By Jon Hanna of Panama
Surf Tours
Panama has some of the best surf breaks in all
of Central America! Whether you like point
breaks, beach breaks, hollow tubes, or long peelers, Panama has a variety of surf breaks
to accommodate your style.
Unlike Costa
Rica, Panama
is still virgin and you can catch most of the best surf spots by yourself with
your buddies. Few people know about Panama's surfing potential, which
is a big plus for surfers who visit! However, you better go soon because Panama is
becoming more and more popular for surfers from around the globe.
Panama's roads are of the best in Central and South America, with 4 lane highways all over the country
for quick access to the surf breaks. The transportation system is very good,
and buses and taxis are readily available from the international airport.
However, if you are strapped for time, and would like to be picked up and
guided to the best surf spots and hotels, try a surf tour by
Panamasurftours.com .
Panama is also one of the safest places
in the world, so no worries about getting mugged by thugs at the beach, as
frequently happens in El Salvador, Mexico, and other countries in Central
America. In general, you can surf, roam the streets, party, or shop care free,
at any time day or night.
Panama also has an excellent communications
system so you can easily call your girlfriend, family or business back home at
any time without any hassle. You can even rent a cellular phone for your surf
trip, so you can be always in communication.
Panama's hospitals are of the best in Central America, so in the event that you got beatings on
the rocks or reef while surfing (God Forbid), you can be guaranteed that you
will be assisted by well trained health care professionals.
The Pacific side is best in the months
between April and November. The Caribbean side
is best between December and March, but can get swells any time of the year
except the time between September and November. We recommend you look at the
swell history for individual surf spots on Magicseaweed.com for more specific information.
Finally, Panama is still inexpensive. At the
beaches, you can generally get a great meal for under $4, and budget hotels
range from $20 to $50 per room per night, depending on your style. Bus
transportation can cost anywhere from $0.30 to $15 depending on where you are
going.
Pacific Ocean
We will start from the beaches in the province of Darien
and work upwards along the coast through Panama City,
then the Panama Bay Area beaches, then the Peninsula
area of Los Santos and finally the provinces of Veraguas and Chiriqui.
Darien
The province
of Darien is located below Panama City on the east side of the Panama bay, and
is basically unexplored. There are a few breaks that people have surfed,
however, only a few surfers have ever ventured into this territory.
Punta Jaque
Is a rock bottom point break with rights
that is best at medium tide.
Jaque Beach Break
A black sand bottom beach break that
breaks right and left and is best at medium to high tide, but can be surfed at
low tide as well.
Panama City
Panama City has a few different surf
breaks, however, we do not recommend them due to the city pollution that has
gone into the ocean in front of the city—the government is in the process of
cleaning it up. Also, there must be a really big swell for these spots to
break.
Playa Las
Bovedas
This spot is located directly in front of
the Presidential Palace in the area of "Las Bovedas". It is a rock
bottom point break with rights and lefts, and it is best at medium to high
tide. The area is known for it's rich history with statues of famous people of Panama. At the
entrance there is a great restaurant called "Restaurante las Bovedas",
which has great seafood and a wonderful atmosphere. This restaurant was built
inside of an old jail that the Spaniards used to drown pirates. They would lock
them in the cell, and when the tide came up, the water would fill the cell.
Panama Viejo
This spot is located directly in front of
the old Spanish ruins of Panama Viejo ("Old Panama"). It used to have
a sand bottom, but many years ago they took most of the sand for building, and
now there are only mud flats with some sand. You can surf here on a big swell
at high tide, it breaks right and left but is a weak wave. Also, they recently
built a highway called "Corredor Norte" that runs over the water in
front of Panama Viejo, so the swell has to go through the pilings which weakens
it even more.
Boca La
Caja
This spot is located in front of the
"Corredor Norte", in front of the area of "Boca La Caja"
which is a somewhat dangerous area of the city with many thugs. We do not
recommend going to this spot unless you are with a local. The break is a rock bottom,
right break that is surfed at medium to high tide.
Isla
Chepillo
This spot is an island in the Panama Bay
located East of Panama City. You can only get there by boat. If you don't have
your own boat, then you have to drive to the town of Chepo, and catch a boat from there. The boat
men charge about $40 to take a group of 4 to 6 surfers out there. There are are
two point breaks. One is a right point that breaks over sharp rocks and can be
surfed at all tides. The other is a center peak breaking over rock, and can be
surfed at medium to high tide.
Pacific
Coast Beaches Near Panama City
The Pacific coast area near Panama City is much
cleaner than the city breaks, and gets much better surf. These surf breaks are
located by about an 1 hour drive west from Panama City,
over the Bridge of the Americas,
and up the coast on the Pan-American highway.
We will list them in order as you go along the highway.
Playa Malibu
This spot is located near the town of Gorgona. You must turn
off the main highway, into the town of Gorgona,
go straight until you get to the end of the road at the beach. Look to your
left, and you will see a river. The break is located directly in front of the
river, and is a sand bottom right and left break best during medium to low
tide. The right is good at low tide, and the left is good at medium tide going
up.
