Panama...Costa Rica ..or Nicaragua ..."Oh, the choices..."

[Wetstuff]

The pacific coast, specifically the Auzero Peninsula, looks much like the Central Coast of California... except there is nearly nobody there.  We did a "Let's drive up this road!" in Panama about 15yrs ago and just loved it.  Compared to CR, the infrastructure of Panama is 100% better - probably because the U.S. poured US$Mil into the country for so many years. There are a few potholes in the bush but all the primary roads look much like Florida.  There are also a ton of surf breaks all over the place, including different angles facing the Pacific ..sand bottom and rocky bottoms. This Playa Venao.



This photo is more typical of what I remember seeing..





I bring this up because I want to go somewhere in Central America and my wife is not a water person.  I have been to, and enjoyed, Nosara, but am not willing to carve out an extra two days ..and $600 for internal airline transportation.  Having driven in CR once, 'not doing that again either.  Tamarindo looks to have easier access from Liberia Airport, but 20yrs of surfer conversations makes it sound like Daytona Beach.  There are even more SUP friendly places in the south of CR, but they are real destinations with great breaks but difficulties only really core people will be willing to hurdle.  I am 'soft-core' anymore.

San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua has enough breaks, a bunch of little hotels run by Italians (so there are some food options) .. cheap/easy to get to from Managua, etc.. but bupkis for boards to rent. Stinko. 

Hauling boards is also off my list.  We use to take our own saddles when we traveled to the Dominican, but all that 'fun-one-way' stuff is too much trouble any more. 

Panama seems to be one of the best places for boards to rent.  Dave Boehne of Infinity has a surf camp in Nosara where they have Coreban boards but this place in Panama has real Infinity boards to rent. I am told they have a load of Focus Hawaii boards coming soon also. 

http://www.shokogi.com/#index

The limitations would seem - the Azuero is not a place where in fairness I should simply tell my wife to sit while I play.  There needs to be something besides fresh mangos for her to look forward to after waiting for me in the shade all day.  Maybe someone has been thru there recently....

Jim

[dietlin]

I'm facing the same conundrum - how to balance uncrowded waves with activities for non water person.  Suggestions appreciated.  Thanks.

[SUPSagNJ]

I'm fairly new to posting here so hello to everybody and thanks for the great info that I have gotten from you all. I have been going to Tamarindo, Playa Grande and Avallanas for the past 5 yrs or so. I started out prone surfing, but now I am only SUSing. I had the same problem, getting a good SUP and keeping the wife happy. We now try and go with another couple who my wife does things with like walking the lenght of Playa Grand and back, while my friend and I are in the water. He boogie boards, so I am the only one who needs to get a SUP. They rent an OK one at a shop in Grande, it is a 9'6" made in North Carolina, so I will sometimes get it for the week. The problem of having something to do is solved with our friends being there, but it is not perfect. Board is OK, winds pick up and blow you out to sea on a SUP this time of year, but it does have it's moments. Early morning and late in the day are best, but need to go when the tides are right, can't get a SUP guide with boards because not everyone in the group is interested. I an looking into going down there in mid to late Feb. If you are interested in this area, let me know if I can help. Maybe we can meet up.

[Wetstuff]

SNJ..  I can imagine it certainly makes it easier if your wife also has a friend.  Mine travels much more than I do. My 'business' has always been my cover for not attending school reunions, etc.  With any two of our friends, there would be three people sitting in the shade.

I have a fondness for surf cams and the one in Tamarindo ain't bad.  Not only did I see a SUP out one day, but even a small herd of surfers paddling across the estuary mouth to get to the N-side.  From just one cam, there appeared to be a number of peaks.

http://thesurfersview.com/live-beach-cams/international-cams/tamarindo-costa-rica-beach-webcam-and-surf-report

Jim

[adamrod]

I just got back from Bocas del Toro in Panama. Point breaks and reef breaks everywhere, lefts, rights, beach breaks too. I surfed every day, a 10 min paddle from my B&B on a beautiful point break that was maybe 6-7 foot and I was the only surfer. Literally, I had to convince another guy to join me because I was lonely.

