An overnight charter in Panama needs the same ATP registration, AMP-inspected boat, licensed captain and insurance as a day trip, plus three things a day trip does not: a certificate and insurance that cover sleeping guests aboard, a crew plan that lets someone rest, and the right clearance for the destination, which for San Blas can mean a domestic zarpe.
Crewed term charters and cabin charters
Two formats dominate the Panama market:
- Crewed term charter. One group books the whole boat, usually a catamaran or motor yacht, for a set number of nights with captain, often a cook or hostess, and a route agreed in advance. This is the classic "Panama catamaran charter": San Blas from the Caribbean coast, or Las Perlas from Panama City.
- Cabin charter. The operator sells berths individually and strangers share the boat. Common on San Blas sailing trips, including the multi-day passages between Panama and Colombia. Each guest is a separate contract, so manifest, IDs and releases multiply.
Bareboat, where the guest skippers, is a different product with its own problems; see bareboat charter in Panama. Many catamarans in the Panama market are foreign-flagged; Decreto Ejecutivo 4 of 2025 provides charter permits for foreign yachts under a temporary charter contract, covered in foreign-flagged boats chartering in Panama.
Licensing: ATP and AMP for overnight passenger service
The base chain is the same as any charter: company and aviso de operación, ATP registration as marine tourist transport under Executive Decree 82 of 2008, AMP registration and passenger inspection, a licensed captain and civil liability insurance. See every licence and permit a Panama charter needs.
Overnight work raises questions that a day certificate may not answer, so ask before you sell:
- Does the AMP certificate cover the navigation area (Gulf of Panama, Caribbean coast, Gulf of Chiriquí) and overnight passengers, and how many may sleep aboard, as against the day capacity?
- Does the captain's AMP licence cover the vessel and the route, and do you need a second licensed person for watches?
- Does the insurer cover overnight anchoring and the named cruising area?
A law-firm summary of AMP practice says every route needs a plan with distances and return points, and that the authority can adjust schedules for weather. Keep a written itinerary for every trip.
Zarpes and clearance for domestic multi-day trips
A zarpe is the AMP port captain's clearance for a named destination. Between Panamanian ports a cruising permit often suffices for private boats, but port captains may ask for a domestic zarpe, especially when you move between jurisdictions such as Colón or Puerto Lindo and San Blas. For short hops such as Panama City to Las Perlas and back, practice varies: ask the Balboa port captain before you go. Bring registration, crew and passenger lists and IDs. Porvenir in San Blas had no port captain as of March 2025, per noonsite, so plan clearance from the mainland. Full detail is in zarpe in Panama: domestic vs international.
A cabin charter that ends in Colombia is an international voyage: Migración exit stamps and an international zarpe for every guest. File the SENAN manifest for every departure either way.
Las Perlas, San Blas and Coiba
- Las Perlas. About 35 nm from Amador; an overnight lets guests see the islands rather than the crossing. There is no fuel dock you can rely on, so carry fuel for the round trip plus generator hours. See Las Perlas anchorages.
- San Blas (Guna Yala). A comarca with its own rules: Congreso and island fees per boat and per person, no scuba, no fishing, no coconuts, and permission before photographs. Charter operators need an agreement with the communities. See San Blas charter operations.
- Coiba. A national park; pay MiAmbiente fees in advance and present the receipt at the Gambute office. Confirm the current rules for staying overnight in the park with MiAmbiente. See dive and snorkel charters.
Crew rest, anchor watches and provisioning
Crew rest. A captain who drove all day and stood anchor watch all night is the weakest link on day two. Plan for two people able to stand watch, set anchor alarms, and keep sea passages for daylight. Crew hours and rest are also a labour-law question; set contracts with a Panamanian lawyer. See captain and crew requirements.
Anchoring overnight. Anchor for low water in the Pacific's 4 to 6 m tide, with chain for the high. Stay in recognised anchorages with other boats; cruising sources record night-time boardings of yachts anchored alone in remote places.
Provisioning. Buy in Panama City before you leave; island supplies are thin. Agree dietary needs at booking, carry more water than you think, and plan rubbish to come home with you, particularly in San Blas. See fuel, water and provisioning.
Your practical starting checklist
- Ask the AMP whether your certificate covers overnight passengers and your cruising area.
- Confirm insurance covers overnight anchoring and the named area.
- Write the itinerary, and ask the port captain whether a domestic zarpe is needed.
- Crew for two watch-standers and set anchor alarms every night.
- Provision fuel, water and food for the whole trip plus a reserve.
- Pay Guna or MiAmbiente fees in advance and keep receipts aboard.
- File the SENAN manifest for every departure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cabin charter in San Blas?
The operator sells individual berths and guests share the boat, often on San Blas trips or passages to Colombia. Each guest needs ID on the manifest, and an international trip needs exit stamps.
Do I need a zarpe for an overnight trip to Las Perlas?
Practice varies for short hops within the Panama City area. Ask the Balboa port captain before you go, and always file the SENAN manifest.
Can a foreign-flagged catamaran do term charters in Panama?
Decreto Ejecutivo 4 of 2025 provides a charter permit for foreign yachts under a temporary charter contract. Confirm the conditions with the AMP's nautical tourism office.
How many crew does an overnight charter need?
Enough for someone to be rested at all times. On most catamarans and motor yachts that means a licensed captain plus at least one crew member who can stand an anchor watch, and a cook or host on longer trips. Confirm the minimum with the AMP for your vessel.
¿Cuánto cuesta un chárter en catamarán en Panamá?
Depende del barco, la tripulación, las noches y el destino. Pida que la cotización detalle combustible, comida, tasas Guna o de MiAmbiente, ITBMS y propina de la tripulación.
En español: chárter de varios días en Panamá
Un chárter con pernocta necesita registro en la ATP, embarcación inspeccionada por la AMP, capitán con licencia y seguro, como un paseo de un día. Confirme con la AMP que el certificado cubre pasajeros a bordo durante la noche y la zona de navegación. Para ir a Guna Yala pregunte a la Capitanía de Puerto si necesita zarpe nacional, y pague las tasas de la comarca o de MiAmbiente antes de llegar.
The next question to answer
The Florida rules for the same product. Read Overnight and term charters (Florida).
The day version of the most common overnight. Read Las Perlas and Contadora day charters.
Guna agreements and logistics. Read San Blas charter operations.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Overnight and Term-Charter Planning.
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 February 2025 (nautical tourism) ↗
- Kraemer & Kraemer: Panama yacht charter regulations (secondary, law-firm summary) ↗
- MiAmbiente resolution approving the Coiba National Park public-use plan, Gaceta Oficial 28798-A (via FAOLEX) ↗
- Panamá América: MiAmbiente Coiba payment system (secondary, press, 2022) ↗