| FAQ´s (frequently asked questions) |
selected site descriptions Coiba selected site descriptions Sta. Catalina logbook photo page itinerary
terms/conditions/reservation/payment
terms/conditions/reservation/payment
HOW TO REACH SANTA CATALINA?
from where ever you are coming, you have to go to Santiago first, from there to Soná and
from there to Santa Catalina. Please find a map, a detailed way description and a present bus
schedule at our home page.
DO WE NEED A 4X4? TO REACH SANTA CATALINA?
No, the streets are paved till Santa Catalina.
CAN WE FLY INTO SANTIAGO?
Although there is an airport in Santiago, there are presently no flights. Please check with
Aeroperlas (+507) 315-7500.
WHERE DO WE GO, WHEN WE ARRIVE IN SANTA CATALINA?
We are located at the end of the main street at the beach and are open from 08:30 am to
06:00 pm every day. If you arrive here later than 09:00 pm, you should have a hotel
reservation, as the village is shutting down at around this time.
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN SANTA CATALINA?
There are several cabinas in or near the main street, offering rooms with fan and shared
bathrooms, some with kitchen, starting at around USD 10.00 per person and there are some
more comfortable rooms in town with a/c, hot water and resorts a little out of the village, near
the surfbreaks or at a beach, starting at USD 20.00 per person. Please see our "where to
stay" page for more infomration.
If you are coming during the day you usually don´t need reservations outside Easter, X-mas
and New Year.
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN COIBA?
The only landbased accomodation in Coiba is the ANAM scientific station, what offers basic
dormitories.
WHICH BOATS ARE WE USING FOR DIVING?
We are diving from lanchas, what are fast 25ft fiber glass boats. Our dive boat "Robin" is fully
equipped for divers needs and normally you will dive from her, though in some cases we are
leasing additional boats of the same or similar size.
HOW LONG ARE THE TRANSFER TIMES TO COIBA?
Depending on amount of people and weather around 1:15 hours.
WHAT TO BRING?
Casual beach wear, swimming suits, towel, suncream, hat, long sleeved shirt (for
sunprotection), sun glasses, mosquito repellent
IS THERE MALARIA?
No
WEATHERCONDITIONS?
It is tropical and warm the year around. Dry season is from November/December till April/May.
Rainy season from May till October, with the most rain in September and October, May till
August it is raining usually only in the later afternoon and night. February till April is windy and
dry.
WATERTEMPERATURE?
Usually around 27 to 29 ºC / 81-84 F. Sometimes, normally from February to April, you can
expect thermoclines with cooler water down to the lower 20s C / 70s F. See our logbook and
dive site description for more detail.
VISIBILITY?
Usually pretty good, between 10-15m / 30-50 ft in Santa Catalina and between 15-20m /
50-70 ft in Coiba. Especially in Santa Catalina visibility can be reduced by water movement
(swell) and rain run-off. Coiba is less effected thereof because of its remote location. Between
February and April the steady north-wind is leading to upwelling, what brings cold, but
sometimes murky (plankton) water up, but also a lot of pelagics and big fish. See our logbook
and dive site description for more detail.
DO WE NEED A WET SUIT?
From February to April it is highly recommended to use a 3 to 5 mm wet suit, because of
thermoclines and (sometimes stingy) plankton. The rest of the year we are recommending to
use at least a thin shorty. We have wet suits for rent.
WHAT TO EXPECT TO SEE?
It is easier to ask, what not. Please check out our logbook for informations. In general, the
time for big fish (whalesharks, mantas, big pelagics, Orcas) is between December and April,
when the water is cooler and rich with plankton. June to September there is a good possibility
for seeing humpback whales. But there is plenty of marine life 12 month a year.
DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS AND TRAVELLER CHEQUES?
You can make a down-payment by credit card via our webpage. In Santa Catalina we cannot
accept credit cards, as there is no reliable phoneline available. You can pay up to 1/3 in
Santa Catalina with traveller cheques, but we have to charge a fee of 3% (Minimum USD
10.00) for it. The easiest will be to get cash from an ATM before reaching Santa Catalina. The
last one is in Soná (but only one and not always working), better in Santiago, where you will
find plenty of them.
from where ever you are coming, you have to go to Santiago first, from there to Soná and
from there to Santa Catalina. Please find a map, a detailed way description and a present bus
schedule at our home page.