Tons of breaks, lots of options (easily 50 different breaks within $2 boat ride), pretty easy to find a completely empty break, especially for a SUP.

other big advantage is there's TONS to do for a non surfer, lots to explore on the islands.

big negative: no quality rental boards. I was riding an 11'6" Laird. Bring your own gear...

another option is to perhaps bring a board, and line up a buyer before you go, as it's difficult for shops to get boards in.

[Wetstuff]

Adam,  I'm glad you had a good time in Bocas.  It's got to be difficult for small companies to sit on inventory hoping a decent SUP'per will come along to rent one.  There was a twist on a similar scheme in Nica; a FL shaper would sell you a board and then buy it back at the end of your stay, or hold it if you became a regularly returning visitor.  I'd be afraid of both this and bringing one to sell..  I use to sell to surf shops and heard way too many times; "It rained over the weekend. I don't have the money to pay you."

I have been watching the winds.  It seems pretty much a constant (at least for the last few weeks) that when there's a large High in the Atlantic ..there's a heavy blow from central Nica to the Gulf of Nicoya ..just south of Nosara. Then kicks in again at the tip of the Auzero in Panama.  Here's a screen shot.



The constant 'sweet spot' seems to be down near Pavonnes in CR.  I have never seen any wind there.   Here's the link to the best wind meter ever..

http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/1000hPa/orthographic=300.25,43.59,139


Jim

[SUPSagNJ]

Wetstuff,

Thanks for pointing out the Tamarindo cam. It is a nice one of the rivermouth and you can see Playa Grande in the distance. It must be up on the Best Western. You will see SUP's at the rivermouth often, especially the last hour of the day. I used to watch Marcos paddle down there and surf every evening. I was usually getting dressed for dinner and was always drooling when I realized that I should be out there from 5 to 6 instead of getting ready to go out.

[northstoke]

I just got back from Bocas del Toro in Panama. Point breaks and reef breaks everywhere, lefts, rights, beach breaks too. I surfed every day, a 10 min paddle from my B&B on a beautiful point break that was maybe 6-7 foot and I was the only surfer. Literally, I had to convince another guy to join me because I was lonely.

Tons of breaks, lots of options (easily 50 different breaks within $2 boat ride), pretty easy to find a completely empty break, especially for a SUP.

other big advantage is there's TONS to do for a non surfer, lots to explore on the islands.

big negative: no quality rental boards. I was riding an 11'6" Laird. Bring your own gear...

another option is to perhaps bring a board, and line up a buyer before you go, as it's difficult for shops to get boards in.

I was there 4 years ago after an injury so i wasnt surfing but wondered how it was. the only waves i ever saw were at red frog beach and it was small and looked like florida on a normal day. what island did you stay on, just in town on Colon?
I know you gotta take the puddle jumper plane from PTY so i wonder if there would be restrictions on bringing a board since it's so big.
i had a good time there tho and partied my face off. lots of south american girls were around 

[supthecreek]

Jim... I have a friend (proner) that goes to Nica every year... loves it. I will pick his brain for you. He might not know about SUP rentals... but, on everything else he is solid. He also said it was cheap :-)

Love the spinning wind world!!!

[SaltH2Opaddler]

I am thinking about a trip to Central A. in late April/May.

When are you thinking of going Wet? If it matches up maybe we could snag a few together.

I am thinking Nica. Iguana or Santana and have easy access to Panga Drops. Although I have potential connects in CR. Working all of it out now.

I will be bringing 2 SUP's and probably rent a surfboard if I am in the mood.

[bigbear]

I am thinking about a trip to Central A. in late April/May.

When are you thinking of going Wet? If it matches up maybe we could snag a few together.

I am thinking Nica. Iguana or Santana and have easy access to Panga Drops. Although I have potential connects in CR. Working all of it out now.

I will be bringing 2 SUP's and probably rent a surfboard if I am in the mood.

If you're goin to nica, check the airlines for size restrictions and make sure the wind is gonna be off it-went a few yrs ago and had 40 knot winds offshore for a week!  My boards went to Honduras for the first few days and got hassled by cops everywhere!

