Learn Spanish & Surf in Panama's Caribbean, in Bocas del Toro

The islands of Bocas del Toro are famous for their emerald Caribbean waters, secluded golden and white sand beaches, uncrowded waves, colorful coral reefs and abundant marine life. Its funky-vibrant nightlife, and friendly, chilled-back locals also add to the mix which make Bocas Panama's coolest beach destination.

Bocas del Toro is Panama's #1 beach town and its magic will certainly enchant you: you won't want to leave! Without any doubt Bocas del Toro is the perfect town to learn Spanish by the beach.

The Archipelago of Bocas del Toro (BOC), is located in Panama's northwest Caribbean Sea, very near the border with Costa Rica, only a 45 minute flight from Panama City, a 1 hour flight from San José, Costa Rica, or a 3 hour journey by road plus a 30 minute boat ride from Boquete.

Spanish lessons at Habla Ya Bocas del Toro take place either in the mornings or in the afternoon, leaving you free the other half of the day to surf. Group lessons in Bocas del Toro are usually scheduled in the morning starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 12:00 p.m. so you can surf all afternoon long. Private lessons normally take place in the afternoons starting at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m., leaving you the mornings available to surf. There aren't any Spanish classes during the weekend, so you can have several sessions all day long. Surf in Panama's Caribbean isn't that tide dependent as in the Pacific (the difference between high and low tide is never more than 2 feet) so the only factor to really consider besides the swell is the wind (unlike Panama's Pacific, there are normally nice windows in both the mornings and afternoons).

Not everyone wants the same type of Spanish class in their language learning holiday... choose a Spanish course that best meets your needs!

• Group 4: our most popular course is comprised of 20 hours of lessons per week in a small group of no more than 6 students (average is 3 - 4). Groups are arranged according to students' Spanish levels ensuring that classmates will have a very similar degree of communicative proficiency.
• One to One Spanish Classes: we offer students the option to have 4 - 6 hours of private Spanish lessons per day. The contents and schedule of these private Spanish lessons are arranged to suit the student's individual needs.
• Group 4 PLUS: for those seeking a more intensive or an even a more personalized course, Group 4 PLUS adds 1 or 2 extra hours of private lessons on top of the standard 4 hours of group classes that students would normally have each day.
• DELE Test Preparation Course: DELE is the Official Test of Spanish as a foreign language. At our schools, candidates are prepared by having 20 - 30 hours of private classes per week.
• Junior Spanish: Spanish for Kids or Spanish for Teenagers
• Specialized Spanish Courses: sometimes a student may require something particularly specific and needs to focus on a topic of a very specialized nature. It could be Medical Spanish, Legal Spanish, Business Spanish, Spanish for Teachers, or simply vocabulary or a Spanish language skill related to a specific field.
• Other Personalized Spanish Solutions: Intensive Spanish Course, Spanish for couples or friends traveling together, Spanish at your Home, etc.

The cost for Spanish lessons goes from $175 - $575 USD per week. It all depends on the type of Spanish classes you decide to have (group lessons or private lessons) and on the amount of hours of classes you have each week (10 to 30 hours). The total cost of your Spanish Language Holiday also depends on which type of accommodation you decide to have.

If you would like to learn more about each type of the Spanish classes offered at our Spanish Language Schools you can visit our Spanish courses section. And to easily find out and compare the cost for Spanish classes on their own you can do so by visiting our Courses' Rates section.

Bocas del Toro, Panama's to beach destination in the Caribbean, has surf breaks for all skills and levels, which are easily accessible from town, just a short bike or boat ride away. If you want to learn how to surf or if you're just starting out, surf lessons are also available.

One of the great things about Bocas del Toro is that there are plenty of uncrowded surf breaks and if you come along a busier one you can just move on to the next one (or wake up earlier!). Besides, Panama is one of Central America's less touristy countries, which means more waves for everyone.

Check out this video in which local surfers Juampi Caraballo and Oli Camarena take Keoni Jones, Kaoli Kohakuloa, both from Hawaii, and Jake Davis from California, around Bocas del Toro in search for some great waves!

Julian Wilson, Ian Walsh and Jamie O'Brien also paid us a visit. Check out their video!

You can find more Bocas del Toro surf videos here...

