Why boating in Panama is different from Florida
If you learned to boat in Florida, four things change the moment you arrive.
- Tides. The Pacific side rises and falls 4–6 m twice a day. Ramps, fuel docks, anchorages and the Amador causeway all look different at low water. The Caribbean side has almost no tide but gets a northerly swell from December to March.
- Two coasts, one country. You can keep a boat in Panama City and cruise Las Perlas, or keep it in Colón or Bocas del Toro and cruise the Caribbean. Moving between them means a canal transit, not a day trip.
- The canal. The Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) runs it and has a specific process for small craft under 125 ft. It is paperwork, a deposit and a scheduled day, not a drive-up.
- Different agencies. There is no Coast Guard, FWC or DMV. The Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) registers boats and licenses seafarers, the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (SENAN) boards boats and does rescue, the Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP) registers tour operators, and the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP) handles fishing. See official resources for the full list.
What stays the same: no hurricanes means no annual lay-up panic, but lightning and afternoon squalls in the rainy season (roughly May to November) still decide your day. Our Florida go/no-go weather guide applies here with the hurricane part removed.
Who this guide is for
You might be a Florida boater thinking about keeping a boat in Panama, an expat who just moved to Panama City, a cruiser staging for the canal, a captain or deckhand looking for work, or someone who wants to run boat tours from Amador. The guide is written for all of you, in English, with the Spanish terms you will hear on the dock. If you need a word explained, use the Spanish–English glossary.
It is not a travel brochure. It tells you which office you have to visit, what the document is called, and what to check before you pay.
How the guide is organised
Seven topic hubs mirror the Florida guide: buy & sell, ownership, careers, charter business, safety & wildlife, plus two Panama-only hubs: the canal & cruising and marinas. Place guides start with Panama City; the other regions listed below are being written and will link up as they publish.
Every page names its agency and links to the official source we opened. Where a fee could not be confirmed on an official page, we say so rather than guess. If you are new, the start here page routes you by what you want to do.
Who writes this
Yachty Guide is written by Fernando Yemail, owner of Feeling Yachty and a USCG-licensed captain. Feeling Yachty operates yacht rentals in Panama City, which is why this guide starts there. The Panama pages follow the same editorial policy and review process as the Florida guide: official sources first, opinions labelled as opinions, corrections welcome at contact. Read more on the about page.
The Florida guide: coming from the US? Compare Florida Locations.
Official resources
Use the relevant Panamanian authority for current requirements and fees. These resources are the next place to check; a practical recommendation is not an agency determination.