Rio Mar & the coast · Panama
Surfing Punta Palmar
A point break in Rio Mar & the coast, Panama, for intermediate and advanced surfers.
- TypePoint Break
- LevelIntermediate / Advanced
- Size3-6 ft
- Best monthsApr-Oct
- Crowd2/5
The wave
Bigger swells light up the inconsistent Punta Palmar's fast, powerful right-handers at high tide. It's a swell-up wave rather than an everyday option, but when a solid south-west pulse arrives and the tide fills in, it throws quick, punchy right walls that reward confident surfers looking for a step up from the mellower points nearby.
Part of the cluster of breaks around the Rio Mar coast, it stays quiet thanks to its fickle nature, giving you a fast right largely to yourself on the days it turns on.
Go on a bigger south-west swell at high tide, board up for fast, powerful rights and be patient with its inconsistency. Punta Palmar is one for the surfers watching the forecast for size, a punchy high-tide right that completes the varied menu of waves along this accessible stretch of the West Panamá coast, an hour or so from the capital.
8.33, -80.15 · Big S-SW swell, high tide · Open in Google Maps
When to surf Punta Palmar
Punta Palmar is at its best from April to October. Conditions it likes: Big S-SW swell, high tide. This is how the year looks across West Panamá Province:
| Months | Verdict | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| April to June | Good | S-SW swell building; the narrow window means it's smaller than Santa Catalina |
| July to September | Prime | Peak S-SW season, best NZ lows send the optimum ~210° swell; onshore afternoons |
| October to November | Good | Onshore south winds increasingly dominate late in the season |
| December to March | Quiet | Dry season, offshore northerlies, but swells are unreliable and often flat |
Waves near Punta Palmar
| Wave | Area | Type | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiisito (Little Hawaii) | Rio Mar & the coast | Beach Break | Beginner / Intermediate | 1 km |
| Rio Mar | Rio Mar & the coast | Point Break | Intermediate | 2 km |
| Costa Esmeralda | Rio Mar & the coast | Reef Break | Intermediate | 13 km |
| Punta Teta | Rio Mar & the coast | Point Break | Intermediate | 15 km |
| San Carlos Point (Jeffreys) | Rio Mar & the coast | Point Break | Intermediate | 17 km |
| Rinconsito (Little Rincon) | Rio Mar & the coast | Point Break | Intermediate / Advanced | 19 km |
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there and staying around Rio Mar & the coast
Transport, costs and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Rio Mar & the coast surf guide →
A week here costs from about $844 with flights from Europe, or around $1,762 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $1,000 →
Punta Palmar: common questions
When is the best time to surf Punta Palmar?
Punta Palmar works best from April to October. Ideal conditions: Big S-SW swell, high tide.
Is Punta Palmar good for beginners?
No. Punta Palmar is a wave for intermediate and advanced surfers. The closest beginner-friendly spot we cover is Hawaiisito (Little Hawaii) in Rio Mar & the coast, about 1 km away.
How crowded is Punta Palmar?
Punta Palmar is usually quiet: 2 out of 5 on our crowd scale.
Where is Punta Palmar?
Punta Palmar is in Rio Mar & the coast, in the West Panamá Province region of Panama (8.33, -80.15). The nearest wave we cover is Hawaiisito (Little Hawaii), about 1 km away.
Last updated October 2026. Seasons, costs and conditions change, so check the details before you book.
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