Reef and anchoring protection in San Blas and Portobelo

Ley 304 of 2022 bans anchoring any boat on coral reefs anywhere in Panama. In San Blas (Guna Yala) the Congreso General Guna adds its own rules: no scuba diving, no fishing and no taking coconuts or lobster. Portobelo is a national park. Anchor in sand by daylight, snorkel over the anchor to check it, and leave all coral alone.

Who sets the reef rules

Nationally, Ley 304 of 31 May 2022 protects coral reefs, seagrass beds and the ecosystems linked to them. It bans anchoring boats of any size or draft on coral reefs. It also bans taking live rock, corals and reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish and surgeonfish, and selling them. MiAmbiente enforces it. In 2026 the National Assembly passed a bill to loosen the seagrass protections. The President vetoed it in June 2026, so Ley 304 stands as written.

In Guna Yala, the comarca is governed by the Congreso General Guna and each island's saila. Their rules sit on top of national law. Visitors may not scuba dive, fish or take coconuts. They must pay the cruising and island fees, and some anchorages are closed. See San Blas cruising permits and fees.

Around Portobelo, the bay and coast are inside Portobelo National Park, created in 1976 and run by MiAmbiente. Park rules apply in addition to Ley 304.

How to anchor without touching coral

The Caribbean tide is under 0.6 m, so reefs sit close to the surface and the water stays clear. That makes coral easy to see if you move at the right time, and easy to hit if you don't.

• Move between about 10:00 and 15:00, with the sun high and behind you and someone on the bow in polarised glasses. Never enter a reef anchorage in the dark or by the plotter alone; charts of San Blas are offset in places.
• Pick the sand patch, not the spot. Look for an even pale bottom big enough for your full swing circle, and remember the boat swings when the wind shifts in a squall.
• Lower the anchor; don't let it run. Lay the chain out in a straight line away from heads.
• Check by snorkel. Swim the chain. If it crosses or wraps a coral head, re-anchor.
• Use moorings where the Guna or the park provide them, after asking who owns the buoy and whether it suits your boat.

In Portobelo bay, the north side has good holding in mud away from the reef edges. Isla Grande and the Linton area mix sand, grass and coral, so look before you drop. If you leave a boat for a while, a mooring field such as Panamarina or a slip at Linton Bay Marina keeps your chain off the reef while you're away.

For holding, tides and swing room in general, see anchoring and mooring in Panama.

Snorkelling and in the water

• Snorkel, don't scuba, in Guna Yala. Leave dive gear stowed. In Portobelo and Isla Grande, diving runs through registered dive operators; see dive and snorkel charters.
• Don't stand on, kneel on or hold coral. Brief guests who can't swim well to wear a vest instead of resting on the reef.
• Fins up. Keep away from shallow heads where a fin kick breaks branches and stirs up sand.
• Take nothing. Shells, coral, starfish and sea fans all stay in the water.
• Sunscreen. Ley 304 doesn't regulate sunscreen. Rash guards and reef-labelled sunscreen still cut what washes onto the reef.
• Tenders and paddleboards go slowly over shallow reef, and never across it at low water.

Lobster, fish and what you buy

Visitors don't fish in Guna Yala. Buy fish, crab and lobster from the Guna instead, and only in season. ARAP's closed season for Caribbean spiny lobster runs from 1 March to 30 June, and tails under 14 cm are illegal all year. Don't buy lobster during the closure, however it's offered. Cruisers have also been asked not to buy fish or crab during the breeding months. Never buy coral, turtle shell or turtle products anywhere; Ley 371 of 2023 bans trade in them. ARAP's wider rules are in fishing licences and seasons.

Waste, holding tanks and groundings

Reefs die slowly from what boats put in the water. Use your holding tank in crowded anchorages such as the Holandes, Lemmons and the Portobelo bay. Pump out only well offshore and away from reefs. Keep dish soap and cleaning products out of the lagoon. Take rubbish back to Portobelo or Linton unless an island tells you it collects it, and don't burn plastic on the beach. See sewage and pump-out in Panama.

If you go aground on coral, don't power off over the reef. That does more damage to the reef and the hull. Check for flooding, call for help on VHF 16 or 911 if anyone is at risk, and wait for help or the tide. Then record what happened. Groundings and collisions covers the response.

Your practical starting checklist

1. Pay the Guna Congreso and island fees and ask the saila which anchorages are open.
2. Enter reef anchorages between about 10:00 and 15:00 with a bow lookout.
3. Anchor on a clear sand patch large enough for your full swing circle.
4. Snorkel the anchor and chain, and re-anchor if they touch coral.
5. Snorkel only, take nothing, and keep guests off the reef.
6. Skip lobster from 1 March to 30 June and take your rubbish home.

Frequently asked questions

The next question to answer

The region: islands, anchorages, seasons and the Guna. Read San Blas (Guna Yala) boating guide.

The Congreso fee, island fees and visitor rules. Read San Blas cruising permits and fees.

The other habitats Ley 304 protects. Read Mangroves and seagrass.

Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Protecting Seagrass and Coral.

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.

• Panamá América: Ley 304 of 2022 prohibitions, incl. anchoring on coral (secondary, press) ↗
• La Estrella de Panamá: Executive vetoes bill to modify Ley 304, July 2026 (secondary, press) ↗
• MiAmbiente via INEC: protected areas by year and category (Portobelo National Park, 1976) ↗
• ARAP: 2026 spiny lobster closure inspection request (14 cm tail rule) ↗