Cuango Beach (140 km)

Cuango is a typical small Caribbean village – beach, ocean, palm trees, fishing boats, dirt roads and simple houses. This small town is located 3 hours from Panama City on the mouth of the river Cuango. It is situated in the upper part of the Caribbean, within the lovely province of Colon. San Blas Islands is only an hour boat ride from this beautiful area. The Cuango is the biggest river of this part of Colon province and the its power current moves the beach sand and change its shape. It is very unusual to came back after some time and find the beach look totally different.

The black sand beach is pretty wide with lot of space. The first part of the beach is located right in the village and the other is closed between the Caribbean Sea and the Cuango River, forming a narrow peninsula. There are some palm trees on the beach so you can to hang your hammock and enjoy the shadow. In the afternoon the very best you can do is take a bath in the river, wash the salt and refresh your body in fresh water.

The size of the wave depends on weather and time of the year. But generally during the months of November to April and July-August there are good wind and ideal waves for lovers of windsurfing and kiteboarding. During the months of May-June and August to November, the wind from the coast to the sea causing a phenomenon that local call “calm”, where the mirror like sea makes it ideal for swimming or fishing. In this time of the year there are some times good swell to practice surf. And if the sea is too rough always there is a option to bathe in the river.

Cuango has some small supermarkets or shops where you can buy some basic food and drinks. For somebody can be interesting information that the famous San Blas Archipelago is only 1 hours by boat. Visiting Cuango is especially nice for it’s where it is known as Costa Arriba, where the climate is always enjoyable and really gets you out of the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Como Llegar

By car: From Panama City it is about 3 hours driving. Take the Northern Corridor and than go straight up the Panama -Colon highway until to reach the small town Sabanitas, here turn right and follow the road until to Portobelo. Beware! This cross-road is not marked well, there are only small traffic sign easy to pass. Fortunately on the right hand there is a supermarket "REY" and the road to Portobelo start right behind the supermarket. When you reach Portobelo you have to continue several kilometers on the main road until you arrived to the 'Y' cross-road. There are Paris Tropical pizzeria (open from Friday to Sunday). There turn to the right to start the journey to Nombre de Dios by the little bit worse quality road. Driving around 45 minutes you pass through small city Nombre de Dios. From this point the road started be again better and to the Cuango left only 20 kilometers passing the small village "Viento Frío" y "Palenque" until reach the end of the road. By public transport: Buses leave from Bus Terminal Albrook, and you have to take a bus line Panama - Colon, which provide normal and express service. You have get out in the small city Sabanitas on the Panama - Colon next to supermarket "REY". Here take the bus to "Nombre de Dios" (You can also take the bus from Colon City). The buses to Portobelo leave every hour from 9:00 am to 3.00 pm and the last leave at 5.45 pm. To come back the buses from "Nombre de Dios" leave from 4.00 am to 3.00 pm every hour on weekday, weekend leave at 5:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 11.00 am, 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm. The fare is B/.3.45 to Colon. From "Nombre de Dios" some of the buses continue to Cuango, you have to ask the driver.