Isla Colón · Panama
Surfing Bluff
A beach break in Isla Colón, Panama, for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Playa Bluff is the long beach at the north end of Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro, Panama, about 20 minutes by taxi from Bocas town. It's the first spot to pick up a north-east swell, with hollow, powerful waves that break close to the sand.
Many close out, but the right ones give short, fast barrels, and it's popular with bodyboarders. It suits confident surfers. Turtles nest on the beach between about March and September.
The season runs from December to March, when the north-east swells arrive, and there's a smaller mini-season around June and July. The shorebreak and rips are strong, so it isn't a beach for beginners. Paunch and Carenero, closer to town, are easier options.
When to surf
Bluff
Bluff is at its best from December to March. Conditions it likes: Strong NE swell.
December to March: Prime
Main season, NE-E storms off Colombia fire the reefs and Silverbacks
April to May: Quiet
Flat spells between seasons; the Pacific side is better now
June to August: Good
A reliable mid-year mini-season, July the safer bet
September to November: Quiet
Mostly flat and wet, off-season on the Caribbean
The year across Bocas del Toro
Waves near Bluff
Dumpers
3 kmIsla Colón · Left Reef · Advanced
Paunch
5 kmIsla Colón · Left & Right Reef · Intermediate / Advanced
Silverbacks
7 kmBastimentos & the outer isles · Right Reef · Advanced / Pro
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Base in Bocas town on Isla Colón, it's small, walkable and the hub for water taxis to every break (Paunch, Bluff, Careñeros). Share taxis to Paunch and Bluff, small boats to the islands. Bocas town has a couple of surf shops with rental boards, but bring your own good board (and a gun for Silverbacks). Reef boots for Paunch and Dumpers.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Isla Colón guide.
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