Anchoring is normal in Panama. A cruising yacht with its zarpe, cruising permit and crew list in order can anchor in most coastal waters without a separate anchoring permit. The limits come from the ACP in canal waters, MiAmbiente in protected areas and comarca rules in Guna Yala. The three anchorages most boats use are La Playita in Panama City, Las Perlas and Portobelo.
The rules: who controls where you anchor
- Your papers. A foreign yacht needs its clearance, cruising permit and zarpe between ports. A Panamanian boat needs its patente or licencia de navegación and a licensed operator. SENAN boards boats at anchor, so keep the papers aboard. See the Panama cruising permit.
- The AMP. Decreto Ejecutivo 4 of 11 February 2025 (Article 15) tells the AMP to set anchoring areas and lets its board set the rules and tariffs for them. Article 16 exempts foreign yachts on nautical-tourism stays of up to a year from arrival and anchoring charges. We found no published AMP anchoring tariff, so confirm with the AMP.
- The ACP. The canal's anchorages are for ships. Movements in canal waters are controlled by the Flamenco and Cristóbal signal stations on VHF 12 (ACP Notice to Shipping N-02-2025). Small craft may not enter canal operational areas without ACP permission. Stay outside the buoyed channel.
- MiAmbiente. National parks and protected areas have their own rules, including Portobelo, Isla Bastimentos, Coiba and the Golfo de Chiriquí. Never anchor on coral. See Panama's protected marine areas.
- Guna Yala. San Blas charges its own fees, which are not published officially. See San Blas permits and fees.
Panama City: La Playita, Las Brisas and Balboa moorings
La Playita anchorage lies outside the small breakwater on the south side of the Amador Causeway, next to La Playita marina. It is where most cruisers wait for a Pacific-side transit. Reports on the holding differ. Some describe soft mud that holds well. Noonsite (2022) calls it poor and hard, and advises an anchor alarm and plenty of chain. Back down hard. Expect wakes from pilot boats and tugs, and 4–6 m of tide. The marina's dinghy dock was about $35 a week in 2019. The marina is on VHF 9.
Las Brisas de Amador, north-west of Isla Perico, is the rainy-season alternative when south and south-east winds blow. Noonsite (2022) reports mostly mud-and-shell holding, with two patches of debris that hold badly. A sunken sailboat lies at 08°55.309′N, 079°32.107′W. The free dinghy dock is for loading and unloading only. In the dry season, northerly gap winds make it rough.
Balboa Yacht Club moorings sit under the Bridge of the Americas. Book in advance. A 24-hour launch takes you ashore and dinghies are not used. Expect roll from passing traffic. The cruisers' net runs on VHF 74 at 08:00.
Las Perlas: sand, current and a 5 m tide
The Pearl Islands start about 35 nm from Amador. The best anchorages are sand patches in the lee of the northern islands: Contadora, Pacheca, Mogo Mogo, Chapera and Saboga. Choose the south side in dry-season northerlies and the north side in the rainy season.
Allow for about 5 m of tide. Some small anchorages dry completely, and current between the islands can run over 2 knots off Saboga. Rock lies under thin sand in places, so dive on the anchor or back down hard. The San José resort has moorings, and Pedro González has a small marina. Armed robberies were reported near Isla del Rey in 2023, so stay in the busier northern group and anchor in company. The full island-by-island guide is Las Perlas anchorages.
Portobelo and the Puerto Lindo moorings
Portobelo is the big natural harbour east of Colón. Noonsite gives the entrance at 09°33.18′N, 79°40.50′W (updated April 2025). There is almost no tide (under 0.6 m), so anchoring is about wind, swell and holding rather than depth changes. Northerly swell from December to March makes the coast passage lumpy, but the bay itself is sheltered.
The AMP has an office in Portobelo, but Noonsite (July 2019) reported that it could not issue cruising permits. The immigration branch could stamp you in, but not issue visas. Most skippers finish the paperwork in Colón. Noonsite also reported a dinghy stolen overnight, while chain-locked, in 2017. Lift it at night.
If you would rather pick up a mooring, there are two nearby. Panamarina has screw-type moorings in 2–4 m inside Portobelo National Park, from $0.29–0.44 per foot per day. Linton Bay Marina has 16 mooring balls with a dinghy dock.
Using a mooring safely
Panama has no public mooring fields. Moorings belong to a marina, a resort, a club or a local operator such as Carlos Moorings at Boca Chica in Chiriquí. Before you trust one, ask three things: who maintains it, when the tackle was last inspected, and what size of boat it is rated for. Then check the pendant for chafe yourself.
On the Pacific, a mooring pendant must allow for the full tide range, or the boat can snub hard at high water. For anchoring technique in big tides and around reefs, see docking and anchoring safety.
Your practical starting checklist
- Carry your zarpe, cruising permit or patente, crew list and licences aboard at every anchorage.
- Check the ACP Amador tide table and anchor in enough water for the lowest low of your stay.
- Set scope for the high-water depth and allow room to swing when the current turns.
- Keep clear of the canal's buoyed channel and call the signal station on VHF 12 if you must move in canal waters.
- Anchor in sand or mud, never on coral, and check park rules before anchoring in a protected area.
- Lock and lift the dinghy and outboard every night.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to anchor in Panama?
There is no separate anchoring permit for a cleared recreational yacht that we could find. Your cruising permit or Panamanian registration covers you. Protected areas, Guna Yala and canal waters add their own rules.
Is anchoring at La Playita free?
No fee has been reported for the anchorage itself. You pay the marina for the dinghy dock, which was about $35 a week in 2019.
Can I anchor near the Panama Canal?
Only outside the ACP's channels and ship anchorages. Small craft may not enter canal operational areas without ACP permission. Use La Playita or Las Brisas on the Pacific, and the yacht anchorage or Shelter Bay on the Caribbean.
Is it safe to anchor in Panama?
Mostly, but theft from anchored boats is reported in Bocas, Linton Bay and Portobelo. In Las Perlas, robberies were reported near Isla del Rey in 2023. Anchor where other boats are, and lock everything.
The next question to answer
The sub-hub for every marina, anchoring and docking guide. Read Marinas, docking and anchoring in Panama.
Island by island: holding, exposure and current. Read Las Perlas anchorages.
When a slip beats the anchorage. Read Choosing a marina in Panama.
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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.
- Gaceta Oficial: Decreto Ejecutivo 4 of 11 Feb 2025, Arts. 15–16 ↗
- ACP: Notice to Shipping N-02-2025, Harbor Operations ↗
- Noonsite (secondary): Balboa docking and anchorages ↗
- Noonsite (secondary): Portobelo clearance ↗
- Noonsite (secondary): Portobelo general information ↗