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Still a relatively unknown destination, the isthmus of Panama offers great waves for surfers without the crowds. In this article we will focus on Panama surf on the Pacific coast since we are located between Pedasi and Playa Venao. The Peninsula of Azuero is full of great surf spots including Playa Venao, Guanico, Cambutal and Morrillo.
Panama surf on the Pacific coast starts just about an hour past Panama City with Punta Chame, El Palmar, Playa Teta, and Playa Malibu. Chiriqui also has its good surf spots including Morro Negrito, Playa La Barqueta, Punta Burica and Puerto Armuelles.
12 Spots for Panama Surf on the Pacific Coast
Playa Venao
Ideal for surfers of all levels, Playa Venao provides a consistent beach break with both left and right-hand waves. This horseshoe shaped beach has three breaks. The middle area is stronger than the edges of the beach that are protected by the cove. Edges are ideal for beginners. There are several surf schools which offer surf lessons in Playa Venao. It is also possible to rent surfboards in Playa Venao.
Playa Venao Surf Lesson
Playa Venao Surf Lesson is offered daily. After booking, you will receive an email or a Whatsapp message to confirm dates. Our contact information is ur****@pa***************.com or +507-6633-0166. … Read More
Panama Surf on the Pacific Coast is ideal for hosting surf tournaments which happen a few times per year in Playa Venao. There has even been International Surfing Association (ISA) championships with international pro surfers. This beach can become a place suitable for experienced surfers if there is a good swell. The best time to surf in Playa Venao is February through August.
Where to stay?
Cambutal
Cambutal is a remote town located just before Cerro La Hoya National Park. Expect to see few people in the water because of its location. There are breaks suitable for beginners to advance. Normal breaks are between three to six feet, but it can go up to fifteen feet. Cambutal has a rocky coastline which produces both left and right-hand breaks.
Dry season, from January through April, is the best time to surf since the wind blows offshore. The biggest waves come from August through October. It is best to surf in the medium to hide the tide. Waves are consistent and powerful, making this an appealing destination for Panama surf on the Pacific coast.
Panama surf on the Pacific coast in this area offers several options. Cambutal beach break is the main break which is great for all levels with rights and lefts. Horcones beach break is also suitable for all levels since it has a sand bottom.
411 is one of the most popular surf breaks in Cambutal during medium to high tide. This break is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers, just like Dinasaurios which is right next to 411. Both of these breaks have a rock bottom. Corto Circuito is another rock bottom point with a powerful break that throws a nice tube.
Where to stay?
Hotel Playa Cambutal
Hotel Kambutaleko
Sansara Surf Yoga & Resort
Guanico
A lesser known Panama surf on the Pacific coast destination is Guanico, which is located past Playa Venao, just after the town of Tonosi. This remote beach is quite long and is surrounded by nature. Waves are quite consistent and there are barely any people in the water.
Surf in Guanico is ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers since it is a sandy beach with no rocks. There are no dangerous currents and smooth waves. Waves are around for about 90% of the year. Swells start at 1.5 feet with lefts and rights.
Surfers with more experience can go to Guanico River Mouth to the left of Guanico River with right hand fast and powerful waves that are usually four feet plus. Another area of the same wave height is Guanico Point Break, which is about 15 minutes walking to the right of Guanico Beach Break. Finally, Playa Ostional has various spots with reef and rocky points that provide bigger swells. This beach can be reached with a car in eight minutes.
Where to stay?
Cabañas Martina Surf Playa Guanico
Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina is one of the best places for Panama surf on the Pacific coast. This beach, Bocas del Toro and Playa Venao are the most well known destinations for surfing in Panama. However, it is not crowded. Getting to Santa Catalina is not easy, as the road from Santiago to Santa Catalina is in bad shape again. Not all tourists go to this town to surf, since it is also the starting point for tours to Isla Coiba which is the best place for scuba diving in Panama.
Of all the Panama surf on the Pacific coast destinations, Playa El Estero is one of the best places to learn how to surf in Panama. Cross a small river, ideally in low tide, to get there. Santa Catalina surf point is the main surf spot which has a nice peeling right almost every day. This is the most crowded place which works best with high and mid tide.
Experienced surfers can go to Punta Brava which offers a challenging left, because the bottom is full of rocks and the paddle out is intense. It is possible to go by boat to Punta Brava and to the other surf spot, Punta Roca. This break offers a consistent hollow left wave that breaks over a reef.
