Panama’s 6 Top Spots For Surfing

One of Panama’s greatest attractions is its long Pacific coastline…

Onto which crash some of the world’s best surfing waves.

I don’t surf myself, but my son and his friends do… and several of our Live And Invest Overseas staff, if they’re honest, will tell you that the real reason they’re in Panama is for its surf breaks.

Not only are they world class, but, in spots, it’s possible for the surfer in Panama to have professional competition-worthy waves all to him (or her) self.

The southeast coast of the Azuero Peninsula, especially Playa Venao, gets most of the attention from surfers who make their way to Panama. These waves have been the location for several Billabong tournaments. In other words, they’re not for beginners.

The place to start if you’re giving surfing a try for the first time is the City Beaches west of Panama City. The swells are smaller and less intimidating, the available accommodation for those who are spending more than a day at the beach is not as rustic as in the out-of-the-way spots on the Azuero Peninsula, and there are surf schools to help you get your bearings.

The surfing along this stretch of coast is at its most exciting April through June, when the offshore winds kick up consistent swells. November to April, the dry season, “summer,” in Panama parlance, which we’re entering now, the winds are generally lighter, the waves calmer.

If you’re a surfing neophyte, a good place to start is Playa El Palmar, outside the town of San Carlos, about 10 kilometers west of Coronado. Because it’s only about an hour-and-a-half from Panama City, this is a popular place and can get crowded on weekends and holidays. Weekdays, though, you won’t find much competition for the waves here.

If you’ve never been on a surf board before, head first to Panama Surf School. For US$60 you can arrange a private two-hour lesson with a pro who will help you get up and dropping into the faces in no time.

Then, when you’re ready to venture off on your own, here are the six best surf breaks in Panama’s City Beaches area:

 

Frente El Palmar:

(The Palmar Front):  This a beach break with a nice, soft sandy bottom for those times you inevitably tumble from your tabla (Panamanian Spanish for surfboard). Beginners will want to check here first, especially on a low to medium tide, and dive right in if the swells are there. The rides can be short but fun.

Punta Palmar:

(Palmar Point): If the tide is high, head for this spot to the right of the beach break. The bottom is rocky, and the swells can be larger than at the front, so beginners may want to tread lightly here. If you’re a more experienced surfer, you’ll appreciate the powerful waves here.

Hawaiisito:

(Little Hawaii): Our LIOS Marketing Manager is an avid surfer, and this is her favorite break in the Palmar area because it’s often less crowded than at the point or the front (especially on weekends). It’s also a rock bottom and ideal when the swells are around four feet or less, at high tide.

Playa Rio Mar:

Farther west down the road from Palmar is Playa Río Mar, where two breaks dominate—the Frente Río Mar (Río Mar Front), a beach break that goes both left and right and that is best at medium to high tide, and Punta Río Mar (Río Mar Point), about a mile down the beach, near a long rock ledge where the waves break predominantly at low tide.

Playa Malibu:

Back in the direction of Panama City near the town of Gorgona, this is one of the best and most consistent spots in the City Beaches area. The waves break to the right along a sandbar at the mouth of the Chame River. Look for some lovely tubes here on a good day, but watch out for debris in the water drifting out from the mouth of the river (especially after a heavy rain).

Playa Teta:

Another river-mouth spot, also near Coronado, the main attraction here is the long lefts at low tide at the front and the tubes and long rides on incoming tides at the point. Nearby Rinconsito, named after a famous break in California, is known for a right break that can stretch as long as 200 yards under the right conditions.

See you at the beach!

Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Live and Invest Overseas