[northstoke]

I am thinking about a trip to Central A. in late April/May.

When are you thinking of going Wet? If it matches up maybe we could snag a few together.

I am thinking Nica. Iguana or Santana and have easy access to Panga Drops. Although I have potential connects in CR. Working all of it out now.

I will be bringing 2 SUP's and probably rent a surfboard if I am in the mood.

i also may be down in nica in april. if you guys are going make sure you post up here it would be rad to meet some zoners down there for a session. april/may in nica the winds arent too bad; the super strong offshores are the worst in jan/feb. april is crazy hot down there and dry. you won't see any rain. you won't have any problems bringing a board through the managua airport; the only planes in nica that wont fly with a SUP are the ones out to the corn islands but theres no surf out there anyways.
Panga drops is a great SUP wave but it's really the only wave along that beach thats suppable imo. unless you're kai lenny you're not gonna be surfing colorados and even he would have problems keeping up his speed on a sup with how fast that wave is. not really a sup wave at all. panga is sick tho.
one tip i'll give you, is don't count out northern nicaragua. way less tourists, and way less people in the water. chances of you having the beach to yourself is pretty good, and really cheap boat trips. heres a couple shots of me in northern nica at the end of november when i was down

[Wetstuff]

Bear,  You mention the heavy wind.  I keep looking at 'palms in motion' when I look at the cameras.  (there are other central american cams in that menu where the Tamarindo cam is hosted)   I used 'Windfinder' kiting ..it has pretty broad conditions report.  Here's their Nica.

http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/san_juan_del_sur

The kicker Stoke, is by April we're back in the water here - at least bayside, so the urge to 'do something' goes away and my business kinda kicks in late March.  ..and my wife has never been to Europe ..yatt-yatta.

Nice pics too.  Water looks nice and quiet. Like it allows you to focus.  Northern Nica sounds a bit like pacific Panama - the other 18hrs a day are filled watching the monkeys.  As she is a non-participant, I have to factor in what my wife get out of it. 

Rick,  If your guy knows some tips.. the whole world would be better for it.  My Florida friend flys Spirit Airlines.  It's apparently dirt cheap and their Contract of Carriage shows no size restrictions for surfboards.   ..but their flights are like in the middle of the night?   

For me, American Airlines out of Baltimore has the best schedule so I would not have to hotel overnight in Managua like going to Nosara if you fly in-country.  AA's Contract of Carriage is pretty restrictive: "Maximum Weight and Size 70 lbs., 126 inches."   ...dimensional inches.

So what looks like you can take a 10'6 ..actually breaks down to a about a 7'6 x 30 x5 ..if your board bag is made from Lycra.  R/T flights from BWI are about $520. ...your little stick will cost you another $150 each way. 

Stoke, what airline did you use?   

Cheers all from Mary-Zero-land.

Jim

[northstoke]

i've flown down there with a few differrent airlines now....AA, spirit, copa, and taca. copa and taca are definitely the best. AA i flew down with a 7'11x29.5 and had no issues bringing it....but it did cost me $150 for one way, which is insanity. In november flew copa and again no problems and i think it was $75 each way? i actually left a board there that i'm hoping to sell next time i go down since short SUPs are so hard to find there....just not sure if i could find a sup surfer to sell it too, haha.

the one thing i'll say is i avoid Spirit air like the black plague. Their flights all connect through FLL and are red eyes and are always so disorganized. i used them a few times and after problem after problem i vowed to never fly them again. last time they cancelled the flight and told me i couldnt fly out (from my layover) for another 48 hours as they only fly to nica every two days. they gave me a $7 meal voucer for my troubles, yes, $7. with all the extras they charge you for (bags, carry ons, SEATS?!) they are no cheaper then anyone else. and their customer service if something happens is nearly non existant. i've started sticking strictly to the south american airlines like Copa and Taca; they're so much better. Never had a problem, the price includes two checked bags, booze included on the flight. always a breeze and worth the extra $50-100 every time imo.