Rio Mar & the coast · Panama
Surfing Punta Teta
A right point in Rio Mar & the coast, Panama, for intermediate surfers.
Punta Teta, on the West Panamá coast, has rights off the point that run into beach breaks shaped by the Teta River. Further along there's an A-frame peak and some fast lefts over rock and sand.
With the point, the river banks and the peak, there's usually something working on a south-west swell. It's a favourite with local surfers from Panama City.
It's at its best on a south-west swell from April to October. Punta Teta is a quiet stretch with a few beach houses, and Rio Mar is a short drive away.
When to surf
Punta Teta
Punta Teta is at its best from April to October. Conditions it likes: Swell S-SW.
April to June: Good
S-SW swell building; the narrow window means it's smaller than Santa Catalina
July to September: Prime
Peak S-SW season, best NZ lows send the optimum ~210° swell; onshore afternoons
October to November: Good
Onshore south winds increasingly dominate late in the season
December to March: Quiet
Dry season, offshore northerlies, but swells are unreliable and often flat
The year across West Panamá Province
Waves near Punta Teta
Rinconsito (Little Rincon)
under 1 kmRio Mar & the coast · Right Point · Intermediate / Advanced
Rocky Point (Punta Barco)
2 kmRio Mar & the coast · Right Reef · Intermediate / Advanced
Playa Serena
3 kmRio Mar & the coast · Right Point · Intermediate / Advanced
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: This coast is an easy 1-1.5h drive from Panama City down the Pan-American Highway, great bus and taxi links. Base at Rio Mar Surf Camp (on the point) or in Coronado/Gorgona for more choice. The road system is among Central America's best, so a rental car makes spot-hopping easy.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Rio Mar & the coast guide.
Rio Mar & the coast surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.