**This trip is a specially curated trip for Girl Groms Surf Club and their chaperones; it is not open to participants outside of GGSC- (https://www.girlgromsurfclub.com/) (aged 6-17). A note a portion of your trip fee is also a direct donation to help support three non profits Girl Groms, Surf for Life and Give & Surf**

Surf For Life and Give & Surf have designed a 7-day, curated itinerary for the Girl Groms of San Diego/San Clemente who are interested in participating in a service-based surf trip. This trip offers a balanced mix of surfing, community engagement focused on young people and ocean awareness, cultural immersion, and free time. Our goal is to provide participants with a meaningful community experience that leaves a positive, lasting impact on the communities we visit.

This schedule was designed to give participants a culturally immersive experience that combines volunteering in Give & Surf’s summer camp or after school programs along with the opportunity to surf some of the best surf breaks in the archipelago and explore the beautiful island communities. 

The package includes accommodations at Hotel Caribbean View, all meals, local transportation, volunteering in programs daily, and lots of surfing everyday! The group will stay at a locally owned hotel in Old Bank (Isla Bastimentos) in shared rooms that have AC and WiFi that is located right across from one of the Give & Surf community centers. All meals are included; lunches & dinners are a mix of meals served by the local community as well as catering from various local restaurants. 

The group will spend half days volunteering with Give & Surf’s educational programs; Volunteers work side-by-side with our local teachers to offer a variety of activities including sports, arts & crafts, STEM, English, and more! The other half of the day will be filled with surfing as well as various other excursions & activities including snorkel trip, Isla Zapatillas trip and a tour of a chocolate farm. Other excursions/tours can be added during free times for an additional fee. 

Bocas is known as a world-class surf destination with many surf breaks for all levels of surfers including both reef and beach breaks. January to early April are generally the best months of the year for surfing. Breaks include: Black Rock, Carenero Point, Red Frog Beach, Tiger Tail, Paunch, Bluff, Wizards, and Silverbacks.

The trip is open to all: beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers as well as non-surfers! The best months for surfing are generally December to April and mid-June to early August. 

For an additional fee, Give and Surf can also arrange Panama City airport transfers, accommodations, tours, meals and/or domestic flights- see details below. 

*When living in remote island communities, we often face unpredictable situations, such as rainy weather conditions, power outages, and other challenges, that may result in changes to the itinerary below. The projects and activities to help with will vary throughout the year. We will do our best to adapt schedules to ensure that participants get to experience everything we have planned. 

The recommended minimum age for children is six years old however we do recognize there are exceptions so please reach out to us at Surf For Life regarding any questions about the age limit. 

An archipelago off the northwest coast of Panama, Bocas del Toro is an eco-tourism favorite with English-speaking and other tourists traveling to this Central American country. Seven islands (including Isla Colón, Isla Carenero, Isla Solarte and Isla Bastimentos) comprise the land area, with Bocas Town, its regional capital and the “big city,” for those looking to shop, dine, and explore nightlife. Colorful and utterly Caribbean, this town of clapboard houses was built by the United Fruit Company in the early 20th century. Today, Bocas is a relaxed community of West Indians, Latinos and resident gringos, with a friendly atmosphere that easily rubs off on visitors.

Adventure lovers will find plenty to keep them occupied, as scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, surfing and hiking are first-rate. Bocas serves as a convenient base for exploring the archipelago as water taxis ply the waters and can whisk you away to remote beaches and surf sites for a few dollars. The archipelago offers several superb and still uncrowded waves and are primarily reef breaks, similar to what one might find in the South Pacific or Indian Ocean. 

Give and Surf's mission is to provide sustainable empowerment to communities of Bocas del Toro, Panama, through education, self-determined community development, and positive respect of culture and traditions.

We are a locally embedded 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates year-round providing sustainable support to the local communities of Bocas del Toro, Panama. We are a family of staff members, volunteers, community members, parents, students, and teachers connected by our mutual passion to achieve positive change for communities of Bocas del Toro, Panama. We are not seeking to have a small impact on the greatest number possible. Instead, our approach has always been to have a deep, long-lasting, sustainable impact within the small communities we serve.

Find out more: www.giveandsurf.org

When living in remote island communities, we often face unpredictable situations and conditions, such as rainy weather conditions, power outages, and other challenges, that may result in changes to the itinerary below. We will do our best to adapt schedules to ensure that participants get to experience everything we have planned.

We recommend flying to Panama City on Friday the 27th of March and spending the night. If you need hotel recommendations, let us know. Plan to arrive in Bocas on Saturday around 2 or later in order to ensure you can check in to hotel rooms by 3pm. Consider taking a tour of the Panama Canal in the am. If you would like Give & Surf to book any logistics in Panama City on the 28th before your flight, they’re happy to do so.

Estimated costs: 

Pick up at Tocumen international airport and transfer to Albrook domestic airport: $15.00 per person 

1/2 day Panama Canal tour including pick up at international airport and drop off at domestic airport: $75 per person 

Day 1: SATURDAY 3/28 

Afternoon Arrival in Bocas del Toro (Hotel check in at 3) 

Welcome & orientation 

Day 2: SUNDAY 3/29 

Morning: Hands on Service Project 

Afternoon: Surf Lesson at Black Rock

Day 3: MONDAY 3/30 

Early morning surf session at Wizard 

Morning: Organic chocolate farm tour and visit to San Cristobal 

Afternoon: Volunteering at after-school programs 

Day 4: TUESDAY 3/31 

Morning: Surfing at Paunch or Tiger Tail 

Afternoon: Volunteering at after-school programs 

Day 5: WEDNESDAY 4/1 

Early morning surf session 

Morning: Jungle hike & waterfall tour 

Afternoon: Volunteering at after-school programs 

Day 6: THURSDAY 4/2 

Early morning surf session (optional) 

Morning: Boat Trip (included)

Afternoon: Volunteering at after-school programs 

Day 7: FRIDAY 4/3

(Good Friday is a holiday in Panama. No PM community center programs)

Early Surfing at choice destination & snorkel trip to Coral Key and Islas Zapatillas 

Flight to Panama City