Every boat in Panamanian waters, private or commercial, must follow MiAmbiente's Resolución DM-0144-2022 near whales and dolphins. Stay 250 m from whales and 100 m from dolphins. Slow to 4 knots or less, and go to neutral if they come closer. Leave after 30 minutes, or 15 with a mother and calf. Never chase them or swim with them.
Who the rules apply to
The Ministerio de Ambiente (MiAmbiente) sets the rules for watching cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in Panama. The current text is Resolución DM-0144 of 12 July 2022. It covers all Panamanian waters and every kind of boat that stops to watch: a sportfisher off Hannibal Bank, a family centre-console off Taboga, a sailboat crossing to Las Perlas or a paying tour.
It replaced an older ARAP resolution, ADM/ARAP No. 01 of 2007, which first set the 250 m and 100 m distances. MiAmbiente's Dirección de Costas y Mares runs the programme. Each season it holds workshops with the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP).
A private boat doesn't need a licence to watch whales it happens to meet. It still has to keep the distances. Tour operators have extra registration and training duties, covered in whale-watching tours in Panama.
The numbers to keep on the helm
| Rule | What to do |
|---|---|
| 250 m from whales | Stop or idle at 250 m. Don't close the gap. |
| 100 m from dolphins | The same idea, at a shorter distance. |
| 4 knots maximum | Dead slow inside the observation zone, with no sudden changes of speed or course. |
| Neutral if they come close | If a whale surfaces nearer than 250 m, put the engine in neutral and wait. |
| 30 minutes per group | 15 minutes with a mother and calf, then leave slowly. |
| No chasing or circling | Don't cut across their path, box them in or follow them. |
| No swimming | Nobody goes in the water with whales during an observation. |
MiAmbiente's press statements put the 250 m and 15-minute limits on mothers with calves, and the 100 m distance on dolphins. The older 2007 rules used 250 m for all whales. When in doubt, use 250 m for every whale. That is never wrong.
How to approach and how to leave
Most bad encounters happen in the first and last minute, so slow down early. Come off plane a long way out. Approach from the side and slightly behind, moving parallel to the animals' direction. Never come at them head-on and never cut across their path.
- Let them choose. If whales come towards you, go to neutral and stay there until they are past and more than 250 m away.
- Share the group. The 2007 rules allowed only two boats on a group at a time, with others waiting about 200 m back. Treat that as good manners even where nobody enforces it.
- Don't anchor near them, and don't run thrusters or a loud echo sounder close by. The 2007 text banned all three.
- Keep small craft away. Jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards shouldn't go out to whales.
- Leave the way you came. Go slowly, from behind, and get well clear before you speed up.
When and where you will meet whales
Humpbacks are on the Pacific side from about July to October, and some years from June. The most animals are usually seen in August and September. This is the rainy season: mornings are often flat and squalls build in the afternoon. You see them most around Las Perlas, Taboga and the outer Bahía de Panamá, the Gulf of Chiriquí, Coiba and the Gulf of Montijo, and off Pedasí near Isla Iguana.
In season, the run itself is the risk. A whale can surface in front of a boat doing 25 knots between Amador and Contadora, and the calves are hard to see. Post a lookout, and slow down when you see blows or splashes. In the canal approaches, watch the ships as well as the whales: a whale doesn't give you the right to stop in a shipping lane.
Fines, enforcement and reporting
MiAmbiente has said publicly that breaking the rules can bring fines of US$250 to US$6,000, depending on how serious it is. It has also said its aim is to educate first. It does follow up: in August 2026 it opened an investigation after a video showed people swimming near a whale. Confirm the current penalties with MiAmbiente. The fines quoted here come from press reports.
Report harassment, an entangled whale or a stranded dolphin to MiAmbiente on its free line, 311. Don't try to cut an entangled whale free yourself; a large whale can kill someone who does. Keep watch from a distance, note the position and wait for help. Reporting injured or stranded marine wildlife has the full list of who to call.
Your practical starting checklist
- Post a lookout and slow down when you see blows on the Pacific from July to October.
- Come off plane well before 250 m from whales or 100 m from dolphins.
- Approach from the side and slightly behind at 4 knots or less, never head-on.
- Go to neutral if whales surface closer, and wait until they are past.
- Leave after 30 minutes, or 15 with a mother and calf, slowly and from behind.
- Keep everyone out of the water and report entangled or stranded animals to MiAmbiente on 311.
Frequently asked questions
Do private boats have to follow Panama's whale-watching rules?
Yes. Resolución DM-0144-2022 covers anyone watching cetaceans in Panamanian waters, not only tour boats. Tour operators also have registration and training duties with MiAmbiente.
How close can I take my boat to a whale in Panama?
No closer than 250 m, at 4 knots or less. If the whale comes closer, put the engine in neutral and wait for it to move away.
How close can I get to dolphins?
100 m. If dolphins come to ride your bow, hold your course and speed steady. Don't turn towards them or chase the pod.
Can I swim or snorkel with whales in Panama?
No. Swimming, diving or getting into the water near whales during an observation is not allowed.
Can I fly a drone over whales?
The public summaries of DM-0144-2022 don't say. Keep drones high and well back, or leave them packed, and ask MiAmbiente before you fly one near cetaceans.
En español: reglas de avistamiento de ballenas en Panamá
La Resolución DM-0144 de 12 de julio de 2022 del Ministerio de Ambiente regula el avistamiento de cetáceos en todas las aguas jurisdiccionales de Panamá. Se aplica a cualquier embarcación, no solo a los operadores turísticos. Mantenga 250 metros de distancia de las ballenas y 100 metros de los delfines. Navegue a 4 nudos o menos en la zona de observación y ponga el motor en neutro si los animales se acercan. Limite la observación a 30 minutos por grupo, o 15 con madre y cría. Está prohibido perseguirlas, rodearlas, hacer cambios bruscos de velocidad y nadar con ellas. Las multas reportadas van de 250 a 6,000 dólares. Para reportar una ballena enmallada o un delfín varado, llame al 311 del Ministerio de Ambiente.
The next question to answer
The operator side: registration, guest briefings and the best grounds. Read Whale-watching tours in Panama.
The other animals you will meet, and how to behave around them. Read Turtles, dolphins and rays: rules for boats.
Where whale grounds overlap with parks and their extra rules. Read Panama's protected marine areas.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Responsible Dolphin and Sea Turtle Encounters.
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.
- MiAmbiente: whales and dolphins in marine conservation and tourism (cites Resolución DM-0144-2022), July 2025 ↗
- ARAP Resolución ADM/ARAP No. 01 of 2007, the earlier cetacean-watching rules (FAOLEX copy) ↗
- TVN: MiAmbiente restates whale-watching rules and fines, Aug 2025 (secondary, press) ↗
- Telemetro: MiAmbiente warns on swimming near whales, Aug 2026 (secondary, press) ↗
- Panamá América: date of Resolución DM-0144 of 12 July 2022 (secondary, press) ↗