And as follows are some of Bocas del Toro's most popular surf breaks!

Map with approximate location of surf breaks in Bocas del Toro

Depending on which break you're going to, it's just a 5 or 10 minute boat ride from town. If you're with others in the boat expect to pay $2 per person each way, or $6 if you're the only person on the boat.

• Old Man's: an A-frame that breaks in the middle of a channel, Old Man's is a fun wave for everyone. Even though it's a reef break, the water is deep enough for it not to be a hazard so it's great for beginners.
• Black Rock: a fun right suitable for beginners, that also breaks in the middle of the channel with a sandy reef bottom. On bigger days it can be more powerful.
• Carenero: the point break that put Bocas del Toro on the surfing map, it has an inner and outer section that when it's big can connect to make for very long rides. With 5 distinct peaks this break can hold a lot of surfers. This break starts working at 4 feet and can hold swells of up to 12 or a bit more. With the right angle, expect hollow and powerful tubes. Plenty of current. Only for intermediate - advanced surfers.

From town you can take a taxi to get to these breaks or just ride a bike. Waikiki is just a 5 minute drive out of town and a taxi should charge you $1. Tiger Tail and Paunch are about a 15 minute drive out of town and a full taxi charges about $8 - $10 per trip (the last 5 minutes are driven over the beach). To Dumpers add about $2 or $3 more and a trip to Bluff should be around $15 for a full taxi. You can also take a boat from town to these breaks.

• Waikiki: located just out of town at Playa El Istmito, this is a mellow beach break with sand bottom suitable for beginners and longboarders. It throws both lefts and rights and is great for beginners to just practice standing up and going straight on the whitewater. It does need a larger swell to start showing and will be breaking smaller than everywhere else. A good place to look for is in front of the Smithsonian Institute.
• Tiger Tail: one of the first breaks that starts showing, it's a fun right-hander when small, and once it is head high or overhead, breaks pretty steep and powerful to both the left and right. When small, it's suitable for beginners but not afterwards. With a sand/reef bottom, if it gets just a bit bigger, it starts closing out as it breaks in a small gap in the reef.

• Paunch: surfers looking for some reef experience can try out Paunch which gently breaks mostly to the left but also has a right. With clean faces great for playing around, Paunch can get quite square if the surf is really big and then only the really experienced should try it out.
• Dumpers: outer dumpers provides one of the fastest rides in town. With a steep drop, surfers should get ready for a short tube. This is a wave you really don't want to fall off, as the reef is exposed right in front of you and there are even caves under the hole where the wave breaks. Inner dumpers provides a longer ride with clean steep walls and at the right size can also give you some really nice tubes.
• Bluff: only for advanced and pro surfers, when conditions are right, Bluff is hollow, fast and very powerful. It breaks almost over the shore and eats boards when it's hungry.

To get to Wizard beach you can grab a boat to Bastimentos and then hike for 30 minutes through the island. To get to Playa Larga or Silverbacks you'll need to arrange a boat with other surfers.

• Wizard Beach / Playa Primera: uncrowded beach break that is great for beginners when small, and can offer pretty good conditions when it gets bigger before it starts closing out.
• Playa Larga / Long Beach: with several breaks it can be another truly world class wave and less crowded than Carenero as it's more difficult to access. When it's on, challenging drops and hollow tubes are in order.
• Silverbacks: an open ocean wave on the west tip of Bastimentos, Silverbacks is only for big wave surfers. It starts showing at about 10 feet when the swell in the open water channel suddenly hits a sharp ledge which drains the reef and produces Bocas del Toro's most powerful and sickest wave. Experts and pro surfers only! Get in early and go to the right as it's easier to get out before it kills you.

If you want to learn how to surf, nothing beats starting with a well structured and organized surf lesson given to you by a professional and experienced surf instructor. If you have surfed a few times before but want to make sure that you have the correct techniques, a surf lesson will definitely help. Even if you can stand up regularly and ride the face of the wave, you can benefit from surfing lessons to learn how to gain speed and improve your turns and cutbacks.

Each surf course begins with the basics: sea safety, surfing etiquette and awareness, understanding the ocean and how waves are produced, proper paddling techniques, how to stand up and catch waves, duck diving, etc. This introduction to surf is given right on the beach with your board in hand. After your first two or three surfing lessons, once you're able to stand up and ride the whitewater in a straight line, we recommend that you work on getting stronger. For this next step, you really don't need surf lessons: you just have to get out there, push yourself hard and practice!