DO WE NEED A 4X4? TO REACH SANTA CATALINA?
No, the streets are paved till Santa Catalina.
CAN WE FLY INTO SANTIAGO?
Although there is an airport in Santiago, there are presently no flights. Please check with
Aeroperlas (+507) 315-7500.
WHERE DO WE GO, WHEN WE ARRIVE IN SANTA CATALINA?
We are located at the end of the main street at the beach and are open from 08:30 am to
06:00 pm every day. If you arrive here later than 09:00 pm, you should have a hotel
reservation, as the village is shutting down at around this time.
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN SANTA CATALINA?
There are several cabinas in or near the main street, offering rooms with fan and shared
bathrooms, some with kitchen, starting at around USD 10.00 per person and there are some
more comfortable rooms in town with a/c, hot water and resorts a little out of the village, near
the surfbreaks or at a beach, starting at USD 20.00 per person. Please see our "where to
stay" page for more infomration.
If you are coming during the day you usually don´t need reservations outside Easter, X-mas
and New Year.
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN COIBA?
The only landbased accomodation in Coiba is the ANAM scientific station, what offers basic
dormitories.
WHICH BOATS ARE WE USING FOR DIVING?
We are diving from lanchas, what are fast 25ft fiber glass boats. Our dive boat "Robin" is fully
equipped for divers needs and normally you will dive from her, though in some cases we are
leasing additional boats of the same or similar size.
HOW LONG ARE THE TRANSFER TIMES TO COIBA?
Depending on amount of people and weather around 1:15 hours.
WHAT TO BRING?
Casual beach wear, swimming suits, towel, suncream, hat, long sleeved shirt (for
sunprotection), sun glasses, mosquito repellent
IS THERE MALARIA?
No
WEATHERCONDITIONS?
It is tropical and warm the year around. Dry season is from November/December till April/May.
Rainy season from May till October, with the most rain in September and October, May till
August it is raining usually only in the later afternoon and night. February till April is windy and
dry.
WATERTEMPERATURE?
Usually around 27 to 29 ºC / 81-84 F. Sometimes, normally from February to April, you can
expect thermoclines with cooler water down to the lower 20s C / 70s F. See our logbook and
dive site description for more detail.
VISIBILITY?
Usually pretty good, between 10-15m / 30-50 ft in Santa Catalina and between 15-20m /
50-70 ft in Coiba. Especially in Santa Catalina visibility can be reduced by water movement
(swell) and rain run-off. Coiba is less effected thereof because of its remote location. Between
February and April the steady north-wind is leading to upwelling, what brings cold, but
sometimes murky (plankton) water up, but also a lot of pelagics and big fish. See our logbook
and dive site description for more detail.
DO WE NEED A WET SUIT?
From February to April it is highly recommended to use a 3 to 5 mm wet suit, because of
thermoclines and (sometimes stingy) plankton. The rest of the year we are recommending to
use at least a thin shorty. We have wet suits for rent.
WHAT TO EXPECT TO SEE?
It is easier to ask, what not. Please check out our logbook for informations. In general, the
time for big fish (whalesharks, mantas, big pelagics, Orcas) is between December and April,
when the water is cooler and rich with plankton. June to September there is a good possibility
for seeing humpback whales. But there is plenty of marine life 12 month a year.
DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS AND TRAVELLER CHEQUES?
You can make a down-payment by credit card via our webpage. In Santa Catalina we cannot
accept credit cards, as there is no reliable phoneline available. You can pay up to 1/3 in
Santa Catalina with traveller cheques, but we have to charge a fee of 3% (Minimum USD
10.00) for it. The easiest will be to get cash from an ATM before reaching Santa Catalina. The
last one is in Soná (but only one and not always working), better in Santiago, where you will
find plenty of them.
uodated May 2006
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