Planning a trip to Panama in mid march. Looking to stay at this place http://www.surferparadise.com Has anyone ever stayed there or surfed any of the breaks?
been there twice, 2005 & 2009. had a great trip both times, got excellent surf, good weather, simple but tasty food...heard there's some "issues" w/ the camp & management now, though, since steve, the camp founder, & his panamanian-born wife have divorced. not sure who's running the original camp now, but i had heard that steve founded another camp nearby that was, "rustic", if you catch my meaning. i've also heard of guys getting ripped off in various manners. it's a shame...there are some really high quality breaks in that region, but they're almost impossible to access on your own. i'd love to go back.
accommodations (were) very simple...limited electricity, no ac, hot water, phone/internet service, etc...it's not a place i would ever consider taking my wife. if i knew of any alternatives in that area, i'd be there in a heartbeat.
i've heard really good things about bocas...pacific side swell season doesn't really get going until april or may, so caribbean side might be the better bet, swell wise, anyway.
You're probably a bit late for Bocas swell in mid march and you might get super skunked. Another option is playa venao...there is a solid place to stay there called ECO venao. As far as the waves there...it's a beach break that is not insane or terrible...just fun. There are a few other options for waves in the area but onlt if the South swell is barfing....which it is not going to be doing in March... I had a great time surfing in Panama but overall it was not my favorite place ever and don't see myself getting back there...but don't let that deter you. Have fun!
I haven't surfed there but I went to Panama this past summer and had one of my favorite surf trips ever. We stayed on the Pacific side (which would be very hit or miss now) and surfed all up and down the Azuero Peninsula. I fell in love with the place, so much so that my wife and I have/are looking into the possibility of permanently moving there. If you're still looking for an area and place to stay inbox me. It's a very quiet area with many options and wife or girlfriend friendly. My favorite place on earth so far.
Went there awhile ago... Almost forgot... Think it was Santa Catalina- super awesome right. Easy paddle out in a nice channel. Some other perfect breaks to get a boat to. Was tons of fun. Remember that wave- just peeled perfectly. Got sick tho- watch what you eat... I think it was the local rice that did me in... Just drink bottle water and spoon out peanut butter or something... More time to surf anyways
Oh yea a- it's been years but if it's like when I went - it's totally rustic. Like 3rd world. I kinda like it that way- but where we stayed- no AC ... The electic went off often and I kinda think it did every night as the norm. Mosquitos everywhere. Poop in a out house. You know... But times probably changed... And that wasn't the same place that this Steve guys has
I have property there...the surf camp issue is a mess from what i am hearing. Unfortunately the divorce mentioned above has apparently ruined what used to be an amazing place to visit. All of the surfbreaks there require boat to access for that area...they are fickle, tidle, but can be very worth it. I love the place but access is a problem until the surf camp is sorted out. Here's a pic of my friend from South Africa whom was sailing through the area a few years back...it does go off...maybe give it a year or two to settle out in the area... Playa Venao is a cool area with some fun waves...good offshores that time of year....for consistency that time of year though I would go to Costa Rica hermosa, Dominical....or Nicaragua
Went for a week about 10 years ago. There are a bunch of fun waves in the area, and its really beautiful. Like others said, rustic area without luxuries, but that didn't bother me at all. I would go back, especially with Panama being really easy to get to...lots of direct cheap flights.
That pic looks sick. Bocas looks like an awesome spot. Gonna do a little more research. I don't mind staying at "rustic" places as long as there's waves. Already been to Costa a few times. Gonna look surf camps in Nicaragua and El Salvador too.
After going to El Salvador a few years ago, I don't think I would ever go back to either Panama or CR. The waves are insane. days in a row of this:
that wave in el sal goes the wrong way...thus the appeal of panama. except for the odd beachie, it was all lefts.
Awesome guns laws, uses USD, solid free market, tax shelter, waves on two coasts, comprehensive western medical facilities in the city, rainforest galore, awesome food, and ride a built up hooligan supermoto all year. I'm down.
Yeah I'm goofy as well, and the thought of those same points breaking left was pretty mind boggling. But perfection is perfection. The two best breaks I've ever surfed (Lagundri, Nias and El Sal) were rights, but here at home I'm obsessed with finding lefts...go figure. and yeah, the lefts in Panama near that camp were fun...id go back if I thought the swell and camp were reliable. We had issues with them when we went...it ended up working out, but with a major glitch.
