If these breaks don't bring out the surfer in you, nothing will.
©2007 Martin Edwards, Special to WhozHereNow.com

Located off the shore of Bluff Beach are breaks that offer, from November to April, some of the gnarliest, board-snapping waves found off either coast of Panama.

Lodging at Azucar Surf Retreat is as you'd expect--cozy and seaside.

©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

Azucar is a boat-based girls surfing school and retreat conveniently located in Bocas Town. “Boat-based” means direct access to the archipelago’s top surf spots, more time surfing and less time hiking to the shore, and not having to battle the shore break.

The rush is on at Carenero, one of the gnarliest breaks Bocas presents.

All photos ©2007 Martin Edwards, Special to WhozHereNow.com
Featured surfer in every photo: Bolivar Andres

Only a $2, ten-minute boat ride from Bocastown is one of the swellest surfing spots in the island chain, due to the frequency of its long, peeling lefts that are fast, quick to tube, and typically sustain rides of 150 meters or more when Carenero's on.

The best surfing at Dumpers occurs less than 100 meters from shore.
©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

On the east side of Isla Colón, on the road to Bluff Beach, are a series of breaks called Dumpers that take their name for the city garbage dump, which until recently was a huge, stinky eyesore where the waves meet the shore.

A typical scene at Red Frog, one of the loveliest beaches in Bocas.

©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

Red Frog Beach is a wide, two-section beach generally reached by hiking across Isla Bastimentos, although it can also be reached by boat on calm days. It takes its name from the ever-so-cute poison-dart frogs found in the bordering rainforest.