Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Charter Business.
Run it legally. Run it well.
Charters and boat tours,
the Panama way.
A charter or boat-tour business in Panama answers to three agencies: the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) for the vessel and crew, the Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP) for tourism registration, and the ARAP if fishing is on offer. This hub covers the company setup, every permit, which boats and crew qualify, and the trips that actually sell from Panama City.
THE OPERATOR'S DESK PANAMA CITY + LAS PERLAS + SAN BLAS
01
THE OPERATOR'S DESK
Starting a charter business
The S.A., the aviso de operación, municipal taxes, operating models (day charter, tours, bareboat, management), pricing in Panama City, bookings through Yappy and cards, and weather policies written for tides, squalls and Caribbean swell.
Panama City
Starting a charter business in Panama City
Panama City specifics: S.A. and aviso de operación, ATP tourism registration, AMP vessel inspection, licensed captain, ACP permit, SENAN manifests, ITBMS.
Panama City
Boat tours from Panama City: what to expect
Boat tours from Panama City: Taboga and Las Perlas trips, bay cruises, canal tour boats, fishing. Durations, Flamenco pickup, what a legal operator shows.
02
THE OPERATOR'S DESK
Licences, permits & inspections
ATP registration as transporte turístico marítimo, AMP commercial vessel licensing and inspection, ARAP for fishing, MiAmbiente for parks, liability insurance, passenger limits, and where you can legally pick guests up in Panama City.
Panama City
Starting a charter business in Panama City
Panama City specifics: S.A. and aviso de operación, ATP tourism registration, AMP vessel inspection, licensed captain, ACP permit, SENAN manifests, ITBMS.
Panama City
Marine offices and contacts in Panama City
Where each agency sits in Panama City and what it does: AMP at Diablo Heights, ACP at Balboa, SENAN on the causeway, ATP on Avenida Balboa, Migración.
03
THE OPERATOR'S DESK
Eligible boats & crew
Which flag and registration class can charter, whether a US-flagged boat can work here, captain and crew requirements for commercial trips, bareboat realities, management programmes and turnarounds.
Panama City
Hiring yacht crew in Panama City: law, where, how
Hiring marineros and stews in Panama City: Código de Trabajo contracts, CSS, décimo tercer mes, the 10% foreign cap, AMP licences, trial days, contracts.
Panama City
Captain jobs in Panama City: where the work is
Captain work in Panama City: day-charter fleets, private yachts, deliveries, canal line-handling, fishing. AMP licence rules and how to approach operators.
04
THE OPERATOR'S DESK
Trips & activities that sell
Las Perlas and Taboga day trips, San Blas with Guna agreements, whale watching (July–October) under MiAmbiente rules, fishing with ARAP licences, dive trips to Coiba and Portobelo, jet-ski rentals, events and overnights.
Panama City
Boat tours from Panama City: what to expect
Boat tours from Panama City: Taboga and Las Perlas trips, bay cruises, canal tour boats, fishing. Durations, Flamenco pickup, what a legal operator shows.
Panama City
Las Perlas from Panama City: distance, fuel, anchorages
Amador to Contadora is about 35 nm. Carry fuel for the round trip plus 20%, leave early, pick anchorages by season; no reliable fuel dock in the islands.
Panama City
Taboga from Panama City: private boat or ferry?
Taboga is about 8 nm from Amador: 25 minutes by private boat or 30 on the Taboga Express or Calypso ferry. Anchoring, moorings, landing, swell, crowds.
Panama City
Amador Causeway boating guide: marinas, fuel, pickups
The Calzada de Amador for boaters: Flamenco Marina, La Playita, fuel, parking, charter pickups, Taboga ferries, canal traffic and tides at the ramps.