainland. You can also take a snorkeling tour from Contadora which will take you to visit other islands. It is possible to see coral reefs, parrot fish, clown fish, angel fish, snapper, stingrays, and even nurse sharks.
Scuba Diving
It is possible to get certified as a scuba diver in a PADI center in Contadora Island. Those who are certified can do a two dive immersion. Dive sites are only 15 minutes away from the island on a speedboat. This Pacific Ocean archipelago has plenty of rock formations, beautiful corals and an abundance of marine life. You can find more to see diving than snorkeling since there are also bigger fish in the area, brown sharks, white tip sharks, reef sharks, lobsters, oysters, starfish, eels, rays and sea turtles.
Fishing
It is possible to go fishing in the Pearl Islands on an artisanal panga boat or on a proper fishing boat. The price of the excursion varies greatly depending on the preferred mode of transportation. Fishing in Panama is superb. Expect to catch dolphin (mahi mahi), grouper, jack, amberjack, blue marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, cubera snapper, tuna, wahoo and more. Both inshore and offshore fishing trips can be done, which can be combined with island hopping or whale watching (seasonal).
Whale Watching
It is possible to book a whale watching trip from Panama City to the Pearl Islands on Saturdays and Sundays. Those that are already staying in a hotel on Contadora Island can also start their tour from there. We can organize a private tour (which is cheaper if you have several people) or a group tour. Humpback whales come to visit the shores of Panama’s Pacific coast from June through October. They come to give birth to their young, so it is very important to do responsible whale watching. Please contact us for the different options for this tour ur****@pa***************.com | +507 6633-0166
It is also possible to do whale watching tours in Pedasi and whale watching tours in Cambutal.
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