Learn to surf in Panama

Beginner surf spots in Panama

Quietest first.

Where to learn, area by area

Isla Colón · Bocas del Toro

• Careñeros: Careñeros is a left point at the northern tip of Isla Careñero, a few minutes by boat from Bocas town. It peels down the east side of the island for up to 200 metres.

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

Bastimentos & the outer isles · Bocas del Toro

• First Beach (Wizard Beach): First Beach, sometimes referred to as Wizard Beach, is a basic beachbreak with patches of reef on Bastimentos, whose main attribute is to pick up more swell than any other spot. Accessed via boat to the south side of the island, then a good 20-minute walk across fields (more when the trail gets muddy), it's definitely not the best surf around, but it will be the only option if it's flat everywhere else, and the beauty of the beach makes up for the poor quality of the surf.

Morro Negrito · Southwest Panama

• Sandbar: Sandbar is the rivermouth just south of the Morro Negrito camp. The river builds a triangle of sand with rides of 200 to 400 metres down either side, depending on the swell direction.

A week here costs from about $837 with flights from Europe, or around $2,102 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $1,000 →

Rio Mar & the coast · West Panamá Province

• Hawaiisito (Little Hawaii): The misleadingly named peaks of Hawaiisito, Little Hawaii, favour lefts, are readily accessible, but will not handle swell above head-high. Don't let the name fool you into expecting Pipeline: this is a friendly, user-friendly beach-and-reef set-up ideal for smaller days and improving surfers, with mellow left walls that peter out when the ocean gets any size.

A week here costs from about $844 with flights from Europe, or around $1,762 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $1,000 →

Panama City breaks · West Panamá Province

• Panamá La Vieja: Panamá la Vieja is a rare case of 'mudbreak', since most of the sand that was previously there was used for construction. Highway pilings block the swell, and even on the biggest days with the biggest tide it's nothing but a mushy wave, a marginal spot listed more for completeness than for its quality.
• Mojon Beach: Mojon Beach in Panama City has three peaks. Las Piedras and Nuevo Ride work around high tide and La Lama at low tide, so on a south swell there's usually one of them breaking.

When to go

April to October on the beaches near Panama City, and December to March in Bocas del Toro.

Best time to surf Panama, month by month →

Months when at least one zone is at its best: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · December