Reef
both
Level 6/10

Panga Drops

Rivas, Nicaragua
🪸Sharp reef🦈Sharks

Panga Drops is the Emerald Coast's swell magnet—a deep water reef break that catches and amplifies swell when other spots remain small. The wave offers long rides with wide open faces and a softer character than the nearby heavy reefs, making it excellent for progressive surfing rather than pure barrel hunting. Boat access via panga (local fishing boat) is required, which adds adventure while keeping crowds manageable. When the southwest pulse arrives, Panga Drops provides some of the most consistent quality surf in the entire region.

3-Day Forecast
Today
29
69
Good
1.1m
@16s
22km/h
Thu
30
73
Good
1.1m
@15s
23km/h
Fri
1
59
Fair
1.0m
@15s
20km/h
+7
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Today's Conditions

Swell
1.1m
SSW(195°)
Score: 8/25
Period
16s
Long period groundswell
Score: 23/25
Wind
22km/h
ENE(70°)
Score: 25/25
Weather
31°C
0.0mm14%
Windswell Component
0.4mENE@2s
Secondary Swell
0.4mWSW
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
afternoon
AM: 20 km/h NE|PM: 20 km/h ENE
Similar wind — afternoon has better tide for this spot
High tide at 12pm (1.4m)

Location & Conditions

Loading map...
0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
View in OpenStreetMap
Showing forecast for today

Tide Times

6:32 am
Low tide - -0.49m
12:53 pm
High tide - 1.35m
7:11 pm
Low tide - -0.52m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

69
Good
Components
Swell Direction13/25
Swell Size8/25
Swell Period23/25
Wind25/25
Raw Score69/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score69

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
SW (215°)
Direction range
185° - 260°
Size range
1m - 4m
Ideal size
3.3m
Height multiplier
1.00×
Ideal period
17s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
NE (55°)
Offshore range
15° - 95°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
mid to high
Optimal range
0.5m - 2m

Water temp

28°C

Wetsuit

Boardshorts / Rashguard

Difficulty

6/10

Crowd level

3/10

Access: Panga (boat) access from Popoyo area. Multiple operators.

Best Season

Peak: Apr-Oct

Secondary: Mar, Nov

Deep water reef magnifies swell. Works all season.

Getting There

Airport
MGA
Drive time
115 min
Boat required
$40
Data quality
verified

🤙 Strike Specialist

The Strike Specialist in Nicaragua is Sea Nicaragua Travel. Get in touch with them for the best chance of scoring the best waves in Nicaragua — and don't forget to tell 'em Barrel D sent ya.

Strike Log

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