Fun in the Sun at Panama's El Palmar Beach

About a half hour's drive from the El Rey and McDonalds at Coronado there is a quiet little friendly town with a surfer atmosphere.  Located just past San Carlos, the road into the area is easily missed. El Palmar is a favorite spot for local surfers and holidayers. The beachCharacteristic of Panama's Pacific coast, the El Palmar beach is white sand, speckled with diamond black sand. An 18 foot tide swing creates lots of sandy beach for walks and playing in shallow waters. If you do head out for a walk, be sure to get back within a couple of hours, as the tide rises high enough to cut off walking paths. For surfers, there are several sandy breaks, even thought the majority of the beach is rocky. Businesses and residents of El Palmar are very proud of their community and strive to keep beach access pathways and the beach itself clean. There are garbage cans at access entrances, and regular garbage pickup.

Outside of the El Palmar surf camp, there is a sandy stretch of beach.  There are hammocks and shaded areas located outside the El Palmar surf camp. There is public access to all the beaches in El Palmar. Nice clean beach, community is very conscious of keeping their beach clean. Garbage cans at beach entrances.

Surf
Jay Slough, owner of  the El Refugio hostel in El Palmar is a regular surfer here. He chatted with us, as he does with surfers who pass through his doors about the surf breaks at El Palmar. There are two nice right handed point breaks in El Palmar.

San Carlos Point also known as Geoffrey's is a right handed point/reef break located between San Carlos and El Palmar. This break is fairly consistent, and is the the break is the nicest with offshore winds from the northwest, the best swell direction is from the south southwest. It is rarely crowded here, but one needs to watch out for rocks!

Palmar point, breaks convienently in front of the  El Palmar surf camp. This break is reliable with offshore winds from the northwest. Groundswells are more constant than windswells here. The ideal swell direction is from the south southwest. Be careful for riptide when the swell is high, as well as rocks in the line up.

Restaurants
There are several restaurants located in El Palmar, and just outside. Carlitos, which is located across the highway from the El Palmar entrance, serves empenadas and pizza. The Bayview hotel (located at the end of the El Palmar road on the right) has a panoramic view of the pacific and serves freshly caught fish. Next to Bayview is Manglar Lodge, a 3 room boutique bed and breakfast with restaurant that is open for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. The El Palmar surf camp  also serves snacks and fresh local fish at the adjacent El Palmar Hotel. El congrejo is a fonda located on your left when you are approaching the end of the El Palmar road, that serves local Panamanian dishes including ceviche.

Carlitos - $$
Bayview - $$
Manglar Lodge - $$
El Palmar hotel - $$
El Cangrejo - $

Grocery stores
The closest grocery shopping is half and hour away at Coronado, where you will find 3 grocery stores.

Places to stay
Bayview offers rooms starting at $85 a night. The beach front hotel is one of the older establishments in the area, and has the best location, right on the beach. Bayview has a pool, restaurant, bar, out door patio that over looks the ocean, board rentals, wifi and beach access.

Manglar Lodge is behind the Bayview and is accessible through the Bayview parking lot. This three room boutique hotel is new and has quality rooms for those wanting a cut above the rest. Beach access is a 3 minute walk away. Rooms at Manglar Lodge go for $100+.

El Palmar Surf Camp offers rooms for around $60 a night. An adjacent hotel is located on the break and has a restaurant and beach bar. The hotel has a nice atmosphere with hammocks and shaded areas on the beach.

El Refugio is the hostel in the area. Located near beach access. Owned by Jay Slough, the facility has recently gone through renovations. The hostel has a pool, free wifi, and soon breakfast will be included with the room.  Private rooms with AC are available for $15-$25 a night, and doors for $10 a night.

Bayview - $$$
Manglar Lodge - $$$
El Palmar hotel - $$
El Refugio - $

Services 
Flor, retired pro surfer and owner of Panama Surf School, teaches lessons in English or Spanish at El Palmar. Flor offers surf training which includes four classes for $140 per person. Two hour classes are available for $60 as a private lesson, and $40 per person for group sessions. Also available are board rentals, shortboards for $15 per day and longboards for $20 per day. To get to Flor's turn left at the sign boards and stay on Calle Central untill Calle 4 sur, where you will make a left that will take you to Panama surf school. Follow the signs.

Tomaso fixes dings for a reasonable price, and also does lessons and board rentals. He is located on the El Palmar road just before you reach the end of the road.