Snorkel· Isla Colón· Other Caribbean
Starfish Beach Reef & Seagrass Snorkel (Playa Estrella)
9° 24.2′ N · 82° 19.5′ W · approximate
Calm, clear shallows off Playa Estrella where red cushion sea stars sit on the sand and seagrass — the easiest snorkel on Isla Colón, and a short dinghy ride from the Starfish anchorage.
Practical
Position approximate — set about 140 m off the Playa Estrella beach (OSM beach way 477846601), checked to be in the water against the OpenStreetMap Isla Colón outline. Bring your own mask and fins. Wikivoyage (2019) warns the starfish count can be low — perhaps 10–20 animals — and suggests free-diving the seaweed (seagrass) area, where other life including lionfish turns up. Visit Panama: soft white sand and clear water, good for snorkeling and swimming with starfish; do not touch, lift or remove the starfish. Wikivoyage also reports the Zapatilla day tours stop at a starfish spot with better visibility (US$30 tour, 2022 — verify locally). Busy with water taxis and tour boats by late morning; snorkel early and fly a dive flag. Beach restaurants and a bar are ashore (see Starfish Beach Restaurants).
Best for
Easy family snorkel with sea stars
Season
Calm on most days inside the bay; best mornings
Nearby
- Starfish Beach AnchorageRight here
- Starfish Beach (Playa Estrella, Boca del Drago)0.1 NM away
- Starfish Beach Restaurants (Playa Estrella)0.1 NM away
- Boca del Drago Beach (Isla Colón)0.8 NM away
- Bird Island (Isla Pájaros / Swan Cay)3.4 NM away
- Big Bight Anchorage (Isla Colón)3.7 NM away
- La Piscina, Playa Escondida & Mimitimbi (Isla Colón north coast)3.7 NM away
- Bluff Beach (Playa Bluff)4.6 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).