Playa Veracruz

Panamanians who want to hit the beach but can't make the long drive over the mountains west of La Chorrera to the Central Pacific's nicest beaches usually pop over the canal to Playa Veracruz. It is a working-class beach, with no hotels and only rustic restaurants called fondas. On weekends its long stretch of light-brown sand can get pretty busy with families, groups of young people, and an array of vendors, but during the week you can practically have the beach to yourself. The beach is long and good for strolling, and at low tide you can walk out the spit of sand at the end of the beach to Isla Venado—a tiny, forested island. Head back to Panama City by the time the sun sets—there have been muggings on the beach at night.