Panama: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
63 harbours · 7 bridges and locks
Panama: 63 harbours, 7 bridges and locks, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Balboa and US dollar (equal in value, banknotes only in US dollars)
Clearing in: Independent state, outside the EU and Schengen. On the Caribbean side clear in at Bocas del Toro, Colón (Cristóbal, via Shelter Bay Marina), Portobelo, Puerto Lindo (Linton Bay), El Porvenir (Guna Yala) or Puerto Obaldía, on the Pacific side at Balboa (Flamenco), Pedregal (David, anchor off Boca Chica), Puerto Armuelles or Puerto Mutis; at the Marina Vista Mar only immigration, the cruising permit then within 72 hours in Flamenco, and the Islas de las Perlas are not a port of entry: first immigration for all persons, then the port captain of the Autoridad Marítima (AMP) with the cruising permit, compulsory for every yacht staying longer than three days. A national zarpe between ports. For the canal: registration with the canal authority ACP, admeasurement, an adviser on board, four line handlers, usually through an agent.
Ausreise: Clear out before departure and get the zarpe: without it the next state will not clear you in.
Documents: Passport valid for six months; Germans visa-free for up to 90 days. Boat papers, crew list, zarpe from the last country.
Fees: AMP cruising permit according to sailors about 185 USD for one year; in Guna Yala a fee of the Congreso General Guna per boat and person, plus small charges per island. Canal: toll by boat length from 2,130 USD under 19.8 m (ACP tariff since 1 January 2025), plus inspection, lines, fenders, line handlers and the agent.
Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system B: red to starboard when entering from seaward, the reverse of Europe. In Guna Yala (San Blas) reefs everywhere and incomplete charts: move only by day with the sun behind you, following the cruising guides. At Colón anchor only in the area off Shelter Bay Marina. On the Pacific side a tidal range of 4 to 6 m (Balboa), the Islas de las Perlas with rocks and current.
Nature: Guna Yala is Guna land with its own rules: fees, no scuba diving, do not take coconuts or shells, fishing only with permission. Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos (Bocas del Toro) and Coiba: entry fee per person and day (Coiba 20 USD, plus 60 USD per boat), in Coiba only with a permit from the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente), and the rangers check.
Tropical storm season: Panama lies south of the hurricane tracks; many yachts spend the season at Shelter Bay, Linton Bay, Bocas del Toro or in Guna Yala. There are no hurricanes on the Pacific side.
Emergency: 911; coast guard (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN) on VHF channel 16.
Sources: Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP), Panama Canal Authority: Maritime Tariffs, Item 1010 Tolls (1 January 2025), Noonsite: Panama, Auswärtiges Amt: Panama, travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Panama: Bocas del Toro
Panama: Colón and Portobelo (Shelter Bay, Linton Bay)
- Boca de Río Indio
- Buenaventura
- Club Náutico Caribe
- Isla Grande
- Linton Bay Marina
- Panamarina
- Portobelo
- Shelter Bay Marina
- Turtle Cay Marina
- Viento Frío
Panama: Gulf of Chiriquí and Coiba (Boca Chica, Pedregal, Santa Catalina)
- Boca Chica (Golf von Chiriquí)
- Charco Azul
- El Nance
- Gobernadora
- Limones
- Pedregal (David)
- Pixvae
- Puerto Armuelles
Panama: Guna Yala (San Blas, Puerto Obaldía)
- Achutupu
- Acuadub
- Ailigandí
- Caledonia
- Carreto
- Cayos Holandeses (Swimming Pool)
- Chichime (Guna Yala)
- Coco Bandero (Guna Yala)
- El Porvenir (Guna Yala)
- Gardi Muladub
- Gardi Yandub
- Green Island (Guna Yala)
- Isberyala
- Lemmon Cays (Guna Yala)
- Mormagedub (Isla Maquina)
- Nalunega
- Narganá
- Nuevo Sasardí-Mulatupu
- Ogubsucum
- Puerto Obaldía
- Tubualá
- Urgandí (Río Sidra)
Panama: Pacific (Balboa, Gulf of Panama, Pearl Islands)
Bridges and locks
Locks
- Esclusas de Gatún (cámara inferior)
- Esclusas de Gatún (cámaras superiores)
- Esclusas de Miraflores
- Esclusas de Pedro Miguel
Fixed bridges (3)
- Puente Atlántico 75 m
- Puente de las Américas 61.3 m
- Vía Centenario 80 m
Frequently asked questions
Panama: Do I need to clear in?
Independent state, outside the EU and Schengen. On the Caribbean side clear in at Bocas del Toro, Colón (Cristóbal, via Shelter Bay Marina), Portobelo, Puerto Lindo (Linton Bay), El Porvenir (Guna Yala) or Puerto Obaldía, on the Pacific side at Balboa (Flamenco), Pedregal (David, anchor off Boca Chica), Puerto Armuelles or Puerto Mutis; at the Marina Vista Mar only immigration, the cruising permit then within 72 hours in Flamenco, and the Islas de las Perlas are not a port of entry: first immigration for all persons, then the port captain of the Autoridad Marítima (AMP) with the cruising permit, compulsory for every yacht staying longer than three days. A national zarpe between ports. For the canal: registration with the canal authority ACP, admeasurement, an adviser on board, four line handlers, usually through an agent.
Panama: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport valid for six months; Germans visa-free for up to 90 days. Boat papers, crew list, zarpe from the last country.
Panama: What fees apply?
AMP cruising permit according to sailors about 185 USD for one year; in Guna Yala a fee of the Congreso General Guna per boat and person, plus small charges per island. Canal: toll by boat length from 2,130 USD under 19.8 m (ACP tariff since 1 January 2025), plus inspection, lines, fenders, line handlers and the agent.
Panama: What is the emergency number at sea?
911; coast guard (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN) on VHF channel 16.
Panama: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 63 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning. Plus 7 bridges and locks with opening times and clearances.