by surfallover » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:45 am
This is meant just to be an assement of my trip there in about 2000, so things could have changed.
I must start off by noting that I got lucky I think, we actually got some waves, a few days of double-to-double and half overhead waves. However, after traveling all over central american and panama, I must admit that the waves at Morro Negrito are far from world class. They can be fun and even pretty good, but each wave has a major flaw.
P-Land: can be good but is very tide sensitve and has big rocks that portrude into the wave so it can only be ridden in sections.
Left-overs: This is the wrap wave, it is much smaller than the outside (P-land) but it is very fun, but also drains out fast on low tide.
The Point: We got big swell and this place was not even close to working. It breaks right onto the rocks and is not a very good wave.
Sandbar: This is a super-fun wave, it breaks way out at river mouth and can be surfed for a long time. Not that critical and not super high performance. The problem here is that the current is so strong that you have to paddle constantly, thus if you are not in great shape you will get tired quick.
Emily's: Fun wave also, but super inconsistent, and very tide-sensitve.
I have been to many surf camps and this one rates as my least favorite for several reasons. Keep in mind I got decent waves here, but they are not the type of waves you travel for. For my money if I am going to fly 6 hours and stay overnight at a hotel then take a bus for 4 hours and then take an hour long panga ride, I better end up in Indo. Secondly the staff is fairly unhelpful. I don't eat fish and I asked the cook to make be some alternative food, but she was so lazy that she just made fish with rice and vegetables, and served me a big plate of rice and vegetables. At every other place I have been they have accomadated me by making substitute food. Thirdly, I got very sick there, the water pressure went out and I think I got something from the water, that could happen anywhere, but the beds were either cots or some had mattresses. I was very sick and unconformtable and when I asked them to bring me a more comfortable bed they did nothing, and I had to go move a bed myself when I had been vomitting for 12 hours straight. Fourthly, the guides knew nothing about the waves they took us to, after a few days my crew was more on it than the guides who did not understand tides and swell, they were just guys that worked for tips and had nothing else better. Lastly, I felt that the boats and drivers made the trip more dangerous than simple adequate precaution would have made it. The boats had no first aid kits, and somebody on my trip actually cut themselves open pretty good, no sateline phones or radios to get help if something went wrong, and the boat drivers fished while we surfed, thus if somebody got hurt there was nobody to come help. This is a long post and these are simply my subjective impressions that I hope will help anybody make an informed decision. Overall, this camp was pretty bad, the service and waves were lackluster. However, this camp is not expensive and the island and surrounding are absolutely beautiful. I guess I want better waves and more luxery, but that is how I prefer to travel.
