Panama surf guide
Surfing Isla Colón
Bluff, Paunch and the town-side reefs and points
- Spots4
- LevelsAdvanced, Beginner, Intermediate
- Best seasonDec-Mar
- RegionBocas del Toro
The waves at Isla Colón
Bluff
- Beach Break
- Intermediate / Advanced
- 3-8 ft
- Dec-Mar
- Crowd 2/5
Furthest north on Isla Colón, Bluff is the consistent stretch of beach that fires first when a swell hits Bocas. Hollow and powerful, the waves break super-close to the shore, plenty of which close out, but pick the right ones and you'll score a quick, punchy barrel. It's ideally suited to bodyboarders and confident surfers who can handle a shifting, shorebreak-heavy peak with real snap.
A short taxi from Bocas town, it's an easy check and a reliable option when the outer reefs are too small or too big. The setting is classic Bocas: turtle-nesting sand backed by jungle, and few people around.
Come on a solid north-east swell, be selective with the peaks and respect the power close to the sand. Bluff won't hand you long rides, but on its day it throws fast, hollow tubes, a great high-energy option on Isla Colón for surfers who like their waves quick, shallow and sharp.
9.4, -82.22 · Swell NE fuerte
Dumpers
- Reef Break
- Advanced
- 3-8 ft
- Dec-Mar
- Crowd 2/5
Dumpers gets its name from the garbage dump across the road, an unsightly blemish in such beautiful surroundings, but the wave is anything but ugly. Short and super-hollow, it's only suited to experienced surfers as it ends on a ledge of dry reef, throwing a fast, mechanical barrel that demands precise positioning and total commitment.
On big days an inside wave breaks and offers longer, mellower rides, giving a slightly more forgiving option when the swell is up. Sharp reef at Dumpers (and neighbouring Paunch) makes reef boots a necessity.
Come on a solid north-east swell, board up for a quick, hollow reef barrel and wear boots for the dry-reef finish. Dumpers is expert territory, a short, intense left that rewards the surfers who can read it and punishes those who can't, one of the sharper, heavier waves on Isla Colón's reef-lined coast.
9.38, -82.24 · Swell NE, reef boots
Paunch
- Reef Break
- Intermediate / Advanced
- 2-8 ft
- Dec-Mar
- Crowd 3/5
A 10-15min drive from town is the quality reefbreak of Paunch. The lefts start with a tubular section before wrapping into a more workable wall, a fun wave when small that gets real sucky with a bigger swell. There's also the option of a few rights off the peak when everybody focuses on the far superior lefts, so the peak can be shared out.
Sharp reef makes boots a necessity here, but the wave quality more than justifies the drive: on the right day it's one of the more rippable, all-round reefs on Isla Colón, with a tube on take-off and a wall to work.
Come on a north-east swell, favour the lefts and wear reef boots for the shallow bottom. Paunch is a Bocas favourite, approachable enough for solid intermediates when it's small, heavy enough to test the experienced when it's big, and a reliable quality reef within an easy hop of town.
9.37, -82.25 · Swell NE, reef boots
Careñeros
- Point Break
- Beginner / Intermediate
- 2-6 ft
- Dec-Mar
- Crowd 2/5
The boat option is best used to navigate around the slim island of Careñeros to check the surf at its northern tip. This left pointbreak peels down the east coast of the island for a ride that can top 200m (600ft), usually a mellow wave, but it holds size and can have some long tubing sections when the swell is up.
The more adventurous and budget-conscious can paddle to Careñeros from Bocas, then walk around the island, a small mission that filters the crowd and rewards you with a long, playful point. The setting, looking back across the water to Bocas town, is idyllic.
Come on a north-east swell for a long, forgiving left that suits improvers and longboarders, and step it up when the swell has size and the tubes appear. Careñeros is one of the friendliest quality waves in Bocas, a long, mellow point in a beautiful island setting, ideal for surfers who want length and fun over heaviness.
9.34, -82.23 · Swell NE-E
Where to stay near Isla Colón
- Selina Bocas del Toro — Surf Hostel: Waterfront hostel-hotel in Bocas town with pool deck over the sea, the sociable hub for boat trips to the reefs.
- Bambuda Lodge — Eco Hostel: Jungle eco-lodge on Solarte island with a giant water slide, a fun boat-access base near the breaks.
- Red Frog Beach Resort — Beach Resort: Upmarket resort on Bastimentos near the beaches and Silverbacks, pools and jungle, the comfortable Bocas splurge.
Beyond the surf
- Starfish Beach: Calm turquoise shallows dotted with orange starfish on Isla Colón's north-west tip, a flat-day classic.
- Bocas town nightlife: The archipelago's Caribbean-flavoured hub, waterfront bars over the sea, including the famous Barco Hundido wreck deck.
- Bird Island & snorkelling: Boat trips to Isla de los Pájaros and the clear reefs for snorkelling and diving between swells.
Best time to surf Isla Colón
Isla Colón works best around Dec-Mar. See the full month-by-month breakdown for Panama.
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