Lajas, Panama
Watch this spot We email you when Lajas is worth the trip.
About Lajas
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (132°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (312°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–7 ft of swell. The sea is about 26°C in February, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in May, its warmest (no wetsuit). For beginners the best months are usually May, June, July and August, with about 3 good days in 7; in January and February, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Saboga, 2.5 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 29°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 10 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. ORD to PTY, direct.
See flights ORD → PTY · Skyscanner from about £265 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 25 from the airport to Lajas.
Accommodation.
Stay in SabogaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Saboga (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Saboga 4 min by car · rooms from £50 a night · 5 places to stay · where Lajas stays
Places to stay in Saboga · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Saboga · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Saboga · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury .jpg){kind=link}
Where it is
Lajas on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft6 s | 9kJ | wind from the east, 4 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 8, too small | 1 ft6 s | 5kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 4 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft6 s | 3kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft6 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 4 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft6 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 4 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft6 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft6 s | 3kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 9 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 8, too small | 1 ft5 s | 3kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft5 s | 7kJ | offshorewind from the north, 7 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft5 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 29°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to PTY, then 1h 25 by road. About 10h 40 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to PTY, then 1h 25 by road. About 10h 40 door to door
Rough cost
About £670–£1,265 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to PTY, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £265–£550 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £55–£95 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £135–£225 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £125–£235 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £55–£95 |
| Total | £670–£1,265 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.