The islands of Bocas del Toro offer you several beginner friendly surf breaks and your surf instructor will be happy to tell you where and when to go. Some are beach breaks and others are mellow reef breaks with the waves breaking in deep enough water so that the reef doesn't represent a hazard. You should always go with someone else and never by yourself. After having a couple of surf lessons, you're welcome to just rent a board and tag along, while others are having their lessons and this will help you feel more secure.

As already mentioned, once you've got the basics nailed down it's just a matter of getting into the water as much as you can. In this way you'll be able to build up your confidence and strength, especially your arms, back, and core muscles. Even if you're in really good shape, when you start surfing you'll be using a whole different set of muscles that you don't normally use (even swimmers don't use them). Paddling and being able to comfortably get out to the lineup without feeling exhausted is probably the first challenge that you'll have to encounter. Once you're a bit more confident and stronger, then it's time to come back for some more surfing lessons. If you'd prefer, it's also possible to have a surf instructor during this entire period.

It's incredible how the body learns through repetition and each time you manage to stand up your body automatically learns how to stay balanced and your reactions become quicker. You'll be able to stay up longer, catch better waves and you'll be able to put into practice board control. It's also a good time to go over other topics such as wave selection and wave positioning. Reading the waves as they come to you, deciding which wave to take, learning where to be and when to be there are tasks and skills that take some time to acquire, and a few additional surf lessons can definitely do wonders to speed up the process.

Depending on how you space out your surfing lessons and on how fast you're able to get stronger and make progress, three to five surf lessons should do the trick to initiate yourself in this wonderful sport. Depending on your natural abilities and fitness level, sometimes it's a good idea to have three lessons during your first week, and leave the other two lessons for when you're stronger. Others, with less time on their hands, prefer to sign up for five lessons a week. And yet others will feel more comfortable having fewer lessons throughout a longer period of time. The truth is, once you start, your body and your surf instructor will determine what's best for you.

* Prices are in US Dollars. The above prices do not include Panama's 7% ITBMS Sales Tax. Class includes theory part, surf board, rash guard, wax, transport to surf break, class in the water, and transport back to the school. A boat from Isla Colón, the main island, to La Escuela del Mar Surf School in Carenero costs $2 per person. Theory part of class with Mono Loco starts at the garden of Mono Loco HQ in town so no additional cost has to be added. Daily classes start at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. (or 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. depending on waves). Meeting point for Escuela del Mar is Bibi's Restaurant in Carenero Island, right next to La Escuela del Mar Surf School (where a boat can drop you off on a dock). Meeting point for Mono Loco Surf School is at the center of town on 2nd Street, right at Mono Loco.

There are two main swell seasons in Bocas del Toro: the winter season (November through April), which is the primary season (the best months are from December to March) and the summer season (June through August), which is the secondary season (best month is normally July). During the rest of the year, sporadic swells do come through, so some surf can almost always be had if you know where to go, with the flattest months generally being September and October, which in contrast provide the driest months and best ocean visibility, perfect for spear-fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

Source: Carenero Surf Break Seasonal Surf Averages on magicseaweed.com

During the entire year, water temperatures remain constant between 26° and 29°C (80° and 85° F) so you'll never need a wetsuit and you'll always be able to surf in warm tropical conditions. The water is turquoise and transparent and you can even see the reef while you surf. Another advantage about surfing in the Caribbean is that there is a really small tide coefficient between high and low tides, which allow you to surf the same break all day long. There are plenty of reef breaks in Bocas del Toro, so if you're not used to it, booties can come in handy (not that you should be stepping on the reef!)

Source: Carenero Surf Break Seasonal Surf Averages on magicseaweed.com

Bocas del Toro surf has been compared to Hawaii's north shore (on a smaller scale) and certain places in Indonesia. The way the bottom drops off the coast is one of the reasons why the waves break with so much power in Bocas del Toro. Even though Bocas del Toro only receives short period swells (mostly under 11 seconds), the dramatic drops in the continental shaft create hollow, barrelling waves. Add to that some reef, a little sand or a certain angle to the coast line, consistent seasonal swell seasons, and you got yourself some serious tropical world class surf.

