Isla Iguana  Thirty minutes off the coast of Pedasi is the national wildlife refuge Isla Iguana – a truly beautiful island near Pedasi. Isla Iguana is surrounded by 16-hectares of protected coral reef and boasts 2 beautiful white sandy beaches – Playa El Cirial and Playita Del Faro. Its crystal clear waters make the island perfect for swimming and snorkeling. You may even be fortunate to catch a glimpse of humpback whales between the months of June and November.

While the beaches at Isla Iguana are likely the most beautiful, there are plenty of other sandy spots that are more accessible.

Playa del Toro is a long, golden-sand beach. It’s one of the closet beaches to the town of Pedasi, easily accessible on bicycle. The road down to Playa del Toro is beautiful itself, winding through green countryside. Once you’re at the beach you won’t find that much there. It’s a great place to go for a long walk and escape the heat with a gentle swim.

Playa El Lagarto is famous locally for its great body boarding breaks. Some of the locals who practice here have even made it to international body boarding competitions. El Lagarto is located on the road just before El Toro, ten minutes down a dirt road. There’s one sign leading to the beach, but all the locals will happily direct you there.

Playa Arenal isn’t the most beautiful of the surrounding beaches, but it does have a lot of local flavor. This is where the fishermen start and end each day. Boats to Isla Iguana also depart from this beach.

20 minute drive to the south of Pedasi and arrive at one of Panama’s best surf breaks – Playa Venao. Recently home to the ISA World Championship surf content, Playa Venao offers great rights and lefts for all levels of surfers.

Scuba divers can choose from a number of dive sites, including Isla Iguana and the Frailes Islands to the west. In addition to the many species of marine turtles, rays, eels and tropical fish that call the tropical Pacific home, lucky divers will spot hammerhead sharks school at certain times of year, and the whales and dolphins that haunt the coastal waters with their young.

Pedasi Fishing is truly world-class. It is one of the few spots in the world where one can fish for black marlin and yellow fin tuna in the same day. If you are interested in catching some big fish and enjoying a day out on the water at an affordable price, Pedasi is the place for you.

Isla Cañas, just beyond Playa Venao and less than an hour from Pedasi, is also a major nesting site for several marine turtles. The mangrove-ringed island is home to about 700 residents, and boasts a 14-kilometer long beach where pregnant females lumber up during the night to dig holes in the soft sand, laying clutches of up to one hundred eggs. A little further afield, the Cerro Joya National Park offers hiking through pristine rainforest, with several waterfalls, monkeys and birds galore.

Just 30 minutes from Pedasi, the Cañas Jungle Zipline Adventure boasts the highest and longest zipline in Panama- plus excellent wildlife appearances and truly magnificent views.

This 8-cable course spans over 3km of rainforest, and is constructed to the highest standards of safety and quality. The eco-adventure park also boasts 2 rappels, a suspension bridge, hiking trails, waterfalls and natural pools, and more animal sightings than you’ll be able to keep up with.

Glide through the warm, vibrant waters of Pedasi by SUP.  An increasingly popular sport, Stand Up Paddle-boarding gives people of all ages and fitness levels the chance to “walk on water”– exploring an incredible landscape in an unforgettable way.

Experience an epic landscape you could never reach by car or foot. Enjoy horseback riding through stunning and varied landscapes– from rolling green mountains to lush primary and secondary forests, from sprawling cattle fields to hidden lagoons and majestic waterfalls. There are also options for beachfront rides, at the famous, crescent surf beach of Playa Venao.

If you’ve never seen a 40-foot, 80,000 lb whale jump out of the water before, you’re in for the experience of a lifetime.

Watch entire families of whales jump, play, sing, and mate as they enjoy their seasonal home in the warm, vibrant waters of Pedasi. Share a day with up to 5 different whale species, as you sail through a colorful ocean landscape

One of the best ways to soak up the charm of Pedasi is via bicycle. The town is easily cycled in minutes, but there are plenty of roads that sprout off from the town center and take you to even smaller villages and great vistas. All of the beaches noted above (with the exception of Playa Venao) are also accessed by bike.