Santa Catalina - La Punta surf guide
Surf: Long, racy Panamanian pointbreak that is ultra-consistent thanks to the swell-pulling power of a deep offshore trench and consistent all day offshores. At high tide, the defined peak offers a big drop both ways, although the left is short-lived and fats out fairly quickly. Meanwhile, those lucky enough to snag a set off the talented crew will wind down the long reef, hitting a few critical corners where the dash is best done behind the curtain. Ruler-edged walls bring out the best in intermediates, who can pick up waves further down the line. Low tide is very sketchy and makes getting in/out arduous. Ultra reliable during southern-hemi swell season and handles the surf camp crowds.
Environment: Santa Catalina remained a cherished secret for years, but now has the reputation as one of the best waves in Central America, so the outside La Punta section attracts the biggest crowd, which gets dispersed down the long point. The offshores get very strong in the afternoon.