Surf Spots Panama - Playon

Last time I wrote a bit about the colon surfing area in Panama. Since most of it is all ready written here on that surf spot (isla grande), I will write a bit about this new nearby surf sport for now.

Basically I got a phone call from a great friend of mine (Mahestro Shoei) who had just arrive from a Morocco surf trip on friday past week. My surf friends had told me that the winds were west which is when the surf is best in Colon.

Once we showed up, waves were truly amazing! According to Shoei it is also amazing to be able to land from Morocco into Panama and a few hours later your surfing amazing waves as well in some other ocean. Its just the perspective I got from my friend Shoei who had just surf huge waves out in that sector of the surf map. Hearing this from him made Panama cooler!

Here are only a few surf pictures of what Playon "home town" Colon can get like...

Hope you enjoy....



THE RIGHT HANDER AT PLAYON



MY FRIEND SHOEI TESTING IT OUT!



Views from the under...



The FUTURE holding on



Some lefts were also kicking!



Isla at its best!



My friend "Huevo / Egg" Hidro/Aerodinamicaly ripping it! Lets just say amphibeously...

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Panama Surf Camp

Surf camps in Panama are very scarce in comparison to countries like Costa Rica. You just need to type in google "surf camp" and Costa Rica will be on top of many. You can find the most surf camps at Bocas del Toro and Santa Catalina areas of Panama. Anywhere else from these mentioned areas will have surf camps but not in bulk.

I will mention the most common surf camps in Panama.

Riomar Surf Camp: This surf camp is owned by Capt. Alan Barnes. A former Panama Canal tugboat captain and long boarder surfer. His surf camp was founded about 6 years ago and now days counts with swimming pool, cement quarter pipe, a gazebo with TV and hammocks and decent rooms with AC and private bathrooms. Its not a Sheraton but works good enough.







Surfer's Paradise
(Santa Catalina): Surfers paradise surf camp is owned by Diego Salgado and his family (Italo, Roseli and brothers). Diego has been a Panama national surf champion a few years ago and actually grew up in Santa Catalina doing what he loves (surf). His surf camp offers decent fan rooms overlooking the main break at Santa Catalina. There is also a communal kitchen with a cook who will offer meals at certain times of the day. I would recommend the next surf camp in Santa Catalina for begginers as this surf camps is on a hill with no sand and heavy waves.







Oasis Surf Camp (Santa Catalina): Oasis surf camp in Santa Catalina is owned David and his sister who both are excellent hosts. Even tho both are surfers they tend to hold them selves and keep working. You can see them running up and down all day. The Camp offers fan rooms or AC rooms on a sandy beach called el Estero. This beach is great for beginners or even experienced surfers who are tired of getting pounded at the main break. The rooms are triple and have a hammock on the outside. Furthermore, they also offer great Italian food at their gazebo. This dinning area has a big screen TV with DVD player, surf videos, hammocks, magazines and a good vibe. Food will be served fresh and in large portions which is worth paying the $4 per meal. You will not regret staying here. I forgot to mention they also have internet and phone now days. In case you have a limited budget this surf camp offers great camping facilities with outer showers and great sandy shadow areas.








Punta Brava (Santa Catalina): Overlooking the main break and channel you can find the Punta Brava Surf Camp at Santa Catalina. This Camp is owned by Jose Crespo a former lawyer from Panama City. His accommodations are clean with AC and private bathrooms. He also offers meals, internet, fishing trips, diving trips to Coiba Island. All the services provided could be the most expensive in Santa Catalina.





Morro Negrito Surf Camp (Chiriqui): I have personally not been there yet. Its in my TO DO list. But in any case the comments I have heard are good about the waves and not the best about the camp. Since they are the only ones in that area then you must suck it up. According to their website they charge $600 per week including transfers, meals and lodging. Not bad when you have 3 size breaks at a few steps from a room with a fan, food and friends don't it?




Tierra Verde (Bocas del Toro): You can find this surf camp at Carenero Island of Bocas del Toro. This surf camps is owned by Cookie and Ivan Evans. They are both from my native city Colon City and have been surfer friends for a while. Their camp is located right on the beach front area with their own dock and boat. This surf camp is made out of wood at a 100% and includes continental breakfast in their rates. Its only a few minutes walk from a sick left surf break called like the island Carenero. All rooms have AC, the surf camp also offers high speed internet, phone and bar.








Sistermoon (Isla Grande): Overlooking the surf break at Isla Grande you will find the sister moon hotel owned by Betzabe. This is a hard access surf camp as its on a rocky area or a boat access area by using the channel. Most people tend to not like it beacause it limits the access to town at night. It is obvious that most people on such a trip might want to have a few drinks and its just too riski to walk out there at night without eating sh@$R! Most rooms at this surf camp are independent and have distance in between each other. Most if not all have views to the break and waves. In my opinion is a bit pricey for what the lodge is, but the location is just perfect for surfers. What else do you need when your room is just over looking at the rights and lefts on a crystal clear surf break? This place has a pool table (a bit old), a swimming pool overlooking the break, a restaurant, a bar, fan rooms, small showers.










Please note that I am only mentioning accommodations made for surfers by surfers.

Panama Malibu Beach



Malibu Beach is located a just 45 min from Panama City if you have a heavy foot while driving. It is now basically a huge development called malibu beach park & resort panama. This project will be right in front of where the surf is. This surf spot is a Panama regional classic and can get some interesting crowds. When I mean interesting, is because there are so many people who just shout (VOY, VOY, VOY!) and in the end the wave "leaves them", its just funny to say but fun to see and surf Malibu barrels.

The Malibu Beach was basically a war zone a few months ago until the project eased it. Since this is a Panama Surf Break on a sandy area, its a must to have a 4x4 vehicle. Otherwise you would have had to leave your car alone, far away from you and under the shiny darkness of fishermugglers who basically would come in their fishing boats to trash your car and leave you with only your board shorts, board and wax. This is history with the malibu beach park & resort panama who basically shopped down the bushes along with the smugglers homes. Thank you Malibu for finishing with wild smugglers from the area!

The Malibu surf break is at least one of the best surf spots near Panama City. However, its only epic in dry season (December - March) when the offshore hits directly in front of the surf break. It does not matter if there is a 1.5 foot swell the wave will always be perfect and barreling. I keep saying this is a perfect spot to arrange a Billabong Midget Pro or RC surfer pro when small.



To surf this break you must either walk or swim across the large river which will lead you to the right hand wave or just walk strait down from the sand bar to the left. Regarding local- ism, well so far there is not much but just follow the rules and respect the Panamanians. Surfing the right at Malibu is quite fascinating as it can go fast, opened barrel section, all sandy bottom and best of all less crowds than the left.



Surfing the left break at Malibu is a bit shorter but more perfect. There will basically be no sections and just a train down a perfect rail. Make the drop and hold on to the ride of your life! Woohoo!


The Perfect Scene!



Manuel Selman from Chile



A Kabbalah Master