Surfing and Hotels in Panama

If you are a lover of surfing or what to learn how to surf, you will probably know by now that surfing in Panama is one of the best places in the world to visit with your board. You may have done some reading on the subject of surfing in Panama and what to explore further surfing and hotels in Panama.

No doubt you have heard of Bocas Del Toro and Catalina which are known as some of beaches for surfing in Panama. Great night life is also to be found at these beaches. However, if you want to pursue surfing by yourself, there are many other areas you can consider such as Pedasi, MontijoBay, Tonosi, Venao, Cambutal and the islands of Cebaco and Isla Coiba. Popular beaches on the Caribbean side of Panama for surfing in Panama include, Maria Chiquita and Isla Grande in Colon Province, Playa Palenque, and in Bocas del Toro, Bluff, Punch and Dumpey beaches. For surfing on the Pacific coast of Panama try the Beaches of Lajas, Cebaco and Coiba Islands, the Beaches of Punta Brava, Raya, Cambutal, Guanico, Desfiladero, Rio Mar, Madroño, El Palmar, Serena, Malibú Teta, and Jaqué, to name a few. Many teenagers in Panama surf and you are bound to make some friends.

For seeking out the best waves for surfing in Panama, you can arrange to go on a surf tour and obtain a surf map. For those wanting to learn to surf in Panama, there are Panama surf camps available. And there are plenty of surf package tours to Panama which will give you a hotel in Panama, and plenty of surf options included in the total price. Warm, big waves and ultimate world class surfing in Panama is available year round and is one of the “undiscovered” best places to surf in Central America. Panama’s land mass, in the shape of an “s” and between two oceans – the Pacific and the Atlantic gives it the benefits of have some of the best areas to surf in worldwide. You can travel to the other ocean on the other side of Panama in about an hour.

On the Caribbean coastline – the Atlantic side, you’ll find the best times to surf in Panama are November to April and June and July where the wind and cold fronts in the north create constant strong swells. From August to October, you’ll find it mostly flat.

Surfing in Bocas Del Toro

One of the most well know tourist destinations in the Republic of Panama is Bocas Del Toro, a great location for hotels, restaurants, bars, bicycle and motorcycle rentals. Located in the northwest corner of Panama, a one hour flight from Panama City, it’s a tropical paradise, offering beautiful beaches, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and, of course world class surfing. Bocas Del Toro is full of hotels and hostels at all price ranges to choose from. Bluff Beach has waves that break left and right, but most of the beaches have waves with left sided surf breaks.You’ll find waves ranging from hollow short rides, long peelers, big wave surfing with 20 foot plus faces, heavey beach breaks.

On the Caribbean coast of Panama, you can surf all day and not have to wait for the tides because the waves only fluctuate about three feet. In Bocas Del Toro, because of its location, the offshore islands create a barrier for the wind which makes it less exposed and creates some of the best waves for surfing in the entire country. During the dry seasons, the winds blowing from the north create on shore conditions in more exposed provinces such as Colon. However, Bocas Del Toro is one of the best places for surfing in Panama.

One of the most beautiful beaches 15 minutes from Bocas Del Toro is white sand, mile long beach called Red Frog Beach. The only hotel accommodation here are the Red Frog Bungalows. This is an excellent location for surfing and hotels in Panama because all the best breaks in the area are nearby. The cost of a bungalow at the Red Frog during the low season, for a week’s stay is $770, based on 4 people staying in the Balinese styled bungalows with paintings on the walls and solar panels. This is a totally green, carbon neutral eco resort in Panama. All the usual amenities are included, and the showers are private outdoor showers. Meals are gourmet style. Staff are excellent. The beach is practically deserted and you can enjoy long walks on the beach or through the forest. You can make reservations and check out their website at redfrogbungalows.com.

For other surf Panama locations, there is Santa Catalina in Veraguas province, Panama. For surfers and divers accommodation, check out the Blue Surf and Dive Hostel. The Blue Surf and Dive Hostel is right on the beach, surrounded by coconut, mango and exotic hardwood trees with a view of the island of Santa Catalina. The hostel has five rooms available for guests, three shared bathrooms, a shared kitchen and dining room and laundry facilities. Also available are phone and internet available too.

Santa Catalina offers marvellous surfing, consistent breaks throughout the year. However, the best time for surfing is really to February to August with waves from six to nine metres high. At other times, the waves reach two to three meters. There are other locations to surf just a walk away for mostly advanced surfers and some places are for intermediate level surfers as well.

For those who want to learn to learn to surf, there are a number of surf camps in Panama led by qualified and certified surf instructor. People interested in watching, there are also many international surfing competitions held in Panama, due to the fantastic waves of this amazing country. Accommodations in Panama range from budget to luxury prices – whatever will suit your budget. If you want to find out about some cheap hotels in Panama, we have two articles on our site available for you to read. The second article about cheap hotels in Panama is available here. I can’t think of a better way to spend some time in Panama, than surfing the great waves of their two oceans, it’s got to be one of the most challenging and most fun ways to spend a vacation in Panama by surfing in Panama.