With waves breaking at 12+ feet, Dumpers beach has some of the best surfing not just in Bocas del Toro but in all of Panama. Dumpers’ wide-open tubes create long, exciting rides unlike any other in the region.  Expert surfers visit Bocas simply for the challenge of riding Dumpers’ intense waves over shallow coral. But Dumpers may not be around for long as a surfer's Mecca in Central America.

In the absence of an organized waste management plan in Bocas del Toro, Dumpers beach has become an impromptu garbage dump, owing to its convenient location on Isla Colón.  Now the natural beauty of this surf spot is undermined by an expanding heap of trash encroaching on Dumpers’ whitesand beach.  As this dump grows larger, it will destroy the sustainability of beach’s environment and wildlife ,and threaten the health of surfers visiting the spot. 

Dumpers is one example of a larger problem in Bocas del Toro.  Without a system in place to address the archipelago’s waste management problem, more of these garbage heaps will crop up across the islands.  The Bocas Sustainable Tourism Alliance is committed to preventing this.  BSTA supports the efforts of the Bocas Waste Management Committee, a coalition of concerned Bocas residents and visitors dedicated to combating the waste management issues in Bocas del Toro and implementing long-term, sustainable alternatives.

To find out howyou can support the Bocas Waste Management Committee, visit the Tourist Information Center, centrally located on Calle 3, or contact the BSTA at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Written by :

Laura Ell

 

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