Panama City and Colón are where cruisers fill up on everything: fuel at Flamenco and La Playita on the Pacific side, by delivery at Shelter Bay on the Caribbean side, food at big supermarkets and PriceSmart, parts from chandleries and duty-free shipments to a yacht in transit. Beyond them, fuel docks are few (Vista Mar, Pedregal, Linton, Bocas), so every passage starts with full tanks.
Fuel docks by region
| Area | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Panama City (Amador) | Flamenco Marina | Diesel, gasoline, water; reserve on VHF 10 |
| Panama City (Amador) | La Playita | Small-scale fuel and water by reservation |
| Panama City | Ocean Reef Marina | Fuel dock; private access |
| West of the city | Vista Mar, San Carlos | Diesel and gasoline; reserve |
| Las Perlas | Pedro González, Viveros | By arrangement only, tide-limited |
| Chiriquí | Pedregal; Boca Chica by delivery | Enter Pedregal on a rising tide |
| Colón | Shelter Bay | No fuel dock; delivery boat when available, or jerry cans from a Colón station |
| Portobelo / Linton | Portobelo delivery; Linton Bay | Linton lists fuel; confirm it is operating |
| Bocas del Toro | Bocas Marina, Red Frog | Diesel at Bocas Marina; Red Frog weekdays 07:00–16:00 |
| San Blas, Azuero, Coiba | None confirmed | Carry what you need |
Reserve ahead everywhere, carry cash or confirm card payment, and filter diesel going in; cruisers have argued about delivered fuel quality at Shelter Bay, though the marina says it keeps samples.
What fuel costs, and why marinas charge more
Panama's Secretaría Nacional de Energía (SNE) sets maximum retail prices for 95 and 91 octane gasoline and low-sulphur diesel every 14 days, published in the Gaceta Oficial and in the press. The caps apply at road service stations and are quoted per litre. Marina fuel docks are not bound by them, so expect a premium at the pontoon, and a further premium for fuel delivered by truck or boat. For a big fill, ask for a quote by volume. Jerry cans from a road station are cheaper for small amounts but mean taxi trips and spill risk. Outside the cities, gasoline for an outboard is usually easier to find than diesel in quantity.
Water
Tap water in Panama City is generally drinkable, according to cruiser health guidance, and marina water there is usually fine to fill tanks; La Playita has sold it at about 5 cents a gallon. In Bocas del Toro and San Blas, boil or treat it. In Bocas some marinas offer filtered rainwater. On the islands water is scarce: Contadora's supply is limited, and in San Blas there is nothing to fill from. A watermaker earns its keep beyond the cities. Use a filter on the hose, and run your own test if the tank smells.
Provisioning in Panama City and Colón
Panama City is the place for a big provision before a passage.
- Riba Smith: the widest range of imported brands, deli and wine; the most expensive.
- El Rey and Super 99: everyday supermarkets with many branches and fair prices.
- PriceSmart: Costco-style bulk store with an annual membership (about US$30); boats often share one card for meat, oil and dry goods before a Pacific crossing.
- Mercado de Abastos (Calidonia) for produce, and the Mercado de Mariscos on the Cinta Costera for fish.
In Colón, El Rey at Cuatro Altos is the cruisers' supermarket, and Shelter Bay has a mini-market. The Colón Free Zone is a wholesale zone selling by the case to registered buyers; cruisers buy through an agent or supplier rather than walking in. Ship's suppliers will do grocery runs and deliveries in both cities. For Panama City logistics see boating in Panama City.
Parts and chandleries
Panama City has general marine hardware and fishing-industry stores, branches of Abernathy and Centro Marino (Abernathy has had a branch at La Playita), and a Volvo dealer at Flamenco. Shelter Bay has a chandlery; Linton and Panamarina have chandleries serving the Caribbean side. Liferaft servicing, extinguisher service and hydraulics are available in the city.
Shipping parts in. Cruisers report that a foreign yacht in transit can import parts for the boat without paying duty, through a customs broker or ship's agent who handles the paperwork. Cruisers' warnings: tell the supplier not to ship by UPS, which Shelter Bay reported in 2019 is not licensed to bring in vessel-in-transit shipments duty-free; FedEx, DHL and the postal service were acceptable. Expect broker, handling and storage fees even when the duty is zero. Confirm current rules with the Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas or your agent before ordering.
Your practical starting checklist
- Fill fuel at Flamenco, La Playita or by delivery at Shelter Bay before any long passage.
- Reserve fuel docks a day ahead and confirm payment method.
- Filter diesel going in and keep a sample when it is delivered.
- Do the big provisioning at Riba Smith, El Rey, Super 99 or PriceSmart in Panama City or Colón.
- Treat water outside Panama City; carry enough for San Blas and the islands.
- Order parts through a customs broker or agent as 'yacht in transit', and tell the supplier not to use UPS.
- Before arriving, list the spares that are hard to find locally and order them early.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fuel dock at Shelter Bay Marina?
No. Diesel is delivered by an outside supplier's boat when available, or you carry jerry cans from a station in Colón. Arrange delivery with the office ahead of time.
Is diesel price-controlled in Panama?
The Secretaría Nacional de Energía sets maximum prices for road service stations every 14 days. Marina fuel docks are not bound by those caps and charge more.
Can I import boat parts duty-free in Panama?
Foreign yachts in transit can usually bring in parts for the boat without duty through a customs broker or agent, though fees apply. Avoid UPS for these shipments and confirm the procedure with Aduanas or your agent first.
Where do cruisers provision in Panama City?
Riba Smith for imported brands, El Rey and Super 99 for everyday shopping, PriceSmart for bulk, and the Mercado de Abastos for produce.
Can I buy fuel in San Blas?
We found no fuel dock in Guna Yala. Fill up by delivery at Shelter Bay, at Portobelo or at Linton before you go, and carry jerry cans for the outboard.
The next question to answer
Tide windows and booking at Amador. Read Boat ramps and fuel docks in Panama City.
Yard, chandlery and fuel by delivery in Colón. Read Shelter Bay Marina.
Range planning for the long legs west. Read Cruising Panama's Pacific coast.
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.
- La Estrella: SNE fuel price caps, updated every 14 days (Oct 2025 example) ↗
- Noonsite: Cristóbal (Colón) — Shelter Bay fuel delivery, chandlery, security — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Important clearance procedures (UPS and vessel-in-transit shipments, 2019) — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Panama marine services, recommendations from cruisers (2013–2020) — secondary ↗
- Noonsite: Panama health (tap water, Bocas and San Blas) — secondary ↗
- Panama Equity: guide to grocery shopping in Panama — secondary ↗