(Panama Travel Group) Santa Catalina is not your typical tourist destination. Here you will find lots of local flavor with a touch of international influence. Beautiful beaches, great surf, amazing diving and plentiful fishing are all part of its charm.
This area was originally discovered as a surf destination because of its now famous point break. This remote paradise is also growing in popularity amongst the diving community. For good reason as both local dives and dives within nearby Coiba National Park are spectacular!
Whether you are drawn to Santa Catalina for it’s beaches, fishing, diving or surf we invite you to learn more about this incredible place . We hope you come by and visit, so that this hotel can share with you a bit of “The Good Life” they have here in Santa Catalina!
A message from the Owners…
We are Michelle Miller (Mechel) and Mike Shogren (Miguel), a young American couple who migrated to Panama in January of 2005. After traveling Central America for sometime we knew we had found our own little piece of paradise.
We have built La Buena Vida together from the ground on up over the last few years. Mike is behind the metal work and many of the creative ideas you will see here. I draw out his designs and do the mosaic tile work.
I had a lot of fun creating the menu for our restaurant. I am also a certified massage therapist who offers a wide range of relaxing treatments.
Mike surfs and fishes, and we both try to get down to the beach or out on the water as often as possible. We are more than happy to share our knowledge with you, be it surfboard rentals, tours, or recommendations for other destinations here in Panama. We will do our utmost to make sure you have a relaxing and enjoyable stay here in Santa Catalina.
Restaurant
La Buena Vida Restaurant serves breakfast and lunch in a beautiful open air setting, from 7am to 2pm everyday. Plants and mosaics are the feature here as well as the healthy international menu.
Come on by to get a fruit smoothie and surf the internet via Wi-Fi or enjoy the healthy cuisine.
Gift Shop
The La Buena Vida gift shop was created as a result of the owners own passion for the arts, who wanted to give something back to the local community of Santa Catalina, something they really enjoy and that could inspire others.
Thus the “Saturday Community Art Workshop” was created, and in the gift shop you can see and purchase the results; a variety of locally made artwork and jewelery. The best thing about all of it is, you can feel good about the purchase, because 75% of the sale profits go to the local artist who made the work.
The shop also stocks a range of other souvenirs, t-shirts, sunscreen, wax and other items.
Massage and Yoga
La Buena Vida is happy to offer regular yoga classes three times per week in the beautiful treetop studio and one morning a week at the nearby Estero beach.
Enjoy a unique massage treatment, the Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy (foot pressure/walking on your back) in a serene natural environment.
Stay comfortably in this artistic hotel and take time out to experience personal growth and rediscover yourself in the tropical, authentic village of Santa Catalina. This area of Panama is rich with outdoor activities and unbelievable marine wildlife.
Accommodations
Butterfly Villa
The Butterfly Villa is a comfortable private space that sleeps five with two double beds one which has a bunk. This villa is equipped with air conditioning, hot water and small fridge.
Bird Villa
The Bird Villa is a two story dwelling with a large terrace and private bathroom downstairs. Four sleep comfortably on two double beds and can enjoy the small terrace upstairs. This cabana is equipped with air conditioning, hot water, small fridge and hammocks.
Gecko Villa
The Gecko Villa is the newest addition to La Buena Vida. Two sleep comfortably in a queen bed and can relax in a hammock on the private terrace. The Gecko Villa is equipped with private bath, hot water, air conditioning, ceiling fan and small fridge.
Pictures of the Villas:
