Isla de Cañas: Mangroves, Beach and Sea Turtles

Beach and turtles define Isla de Cañas

Isla de Cañas combines a long beach with an extensive mangrove area. The beach is particularly well known as the second most important nesting site for sea turtles on Panama’s Pacific coast. If you are considering a trip for the coastal landscape and wildlife, you will find a place whose defining features lie both on the beach and in the mangroves.

The beach on Isla de Cañas is 14 kilometres long. Between June and December, olive ridley turtles, known as “Solitarias”, nest here. The phenomenon of arribadas also takes place on two nights each year at the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Cañas. Up to 2,500 turtles have been recorded in a single night. The nesting activity makes the beach a defining natural landscape of Isla de Cañas. The refuge is also known for its extensive mangrove ecosystem, where visitors can observe many other marine species.

Mangrove landscape and biodiversity

The island’s flora is classified as tropical moist forest. Mangrove forests grow in the north and are dominated by red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa) and black mangroves (Avicennia nitida). In total, seven mangrove species are found across more than 1,200 hectares: Mangle Blanco, Mangle Rojo, Mangle Botón, Mangle Piñuelo, Mangle Mariangolo, Mangle Salado and Mangle Negro. This landscape offers a striking contrast to the open, 14-kilometre-long beach: on one side, the coast takes centre stage; on the other, the branching mangrove ecosystem.

The tourism project on Isla de Cañas also focuses on nature. It aims to promote the observation of hundreds of bird species. MiAMBIENTE conducts regular patrols at the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Cañas to protect biodiversity and monitor compliance with environmental regulations. For travellers who want to shape their stay around nature and the landscape, the beach, mangroves and wildlife are among the defining themes of the area.

Explore by kayak or other means

The Ruta del Manglar can be explored by kayak with local guides from Isla Cañas. On kayak tours, visitors can learn about seven mangrove species: Mangle Blanco, Mangle Rojo, Mangle Botón, Mangle Piñuelo, Mangle Mariangolo, Mangle Salado and Mangle Negro. Those interested in plant life can compare these names with the species that characterise the mangroves in the north. The first phase of the Ruta del Manglar included signposting the tourist area and mangroves on Isla Cañas.

There are various ways to get around when exploring the village: visitors can explore Isla Cañas by bicycle, car or horse-drawn cart. The ATP handed five kayaks to the Grupo Agro Ecoturístico de Isla Cañas so the group can improve its services. The community tourism project was launched to give residents the opportunity to become micro-entrepreneurs. The tourism initiative supports orderly and responsible tourism through a trained community that is aware of and protects biodiversity.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

To get there from Pedasí or Tonosí, you must reach Puerto Cañas; from there, it is a ten-minute boat ride through the mangroves. Isla Cañas can also be reached on foot across a river mouth at low tide, and by boat through the mangroves at high tide. These conditions make the water level a relevant factor when planning your journey. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Isla de Cañas, you can first decide whether the beach, mangrove landscape or nature experiences should be the main focus of your stay.

Discover more places

For more destination options: Mariabé, Agua Buena, Cañas, Cambutal, Tonosí and San José.

For the overview of the wider region: Los Santos.