Panama-Surf Bocas - The Bocas del Toro archipelago is the rising surfing star in Panama. This archipelago is a collection of ten tiny tropical islands on the Caribbean coast, near the border with Costa Rica. A favourite destination with Panama residents, is is still mostly ignored by international tourists, although it has been popular with backpackers, hippies, divers and surfers for some years now.

The Bocas del Toro archipelago is the rising surfing star in Panama. This archipelago is a collection of ten tiny tropical islands on the Caribbean coast, near the border with Costa Rica. A favourite destination with Panama residents, is is still mostly ignored by international tourists, although it has been popular with backpackers, hippies, divers and surfers for some years now.

The archipelago offers several superb and still uncrowded waves and it has been the shooting location of Survival Series of no less than 12 different countries, including France, Spain and Italy! Surf accommodation is offered at two locations: Bluff Surf & Eco Lodge, on the main island of Colon and next to this famous surf break, and Careno Key Surf Lodge, on the tiny Careno island, boasting its own break and a short water taxi ride from the town of Bocas.

The surf in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro can get so good that sometimes people compare it with Indonesia or Tahiti! Swell is produced by seasonally strong trade winds and cold fronts in the Caribbean Sea which produce potent short period swells. The biggest and most consistent swell hits Bocas in winter, from December through March, but you can surf year round and Bocas does not suffer tropical Typhoons.

The climate is tropical and the tiny islands covered by lush primeval forest. The beaches are long, with white sand and fringed by swaying coconut trees. The water is warm westsuits are not necessary - turquoise blue and clear, so you can see the reef while you surf. This comes handy as several of the breaks are reef breaks over shallow water.

The climate is tropical and the tiny islands covered by lush primeval forest. The beaches are long, with white sand and fringed by swaying coconut trees. The water is warm, westsuits are not necessary, turquoise blue and clear, so you can see the reef while you surf. This comes handy as several of the breaks are reef breaks over shallow water.

  Bocas del Toro offers a variety of different and  uncrowded breaks, distributed
  between the islands of Colon, Bastimentos and Carenero. Waves range  from long 
  barrelling reef breaks to powerful beach breaks, steep drops and  spitting tubes. 
  The islands of Bocas catch just about any swell in the Caribbean and the waves     
  are rarely under 4 feet while  they can get as big as 25 with a good swell. The     
  tides hardly fluctuates, so  that you can surf all day long without having to wait     
  for the tide.