Surf Camp Panama FAQ
Travel Arrangements:​
First and foremost, you must have a valid passport to travel. Please get that squared away before you purchase your tickets.
There are couple of options to get to Bocas del Toro, Panama. Your goal is to arrange a flight that will arrive Saturday afternoon or evening on September 22, 2012., and then leave on the following Saturday to catch your main flight home on time. For your initial flight, you can either fly to Panama City, Panama or to San Jose, Costa Rica. Once you have arrived at either of these airports, you will need to take a flight to Bocas del Toro, Panama (it is an International Airport that can accommodate private jets).​
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From Panama City, Panama: You will need to take a cab to the domestic airport, Allbrook. You will then take a 45 minute flight directly to Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro. We recommend Copa airlines for your initial flight into Panama because they have flights that make the same day connection to Bocas. There is only one airline currently flying from Allbrook to Bocas - Air Panama www.flyairpanama.com . In the event that you can not make the same day connection, a night in PanamaCity is inexpensive with great accommodations, dining, and night life.
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From San Jose, CR: You will need to take a flight to Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro on Nature Air www.natureair.com From the San Jose Airport, you will need to take a 30 minute cab ride to Nature Air. It looks like the only flight leaving San Jose to Bocas is 6:30AM so you will need to arrive in Costa Rica Friday night, spend the night at the Best Western Irazu, and then leave early in the AM.
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If in case specific flights require that we come on Friday evening, in order to catch an early Saturday morning flight into Bocas, we can all meet up and share a hotel room in San Jose, or Panama City.
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Taxis: ​​
The taxis cost an average of $1-3 from the Bocas Airport to the surf camp. Taxis can also be used to go into town but you can walk to almost everything.
Money/Currency:
Panama uses the US Dollar. There is a bank on the island complete with ATM.
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Location and Accommodations:​
Bocas del Toro province is located about twenty minutes south of Costa Rica on the Caribbean side. Within the archipelago are the three main surf islands and a seemingly endless microbiology of jungle islands, mangrove keys, white sand beaches, virgin coral reefs and coconut palms. Our surf camp is located right on the water in the fringes of downtown Bocas del Toro, Panama.
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Our location consists of a great modernized boathouse that literally sits over the water so you can watch the fish swim under your feet, an exquisite dock rancho where you can nap in the gentle sway of a hammock, and an array of colorful cabinas for which you can retire to your private sleeping quarters after a fulfilling day. This location is green-based applying sustainable building designs and materials. We have maid service and your own personal inhouse chef. Because of the size of our group, we have 2 houses right down the street from each other. Each will accommodate 8 people. The central focus of the two locations are the ocean front great rooms with floor to ceiling windows that look out over the bay to the surf spots and beyond. Eaach has a jacuzzi to soak away your weary bones after a long day of surf. Out front you will find a tropical oasis composed of a beach and a dock area where you can sunbathe, enjoy a drink under a palapa or take a dip to cool off from the heat of the tropical sun.
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What to Pack:
Bocas is an Island Paradise. Along with your favorite bikinis and pareos, you will want to bring the basics for surfing in the tropics: Rashguard, board shorts or reef booties if desired. Sunscreen, hat, basic sneakers for a hike, extra towel, a book, an ipod, a camera, and anything that you think will make your trip more comfortable. If you forget something or if you want to indulge in some shopping, the island has two great little surf shops.
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Weather:
The weather in Bocas is tropical. The average tempurature is 87F during the day cooling to 78F at night. The water temperature is a balmy 85F. We do receive a bit of rain but it is usually intermittent and very welcomed.
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Surf Breaks:
There is surf in Bocas all year. There are 3 main islands that make up the archipelago: Isla Colon, Isla Carenero, and Isla Bastimentos. Off hand, there are 10 incredible surf breaks, many of which we will get to check out.
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Famous Visitors:
Holly Beck and her crew Kyla Langden, Kim Maier, Jenni Flannigan, Liz Clark, Shane Dorian, Kalani Robb, CJ Hobgood and Donovan Frankendorfer. And Shannon McIntyre while filming her TV show "Surfari". If the pro's love it, you are definitely going to love it! Plus Jimmy Buffet stopped by on his yaght and scored some great longboard waves as well. How cool is that?!
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