Panama's highways are among the best in Central America, with 4-lane freeways spanning the country, for quick access to surf spots.
The public transport system is very good and buses and taxis are rapidly found from the international airport. However, if you decide to rent a car, it is very easy to reach the various beaches with the help of a map or asking people in the villages.
Panama City has a few surf spots, but there must be a really big swell for waves to break there. In the area near the Bay of Panama, the place to surf are located on the Pacific Ocean side, an hour's drive west of Panama City. We will mention them in the order that they appear along the road.
Malibu Beach is located directly in front of the river, and is a sandy-bottomed site with waves that go from right to left and break best at mid and low tides.
El Palmar beach is located after the town of San Carlos and has 3 sports: the Front, the Point and Little Hawaii.
The most famous beach for surfing on the Pacific coast is
Venao Beach, which has a sandy bottom (beach break) and is in the province of Los Santos. On this beach the waves are around 3-6 feet year-round, and occasionally can reach some 8-10 feet. Venao Beach is found near the town of Pedasí, where you can find many hotels and hostels to spend the night, with different types of lodging to accommodate all tastes.
Santa Catalina is the most famous beach worldwide for its world-class waves. Santa Catalina is located in the Gulf of Chiriquí in the province of Veraguas. This area was nothing more but a fishing village until 1970, when some surfers reached Santa Catalina in search of adventure and discovered what was to become the best and most famous wave in Panama. In the town there are hotels and hostals to accommodate the needs of the traveler, as well as homes for rent if you wish to have your own home.
The islands of Bocas Del Toro to the north, on the Caribbean side of Panama, have some of the best surfing in Panama, with a variety of surfing spots. The best surfing in this area is from December to March, during the dry season. The best beaches on Colon Island are Dumpers, which is a site with lefts and a reef bottom with a steep drop, large tunnel and short trip. Punch is a spot with lefts, rights and a reef bottom with sections of good tunnels that are fun to hit and do aerial maneuvers.
Panama also has several surfing schools as
• Palmar Surf Camp
• Nitro City
• Surf school Panama
•Panama surf school
What to Bring
• Sunscreen and hat
• Food and Water
• Surfboard
• Suit
• Carry Licra
