AREA GUIDE: Playa Venao
Last Updated: July 9, 2024
The touristic community of Playa Venao is situated on a three kilometer crescent-shaped cove and is home to some of the Azuero Peninsula’s best surfing and nightlife.
About Playa Venao, Panamá
Playa Venao is located on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula in southern Panamá.
On one side are the Pacific Ocean with sandy beaches, light jungle, and "Venao central," with restaurants, bars, shops and surfing.
On the other are rolling hills, working farms with herds of grazing cattle, more jungle, vacation and local residences, and a few hidden waterfalls.
The water is warm and the vibe is casual so you can leave your wet suit and fancy clothes at home! (I’ve created a helpful Panama Packing List so you come prepared.)
Although things seem to change quickly here, Playa Venao hasn’t been totally overrun by the masses yet, so development and services are somewhat limited.
There is currently a supermarket, a small produce market, a good selection of bars and restaurants, a few clothing, souvenir and surf shops, a gas station, two ATMs, a mini hardware store, and a tiny pharmacy.
Venao is becoming more and more centered on holistic health. As of the latest update of this post, we had a spine center, lots of options for yoga, meditation, an ice bath, and various other wellness practitioners (rebirthing, breath work, an herbalist, and more).
Accommodations are a mix of Airbnb (homes and condos), hostels, surf camps, a small eco resort, and a few boutique resort hotels. There are some awesome hidden gems, so it’s always a good idea to ask a local for recommendations.
If Venao doesn’t have the service you’re looking for, you can probably find it in the town of Pedasí, just 30 minutes away. (If you're passing through Pedasí on the way to Venao, we recommend you do your grocery shopping here as you'll save a good amount of money!)
More services are available in the larger towns of Las Tablas (about a 1-1/4 hour drive) and Chitré (about a 1-3/4 hour drive).
How to Get to Playa Venao from Panama City
Playa Venao is in the Pedasi District of Panamá’s Los Santos Province, approximately 360 kilometers (224 miles) southwest of Panama City and 34 kilometers (21 miles) southwest of the town of Pedasi.
You can get to Playa Venao by a combination of plane, bus, shuttle and/or car. Unless you want to be limited to Venao central, where services are limited and pricey, we recommend renting an all- or four-wheel drive car.
You’ll find all the details for getting here in this post—5 Ways to Get From Panama City to Pedasi, Playa Venao & Cañas
And, get lots of helpful info and tips on renting a car in this post—12 Tips for Renting a Car in Panamá
Best Time to Come to Playa Venao
Because Panamá is situated near the equator, it has a temperate tropical climate with very consistent temperatures (generally ranging from 32◦-35◦ C / 89◦-95◦ F). What varies most—and determines the season—is the amount of rainfall.
There are two seasons here—wet and dry. Thanks to the mountains in the center of the country, the Pacific coast has roughly two times less rainfall than the northern Caribbean coast.
The dry season (AKA “Summer”) is from about the middle to end of December through the middle to end of April. During this time, Playa Venao may not see a single drop of rain…if it does rain, it tends to be very light and pass quickly. In the dry season, the rolling hills go from vibrant green to crispy gold, many trees lose their leaves, and temperatures range from pleasant to hot. And, all but the largest waterfalls dry up! Click here to read all about the dry season.
The rainy season (AKA “Winter”) is from about the middle to the end of April through the middle to the end of December. While it’s understandable that people would automatically choose to come during the dry season, we actually prefer the rainy season for several reasons. So, do some research to figure out when the best time for YOU to come is. Click here to read all about the rainy season.
Here’s a guide we wrote that will help you make this decision—Best Time to Visit To Panamá
Wanna check out the weather right now? Click here to check out the livecam at Beach Break Surf Camp in central Venao!
Wanna take a drone tour of Playa Venao? Click here to check it out!
Where to Stay in Playa Venao
There are many options for staying in Playa Venao—and more keep coming, so it’s hard to keep up with all of the new ones. Check out Airbnb, Booking, and TripAdvisor—and pay attention to those ratings.
Here are our favorite established places to stay in Playa Venao:
Eco Venao Eco Resort—a wonderful permaculture “resort” with a variety of accommodations in a natural setting appealing to budget/hostel travelers, eco tourists, or those desiring a bit more “luxury.” Onsite eateries include a restaurant, coffee café, ice cream stand, and beach bar. Onsite activities include horseback riding, hiking trails, surf school/board rentals and skate camp.
Beach Break Surf Camp—an oceanfront project offering simple rooms with private baths and hot showers. Onsite surf school/rentals, swimming pool, jiu jitsu studio, communal kitchen, and bar/restaurant.
Selina Hostel—catering to the 20’s/30’s crowd, the beachfront hostel offers platform tents, as well as dormitory and private rooms with bathrooms. They have an onsite restaurant, beach volleyball court, yoga, co-work space, swimming pool, communal kitchen, social activities, and surf school/rentals. If you’re older or prefer a more quiet setting, definitely check out Selina River.
Check my Panama Travel channel for other recommended places to stay throughout Panamá!
Things To Do in Playa Venao
Playa Venao offers visitors an abundance of activities. The protected cove has an expansive and year-round break making it a popular surfing destination for all skill levels and the perfect place to learn to surf.
In addition to riding the waves and taking surf lessons, you can also do the following:
- Deep sea fishing
- Stand up paddle boarding or kayaking
- Boogie boarding and body surfing
- Horseback riding (mountains and beach)
- Hiking (to vistas and waterfalls)
- Bird and wildlife watching
- Visiting Pedasi
- Yoga
- Disconnecting and relaxing
- Visit Isla Iguana
- Whale watching (humpback whales birth their calves close to the shore!)
- Sea turtle tour
Eating in Playa Venao
There are a variety of local restaurants, many serving food beachside and several run by the real locals (known as “fondas”).
Our two favorites are Gato Blanco, owned by a couple of Italians and serving delicious pizza and pasta right on the sand, and Almendro Café inside Selina River.
Most of the restaurants in Playa Venao central cater to tourists, so they’re pricey by Panamanian standards.
If you want to maximize your travel budget, eat at the locally owned fondas and stay in a place that has a private or communal kitchen, stock up on groceries in Pedasi, and cook some of your meals at “home.”
Language, Money, etc.
The primary languages in Playa Venao are Spanish, English and Israeli. Being an international destination and a popular home for expats, you’ll find a fair amount of English speakers and people willing and able to communicate with non-Spanish speakers.
Nevertheless, it would definitely be helpful to have a Spanish language app on your phone or a basic Spanish dictionary.
With the exception of a few coins, Panama uses the U.S. dollar, so if you’re American, you’re all set. Everyone else needs to convert their money to U.S. dollars, preferably before arriving in Panamá to save time and hassle.
Many places to not accept credit cards, so it’s best to have cash on hand. There are now two ATMs in Playa Venao.
Plugs, outlets and voltage are also the same as the U.S.
The best way to handle your mobile phone (if it’s unlocked) is to get a SIM card after you arrive. Tigo provides the best coverage for the Playa Venao area.
Whatsapp is the way everyone communicates down here and will enable you to make voice calls using data.
For more information on Playa Venao, download Panama Sovereign Realty's Playa Venao Guide! playa-venao-property-guide-panama-sovereign-realty.pdf
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