Rio Mar & the coast · Panama
Surfing Rinconsito (Little Rincon)
A right point in Rio Mar & the coast, Panama, for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Rinconsito, or Little Rincon, is a right point on the West Panamá coast named after the Californian wave. It needs a big south-west swell to work and is small or flat most of the time.
When the size arrives it wraps around the point and peels for a long way. Because it's so inconsistent, there are rarely many people out.
It only works on a big south-west swell, a few times each green season. When it does, it can be one of the best rights on this coast. On other days, Rio Mar and Playa Malibú are the options.
When to surf
Rinconsito (Little Rincon)
Rinconsito (Little Rincon) is at its best from April to October. Conditions it likes: Big S-SW swell.
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 Rinconsito (Little Rincon)
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.