Playa Venao’s Growth and the Birth of a Surf Destination

If you’re anything like us, then you’ve likely fallen in love with the crescent-shaped cove and sliver of volcanic sand that make upPlaya Venao. From the surrounding community of ex-pats, travelers, and locals and the nearby jungles and hills to the world-class waves suitable for surfers of all levels, there’s a lot to love. Playa Venao was not always the bustling surf destination it is today. Before the health-food restaurants, surf hotels, and ex-pat community, the wave broke in relative isolation among cattle that occupied the beachside fields. While our corner of paradise is undoubtedly growing, we often look back and marvel at how far we’ve come. Dive in below as we explore the history of surf and travel in Playa Venao.

Where is Playa Venao

Located along the winding Pacific Coast on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, in the Los Santos Province of Panama, Playa Venao is roughly 5 hours from Panama City. For Centuries, the province of Los Santos served as a cattle and ranching hub. Los Santos is considered the cultural heartland of Panama thanks to its many traditional festivals like Carnaval and the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana.

Early Days of Playa Venao

Playa Venao was not the first wave discovered on thePanamanian Pacific Coast. Still, it was surfed as early as the nineties by traveling surfers road-tripping the Pan-American Highway or military brats living on base in Panama City exploring the coast. Early surfers in Playa Venao didn’t have the same luxuries we have today. They camped and cooked for themselves on the empty beach and enjoyed a kind of solitude that no longer exists for traveling surfers.

Early Development in Playa Venao

In the early 2000s, a traveling surfer from Israel was exploring the coast and camping on Playa Venao. Like so many of us, he fell in love with the wave and the surrounding landscape. He set up camp and stayed for months, surfing alone. At the end of his stay, he went to the only house nearby, knocked on the door, and offered to buy a lot of land on the beach right in front of the break. The owner of the house and the entire stretch of beach in front of the break declined that if he wanted it, he had to buy the whole lot. So, the traveler returned years later with a few of his friends and offered to buy the entire stretch of beach in front of the break. The friends split the property into twelve even parcels from the sand to the road, and they became Playa Venao’s first round of surf hotels.

Playa Venao Blossoms into a World-Class Surf Destination

Throughout the 2000s, Playa Venao evolved from a sleepy agricultural hub with good waves into a world-class surf destination. In 2011and 2012, the ISA World Surfing Games drew competitors from around the world to compete in Playa Venao, solidifying the town as a world-class surf destination. Since then, the post-COVID travel boom, along with a rapid succession of developments, has brought Playa Venao to where it is today —a community of surfers and travelers living in paradise.

As Playa Venao continues to grow, it remains one of Panama’s most charming surf towns. While the days of camping on the peak are behind us, we’re excited about what the future holds and are actively working to preserve the magic that is Playa Venao. If you’re ready to book the trip of a lifetime, head to our website to book your Panama surf trip today.

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