TRAVEL EASY
Getting to paradise takes time, but rest assured we have a number of options to make your commute easier.
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
For a shorter trip to Panama, we recommend you fly into the Scarlett Martinez International Airport (Rio Hato, Panama), which is approximately 3.5 hours from The Hideaway. From here you can rent a car, or we can arrange for a shuttle at extra cost.
For a fuller Panama experience, we recommend flying into Tocumen International Airport (Panama City, Panama), which is approximately 5.5 hours from The Hideaway. We love this country from top to bottom, so if you want to explore it all from the city to the rainforest, contact us for all of our favourite places to stay as well as our best restaurant recommendations. We even have babysitter hook-ups in the city ;) Shuttles from the city are also available at an extra cost.
In either scenario, getting to paradise takes time. We are here to help make your trip as easy and seamless as possible, so please feel free to include us in your planning.
BY CAR
We highly recommend using Waze to get here. Enter ‘Catalina’s Hideaway, Lagartero’ and follow the instructions written below when arriving at the LAGO BAY sign. Contact us if you need more thorough written directions sent to you.
Once you are on Carretera 34 after turning left in Soná, you are approximately 55 minutes from our doorstep. Please note, this is the last and closest gas station to our area, we recommend filling up your tank in Soná as it is very difficult to find gas in our area! This town is also the closest ATM ;)
Farfan is the town just before us, and you will go over two speed bumps in that town. Approximately 2km past Farfan you will see a sign on the main road for Catalina’s Hideaway as well as a tiled sign that says LAGO BAY. Turn left and follow this road to the end, once you reach the LAGO BAY private gated community entrance you will bear right to follow the road down to the beach and the entrance of Catalina’s Hideaway. WELCOME!
BY BUS
From Panama City you will need to take a minimum of two buses (either direct to Soná and then to Santa Catalina) or three buses (direct to Santiago, then to Soná, and then to Santa Catalina). You can request to be dropped on the main road at the Catalina’s Hideaway/LAGO BAY sign and we will arrange to pick you up there if you advise us of your exact timing. The commute by bus is approximately 7.5 hours. Please click below for more detailed instructions.
BY SHUTTLE
Shuttles are easily arranged through us and one of our providers. Pricing depends on the number of people, type of vehicle (yes, you can ride in style), as well as whether you’re coming from Panama City, Rio Hato, or another location within Panama. Contact us for more details.
BY PLANE
Getting to us has become even easier and quicker. Lago Bay is only a literal minute ride from the hotel and that is where you will be flying into when you get here. Flights are only 45 minutes long and start at $150. You can look into Blue Skies or Fly Trip. Flights will be leaving from Albrook, in Panama
GETTING INTO SANTA CATALINA
Not bringing your own whip? The Hideaway has a shuttle service that can take you to and from town for a small fee. We can run you in for a dive trip, the surf swell, sunset, or local dinner reservations.