Panama is a turning point, not a destination, for most boats that arrive by sea. From Florida the route runs down through the Bahamas or along the Caribbean to Colón, with the December to March northerly swell and the Colombian coast's wind to plan around. From Panama City the next stop is usually the Galápagos and then the South Pacific, timed for the Pacific dry season and the departure windows the rallies use. Each end has its own paperwork: an international zarpe from the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) when you leave, Migración stamp-out for crew, and for the Galápagos a separate set of Ecuadorian permits that take weeks to arrange.
People ask: when should I leave Florida to reach Panama comfortably, is a rally worth the money, and can I pay someone to move the boat for me. The short answers: most boats aim to arrive in Panama between January and March, which also means a longer wait for a canal slot; rallies like the Panama Posse sell route information, discounts and company rather than any official status; and delivery captains work both directions, but the licence and insurance questions are different in Panama than in Florida.
This collection will cover sailing from Florida to Panama (routes, seasons, stops, clearing in), leaving Panama for the Galápagos and the South Pacific, the Panama Posse and other rallies, and hiring a delivery captain to or from Panama. Shelter Bay Marina is where most arrivals stage, and Las Perlas is the usual first stop westbound.
For readers starting in the US, the Florida to Bahamas boat trip guide and the page on returning to Florida by boat cover the first and last legs of the same journey.