RegionOutline guide

Nueva Gorgona

Town and corregimiento in Panamá Oeste, Panama

Photo: Robert vanNostrand, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Nueva Gorgona is a small rural "black sand" beach town in Central Panama, about a one-hour drive from Panama City via the Pan American Highway. It is adjacent to Coronado, a larger expat area.

Where to eat, drink and stay

Eat3 places

La Ruina
Hawaii
Nice Pub style eatery with local Panamanian food and expat food.
In 2023 it was taken over as "Hawaii" which used to be on the beach front, which is known for weekly music and other expat centric activities.
The building was built up out of the ruins of the abandoned American military base.
Address
Calle 2 Sur
Pizzeria Restaurante Torito’s
Torito's
Classic Panamanian Pizza place with oven fired pizza.
Address
Calle 2a
Bahia Beach Bar
Lovely beach bar and eatery on a patio located on the sandy beach, which is outside of the gated Bahia resort, and therefore accessible to the general public. Good food friendly staff.
Directions
On the beach, outside of the Gated community

Sleep3 places

Royal Palm Condos
24 story beachfront condo, with four large pools and small restaurant. Gated community, with daily, weekly, monthly rentals. Popular with tourists and ex-pats.
Address
Beachfront
Website
metrorealtypanama.com
Bahía Alkeyler Holiday Apartments
Bahia
Three tall tower apartment beachfront condos.
Address
calle 11a sud
Directions
Gated, near the beach
Ocean Waves
Beautiful modern beachfront condominiums with large pool and patio area. (Gated).
Website
pacifichills.com

Getting there and around

Getting there

By plane
Aside from the main airport in Panama City, there is also a small international airport at Río Hato, which operates mainly in the snowbird season to Canada, which is about half hour drive.

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Getting around

Although the main road in from the Pan American Highway is paved, the majority of streets in the town are not paved. Taxis are readily available and cost about $10 to get into the main shopping town of Coronado.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport

Albrook · Regional · PAC

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Read before you go to Nueva Gorgona

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandThis town began as a small but busy fishing village, and also had an American military base here.

History“Nueva Gorgona” (new Gorgona) is actually a re-location of 1000 people from “old” Gorgona which had to be moved from over 100 miles away, in order to make way for the Panama Canal back in the early 1900s.

Get inFrom Panama City, there is a bus stop on the main Pan American highway, but you then need to take a taxi into the town. There is a police check point at the entry near the highway, which helps to keep the residents safe.

Get aroundAlthough the main road in from the Pan American Highway is paved, the majority of streets in the town are not paved. Taxis are readily available and cost about $10 to get into the main shopping town of Coronado.

See and doThe white sandy beach is blended with unique black volcanic sand near the edge from the old volcanic rocks.

BuyAlthough there are some "corner store" type places, most grocery and other shopping will be done in nearby town of Coronado.

EatMain town has a few small eating places including pizza and Italian fare, and fish of course. The beach has a few basic restaurants scattered along the way. Most of the gated condos have a basic restaurant on premises.

Drink

SleepAirBnB is popular, and long term condo rentals, but some small hotels also exist.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Nueva Gorgona" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Nueva Gorgona", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Robert vanNostrand, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Nueva Gorgona" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Summary from the Wikipedia article "Nueva Gorgona", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia

Photo: Robert vanNostrand, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage