Punta Chame

About This Spot

Panama's premier kite spot, on a long sandy peninsula in the Bay of Panama ~1.5–2 hrs (≈100 km) from Panama City. Season runs roughly December–April (some years late Nov–early May), overlapping the dry season so rain is rare. Northerly/NE trade winds, reinforced by a thermal, blow 15–25 kts (gusts to ~30 in Jan); ~80–90% of days are rideable, with Jan–Mar the most reliable. Classic daily pattern: stronger morning and evening, lighter around midday—good for a long lunch/siesta. Water is warm (~28°C), so boardshorts/bikini or a thin shorty for dawn/dusk. Water state depends heavily on the big Pacific tidal range. Low and dropping tide = flattest, best for learning. Around full and especially new moon (spring tides), sandbars emerge near Isla Taborcillo ('John Wayne Island') and can stretch up to ~2 km, creating world-class butter-flat water for a few hours either side of low tide. Rising/high tide brings chop and small waves. Wind on the main beach is cross-on—safe, onshore-ish—so self-rescue blows you back to land. Skill level: excellent for beginners through advanced. The main beach is huge, uncrowded, and free of rocks/reef, with school/camp launches and easy beach access. Intermediates/advanced enjoy chop and sandbar/lagoon downwinders (e.g., the 'Jurassic' downwinder—advanced only). Hazards: STINGRAYS in the shallows at low tide—do the stingray shuffle and wear booties. Strong tidal currents and dramatic water-level swings mean lagoons/inlets and sandbars can empty out, stranding you far from shore—mind the tide chart and don't get caught downtide/down­wind. Beach can nearly vanish at high tide. Generally low crowds; main regulation note is that kiting is effectively limited to here on the Pacific side (San Blas/Caribbean islands prohibit it).