Want to plan your surf trip to Panama? BuscaPanama is the newest source of information to help you plan your surf trip and find the best entertainment Panama has to offer in the same place. This is a quick guide to planning your Panama surfari, keep checking back for more detailed information on breaks, travel advice, surf reports, and more.

Panama has a great variety of waves to offer, however, most of the breaks take a bit of traveling to reach. So the first step in planing your trip is to consider the length of time you have to travel. If you have a week or less, you will probably want to contain your trip to one area. You will also need to consider the time of year that you will be here. This will help you pack, and will narrow down your choices of places to surf.

I like to break Panama into five major regions for surf: Panama City area, Azuero Peninsula, Chiriqui/Veraguas, Bocas del Toro, and the Darrien. All of these regions offer a variety of waves for most levels of experience. They are also a good distance to travel between and I would give yourself a week in each region if you really want to catch some good waves.

If you are traveling to Panama for business and need to get away from the city for a day or two I would recommend sticking to the "Panama City area" to surf. There are a variety of breaks, all within a few miles of each other and it takes a little more than an hour to reach by car from Panama. Pay attention to the swell size though, it takes quite a bit more size (at least 4ft with a period of at least 13 seconds) to be worth the drive. Also remember to get there early to beat the onshore winds, especially during the rainy season (mid April - mid December). The water is always warm, no need for a top here. Locals are friendly but most of these breaks get packed out on the weekends.

The Azuero Peninsula is my favorite area during the rainy season if you have at least a week to surf and explore. There is also a good variety of breaks here but they tend to be spread apart (20 mins to an hour) making a quick trip a waste of time. This area is also a good to take a bus, begin in Pedasi and work your way to Cambutal if you have the time. If you have a 4x4, there are lots of spots to be discovered with some local advice and an adventuresome spirit. There are spots to surf that will hold all size swells, so you may want to pack 2 boards for heavy days. Again, keep in mind, early bird gets the wave. You may also want to pack a top if you are going to be here in the dry season, cooler water in spots and dry winds can make early morning sessions chilly.

Surfing the Chiriqui/Veraguas area of Panama can be one of the most rewarding experiences if you have a good amount of time, at least 2 weeks, and a bit of cash to spend. Some of these areas are a bit remote, like Santa Catalina, and many of the best breaks require hiring a boat. In fact, hiring a boat is the best way to surf this area if you don't want to waste a lot of time driving or if you want to go directly to some of the big island breaks. You will tend to find that a lot of the breaks in this area tend to be reef/rock and better for a more advanced level of surfing. There are also a lot of high tide only breaks, so keep an eye on the tides to plan your trips.

Bocas del Toro is the spot to go for the dry season (mid Dec - Mid April), especially if you want to do some partying. This another spot that I would suggest spending a week at. You will either take a short flight from Panama City, a 10 hr bus ride, or an 8-9 hr drive just to get there. You will also probably only surf one break a day because they are all by boat. Most of the breaks here are for the advanced surfer, fast hollow waves over reef. You may want to consider a sweet pair of neon green aqua socks if you are surfing Bocas.

Finally, the Darien. This area is for the true explorer, willing to follow rumors of legendary breaks. Only accessible by plane from Panama City, you will want to be well prepared for your trip. I would suggest a couple of boards, extra food, camping supplies, and a first aid kit. You catch a flight to a small village called Jaque and begin your exploration there. This area has also been known for some violence, so take caution before making this trip.

More to come..... check back for more break specific information