Where to stay?
Hotel Santa Catalina Panamá
Nativo
Bodhi Santa Catalina
Catalina’s Hideaway
Hotel Oasis & Surf Camp
Hostel Villa Vento Surf
Morrillo
Locals consider Morrillo to have the most consistent wave in Central America. Beginners can surf an hour before and after high tide on this sandy beach. There is another beach to the right which is the main surf spot in Morrillo that is better for intermediate to advanced surfers. This beach break is heavy, fast and steep with several places to surf since it is so long.
This Panama surf on the Pacific coast destination can get quite big! Surfers can surf this left wave on the left side of the bay, which gets faster and faster as you get closer to the surf line. When it is pumping you can surf 200 meter long waves until you get tired. If it is too big, it is also possible to surf at the river mouth point break in Mariato which is 25 minutes before Morrillo.
Where to stay?
Casa Morrillo
Morrillo Beach Eco Resort
Punta Duarte Garden Inn
Morro Negrito
Morro Negrito is in the middle of nowhere. To visit this destination on our Panama surf on the Pacific coast list you must go to Guabala, Chiriqui, then head to the coast. This destination is better suited for intermediate and advanced surfers since its mostly reef breaks.
The Point is located on the main island offering a left break, holding almost any size of surf. This break is only for advanced surfers because of its lava rock bottom and speed. Emily’s is a left break that has some clean little tubes, it doesn’t get bigger than 5-7 feet. P-Land is a left break on the outer island with surf that can be over 20 feet in height. Nestles is also on the outer island and is also only suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers because of its thickness and reef bottom.
Sandbar is a 15 minute boat ride from Morro Negrito. These waves break left and right producing fast bowling waves close to the shore on a sandbar which is suitable for any level. El Toro is opposite of the main island between some giant rock formations.
Where to stay?
Las Lajas Beach Resort
Show Pony Beach Resort and Suites
Hostal Casa Las Lajas
El Palmar
Panama surf on the Pacific coast starts in the new province of Panama Oeste. This beach is just 10 kilometers from Coronado. El Palmar is a beach suitable for all skill levels. This beach is quite consistent for surfing, even when there are no waves in other places there are small waves in El Palmar.
The beach break is ideal to take a surf lesson in Panama. With a long stretch of beach, surfers can practice their skills. Head to the point break if you are a more experienced surfer. This point produces a powerful wave in the right conditions. There are a few surf camps, hotels, houses and restaurants on the beach.
Where to stay?
San Carlos Surf Resort & Eco Lodge
Playa Malibu and Punta Chame
Panama surf on the Pacific coast includes Playa Malibu which is in Gorgona and Punta Chame which is the kitesurfing Mecca of Panama. Playa Malibu is a consistent surf spot only an hour from Panama City. Its waves break to the right along a sandbar which can produce some lovely tubes. Watch out for debris in the water, especially after heavy rain, since it is located at the mouth of Chame River.
Chame Banks offers left and right waves that break over a sandy beach quite close to shore and is very consistent. This area is best to visit during the summer months from November through May where the wind is consistent between 15-25 knots, ideal for kitesurfing.
Where to stay?
Punta Malibu
Nomada Republic Hotel Punta Chame
Surfside Hotel
El Arca de Pachue
La Barqueta
Playa La Barqueta is located in the Chiriqui province of Panama. This beach is suitable for Panama surf on the Pacific coast. It is not the safest beach since it has riptides, so it would be mostly suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers. Two wide estuaries are to the sides of this very long dark sand beach. These estuaries can produce some long rights at the mouth of Rio Platanal, but they are very susceptible to onshore wind.
Where to stay?
Puerto Armuelles and Punta Burica
Puerto Armuelles is better known as a former banana plantation than a destination for Panama surf on the Pacific coast. This town faces east creating S swells which throw right hand waves on the wide black sand beach. Waves get better at the river mouth, but are not good enough to have any surf infrastructure.
Punta Burica is the last place for Panama surf on the Pacific coast since it borders Costa Rica. It is very similar to Pavones, a famous surf beach in Costa Rica just across the border, with its left hander waves. It is best to surf in Punta Burica during the summer when there are some good south west swells that can turn into semi-hollow walls, over a pretty shallow reef.
Where to stay?
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