A heaving outside slab that peels into a long slashable right wall, Corto Circuito sits at the western end of the Cambutal coast in Panama's Pacific province. Due S swell is the sweet spot, with the window opening from SE through W and offshore northerlies holding the face clean. Low tide is mandatory: the outside section throws a proper barrel over the submerged reef before linking onto the inside wall for a run of 100-200m. Intermediate surfers and up will enjoy it most, and the access friction keeps numbers low even on good days. Bottom: submerged coral reef. Season: Panama Pacific swell season, Apr-Nov. Consistency: medium, works sometimes. Bring a step-up if the swell is pushing 6ft-plus, the take-off can be unforgiving on an undersized board.
Rarely crowded. The dirt road and river crossing filter out casual visitors, and on most visits you can expect a handful of surfers at most, if any. The lineup is reported as relaxed. Respect the access, pack out any rubbish, and the welcome will match the effort.
A 4x4 gets you to the end of the track west of Cambutal. Without one, park at the Piedra Carreta area and plan a 10-15 minute walk, crossing a small river that is passable in dry conditions but can swell after rain. No facilities on site. Bring water, sun protection, and reef-safe wax. Watch for sharp boulders on the inside shore when the wave closes out.
If Corto Circuito is flat or blown out, the Cambutal area has options. The 411 pointbreak handles high tide and is the most consistently surfed right in the zone. Playa Cambutal beachbreak in front of the hotel offers all-tide waves for a wider ability range when conditions are messy offshore.
Forecast by Windy.app
