In this work, a hybrid particle-penalization technique is proposed to achieve accurate and efficient computations of 3D incompressible flows past bluff bodies. This immersed boundary approach that maintains the efficiency and the robustness of vortex methods, moreover allows to easily model complex media, like solid-fluid-porous ones, without prescribing any boundary condition. The method is applied to implement porous coatings on bluff-bodies in order to passively control the flow dynamics and drag forces.