You can bring the whole family. Tranquilo Bay offers excellent food, accommodations, amenities, and a multitude of activities to entertain both the surfers and non-surfers in your group. We have warm Caribbean water year round, so wet suits are not necessary. Our average tidal fluctuation is less than 20-inches, so we never have to plan a session around the tide. Also, we are a heck of a lot closer than Indo.

The best and most consistent swells hit Bocas del Toro at the peak of winter. The season starts late November and begins to fall off in February. The peak of summer can also produce a mini season during the months of July and August. While there can be some epoch days during these months, the summer season does not compare with the winter in terms of duration or consistency.

When the swells arrive, Bocas del Toro has some of the best waves and variety of breaks in the Caribbean. The sub-sea topography of the archipelago is extreme, with depths of several thousand feet just a few miles offshore. With no continental shelf to deplete energy, ocean-facing reefs and beaches catch the full power of the swell, forcing the energy up and out, creating fast, hollow waves.

Many of the breaks are powerful and steep, requiring a late drop into a tube section. Good swells create long rides, Isla Carenero being the longest, with a reef break that peels left for more than 200 yards.

During the biggest swells most breaks hold more than 12 feet before closing out, and Silverbacks on Isla Bastimentos will hold to over 20 feet. Many islands in the archipelago have inside reefs and shoals that catch swell wrapping around the side of the island, creating smaller waves and less current -- perfect for the beginner and still a fun ride for experienced riders. 

Of all the waves in Bocas del Toro, only a handful have been named, and some have still never been surfed. In remote areas indigenous children still run to the beach to see the “loco gringos” ride the waves. Tranquilo Bay’s central location in the archipelago allows us to surf unnamed spots without another soul in the water. There is not a single wave in the archipelago beyond our reach.

We know you came here to surf, not paddle. We explore these waves from the comfort of our facility, traveling to all locations via boat. Our fast 26-foot boats will drop you right by the take-off point, and then anchor in the channel to serve as a rest stop. Cold beverages, towels and shade are never more than a short paddle away. When you’re done resting, there will be no reef dance in the impact zone to get back to the take-off spot.

Isla Bastimentos:

Playa Larga

A three and a half mile long stretch of Isla Bastimentos where you can surf the beaches and reefs of Bastimentos National Marine Park. There are three unnamed breaks in this area, which produce long, hollow tubes. There are also several sections of unexplored beach break. Two of the three waves are reef points, and sandbars at a creek mouth form the third. You probably won’t see another surfer all day; these breaks are just a little too far from Bocas town. Currents can be strong and the waves can have faces of over 12 feet. For this location, experience is a must, intermediate to advanced surfers, depending on swell size and conditions.

Cocos

This is a fun right reef point that has a few tube sections on good swells with the right direction. Rides can be long and this wave is rarely critical. This spot is well suited for beginner to advanced surfers depending on swell size and conditions.

First Beach

This beach has a reef point and beach break with both rights and lefts. The beach break is super powerful and when there is a large swell it tends to close out, unless the swell direction is perfect. Currents in the area can be strong and experience is necessary. This spot is well suited for intermediate to advanced surfers depending on swell size and conditions.

Silver Back

A large reef bottom point break off of the northern point of Isla Bastimentos breaking in deep water. If Columbus caught this wave firing when he reached this archipelago 500 years ago, it might explain why he named it “Mouths of the Bull”. This is a super powerful wave with huge barrels. You can actually go left or right, but the channel is to the right. The lefts are tempting, but you better have a good exit strategy. Similar to taking backdoor at pipeline, you will simply pay for it. Silver Back is on the edge of the island's shelf and is open to most swell directions. It needs a solid swell to work and holds big beautiful barrels to 20 feet. There can be serious consequences for getting trapped inside, experts only.

Isla Carenero:

Carenero

The reef shelf of Isla Carenero surrounds this island and then abruptly drops off into the channel. The northeastern point of the shelf absorbs the swell as it peels down the eastern edge of the island, creating five left peaks. The barrels can be epoch. Carenero starts working at 4-feet, and just keeps getting better with size, holding to 12+ feet. On bigger swells, two sections connect and rides of 200 yards are possible. This is the closest wave to the town of Bocas and can get crowded. However, on a good day with all peaks firing, it can hold a lot of surfers. Currents are strong and the sets are long; you can get worked. Intermediate and advanced surfers, depending on swell size and conditions.

Black Rock

This is a fun right that breaks over mostly sand bottom. There are a few rocks, but nothing ominous. This sandy reef is out toward the channel about mid-island off Isla Carenero’s eastern shore. This is a great longboard wave, but can have a bit of snap on bigger days. This spot is well suited for beginner to intermediate surfers depending on swell size and conditions.

Isla Colon:

Paunch

The inside reef is a fun spot at 4-6 ft., with good clean faces. The outer reef is a bit more serious at 8-12 ft. on good swells. There are three lefts and a right that have fairly long rides. On bigger swells, two of the lefts connect for a nice long, consistent barrel. Beginner to advanced surfers, depending on swell size and conditions.

Dumpers

Outer Dumps

This super powerful left is a fast, hollow wave breaking over critical reef bottom. The reward for a well-executed steep drop, fast bottom turn, and drive into the pocket, will be an incredible wide-open tube. For those who fail to execute the above-mentioned maneuvers flawlessly and in succession, there will be consequences. Sleeper sets can catch you off-guard in the lineup. This wave also pushes a lot of water over shallow reef as it begins to dissipate. You don’t want to get trapped inside at the Dumps. This wave can produce faces of 12+ feet, and is for advanced surfers only.

Inner Dumps

A solid peaky left with excellent tubes rides on good swells. This wave produces clean steep walls and long rides. Inner Dumps is great fun at 4-6 ft., but once it gets overhead, there are consequences. This wave is best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers, depending on swell size and conditions.   

Bluffs

A beautiful three-mile long white sand beach with multiple options. Bluff Beach has a hollow, fast and very powerful beach break. The barrels here can be spectacular. The down side is... you don’t always make it. On the best days, the sandbars line up and the waves become longer and more predictable. This wave is best surfed at the 4-6 ft. range, but holds to 12+ if you think you’ve got what it takes. Heavy beach break experience necessary, intermediate to advanced surfers, depending on swell size and conditions. Don’t forget an extra board... this place likes to eat them.

Cayos Zapatillas:  Unnamed Spots

These two pristine islands are within Bastimentos National Marine Park, and just in front of Tranquilo Bay. The Zapatilla islands were formed directly behind a barrier reef. A large channel passes through the middle, splitting both the reef and islands. There are a few reef point breaks around the edges of this channel, and some of them have never been surfed. We won’t see another surfer all day. This spot is well suited for intermediate to advanced surfers, depending on swell size and conditions.  

Mainland:  Punta Valiente

This beautiful mainland peninsula forms the eastern rim of the archipelago. There is not one named wave on this stretch of coastline for over 100 miles. There are several possibilities here, but we have yet to explore it on a good swell. We have seen good days from the airplane and there are a number of beach, reef and point breaks that show promise. Exploratory trips will be made when the conditions are favorable, and with any luck we will find a new secret spot.