The winter season swells (November through April) are produced by the combination of the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ, where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together), the dry winds of the northern coast of Colombia and certain Caribbean islands which are practically deserts, and the Caribbean high pressure systems that form every winter in the mid Atlantic, providing significant push and pressure gradient differences. The result of these three combined factors is a massive acceleration of low pressure pushing constant north eastern swell into Bocas' wave window, which does not stop for weeks or even months at a time. Another swell contributor which brings a more northerly swell comes from the low pressure systems that drive swell down from the Gulf of Mexico into other spots of the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro.

The summer season's swell is produced by the early hurricane season coming off Africa (Bocas del Toro is not within the Hurricane zone by the way). Just like during the winter, the swell glides over the Atlantic and accelerates thanks to the high pressure systems of the Caribbean, and then hits several dry and windy islands in the Caribbean and northern coast of South America, producing the same type of NE swell as in the winter.

Careneros Point Break Weather and Surf by surf-forecast.com

You can checkout these other sites for surf forecasts for Bocas del Toro, Panama:

• surfline.com
• surf-forecast.com

If you would like to get fully immersed in the Spanish language, experience our culture, and get as much exposure as possible to the Latin American way of life, then a home stay with a local host family is the way to go. Living with a native Spanish speaking family and having daily intensive Spanish lessons makes the most effective Spanish immersion.

You'll get a unique perspective about how we live our lives in Latin America, what really matters to us and more importantly you'll be forced to practice your Spanish 24 x 7, which will dramatically increase how fast you learn to speak Spanish.

We currently collaborate with more than 20 host families in Bocas del Toro, Panama that make our Spanish Immersion Program a reality. In order to ensure that we select the most appropriate host family for you, please submit your Home Stay Interview with as much as anticipation as possible. In this way we will know your specific needs and choose a host family according to your personality. As host families are assigned on a first come first serve basis, the sooner you fill out the interview, the more host families we will have to choose from for you.

All of our host families are within a 15 minute walk to our Spanish school, and a 15 minute drive to the surf (or 5 to 10 minute boat ride plus a couple of minutes to the docks depending on which host family it is).

If you're on a budget and would like to easily be able to socialize with fellow travelers after having Spanish lessons and surfing all day long, then a budget hostel is for you.

At Habla Ya Spanish School we work with several top value budget hostels that offer you either private rooms or a bed in a dorm, where you'll certainly enjoy your stay:

• 421 Guest House
• Hostel Heike

The three of them are located in town really close to our Spanish School. Tungara Hostel and Hostel Heike are just across the central park, about a 8 minute walk from the school, where everything is happening.

There are several places that we recommend for Spanish students looking for a bit more privacy and independence during their Surfing & Spanish program:

• In Bocas del Toro, Panama
  • Hotel Tierra Verde
  • Hotel Cala Luna
  • Bocas Island Condos
  • A Vacation Rental

The above are tremendously convenient and very reasonably priced for short to mid term stays (4 - 12 weeks) and the students at our Spanish school in Bocas del Toro simply love them. Each of the above have their own unique features that make them suitable for our Spanish students with different needs and desires. Click on the above links for more details about each option.

Our favorite upscale hotels in Bocas del Toro are Tropical Suites and Palma Royale.

Tropical Suites is built directly over turquoise Caribbean waters, with 16 guest suites, a three bedroom Presidential Penthouse, and a Luxury Studio Apartment. Simply put Tropical Suites is Bocas del Toro's premier upscale boutique hotel. Tropical Suites is about a 10 minute walk from our Spanish School and about a 2 minute to Central Park

Palma Royale, Bocas del Toro's latest upscale boutique hotel, is located at the end of main street, only 20 meters from the Caribbean Sea and has 15 suites with marble and bamboo flooring, handcrafted cedar doors and beds with pillowtop mattresses. Palma Royale is about a 15 minute walk from our Spanish school and 5 minute walk to Central Park.

There are also other types of properties available for rent in Bocas del Toro, Panama. If you're considering studying Spanish with us for 4 weeks or more, you might benefit from having your very own vacation rental. Please contact us for more information about rentals in Bocas.

