Independent hotels in Cape Panwa

The hilly peninsula of Cape Panwa is a tranquil hideaway on the southeast coast of Phuket. Cape Panwa may be no more than 12kms southeast of Phuket Town, but its peaceful atmosphere seems worlds away from the busier beach resorts on Phuket's west coast. The Phuket Marine Biological Centre and its aquarium are Cape Panwa's main tourist attractions aside from its stunning Panwa Viewpoint and secluded beaches filled with luxury resorts. Vans and taxis are the main ways to travel between Cape Panwa and the rest of Phuket.

Cape Panwa's main beach, located on the peninsula's west coast, is known as Khao Kad or simply Panwa Beach. Panwa Beach may not be the most suitable place for swimming or sunbathing thanks to its shallow water and rough sand, but this beach does feature a mangrove swamp at its west end as well as stunning Lone Island and Chalong Bay views. Panwa Beach visitors can also take a short long tail boat ride to the island of Koh Lone.

Tourists have to climb quite a few stairs to reach the top of Khao Khad Views Tower, but most visitors feel the stunning 360-degree views of eastern and southern Phuket are well worth the effort.

No Cape Panwa visit would be complete without a tour of the recently renovated Phuket Aquarium. The aquarium's 10m underwater tunnel is the best way to admire the giant turtles, electric eels, tropical fish, and other marine creatures who call this Phuket Marine Biological Centre facility home. The Phuket Aquarium stands next to a beachfront nature trail.

Cape Panwa eating and drinking options include a Panwa Beach bar, some Panwa Viewpoint cafés, a rustic wooden Thai restaurant located near Panwa Beach, and the restaurants belonging to Cape Panwa's luxury beach resorts. Panwa Bay Village restaurants primarily serve Italian and Thai cuisine. There are also a few affordable Muslim restaurants.

The biggest collection of shops in Cape Panwa is Panwa Bay Village, located directly north of Phuket Aquarium. Local handicrafts and clothing are the main items for sale.