The golden sands of Playa Bonita are off limits unless you're a guest at the Intercontinental Playa Bonita or Westin Playa Bonita. Not far from the Pacific mouth of the Panama Canal, Playa Bonita was the old Playa Kobbe at a Canal Zone-era army fort, which was next to Howard Air Force Base. The closest beach with public access is down the road in Vera Cruz.