This spot is one of the best and most
consistent spots in the Panama Bay area and you can get some good tubes and
long rides when there is a good swell. However, you should go by 4x4 truck and
park on the beach in front of the break because if you leave your car on the
road or near the river and walk down, your valuables in your car are very
likely to get ripped off by the locals.
Playa
Serena
This spot is located in the town of Coronado. You must go
into Coronado, pass the gate, straight until you see two big Condo towers on
the beach, in front of a rock point with a large concrete wall. The break is a
right point break with good tubes at the point, then after the rocks, the wave
tends to mush out but keeps a long rippable wall. You can get rides as long as
200 yards. There must be a good swell for this spot to work well.
Playa Teta
To the Gringos, this spot is called
"Tits", not for naked women, but for the river that runs in front of
it called "Rio Teta", which means "Tits river" for the
shape of it. It is located about 2 miles past the town of Coronado, taking a left off of the main
highway, then going down a dirt road for about 10 minutes. Park at the end of
the road under the mango tree, then walk down the trail. This spot has 3
different breaks.
The Front
(Frente de Teta)
Is the rock/sand bottom break that is
located directly to the right of the river mouth, or in front of the river
mouth, depending on how the river is flowing at that time (it changes from time
to time). The front has long lefts at low tide, and rights and lefts at medium
to high tide.
The Point
(Punta de Teta)
Is the point break that is located
directly to the left of the river mouth. It is a point break over rock bottom
that breaks left and right, with good tubes at the peak and long rides. It is
best at medium tide going up.
Rinconsito
Is the rock bottom point that is located
directly to the left of Punta Teta, and it is a long right break. You can get
rides of up to 200 yards long on a good swell. This spot is named after the
famous break in California
called "Rincon", so the Panamanians called it "Little
Rincon", or "Rinconsito".
Playa El
Palmar
This beach is located after the town of San Carlos, taking a left off of the main highway, right
after you pass the bridge
of San Carlos. Go down
the asphalt road about 1 mile to the beach. This beach has 3 breaks.
Frente
Palmar (Palmar Front)
Is a beach break with rock bottom on the
left hand side. It is very crowded on weekends, and there is a surf camp
located directly in front of it, so it can get crowded. The beach break is a
close-out, and mainly beginners go there to surf.
Punta
Palmar (Palmar Point)
Is a rock bottom point break directly to
the right of the beach break, and has right peeling waves at medium to high
tide. There must be a good swell for this spot to break well, but when it is
good, it can get very powerful and fun.
Hawaiisito
(Little Hawaii)
Is a rock bottom point break to the left
of the beach break, down to the left of the concrete wall. It breaks to the
left at full high tide, and can be fun, but this spot is quite weak, and can
only handle a small swell of about 3 to 4 feet, otherwise it closes out.
Playa Rio Mar
This beach is located after Palmar, in
the town of Rio
Mar. After you pass the town of San Carlos on
the main highway, you will go over a few hills, then you will see a sign to the
left to enter Rio Mar on an asphalt road,
which takes you to the beach. The restaurant charges $5 to park the car under
the tree, in front of the beach. If you don't pay the $5 for parking, the
restaurant owner will flatten your tires, so beware! There are some rental
cabins there with a pool too. Rio Mar has 2 breaks
Frente Rio Mar (Rio Mar Front)
Is the beach break, with rocks spread
throughout various parts of it. It is best at medium to high tide, and has
rights and lefts.
Punta Rio Mar (Rio Mar Point)
Is the point break down to the right. At
low tide, you have to walk down the beach for about a mile to the point, and
then walk through the rocks, and paddle out where there is a long rock ledge
that sticks out into the ocean. The wave breaks right and left, but the rights
are best and it only breaks at low tide.
Los
Santos: Pedasi / Tonosi
The province
of Los Santos has some of the best
surf in Panama, as it is
located out on the peninsula
of Panama. That is the
part of Panama that looks
like a boot that sticks out in the Pacific ocean.
To get there, you go down the Pan American
highway, then take a left at Divisa, then go through Chitre, then through Las
Tablas, then to Pedasi. At Pedasi, the beaches begin, and run all the way
through Tonosi to the end of the road at Cambutal. There are dozens of
unexplored beaches in this area, but we will name the known surf breaks from
Pedasi over to Cambutal.
Playa
Lagarto
Is in the town of Pedasi. Just ask anyone for directions to the
beach, and follow the dirt road for about 10 minutes to the beach. This break
is a beach bottom break that breaks at all tides with some rocks on each end,
but gets good rights and lefts and can be very powerful when it is big.
However, when it gets too big, it closes out.
Playa El Toro
Is also in the town of Pedasi. It is right next to Lagarto, but is the
point before Lagarto where the road ends. It is a rock bottom point break with
lefts and rights, and it gets really good when there is a good swell. It is
best surfed at medium tide.
