Malibu Beach is located a just 45 min from Panama City if you have a heavy foot while driving. It is now basically a huge development called malibu beach park & resort panama. This project will be right in front of where the surf is. This surf spot is a Panama regional classic and can get some interesting crowds. When I mean interesting, is because there are so many people who just shout (VOY, VOY, VOY!) and in the end the wave "leaves them", its just funny to say but fun to see and surf Malibu barrels.
The Malibu Beach was basically a war zone a few months ago until the project eased it. Since this is a Panama Surf Break on a sandy area, its a must to have a 4x4 vehicle. Otherwise you would have had to leave your car alone, far away from you and under the shiny darkness of fishermugglers who basically would come in theirfishing boats to trash your car and leave you with only your board shorts, board and wax. This is history with the malibu beach park & resort panama who basically shopped down the bushes along with the smugglers homes. Thank you Malibu for finishing with wild smugglers from the area!
The Malibu surf break is at least one of the best surf spots near Panama City. However, its only epic in dry season (December - March) when the offshore hits directly in front of the surf break. It does not matter if there is a 1.5 foot swell the wave will always be perfect and barreling. I keep saying this is a perfect spot to arrange a Billabong Midget Pro or RC surfer pro when small.
To surf this break you must either walk or swim across the large river which will lead you to the right hand wave or just walk strait down from the sand bar to the left. Regarding local- ism, well so far there is not much but just follow the rules and respect the Panamanians. Surfing the right at Malibu is quite fascinating as it can go fast, opened barrel section, all sandy bottom and best of all less crowds than the left.
Surfing the left break at Malibu is a bit shorter but more perfect. There will basically be no sections and just a train down a perfect rail. Make the drop and hold on to the ride of your life! Woohoo!
Isla Grande's Surf is located at 2 hours north from Panama City in a the second most important city in the Republic of Panama which is Colon City.
Colon City is know for its Free Trade Zone which basically dedicates to imports and exports (71% from Asia) counting with the most advanced technology on ports for shipping goods into Central America and out. The city is very small and surrounded by water. As a matter of fact, Colon City is an island of which during the gold rush was landfilled all the way to the mainland in an area called Limon Bay. Now days the city is basically a square consisting of 16 streets and 9 avenues.
People from all over the East Coast of the United States would travel in steam ships through the Gulf of Mexico and would end up in the entrance of the Chagres river. Once there, people needed to walk for a period of 3 - 4 days in order to make it to the Pacific Coast of Panama to then take a boat to California. The reason for such ride was the fact that Indians (Red Skins) in the US were very aggressive and ready to shoot their arrows into someones chest, ouch!
Later on, the American groups based in Panama decided to start the construction of the Panama Rail Road in order to facilitate movement of goods and people across the Isthmus. Now days Colon City represents a large percentage of the black community in Panama who got to Colon for the railroad construction from the Caribbean Islands. Colon City also has a small percentage of powerful businessmen from Lebanon, Asia, China, Panamanians and others.
Going Back to the Subject, Isla Grande is basically a small Panamanian Island that contradicts its name (THE BIG ISLAND) sitting at a few miles offshore that can be reached by boat or swimming "only if you are in good shape" from La Guaira "Main Land" located at 1 hour ride from Colon City up the coast.
Surfing at Isla Grande can be fun thus a bit dangerous for begginers or even experienced surfers when crowded due to intermediate surfers who will not be aware of shoulder drops from deeper experienced surfer from Panama City on the weekends. However, its barely crowded ever.
The surf at Isla Grande is basically a 3 peak break. One in the middle and the other two on the sides. They are all point breaks close to each other that constantly connect sections among each other. The recommended boards for this spot is a 5"10" to 6"4" all (rounded, squash or swallow tails are good). The reef at Isla Grande is pretty friendly compared to other spots like Bocas del Toro or V land in Colon City as its mostly filled with softness from vegetation but occasionally you will find a sea urchin that will mess with your feet.
(Local Panamanian Surfer Bottom)
There are other surf spots near Isla Grande which are basically only good during the Veranillo de San Juan which blows offshore to this whole region. Isla Grande surf is usually onshore during December thru April and its convenient as the waves hold and benefits the ramps for those aerial lovers. Some of the surf spots near Isla Grande are Tortuga and Playon.
