Surf in Pedasi, Cambutal & Venao
If you're on vacation in Panamá and you love to brave the waves or you want to learn to surf like the greats, come to Pedasi and Tonosi. The beaches that connect these towns in the center of the country have some of our best waves. Enjoy its hotels, restaurants, schools and retreats full of the best vibes.
Playa Venao
Playa Venao, just over 18.6 miles (30 km) from both Pedasi and Tonosi, is the real surfing star.
In addition to having a very nice and wide beach, its waves, up to 10 feet (3 m) high, are truly exceptional. Venao has gained worldwide fame for having welcomed surfing legends and, above all, for hosting championships such as the 2011 ISA World Surfing Games, the Reef Classic sixth stage of the Latin American Surfing Championship, the ISA Dakine World Junior Surfing Championship in 2012 and the Pan American Surfing Championship in 2022.
Whether you visit us as an expert or as a beginner, we are sure that you'll have a great experience at Venao. Here you'll find surf camps, hotels and hostels, yoga retreats, schools and places to rent and sell equipment.
Other Beaches to Visit
On the more than 43.5 miles (70 km) of coastline that connects Pedasi, Tonosi and the surrounding area, you can find more than 10 surf spots.
Visit Playa Guanico if you want to do a surf camp and go out with the best techniques, or Playa Cambutal to combine your experience with a yoga retreat. In Playa Destiladero you'll also find hotels and restaurants very close to enjoy before and after your long days of surfing.
If you're looking for something more natural, in Playa Toro, in addition to very good waves, you'll have an ideal camping area to enjoy the night under the stars. Nearby is Playa Lagarto and, with a bit of difficult access, in Punta Mala you can surf surrounded by pure nature.
If you're already an expert and looking for a more challenging adventure, stop by Boca de Oria and Playa Punta Marfil, exclusively for those who can face really powerful waves.
Some of these beaches have several surf spots with more or less large waves, different challenges, bottoms and types of swells.
Surf Seasons in Pedasi and Tonosi
If you're intermediate or advanced, and you're looking for the most challenging waves, from May to August you'll find constant and large waves.
The rest of the year, in Pedasi and Tonosi you'll find gentle and safe waves. This is perfect if you want to perfect your technique, gain confidence, or practice a few tricks before the waves reach their peak.
The peak tourist season in Panamá is from December to April, when sunny days and a summer breeze invite locals and foreigners to the beaches. In these months, you'll find the best waves of the summer in Playa Cambutal, Madroño and Mala.
Don't hesitate, get your board ready and get ready for the best waves of Pedasi and Tonosi. Go ahead and combine your surfing trip with fishing tours, learn about traditions at folk festivals in the center of the country, visit turtle sanctuaries or look for whales in the middle of the Pacific. Don't miss a thing, as Pedasi and Tonosi have everything for adventure lovers.