Playa La Barqueta — Attraction in Chiriquí

It’s a very long stretch of black sand beach and beautiful to view in sunset. From Monday to Saturday there are hardly any people. By Sunday late afternoon many Panamanians arrive and the beach becomes lively, with partying until about 10:30 pm. It’s pretty clean as it’s mainly a residential area with one 4 star resort (las Olas resort & restaurant), and 3 beach restaurants serving local fish or prawn dishes. There are no shops nearby accessible on foot so it’s best to have a car if staying. The waves are surfy so there are a handful of surfers. It’s not great for swimming because the sea is wild and not calm and there are undercurrents / riptide . It’s a turtle refuge which is the highlight of the area.. the seasonal turtle hatching and release is nice to see. The locals are friendly - always say “buenas” or “hello”! I give it 3 stars because it’s not calm clear...

Barqueta is one of the nicest beaches in Panama and features the longest sandy beach in the country. It's an excellent beach break for surfing and never gets crowded. And undiscovered gem. It's also really nice for body surfing and bodyboarding but unless you're a strong swimmer I wouldn't advise going out as a rip currents are strong. The best accommodation in the area is Las Brisas Beachfront...

The beach is beautiful. There is some shade. There are lifeguards but when i asked what recommendations they had they said there were a lot of currents there and that is why there were so many guards. They lifeguards leave after 5 pm. I also saw several sting rays jumping on the waves near us. I am not sure i like to swim here but...