The Pearl Islands (Archipiélago de las Perlas) start about 35 nautical miles from Amador, and the best anchorages are sand patches in the lee of the northern islands: Contadora, Pacheca, Mogo Mogo, Chapera and Saboga. Further south, Pedro González and San José have marinas or moorings, while Isla del Rey is big, shoal and more remote. Pick the side of each island by season, allow for 5 m of tide, and expect strong current between islands.
How to choose an anchorage
Three things decide every anchorage here.
- Season. Dry-season northerlies (about December to April) make north-facing beaches rolly; go to the south side. In the rainy season (May to November) southerly swell runs in, and the north sides are the shelter.
- Tide. The range reaches about 5 m. Anchor in enough water for the low, let out scope for the high, and expect sand bars and mudflats to appear at low water. Some small anchorages, such as off Isla Taborcillo, dry completely.
- Current. It runs hard in the channels between islands: over 2 knots off Saboga, strong mid-channel at Chapera, and very strong around Isla Galera. Anchor out of the channel and expect to swing.
Most good holding is sand; several anchorages have rock under a thin layer of sand, so dive on the anchor or back down hard.
Anchorages island by island
| Anchorage | Holding and bottom | Exposure and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contadora, north side (Playa Galeón, Playa Larga) | Decent holding | Good shelter from swell in the rainy season; floating debris, generator noise |
| Contadora, south and west (Playa Suecas, Playa Cacique) | Sand | Sheltered side in dry-season north-easterlies; Suecas is the naturist beach |
| Isla Pacheca, south-east | Good | Sheltered; seabirds and a strong guano smell, turtles, pangas |
| Mogo Mogo | Excellent, sand | Calm nights, clear water; wind can shift |
| Chapera, south-east | Good, sand | South side sheltered from north and south winds; sand dries at low water; strong mid-channel current |
| Saboga, Playa El Deseo | Sand over rock in places | Current from the north can exceed 2 knots; village ashore |
| Pedro González, northern bay | Not reported | Village anchorage; marina behind a breakwater (see below) |
| Isla San José, Bodega Bay (west) | Resort moorings reported strong | About 1.6 km long; moorings at the resort, facilities charge reported |
| Isla del Rey, west coast | Shoal | Almost nowhere to anchor; remote; 2018 and 2023 robberies nearby |
Bayoneta and Viveros are not described in the sources we could open beyond the marina on Viveros; check the Bauhaus Panama Cruising Guide before going there.
Contadora: supplies, airstrip and ferry
Contadora is the developed island and the logistics hub. It has a small airport, hotels, restaurants and a couple of small supermarkets, plus the ferry pier for boats from Amador. Expect basics, not a full provision; bring what you need from Panama City. Water is limited, so a watermaker helps on a long stay. Contadora has a small service station for island vehicles, but it is not a fuel dock. The ferry is useful for crew changes: guests can come out from Amador while the boat stays at anchor, and leave the same way. Rubbish is a problem on small islands, so take yours back to the city. The Las Perlas from Panama City guide covers the crossing, fuel planning and ferries.
Marinas and moorings in the islands
Pedro González. La Península Beach Club and Marina, built in 2015 on the private island of Pedro González, has about 40 slips on floating pontoons behind a breakwater in the north-east corner of the bay, with a ferry link to the city. Cruisers report that fuel there is arranged by WhatsApp and reachable only near high tide.
Viveros. Noonsite lists Mara'naa Las Perlas Marina and Beach Club, a small marina still under construction with room for about six boats, and water, diesel and gasoline on request. Its listed rates were US$45 a day up to 40 ft and US$65 up to 60 ft; confirm before you go.
San José. The resort on the west side has moorings for visiting yachts.
Security and navigation
Noonsite records an armed boarding of a yacht at anchor off Isla del Rey in February 2023, a second violent robbery in March 2023, and a robbery at the Río Cacique anchorage in December 2018, reported to police at La Esmeralda. Cruising sources advise against anchoring alone overnight in remote spots, especially near San Miguel. The northern islands, with other boats around, are the safer choice.
Navigate by eye as well as by plotter. Rocks and shoals between the islands are poorly charted, and the channel between Isla Casaya and Isla La Miña is charted at only about 1 m; SAIL magazine's contributor passed it at high-water slack. Plan inter-island moves around the tide using the Pacific tides guide.
Your practical starting checklist
- Fill fuel and provisions in Panama City; Contadora supplies are basic.
- Check the ACP Amador tide table and note low-water times for your anchorages.
- Choose the island side by season: south side in dry-season northerlies, north side in the rainy season.
- Anchor in sand outside the channels, with depth for low water and scope for 5 m more.
- Dive on or back down hard on the anchor where rock lies under the sand.
- Move between islands near slack water and in good light.
- Overnight in company; avoid lone anchorages around Isla del Rey and San Miguel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best anchorage in Las Perlas?
Mogo Mogo and the south-east side of Chapera get the best reviews for sand holding and calm nights, and Contadora's north side is the rainy-season favourite. The best one on a given night depends on wind direction.
Is there a marina in the Pearl Islands?
Yes, small ones: La Península Beach Club and Marina on Pedro González (about 40 slips) and a small marina under construction on Viveros. Contadora has no marina for visiting yachts.
Can I get fuel in Las Perlas?
Only by arrangement: at Pedro González near high tide, or on request at Viveros. Contadora's service station is for island vehicles. Carry the round trip from Amador.
Are the Pearl Islands safe for anchoring overnight?
The busy northern anchorages generally are. There were armed robberies of yachts near Isla del Rey in 2023, so avoid remote anchorages alone, lock up and lift the dinghy.
The next question to answer
Distance, fuel and ferries for the 35 nm run. Read Las Perlas from Panama City.
Onward to Azuero, Coiba and Chiriquí. Read Cruising Panama's Pacific coast.
Drying anchorages and channel currents. Read Pacific tides and currents.
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.
- Noonsite: Las Perlas docking and anchorages (Contadora beaches, San José Bodega Bay, Galera, security) — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Las Perlas general info and 2018/2023 security incidents — secondary ↗
- noforeignland: Gulf of Panama anchorages (Mogo Mogo, Chapera, Pacheca, Saboga, San José, Pearl Island fuel) — secondary ↗
- SAIL Magazine: Cruising the Gulf of Panama (Suzy Carmody, 2020) — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: La Península Beach Club & Marina, Pedro González — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Mara'naa Las Perlas Marina & Beach Club — secondary ↗