There are four variables to consider when determining the total cost of your Learn Spanish & Surfing Program in Panama. Costs are given itemized as there are different Spanish courses to choose from, multiple lodging options, and some students might decide to join an additional eco-adventure tours. If you would like to request a quote for a specific amount of weeks (or several different options) please click here.

The different variables to consider are:

• The cost of your Spanish Course
• The cost for your Accommodation
• The cost to Surf and/or to Learn how to Surf
• The cost of additional Eco-Adventure Tours

Rates for Spanish classes go from $175 - $575 USD per week. The actual rate per week depends on:

• how many hours of lessons you have each week (10 - 30)
• if you have private lessons only or a combination of group and private lessons
• the amount of weeks you sign up for (the longer the length of your Spanish study program, the more convenient the rate you have access to)

Click on the links below to find prices for specific options:

• Group 4 Course (20 hours of group lessons per week)
• Group 4 PLUS 1 Course (20 hours of group lessons + 5 hours of private lessons per week)
• Group 4 PLUS 2 Course (20 hours of group lessons + 10 hours of private lessons per week)
• Private Spanish Lessons (10 - 30 hours of private lessons per week)

Rates for accommodation depend on your choice of accommodation and on the length of your stay.

• Home Stays with Local Families cost $250 USD per week (breakfast and dinner included). Please add supplement of $50 per week in Bocas del Toro and $75 per week in Panama City.
• Budget Hostels go from $10 USD per night for a bed in a shared dorm up to $75 USD per night for a private room with a private bathroom (more affordable private options are also available).
• Midrange Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts go from $495 to $950 USD per week for a furnished Suite or Cabin.
• Upscale Boutique Hotels and Resorts go from $540 to $3000 USD per week.

Please click here to checkout specific rates for all of our lodging options...

The easiest surf breaks to access by boat from Bocas Town cost $3 USD per person ($5 USD back and forth). If you rent a bike ($7 per day, $35 USD per week) you can cycle to surf everday and be there in 30 minutes. Other surf breaks can be accessed from town for a $5 taxi ride ($10 back and forth).

Renting a surfboard goes from $10 - $20 USD per day depending on the board. The companies do give deals if you rent it for several days/weeks. The price per day depends on the size and condition of the board: the larger the board and the newer and in better condition it is, the more it will cost. If you're staying in Bocas del Toro for quite a while you can easily purchase a second hand surfboard at a local surf shop such as JCS or Super Deportes, or at one of the hostels that sell them such as Gran Kahuna, Mondo Taitu or Heike. At all of these places, as well as at La Escuela del Mar Surf School and Mono Loco Surf School you can rent a surfboard in Bocas del Toro. If you already know how to surf and know what type of board you want, you can even have your own custom made board with JCS for around $500 depending on its size, or you can also just buy a new one (Super Deportes). If you're going to bring your own board do take into account that the local airlines won't make it easy for you if your board is over 7 feet. Surfers do travel with their boards by bus all over Panama.

If you're going to learn to surf in Bocas del Toro, rates are as follows:

* Prices are in US Dollars. The above prices do not include Panama's 7% ITBMS Sales Tax. Class includes theory part, surf board, rash guard, wax, transport to surf break, class in the water, and transport back to the school. A boat from Isla Colón, the main island, to La Escuela del Mar Surf School in Carenero costs $2 per person. Theory part of class with Mono Loco starts at the garden of Mono Loco HQ in town so no additional cost has to be added. Daily classes start at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. (or 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. depending on waves). Meeting point for Escuela del Mar is Bibi's Restaurant in Carenero Island, right next to La Escuela del Mar Surf School (where a boat can drop you off on a dock). Meeting point for Mono Loco Surf School is at the center of town on 2nd Street, right at Mono Loco.

Besides learning Spanish you'll certainly have a blast after class!

• Surfing
• Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
• Ziplining in the Rainforest
• Boat Tours
• Catamaran Sailing Tours
• Island Cycling
• Horseback Riding
• Cacao Plantation Tours
• Caving Tours
• Turtle Nesting/Hatching Tours
• Bird Watching Tours
• Beach & Island Hopping

Habla Ya Spanish students have access to special discounts off many eco-adventure tours. For more information about tours in Bocas del Toro, and complete pricing info click here.