A view of the beach from under a rancho in the shade.

Playa La Angosta on the Costa Arriba (Upper Coast) does not appear to be much of a tourist beach at first glance. It is located 20 kilometers from the Colon suburb of Sabanitas, where one turns off the Colon–Panama road to access the Caribbean beaches. But La Angosta lives up to its name, offering a wide (“angosta”) range of activities and services for all kinds of visitors.

Lobster for two, served by the
chef under one of the ranchos.

Absolutely everything one could need is on hand: a restaurant, snack shack, rancho style tables providing shade, showers and canoe rental. One can hear several languages spoken here too: Arabic, English, German and Spanish. La Angosta is a true melting pot, and that’s part of what makes a visit here special. As diverse as Panama’s population is, rarely does one come across people from so many different backgrounds together in leisure.

The restaurant is good. Caribbean specialties are on the menu like Cintollo crab, octopus, lobster, fish and baby shark at very reasonable prices. Steak, chicken and paella are also available. The “Arroz con Coco” (Rice au Coconut) is almost compulsory. There is an indoor dining area with lots of windows but the best seating is outside, under the shade of a rancho surrounded by palm trees.

People from all over Panama go to Playa La
Angosta to bathe in the Caribbean sea.

It is also acceptable to bring a cooler and rent a rancho for the day. Extra provisions are available at a mini-market store. Sunscreen, swimsuits and flotation toys are on sale as well and the menu of activities includes canoing around the cove or a ride on a banana pontoon behind a speedboat. Overnight accommodations are available for $30, including two double beds and air conditioning.

Whether one stays overnight, for the day or just for lunch, Playa La Angosta is an unexpected tourist treat, worth stopping by to appreciate the tranquil diversity in a more-than-ideal setting.