Punta Brava surf forecast
Santa Catalina · Veraguas · Panama
A rocky point at the far end of Playa Estero, about 2 km south-east of the village. A hollow right works on smaller swells and a fast left switches on above about 2 m; it usually breaks bigger than the main Santa Catalina reef. Best from low to mid tide.
- Break
- reef break, lefts and rights; faces SW
- Level
- advanced
- Best swell
- SW, S, SSW
- Best wind
- N, NE, E (offshore)
- Best tide
- low to mid tide
- Season
- March-November
- Typical size
- 1-3.5 m
- Crowd
- medium
- Hazards
- rocks; urchins; shallow boulders
Best time to surf Punta Brava
For intermediate surfers the best months are April to May: in April about 11 days have rideable waves and 0 rate good or better. It is rarely small and clean enough for beginners. Experienced surfers looking for size and power: March to May. Local guides: March-November.
Water 28 °C in November to 30 °C in August: Boardshorts / rash vest in winter, Boardshorts / rash vest at the warmest.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Typical size | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
| Feb | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
| Mar | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| Apr | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| May | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 m | 30 °C |
| Jun | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| Jul | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 m | 30 °C |
| Aug | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 m | 30 °C |
| Sep | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| Oct | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.9 m | 29 °C |
| Nov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 m | 28 °C |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 °C |
Days per month, typical of the last three years of wave and wind model data, rated with the same scale as the forecast. Not a forecast: some years are better than others.
More surf spots nearby: surf spots in Santa Catalina.
Nearby spots
- Playa Estero, Santa Catalina
- Santa Catalina, Santa Catalina
- Punta Roca, Santa Catalina
Questions
When is the best time to surf Punta Brava?
For intermediate surfers April to May; in April about 11 days a month have rideable waves and 0 are good or better. Local guides say: March-November.
What is the water temperature at Punta Brava and which wetsuit do I need?
The sea ranges from about 28 °C in November to 30 °C in August. Wear a Boardshorts / rash vest in the coldest months and a Boardshorts / rash vest in the warmest.
Is Punta Brava good for beginners?
It is best for advanced surfers (rocks; urchins). Beginners nearby can try Playa Estero, Santa Catalina.
What swell, wind and tide work best at Punta Brava?
SW, S, SSW swell, N, NE, E wind (offshore), at low to mid tide. Typical size 1-3.5 m.
Live swell, wind, tide, a 14-day outlook, satellite pictures and webcams for Punta Brava are in the Surf Spoting app.