Longboard surfing on the Pacific Coast of Panama

The Pacific Coast of Panama is one of the most underrated destinations for longboard waves in Central America. Perhaps because of Costa Rica’s head start in surf tourism,

or because some say the swells on the Pacific coast of Panama can be fickle, for whatever reason Panama is often overlooked as a surf destination altogether.

That’s not to say nobody’s surfing here. Plenty of surfers on boards of all sizes travel through the area, but a few
longboarders (international & local) know that the Pacific coast of Panama is home to some of the best longboard waves in the world. 

With dozens of beach and point breaks scattered along the coast even the most popular surf destinations on Panama’s Pacific (Santa Catalina, Playa Venao, and Cambutal), usually offer empty lineups. When you take the number of people in the water into account, Panama is always a winner. 

But off the beaten-path, are some honey-holes for longboarding that you might not have heard of before. 

In the province of Panama West longboarders are taking advantage of year-round waves and warm water in the dry arch, surfing the areas point breaks like the Palmar point, Rinconcito, and Playa Serena. Longboarders Luis Calderon and Jose Medina are two of them. 

With the aim of growing the sport of longboarding in Panama, Luis & Jose created the community Tropical Longboard, hosting longboard clinics and events in the Pacific Beach Area.

This year, the duo’s lifestyle brand tropicalog.clothing along with Cuda Wax brings the first longboard open to Playa Chame. 

The Panama Longboard Classic

To join the event & the longboarding movement in Panama - @tropicalog.clothing