Punta Chame - River mouth (Claridad)
Panama
Punta Chame
River mouth (Claridad) is a spot located at the mouth of a river, south of the main beach of Punta Chame in the province of Panamá Oeste. It can be accessed by a 7 km downwinder from Main Kite Beach, passing through small lagoons. It is a place favored by experienced riders for its calm water at mid-tide and its wild atmosphere.
The spot is near a downwind road, which requires caution. Conditions vary greatly with the tides, but it offers a flat water plan ideal for progression when it's good. Local schools offer pickups to return.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
- 🟢 10–16 nds : vent faible mais navigable (notamment en foil).
- 🟡 16–22 nds : plage idéale, conditions confortables pour la majorité.
- 🔴 22–28 nds : vent fort, réservé aux riders expérimentés.
- 🟣 28+ nds : conditions extrêmes, navigation engagée.
Localisation & Points d'intérêt
Informations utiles
chop
flatThe main wind comes cross-on from the northeast or east, perfect for Main Kite Beach upstream, and remains side-on at River mouth. The water plan is flattest at mid-tide at 3/4 high tide, or descending from high tide, with small lagoons for smooth freestyle. At low tide, the lagoons dry out or become too shallow, making navigation technical or impossible.
Launching is done directly from the sandy beach at the mouth, with a large navigation area in front of the river. For takeoff, prefer the grassy areas of the schools if high tide, otherwise the beach offers enough space. The downwinder from the main beach passes through intermediate lagoons, ideal for a 7 km session, but be careful of the nearby road downwind. Conditions become chop at high rising tide with strong wind in the afternoon. Advanced riders can go upwind or arrange a pickup by minibus for $10 per person.
Ideal conditions are with a wind NE to E of 18-25 knots at mid-tide at 3/4 high tide, for flat and rideable water in the mouth and lagoons.
The water plan goes from flat at mid-tide to choppy at high tide, with small waves if the wind is strong. In front of the mouth, it is wide and deep quickly, perfect for jibes and jumps.
The tides are significant with a tidal range of up to 4-5 meters during spring tides (full and new moon). The current remains weak at the mouth except near the river where it can accelerate as fresh water exits. Check the tide schedules to avoid dry areas.
Opt for sizes of 9 to 11 m² in medium wind, or 7 to 9 m² when it picks up in the afternoon. For light days, go up to 12-13 m².
The dominant wind is cross-on to side-on from NE to E, with regular strengths of 15-25 knots in the afternoon, stronger in the evening on weekends when locals from Panama City arrive. No specific local name, but it is reliable due to the peninsula that channels the Pacific trade winds.
The tropical climate of Punta Chame offers warm temperatures year-round, averaging between 28°C and 32°C. The wind season extends from January to December, with reliable conditions even though the peak is in the dry season from December to April. Little rain disrupts sessions, and the water remains warm.
The depth increases quickly after the mouth with a sandy bottom. You can stand in the lagoons at mid-tide up to 20-30 meters from the shore, but it dries at low tide.
The water is warm year-round at 26-29°C, with no need for a wetsuit during the day. Slightly cooler in the dry season from December to April around 27°C.