Bocas del Toro
Panama · Central America
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.2m NE
Wind: 8 km/h ESE (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: N
Cross-offshore wind. Still favourable, expect reasonably clean waves with some texture.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:42Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Boardshorts weather. 31°C water.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
0.2m swell at 8s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 31°C.
AI-generated summary for Bocas del Toro. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Bocas del Toro
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 6am (score: 0). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bocas del Toro.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Bocas del Toro
The archipelago of Bocas del Toro, situated on the Caribbean coast of Panama, hosts a variety of reef breaks, most notably Bluff Beach and Carenero. Focusing on the primary reef systems, the bathymetry is defined by shallow, live coral shelves that abruptly interrupt the deep Caribbean Sea. These breaks are heavily reliant on short-to-medium period north-easterly wind swells generated by regional trade winds. A south-westerly offshore wind is required to smooth the otherwise disorganised sea state. When these swells encounter the shallow coral matrix, they produce fast, hollow left and right-hand waves that break rapidly along the reef edge. The proximity of the coral to the surface, combined with the sudden, steep take-offs, dictates that these spots are primarily suited for intermediate to advanced surfers. Miscalculations frequently result in direct impact with the sharp, uneven seafloor. The waves offer brief but highly intense tube sections, demanding rapid acceleration and confident manoeuvring to clear the shallow inside ledges.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bocas del Toro. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Bocas del Toro?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.