Bocas Del Toro, Panama and to be specific Red Frog Beach Resort
Just got back.
Never surfed, it was flat and no one wanted to take my money to take me longboarding even or suggest that I go fishing or take me on a snorkel trip.
Overall the general feel of the area is they don't want people from the USA's money. Good food was hard to find, the service was terrible and could not wait to get home, which I have never said being to Mexico over 20 times, El Salvador, Cancun, Cozumel, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Maui, etc.
I asked 3 different surf outfits to at least take me to a break to surf whatever was there and the reply was "it's small" even though I talked to a few other guys that surfed around the island I was on, it was a 3 mile walk to I declined.
I was referred to Red Frog Bungelows by a friend who had just been there and had a good experience with the owner and the operation. I messaged him multiple times on IG only to get the same "Surf is going to be small" repeatedly asking to at least suggest someone to take us around, on a boat trip, etc. No reply. Like really? You can't even tell me to F off, just ignore me??? What a kook.
I walked over there in person and spoke with a girl working there and she offered to call the owner and I was pleased to finally chat with him face to face. She calls him on a hand held radio and she comes back and is like "He is too busy doing work in his office to come talk to you" She also said his boat was broken and he could not take us fishing.
Sorry, but if your boat is broken, tell me well in advance.
Just amazing how no one really wants to lift a finger down there to help a traveling surfer out. I guess they have all the money they want and don't practice referring friends.
Bocas itself is dirty and filled with trash, but along the water there is cool little restaurants that are pretty fun. The airport sucks and our flight was 1.5 hours late to depart, no one tells for anything, no update, nothing.
I don't ever suggest going there.
Pros were the water is super clear and snorkeling is great! Bird and animal watching is great! Beer and booze are cheap.
Copa airline is sub-par at best. $150 each way for a double bag.
They screwed up our reservation on the 7:15 hour ride home so my wife and I could not sit together. A joke.
Red Frog Beach Resort is a fraud. Nothing of what it looks like on their site is accurate, some is even photo shopped.
They got my money once, but never again and I'll do my best to spread the word of how much of a lie that area is.
I can see the area being fun for the 20-30 year old backpacker, there was lots of them. But not for the approaching 50 surfer that pays for expects a luxury resort.
Sticking to Mexico, where I have always had good experiences with honest people.
I know the surf goes off there, but there are many other options where you don't have to deal with as much BS.