A Las Perlas day charter is a 70 nm round trip from Amador to Contadora and its neighbours, about two hours each way at 18 knots. It works only in a fast boat, with every litre of fuel carried from Panama City, a first-light departure and a plan to be heading home before the afternoon weather. Guests get about four hours in the islands, most of it at Contadora, Mogo Mogo or Chapera.
The run: 35 nm and what it takes
From the Flamenco breakwater to the north side of Contadora is roughly 35 nm, a little east of south-east. At 25 knots that is about an hour and a half, at 18 knots about two hours, and at 8 knots more than four. Below about 18 knots cruise, the day becomes a delivery; sell those boats for Taboga or an overnight instead.
Leave slowly past the ship anchorage off Flamenco, keep clear of the canal channel and listen on VHF 12 and 16. The Gulf sets hard on spring tides (aguajes), and the last miles between the islands have rocks and shoals that cruisers describe as poorly charted. Arrive in daylight with a plotter and a lookout. Route detail is in Las Perlas from Panama City.
Fuel: carry the round trip
There is no fuel dock you can count on in Las Perlas. Contadora has had small, informal sources (Noonsite listed sellers there, last updated 2020), and fuel at Pedro González is arranged by message and reachable only near high tide. Neither is a plan for a paying day trip.
- Round trip: about 70 nm.
- Island hopping: add 10 to 20 nm for Contadora, Mogo Mogo, Chapera and back.
- Head sea: dry-season chop on the way home can add a quarter to the burn.
- Reserve: at least 20 per cent of capacity untouched on return to Amador.
Fill at Flamenco Marina (VHF 10) or La Playita (VHF 9) the afternoon before, so a fuel-dock queue or a low tide does not eat the morning. See fuel docks in Panama City. Price the fuel into the quote openly; it is the biggest cost of the day.
Sea state by season
| Season | The crossing | In the islands |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, about Dec to Apr | Northerly trade wind: quartering sea going out, a wet head sea coming home in the afternoon, hardest January to March. | Clear blue water. North-facing beaches roll; use the south sides of Contadora and Chapera. |
| Rainy, about May to Nov | Flat mornings, light S/SE wind. Squalls with lightning build after midday. | Greener water. Contadora's north side is the shelter from southerly swell. |
Panama has no hurricanes, so the product runs all year, but the two seasons need different timing. In the dry season, plan to leave the islands early enough to take the head sea in daylight. In the rainy season, be under way home before the clouds stack up to the east. From July to October whales are often seen on the run; slow down and keep MiAmbiente's 250 m rule (see whale-watching rules).
Where to anchor and land guests
- Contadora. The only island with restaurants, shops and a ferry pier. Playa Galeón and Playa Larga on the north and east are the rainy-season choice; Playa Cacique on the west and Playa Suecas on the south suit dry-season northerlies (Suecas is the naturist beach; tell guests). Land guests by tender on the beach. Ask before using the ferry pier.
- Mogo Mogo. About 5 nm south, with excellent sand holding and clear water. The classic swim and beach stop. Busy on weekends.
- Chapera. Next to Mogo Mogo, good sand in the south-east anchorage but strong current mid-channel. Anchor out of the channel.
- Pacheca and Saboga. Pacheca for seabirds; Saboga has a village, sand over rock in patches and current over 2 knots.
The tide range is about 5 m. Anchor for low water, let out scope for high, and expect beaches to change shape through the day. Keep a crew member aboard while guests are ashore. Full anchorage notes are in the Las Perlas anchorages guide.
The time budget and guest expectations
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Guests board at Flamenco or La Playita; manifest and safety briefing. |
| 07:30 to 09:30 | Run to Contadora. |
| 09:30 to 13:30 | Swim stop at Mogo Mogo or Chapera, lunch at anchor or ashore on Contadora. |
| 13:30 to 15:30 | Run home. |
| 16:00 | Back at the dock, before the afternoon weather peaks. |
Say all of this in the booking: roughly four hours running, four in the islands, and a captain who will cut the island time if the sky turns. Guests who expect a Caribbean beach day are surprised by green water in the rainy season and a 5 m tide. Seasick-prone guests should take medication before boarding. Lunch ashore on Contadora must be booked and paid separately.
Overnight extensions and paperwork
Las Perlas is better as an overnight: leave late morning, anchor off Contadora or Mogo Mogo, return after breakfast. Anchor where other boats are; Noonsite recorded armed robberies of anchored yachts in remote parts of the archipelago in 2018 and 2023. A guest who wants a hotel night can stay on Contadora with the boat anchored off, or ride the ferry from Amador. Overnight rules are in overnight and multi-day charters.
A paying trip needs the full chain: ATP registration, an AMP-inspected boat with its passenger capacity, a licensed captain, insurance and a passenger manifest for SENAN. Whether the Capitanía de Puerto at Balboa expects a zarpe for a day run varies; confirm with them and SENAN at Amador before your first trip.
Your practical starting checklist
- Check the boat cruises at 18 knots or more and can do 70 nm plus island hopping with 20 per cent left.
- Fill fuel at Flamenco or La Playita the afternoon before.
- Check the ACP Amador tide table and the forecast when you confirm the booking.
- Tell guests in writing: departure time, time running, what is included and the weather call.
- Pick the island side by season and anchor out of the channels.
- File the manifest and carry the AMP certificate, ATP registration and insurance.
- Leave the islands by early afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the boat trip from Panama City to Contadora?
About 35 nm, so roughly two hours at 18 knots and an hour and a half at 25. The ferry from Amador takes about an hour and a half.
Is there fuel for boats on Contadora?
Not reliably. There is no fuel dock you can count on in Las Perlas, so carry the whole round trip from Amador plus a 20 per cent reserve.
Is a Las Perlas day trip worth it?
In a fast boat on a calm day, yes: about four hours in the islands. In a slow boat, most of the day is spent running; an overnight or the ferry is better.
What is the best season for a Contadora boat trip?
The dry season (December to April) has clearer water but a rough run home; the rainy season has flatter seas and afternoon squalls. July to October adds a good chance of whales.
¿Cuánto se tarda en lancha de Panamá a Contadora?
Contadora está a unas 35 millas náuticas de Amador: unas dos horas en una lancha rápida. Lleve todo el combustible desde la ciudad, porque en Las Perlas no hay surtidor confiable.
The next question to answer
Distance, fuel and ferries for the 35 nm run. Read Las Perlas from Panama City.
Island-by-island holding, current and exposure. Read Las Perlas anchorages.
The shorter island product from Amador. Read Taboga boat trips for operators.
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.
- ACP: Amador tide table 2026 (Panama Canal, HIAM) ↗
- Noonsite: Las Perlas fuel and LPG (updated April 2020) (secondary, cruiser site) ↗
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: humpback whales in Las Perlas ↗