Travelling can inspire us by revealing new cultures, ideas, and perspectives on life. It helps to enrich and foster our personal growth by forcing us to step outside our comfort zone. If you choose to allow yourself to open up to a new way of thinking, then there is always the chance that this could lead to a new way of living, too.
Since our departure from Kenya over a year ago, our travels around the world have allowed us to encounter new and diverse cultural experiences from the people we meet along the way, picturesque places we never knew existed, conversations we may never have otherwise had, and the chance to live life in the moment.
To say that travelling as a couple is always easy would not be true. A year of constant, always-on-the-move travel can start to wear a person down, and there are plenty of demanding periods - such as when illness strikes, or language barriers occur, or the feeling of detachment from not having roots - which may test your sense of direction and purpose. Nevertheless, challenging moments help to create interesting memories, and after a while it becomes clear that - when travelling - the journey itself is the reward. Every new exploit informs our outlook on life and prepares us for future adventures.
After spending over three months roaming throughout Southeast Asia, we began to shift our focus onto the next chapter of our journey. But life has its own way of unfolding, often in ways we do not expect. A chance encounter with an old friend, Florian, led to an opportunity to collaborate with him at his kite center in Punta Chame, Panama. For us, finding employment in Central America afforded us a warm and windy solution to our travel plans and so we eagerly accepted his job proposal.
We were thrilled about the prospect of resuming our roles within the kitesurfing industry, and we immediately began planning our next journey by gearing up to chase the Pacific trade winds on yet another unforgettable kitesurfing adventure.
Cabrinha Kites cultivates an ethos that embodies the Hawaiian spirit of Ohana, or family. Having operated as distributors for Cabrinha for over a decade in Kenya, my wife and I established several lifelong friendships with the team and became part of a worldwide network that unites riders with a shared passion for the sport.
Celebrating the recently relocated Cabrinha/Dakine Commercial HQ offices now based in Coconut Grove, Miami, we decided to fly via the States and catch up with the crew before continuing to Panama for the season. What became apparent upon meeting the Miami-based team is a collective passion for watersports and their dedication towards creating quality products.
This year marks a significant moment in Cabrinha Kites' history. Wanting to shake things up, the 2025 motto, “Think Different”, is about mixing innovation and performance with creativity and fun, fueling the collective passion for watersports as well as a dedication towards developing top tier products. Coinciding with their 2025 product launch in December, we picked up some fresh gear for the season, bid the team our farewells and continued on our journey.
The flight between Miami and Panama City typically takes a little over three hours. On approach, you are greeted by a skyline dominated by shimmering skyscrapers and high-rise buildings that scatter the seaside. The views function as a reminder that Panama City is a vibrant metropolis, a financial hub, and one of the most cosmopolitan capitals in Latin America. Driving west along the Pan-American Highway, it takes roughly two hours to arrive in Punta Chame from Panama City. The final stretch, after passing through the town of Bejuco, is a bumpy coastal road winding down through hills, and passed beautiful lakes and stunning farmland.
No matter how much we travel, there is always something thrilling about stepping into an unfamiliar environment, not knowing what to expect but being intent on discovering what lies in store ahead.
Situated along Panama’s impressive Pacific coastline, Punta Chame is a finger-shaped, 25 km-long peninsula that hosts ocean on both sides and a small fisherman’s village at the very point. Regardless of where you stay on the headland, you are never far from the sea.
Renowned for stunning, unspoiled beaches, Punta Chame offers a laid-back and harmonious ambience ideal for travelers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and unwind in a rustic location away from the crowds. Settling in was easy for us. The calm environment and tranquil vibe were just what we needed in order to connect with the nature around us and reawaken our senses to the natural world.
As nature enthusiasts, we were delighted to discover that Punta Chame is also a bird watching paradise. The wetlands and mangroves bordering the peninsula are important sites for migratory shorebirds, and are home to a wide variety of other bird species as well as numerous brightly colored iguanas.
Getting around the peninsula is done by using the one main road or walking along the beach. Equipped with two bicycles for the season, we were able to move around easily, discover the local spots, and keep fit at the same time!
Situated in a prime beachfront location, the Panama Kite Center (PKC) operates as a kite camp and consists of a kite school, a fully stocked kite shop, a beach bar, and two unique styles of accommodations to choose from.
