Santa Catalina · Panama
Surfing Punta Brava
A left reef in Santa Catalina, Panama, for advanced surfers.
Punta Brava is a left in a small rocky bay west of Santa Catalina. It's always bigger than anywhere else nearby and works best at low tide, but there's no channel to paddle out and the bay is full of rocks, so it's much safer to surf from a boat.
Between Santa Catalina and Punta Brava there are several other reefs and beaches that hardly anyone surfs, and Punta Roca, further west, has wedging lefts. With a boat and time, the islands of Sebaco and Coiba have more waves.
When to surf
Punta Brava
Punta Brava is at its best from April to October. Conditions it likes: S-SW swell, low tide, by boat.
April to June: Prime
S-SW swell arriving, offshore mornings, Santa Catalina firing almost daily
July to September: Prime
Peak roaring-forties swell, biggest and most consistent, but wettest
Oct: Good
Still firing, onshore south winds more frequent late in the day
November to March: Quiet
Dry season, smaller S swell, cleaner but less consistent
The year across Southwest Panama
Waves near Punta Brava
Santa Catalina
2 kmSanta Catalina · Right Point · Intermediate / Advanced
Sandbar
56 kmMorro Negrito · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate
The Point
57 kmMorro Negrito · Left Point · Advanced
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Santa Catalina village lines the cliffs above the point, camping at Oasis (Estero beach, 15min walk to the point) is the cheapest, or rooms and cabins in town. Bus from Panama City to Sona (6h) then 1h to Catalina. Booties help for the rock-hop out to La Punta and Punta Brava. Coiba trips leave from here.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Santa Catalina guide.
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