Playa
Destiladeros
Is a beach near Pedasi with several
breaks. It has a right point over rock bottom, a left point over rock bottom,
and a beach break with pebble bottom. It is best at medium tide.
Ciruelo
Is a rock bottom point break located 20
minutes past Pedasi, right before Venado. You can see it from the road, but you
must turn off at the store, and park, then walk down the hill to the break. It
is rarely surfed, but can get really good left tubes when there is a good swell
and no wind.
Playa Venao
Is a sand bottom beach break located 30
minutes past Pedasi. You will see the sign to turn off into Venao. This spot
catches just about any swell, so it is a good bet when there is little or no
surf anywhere else. It is best surfed at medium to high tide. At low tide, it
tends to close out. Also, on swells over 8 to 10 feet, it tends to close out.
There are some small beach cabins there, and a restaurant.
Playa
Madrono
Is a sand bottom beach break located
about 5 minutes past the entrance to Venado. You have to park the car on the
main road, then walk down the cow pastures to the river, then follow the river
out to the beach for about a 30 minute hike.
Bring your shoes and prepare to step in
cow dung! Also bring along a bottle of water because there is nothing at the
beach. The surf can get really good, with hollow tubes at low tide, but be sure
to go early in the morning before the wind starts.
Playa Raya
Is a beach point break with sand bottom
that is located about 10 minutes past Venado. It is named "Raya" for
the big manta rays and sting rays that are seen in the water there. To get
there, you have to park on the main road, then walk across the cow pastures to
the beach. It is about a 45 minute hike down the hill to the beach. At low
tide, you will see miles of secluded beach, with a right point break on the
left side of the sand bar, and a left point break on the left side of the sand
bar. The waves can get huge, up to 15 or 20 feet on big swells, with big tubes.
Bring a bottle of water as there is nothing out there.
The wild life is incredible here and the
big sea turtles come up to lay eggs on the beach. Be careful though, lots of
big sharks here!
Playa
Guanico
Is located about 1 hour past Venado. It
has several breaks including 2 rock bottom point breaks with rights and lefts,
and one beach break with rights and lefts. There is a small town there with a
store, and there is a Frenchman building some cabins, but they are not open for
business yet.
Cambutal
Is located past Venado, then past Tonosi,
in the town of Cambutal.
It has several great surf breaks including beach breaks and point breaks and
catches just about any swell so it is rarely under 4 to 5 feet and as big as 15
to 20 feet.
To get to the surf breaks here, you need
a 4x4 because the road is very muddy and you have to go through a river. There
are no surf camps or hotels there, so bring your tent, or stay at the town of Tonosi, which is about 40
minutes away by car. Each break will be mentioned in order as you drive along
the road from the beach break at the town of Cambutal to the end of the road, which is
Corto Circuito.
Cambutal Beach Break
Is located directly in front of the town
of Cambutal. It
is a fun beach break with rights and lefts and is best at medium to high tide,
but can be good at low tide as well.
Punta Negra
Is located down the road, around the
first point. You will see it below as you go along the road that runs next to
the cliff. It is a point break over rock bottom that is best during medium to
high tide.
411
Is located about 30 minutes from the town
of Cambutal, and it is a point break with a long right hander over rock ledge
bottom. You can see how the surf has carved the rocks into shelf plates. This
is one of the most famous breaks in Cambutal, and is best during medium to high
tide.
Dinosaurios
(Dinosaurs)
Is located directly next to 411. It is a
rock bottom break with rights and lefts at medium to high tide, but can also be
surfed at low tide. It is very powerful and can get very big surf.
Horcones Beach Break
Is located down the beach from
Dinosaurios. It is a sand bottom beach break with rights and lefts. There is
one spot that is in front of a small river mouth that gets really good at
medium to low tide, but is also good at high tide.
Dos Rocas
Is a rock bottom point break down at the
end of Horcones Beach Break. It has two large rock boulders that stick out so
you will immediately see where it is. It can get good rights at medium tide.
Corto
Circuito
Is the daddy of Cambutal. It is located
at the very end of the road, after Dos Rocas. It is a rock bottom point break
with a very powerful peak that breaks over a rock ledge and throws a huge tube,
then peels down the point for about 100 yards with a great wall that you can do
tons of turns on.
For more information: http://www.panamainfo.com/en/surfing-panama
Panama Surf Report
By Jon Hanna of Panama Surf Tours - See more at: http://www.panamainfo.com/en/surfing-panama#sthash.eeeWwaF8.dpuf
By Jon Hanna of Panama Surf Tours - See more at: http://www.panamainfo.com/en/surfing-panama#sthash.eeeWwaF8.dpuf
Panama Surf Report
By Jon Hanna of Panama Surf Tours - See more at: http://www.panamainfo.com/en/surfing-panama#sthash.eeeWwaF8.dpuf
By Jon Hanna of Panama Surf Tours - See more at: http://www.panamainfo.com/en/surfing-panama#sthash.eeeWwaF8.dpuf
