If Playa Venao used to be a well kept secret, it is now one of the most quickly expanding areas of the Los Santos province in Panama, down the Azuero peninsula. Located at about a 45 minutes flight from Panama city, Venao is now easily accessible thanks to the Pedasi airport and one of the best paved roads of Panama. In the last few years, more people are coming to this special place, creating a rapid growth of the area. The interest for this remote surf town is growing internationally, bringing travelers and expats from all over the world.
As Venao gets his name out there internationally, a larger variety of businesses with different focus are opening, more services and activities are offered. Not only is this place giving birth to innovative ideas, it is also, at the moment, a great place to invest.
Of course any ocean-based activities are the most common in Playa Venao. With more than 7 surf schools, riding the waves is a must around here! The ocean is obviously the main reason why people reach this remote paradise, to cruise it with a paddle board, to go fishing, horseback riding or just relaxing on the beach. However, Venao has a lot to offer for every kind of interest. Whether looking to relax or to live an adventurous trip, Venao got you covered.
A wellness heaven
First, Playa Venao has endless possibilities for wellness activities. Every day there are numerous yoga classes all over the small town, where you can practice different styles of yoga like Paloga, Kundalini, Acro yoga, and more. Also, lots of professionals with experiences and different approaches from all around the world offer a variety of specialized services. To name a few, Playa Venao hosts many breathwork activities or sound healing, while you can also get ayurveda consultations, chiropractic treatments, massage therapy, and more.
Pictures : Leygh
Other than surfing or yoga, Venao has a lot of fitness activities in general to make sure you don’t get off track of any healthy routine while you visit. Private or group classes are offered around the beach for functional training and martial arts. For example, the Beach break gym offers muay thai, jiu jitsu, and other martial arts classes, or get access to the training space to exercise on your own. For a simple training option, Selina Playa also has a calisthenics training park. Playa Venao also has its own footvolley club and a soon-to-be sports club.
Muay Thai Playa Venao
Located at Beach Break Surf Camp Gym
- 9 de septiembre de 2023 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Ocean Motion - Functional Training
Functional Trainning in Playa Venao
- 972586588929
- 12 de septiembre de 2023 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Playa Venao
Playa Venao : Great to treat yourself
This growing beach town now has more than 30 restaurants, becoming a foodie destination as the variety of food available can literally make you travel around the world while staying in Panama. In Venao, you can indulge your palate with typical Panamanian dishes, middle eastern, Spanish, Italian or even South African flavors, to only name a few. Many restaurants offer fusion combinations that enable you to discover unique tastes. Those exclusive gastronomic creations represent the uniqueness of Venao : a combination of people from different cultures that blend together, creating something you cannot find anywhere else in the world.
La Quincha Restaurant
Panamenian fusion food & drinks
- +507 6226-4624
De Mar 
Every fire is unique. Every meal, an experience to remember.
- CRJ6+H8 Las Escobas del Venado
In Playa Venao, you can not only treat yourself to delicious food, but also to amazing gifts. With more than 10 shops, there is plenty of selection to find special items to bring back home after your visit or to enjoy during your stay. From unique designer clothes and accessories to locally-made jewelry, Venao definitely has something special for all kinds of tastes.
A meeting point for artists
Lots of artists transit to Venao. You can hear many international DJs all year round playing different kinds of music, most of it being electronic music. Every year, a few electronic music festivals are held in different places of Playa Venao. This special beach town is also home for many other artistic disciplines. Throughout the year, various nomad artists come and go, creating unique pieces of art directly at the beach. For example, find unique handmade jewelry out of crystals or organic materials, or even paintings for sale around the beach. Feel the surprise when a fire show lights up during a night event or when the circus artists perform around.
Pictures : Leygh
Playa Venao is also a home for some digital artists, while others share their view of Venao through their lens while they pass by the beach town temporarily. Talented photographers and videographers from around the globe provide their services and arts in Venao and even sometimes host workshops and retreats.
Venao even now has an art studio where travelers and locals can learn pottery, macrame, painting, and more! This magical beach is definitely a place to find inspiration and unleash creativity.
The magic of Playa Venao
We can ask ourselves now : why are people attracted, more and more each day, to Playa Venao? The answer lies in its magic. This place is a pivot point where a lot of people from all around the world transit every day. Many cultures, nationalities, belief systems and values co-exist in this area. This creates fusions of a lot of different approaches, where everyone is called to learn new things from others, and having an open mind becomes a norm. While this special beach can make you discover a lot and open your mind, it also enables you to discover yourself.
This perceptible magic of Playa Venao is one of the main reasons why some people who come to visit for a short trip decide to stay or move permanently, or to come back more regularly. This is a common story in Playa Venao, one of falling in love with this place.
Venao is not only a touristic destination with great surfing and activities. Venao is the home for its community, composed of the people who came here and decided to stay. Something must have called them all here : may it be investment, surf lifestyle, living close to the ocean in tropical climate, or the closeness to nature. It is necessary to stress the importance of the community of locals of Venao, as this community is the beating heart of the Playa, and part of its magic itself. Without its local people, Venao would not be the same.
Through the rapid growth and expansion of the Playa Venao area, more and more businesses are trying to adopt better and sustainable practices. Choosing eco tourism is becoming a must. Awareness is rising and has to be reinforced, to preserve the magic of what was once a very secret paradise.
Are you ready to visit Venao and experience its magic?
Have a look at the Venao guide daily calendar and plan your discovery of this mystical beach.
