Surfing Silverbacks

The wave

The menacing name is a perfect fit for this coral-encrusted right-hand reefbreak that stays docile for most of the year before thumping its chest in the winter months. Surrounding exposed beaches need to be overhead to awaken this muscular, angry wave that sucks up volumes of water and hurls it at the shallow ledge, turning into large kegs that are as intense as they are short. Bocas' big-wave spot and the only right reefbreak in the zone, the ride is short but the drops are long as the wave ledges up into a large barrel.

Only experienced, air-drop specialists will gain much from this wave, as the under-gunned and under-skilled are punished by the shifting peak and scarily long hold-downs. Longer boards are needed, 7' and up, and maybe throw a back-up in the boat, as Silverbacks has a reputation for snapping boards like twigs. It needs a good-size swell to start breaking and will hold over 20ft (6m).

Come only when you're ready for it: a solid north-east swell, a step-up or gun, and a boat for safety. Silverbacks is Bocas del Toro's heavyweight, a thick, ledging right barrel that gives everything to the specialists and nothing to everyone else.

9.361908, -82.204393 · Big NE swell, 7'+ board · Open in Google Maps

When to surf Silverbacks

Silverbacks is at its best from December to March. Conditions it likes: Big NE swell, 7'+ board. This is how the year looks across Bocas del Toro:

In season: January · February · March · December

Waves near Silverbacks

Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.

Getting there and staying around Bastimentos & the outer isles

Transport, costs and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Bastimentos & the outer isles surf guide →

A week here costs from about $725 with flights from Europe, or around $1,503 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $1,000 →