Fueling you in between your sessions is the Sole Beach Club. Serving both local and international cuisine throughout the day, the restaurant acts as a great hangout spot to relax, work remotely, or mingle and connect with fellow kiters after a great session. With various chill spots scattered around the plot, plus the recent addition of an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean, you are never too far from spectacular views of all the action out on the water.
During the dry season (December – April) the seasonal northerly trade winds are the most dependable and will generate daily wind speeds averaging between 15 - 25 knots. Due to the venturi effect created by the wind funneling between the peninsula and the main bay of Bahia de Chame, the breeze is usually stronger in the morning, backs off around noon, and then picks back up in the afternoon.
The main kite beach is huge and stretches out towards the fishing village on the point of the peninsula. The water in the bay is choppy, and when riding, you can expect to find bump-and-jump conditions with small waves building on the shoreline during the higher tides. The kite spot at PKC is unique in the sense that there is an inlet that helps the sandbar formation on the beach shape a tidal lagoon directly in front of the center. The lagoon provides a calm and protected shallow water environment that caters to riders of all skill levels and riding styles.
To say Punta Chame has beautiful sunsets is a vast understatement. Here, kiting during the golden hour is a truly spectacular experience that is guaranteed to remain with you long after you depart from Panama.
If, like me, you are always on a quest to discover new flat water spots to shred, then the sandbars at Isla Taborcillo will be right up your alley. Situated across the bay, the sand banks that stretch out from the island are only accessible around the full and new moon, which is during the spring lunar cycle when the tides are at their lowest point. With kilometers of butter-flat lagoons to choose from, this spot is legitimately one of the coolest locations I have ever ridden and a total must-do for any kiter visiting the peninsula. PKC also organizes boat shuttle trips based around the tidal schedule and it is a fantastic kite safari to share with other riders when the wind is up and the tides exceptionally low.
If you are still keen to check out more of Chames’ hidden gems, then there are two additional lagoons to explore. Both work best around mid-tide. Easily reached by downwinder from the center, the first and smaller of the two is a quick ten-minute ride downwind from the main beach. Continuing past this lagoon you arrive at a river mouth that unfolds into the second lagoon. This spot is a true freestyle heaven. Forming a spacious area, the sandbars provide sheltered, butter-flat conditions that are perfect for advanced riders to practice their unhooked tricks. With such a vast playground to choose from, it was the perfect setting to assess all the new Cabrinha kites that we brought with us from Miami! This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Switchblade, making it one of the longest-running kite models in the industry. For over a decade now, the Switchblade has always been my go-to kite for freeriding and big air conditions, and with the incorporation of the latest Apex materials for 2025, you immediately feel the difference in the kite’s responsiveness, stability, and performance across a wide range of styles.
Getting our hands on Cabrinha’s first Aluula model, the Moto X Design Works, was like an early Christmas present. As part of their premium line, the Aluula material provides unparalleled stability and rigidity, increases the kite’s wind range, and makes it a jumping and looping machine.
On no-wind days, there are several exhilarating activities to partake in around the peninsula, including surf trips to Playa Caracol, sunrise hikes, waterfall and canyon excursions as well as island boat tours.
Working in Latin America has meant brushing up on our Spanish and adapting to an unfamiliar environment away from Africa and everything with which we are familiar.
Feeling out the kitesurfing scene in Panama has been a fascinating journey. The spot attracts a mixed bag of international clientele from the United States, Canada, and Europe, and given its proximity to the capital, Punta Chame also has a vibrant domestic kite scene, drawing local riders, expats, and families who arrive from the city to enjoy the venue on weekends.
First appearing on the kitesurfing radar way back in 2014, Panama began gaining traction as a kiteboarding destination when the PKRA (Professional Kiteboard Riders Association) world tour held one of their championship stops on the peninsula. Yet, despite its steady growth, Punta Chame remains a relatively undiscovered kitesurfing paradise.
The paradox of mass tourism is a double-edged sword, with so many places becoming spoilt by the growing travel industry. For us, what makes Punta Chame such a special location is its serenity. Whether it is listening to the waves pound on the shoreline or simply taking long, peaceful walks on the beach, this quiet little Panamanian beach town, away from large-scale tourism, has a profound way of helping you to unwind and recharge your soul.
With guaranteed board shorts weather during the season, constant wind, and an assortment of flat water lagoons and downwinders to choose from, the spot provides a hidden oasis for riders of all levels and is the perfect destination to escape the winter in Europe and North America.
