Panama's Caribbean coast runs east from the canal at Colón to Portobelo, Linton and Isla Grande, then into San Blas (Guna Yala) and on to the Colombian border, and west about 140 nautical miles to Bocas del Toro. The tide is under half a metre, the water is clear, and the reefs are the danger. December to April brings strong trades and swell; the rest of the year is calmer, wetter and full of lightning.
The coast, east to west
| Leg | Approx. distance | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter Bay (Colón) to Portobelo | 20 nm | Canal staging, yard, marina |
| Portobelo to Linton Bay / Isla Grande | 6 nm | Marinas, yards, anchorages |
| Linton Bay to Porvenir (western San Blas) | 38 nm | Guna Yala begins |
| Porvenir to Puerto Obaldía (Colombian border) | 105 nm or more | Eastern San Blas, few supplies |
| Colón to Bocas del Toro | 140 nm | Open coast, then a sheltered archipelago |
Distances are measured between typical waypoints; the reef-strewn coastal route is longer.
Colón and Shelter Bay. Shelter Bay Marina at the old Fort Sherman is where most yachts wait for a canal transit. Colón itself has a serious crime problem; take taxis, not walks.
Portobelo, Linton and Isla Grande. Portobelo's bay has strong holding in mud on the north side and a cruisers' net on VHF 72 at 09:00. Linton Bay Marina and Panamarina are the yards. The Linton Bay anchorage is often swell-affected; behind Isla Linton is better except in north or east wind; Isla Grande is sheltered from trades and swell but rolls with boat traffic.
San Blas. Some 40 nm east, Guna Yala is a self-governing comarca with its own fees and rules; see San Blas by boat.
West to Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro is an archipelago of mangrove islands near the Costa Rican border, with the most sheltered water on this coast and three marinas: Bocas Marina and Marina Carenero by Bocas Town, and Red Frog Marina on Isla Bastimentos. Many boats spend the rainy season there. The 140 nm from Colón is an open-coast passage with few safe stops; do it in one go in settled weather, and note that theft of dinghies, outboards and deck gear from anchored boats is common in Bocas.
Winter trades and swell, December to April
From about December to April the northeast trades blow strongest and steadiest. This is the best sailing and the worst anchoring: northerly swell runs onto the outer reefs, Porvenir becomes uncomfortable in a lively northeast wind, and reef-protected anchorages like the East Holandes roll in strong trades. Panama's weather institute (IMHPA) also warns of cold-front surges from the north that bring heavy rain to the western Caribbean. Pick anchorages behind islands and reef, not open bays.
From May to November the trades fade. Calm days, clearer underwater visibility, afternoon thunderstorms and lightning, and no-see-ums when the wind drops below 3 or 4 knots. See Panama boating seasons.
"No hurricanes" and the far west
Panama lies south of the usual Atlantic hurricane tracks, which is why boats summer here. It is not a guarantee. In November 2016 Hurricane Otto formed about 105 nm north of Colón, passed about 75 nm north-north-east of it, and made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane just north of the Costa Rica border, the southernmost hurricane landfall recorded in Central America. The US National Hurricane Center's report cites eight deaths in Panama from its rain, and two sailors missing from a ship that sank off Colón. Watch the tropical outlooks from June to November, especially in Bocas.
Reef navigation
Electronic charts of San Blas and parts of the coast are offset or incomplete. Noonsite carries a warning that four sailing yachts were wrecked on San Blas reefs in one season by crews relying on commercial charts, and cruisers report uncharted 2 to 3 m patches and depths that go from 10 m to almost nothing without warning. The standard reference is Eric Bauhaus's Panama Cruising Guide, with its own waypoints and sketch charts.
- Move between 10:00 and 15:00 with the sun high and behind you.
- Use a bow lookout with polarised glasses.
- Never arrive at night.
- Treat any plotter track as a suggestion.
Fuel, provisioning and security
Fuel is the planning problem. Shelter Bay has no fuel dock; diesel comes by delivery boat when available, or by jerry can from a Colón station. Portobelo can arrange diesel and water delivery. Linton Bay lists fuel; confirm before you count on it. Panamarina has none. In Bocas, Bocas Marina sells diesel and Red Frog has a fuel dock open weekdays. We found no fuel dock in San Blas; carry what you need.
Provision in Colón or Panama City before San Blas; island shops carry basics, and vegetable boats call at the popular anchorages. Security reports cover armed boardings at Portobelo and thefts in Colón anchorages and Bocas: lock up, lift the dinghy at night and anchor near other boats. Full details are in fuel, water and provisioning.
Your practical starting checklist
- Fill fuel and provisions in Colón or Panama City; assume no fuel in San Blas.
- Buy the Bauhaus Panama Cruising Guide and load its waypoints alongside your charts.
- Get a domestic zarpe naming your next port before leaving Colón or Linton.
- From December to April, choose anchorages behind reef and islands, not open bays.
- Move between 10:00 and 15:00 with a bow lookout; never enter a reef pass at night.
- Lock the boat and lift the dinghy every night, especially in Portobelo, Colón and Bocas.
- From June to November, check NHC tropical outlooks before the Bocas run.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Caribbean coast of Panama safe from hurricanes?
It is south of the usual hurricane tracks, but not immune: Hurricane Otto passed about 75 nm from Colón in 2016, and the NHC report cites eight deaths in Panama from its rain. Watch the tropical outlooks from June to November.
When is the best time to sail Panama's Caribbean coast?
December to April for steady trades and dry weather, if you can live with swell in the anchorages. May to November for calm water and better snorkelling, with afternoon thunderstorms.
How far is San Blas from Colón by boat?
About 60 nm from Shelter Bay to Porvenir: roughly 20 to Portobelo, 6 to Linton and 38 more to the western San Blas. Most boats stop at Linton or Portobelo on the way.
Where can I get diesel on Panama's Caribbean side?
By delivery at Shelter Bay or Portobelo, at Linton Bay if the dock is operating, and at Bocas Marina and Red Frog in Bocas del Toro. Do not count on fuel in San Blas.
The next question to answer
Both coasts, seasons and permits. Read Panama cruising grounds.
Guna fees, anchoring charges and rules. Read San Blas by boat.
Where most Caribbean-side transits start. Read Shelter Bay Marina.
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.
- NOAA NHC: Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Otto (AL162016) ↗
- Noonsite: Portobelo docking, anchorage, delivery fuel, security (Apr 2025) — secondary ↗
- noforeignland: Linton Bay area anchorages (Linton, Isla Linton, Isla Grande, Portobelo) — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Cruising information for the San Blas Islands (swell, navigation, supplies) — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Cristóbal (Colón) general info, Shelter Bay fuel delivery and security — secondary ↗
- La Estrella: IMHPA December outlook, cold-front surges in the Caribbean ↗