Surfing Panama City breaks

Left Point · Best Apr-Oct · 2-6 ft · Crowd 3/5

Big S swell, all tides

Las Bóvedas is a left over rocks below the old city walls of Casco Viejo, in Panama City. It only breaks on a big south swell, because the Gulf of Panama blocks most of it, and the ride ends on a large rock.

It gets crowded when it works, the water is polluted and you need to watch your things. The waves aren't special, but surfing under the colonial walls with the skyline across the bay is something different.

It only breaks a few times a year, on a big south swell. On normal days, the beaches west of the city are the places to surf.

Beach Break · Best Apr-Oct · 1-4 ft · Crowd 1/5

Big S swell, high tide

Panamá La Vieja is the beach next to the ruins of the original 16th-century city, in Panama City. Most of the sand was taken for construction long ago, and the highway pilings block the swell, so it's a slow, mushy wave over mud even on the biggest days.

It only breaks on a big south swell at high tide. Come for the ruins; for surfing, the Rio Mar coast an hour or so west is much better.

It's mostly a quick session for local surfers who live in the city.

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-6 ft · Crowd 1/5

Big S swell, very high tide

La Zurda is a heavy, hollow left in Panama City that breaks over a ledge, only on a big south swell at the highest tides. It doesn't happen often.

It's for experienced surfers who know the spot. The water is polluted and the neighbourhood isn't safe, so go with local surfers and keep an eye on your things.

It only breaks on a big south swell at the highest tides, a few times a year. It's a wave for experienced local surfers. On normal days, head west to the Rio Mar coast.

Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 2-6 ft · Crowd 1/5

Swell S, high tide

Nuevo Loco is a right next to a big rock in Panama City. It needs enough south swell to get into the Gulf of Panama, so it doesn't break often.

There's some localism, and the neighbourhood isn't safe, so go with someone local and keep an eye on your things. Only worth it if you're in the city on a good swell.

It needs a good south swell and high tide, so it doesn't break often. On the days it does, local surfers come out after work. On normal days, the beaches west of the city are the better bet.

Beach Break · Best Apr-Oct · 2-5 ft · Crowd 3/5

S swell, all tides

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.

The waves are average, the water is polluted and it gets crowded with local surfers after work. It's fine if you're stuck in the city. Otherwise the beaches and points of the Rio Mar coast, about an hour west, are much better.

It's the most reliable surf spot inside Panama City, and a good place for a quick session.