Pavones is a small surf town made famous by its legendary left break, which is said to be the second-longest in the world (the first being off the coast of Peru). The name actually means “turkeys” in Spanish, for the wild turkeys that inhabit the area (known in English by the more regal name of the Great Curassow).
Pavones first began to develop touristically in the 1970s, when wealthy Californian Dan Fowlie, who had discovered the amazing left several years before, purchased the majority of the land there. Fowlie then set about bringing in building materials and machinery to establish an infrastructural base for the town, including schools, churches, the medical center, the soccer field and most of the roads. Since that time tourist infrastructure has continued to grow, although some of the original amenities, such as the roads, have begun to deteriorate
Pavones, though primarily known for its beach, is also surrounded by lush rain forest, making it conducive to activities such as nature hikes and horseback rides as well as surfing. Further up the road – about half an hour by bike – is the tiny community of Punta Banco, which has a reef break with lefts and rights (best at high tide) and makes a nice day trip.