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Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Pedasi
Spend 2–3 days in Pedasi for beach time, whale watching and island trips; easy to reach from Panama City by short flight.
Pedasi is a small Pacific West town with sandy beaches, nearby islands and seasonal whale watching. A short flight from Panama City makes it a convenient 2‑3‑day beach stop.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- Jul–Oct (whale watching), Dec–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Jun (rainy)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PAB
- Money
- Currency is the balboa (PAB), fixed 1 to 1 with the US dollar; US dollar notes are the paper money in use, with Panamanian coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget PAB45–70 excl. bed · Mid PAB70–120 excl. bed · High PAB120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Más Móvil, Tigo and Digicel SIMs at Tocumen and in malls; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire and ambulance 103 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if not added.; Guides and boat crews: US$5–10 per person.; Hotel porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; basic outhouses on San Blas islands.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a local restaurant | $5–12 |
| Beer (bottle) | $2–4 |
| Taxi (city ride) | $5–10 |
| Boat to Isla Iguana | $25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PLD · Pedasi Airport
- Domestic flights from Panama City; about 1 h flight
Typical fares
- Pedasi Airport → town taxi
- about $15 (check)
- Boat to Isla Iguana
- about $25 round‑trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Yellow taxis from the main‑road stop; no rideshare apps. Walk or bike for nearby beaches.
See and do
Known for
- Playa Venao surfing
- Isla Iguana wildlife
- Whale watching (July‑Oct)
- Carnivale festival
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Isla Iguana | Boat from Playa Arenal, ~20 min | About 45 min round trip |
| Whale Watching | Local boat from Playa Arenal, seasonal | 2–3 h total |
Sleep
- Pedasi Sports Club
- A/C suites, pool, restaurant; US$65 per night
- Posada Los Destiladeros
- Beach bungalows; US$60‑200 per night
- Residencial Moscoso
- Basic rooms; US$10 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh koo-sta |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?don-deh es-ta la pla-ya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Dress: Long trousers in offices and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the city
- Guna communities: Ask before photos, pay the fee; avoid: Walking into homes or ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxis only; arrange fares before boarding.
- Whale watching boats operate only July‑Oct; check schedules.
- Some beaches have strong currents; heed local advice.
Pedasi is generally safe; petty theft is rare but keep valuables secure on beaches and in taxis.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pedasi yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Playa Venao surfing
- Isla Iguana wildlife
- Whale watching (July‑Oct)
- Carnivale festival
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Pedasi tourism info: www.islaiguana.com/
- Wikivoyage: Pedasi, revision 4840355 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4840355
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pedasi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.