By Anonymous , 20-05-2008

Toursits.... - Come there and try to share someting with the people, try to be nice to them, not just coming to their place for your own and personal pleasure... Show a bit of interest in the way they live, their culture and they will show it all to you. Definitly a beautiful place with super cool people in la guaira and around...
Try to travel like a man and not like a tourist and you will get it all...
Paz y amor

By rnibali , 22-08-2007

Fun wave (budget trip advice) - It costs you about 12$to get from Panama City to Isla Grande by public transportation. The description to get to the island is a bit misleading. You can drive or get a ride past Portobelo to La Guaira, which is the "pueblo" facing the island. A boot ride to the island costs you 3$ but you can paddle there as well (leave you backpack in the Hostel Mamallena in Panama City). There are cabinas right when you get to the island for 10$-20$ (s/d). Walk an the coastal path eastwards to the bar "fin del mundo" and jump off the cliff into the waves. It's very reefy and there are billions of urchins but it's worth it if the swell is right. People on the island are very nice and forth-coming.

By anonymous , 19-03-2005

- isla grande is a good place to surf if the pacific goes flat and the caribbean turns on. if you cant make it to bocas, this is your next best (and one of very few) option. only one local surfer as far as I know, and he´s a beginner. plenty of lefts to be had if the swell is on and the wind is mellow. you have to walk across a shallow reef to get there, so bring booties. once in the water, the reef is deep enough, just dont ride the waves all the way in. dont expect any smiles or friendly gestures from the island folks- definitely a wierd vibe. have fun!

By bingmarkbing@hotmail.com , 14-01-2005

surfing with a backback - hmmm...mixed reviews there.....
will be in central america in april- flying into San Jose amd then flying out of mexico city 2 1/2 months later. no plans really. cant really take my stick with me so looking like buying out there or renting...any ideas about prices at all?, dont want toi have to rent a board each different spot. how shallow is the reef at Isla Grande? only ever surfed beach and point breaks in the uk- looking forward to the sea temp. lovely lovely.....any recommended cheap cabanas or places to sling a hammock?

By anonymous , 07-06-2004

- bring some booties because the reef is sharp and there are hella urchins. i surf it june 2004 and it was a pretty fun wave. be on the lookout for sharks

By my name is panama , 15-02-2004

hmmmm.... - surfed the whole world. the absolute weirdest awkward feeling surfing here and being on the island. some idiotic old fart even approached me with a machete to extort a dollar for camping on my friend's property. nobody responded to hellos. the bartender thought i stole my beer and chased me down. surfed alone in nice waves, but its a left... not a right as in the pics (?) urchins indeeeed. the island is a bloody eyesore, more like a panamanian attempt at puerto vallarta. much better places to surf in panama. thumbs down.

By celiaitzel2002@yahoo.com(celiaquiban) , 20-02-2003

the best!!! - Isla Grande,bring so many memories,is so romantic,and so fun to see your man trying to cach a wave. best time on my life.

By polecat , 09-04-2002

Fun little reef break - Surfed this place many times in 98, great summer surf spot due to heavy onshore flow in the caribbean. Anything over chest high and the place gets really fun, both lefts and rights in crystal clear water. Reef isn't too bad but watch out for the urchins when you paddle in. Difficult to find the first time, pay an extra buck to be dropped off by the boat right in the lineup. leave everything else in your car and just bring a few bucks to buy some food/drinks after your surf on Isla Grande.