Bocas Marina, also listed as Bocas Yacht Club and Marina, is the in-town marina of Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón, in Panama's far north-west Caribbean. It has floating concrete docks for up to 100 boats from 20 to 120 ft, diesel, water, power and a long-standing liveaboard crowd, all a short dinghy ride from the bars and shops of Bocas Town. Like all of Panama it is outside the hurricane belt.
Quick facts
| Coast | Caribbean (Bocas del Toro) |
|---|---|
| Location | Bocas Town, Isla Colón |
| Slips | Up to 100, 20–120 ft |
| Depth | 3 m+ at MLW |
| Fuel | Diesel |
| Yard | Limited on site; 60 t yard near Almirante |
| Liveaboard | Yes |
| Website | bocasmarina.com |
Location and access
The marina is on the sheltered south-west side of Bocas Town, Isla Colón, at roughly 9°20'N, 82°14.8'W, inside the protected lagoon formed by Isla Colón, Isla Carenero and Isla Solarte. Tidal flow is negligible and depth at the docks is 3 m or more at mean low water (PredictWind listing). PredictWind rates both manoeuvrability and channel marking as "fair", so come in by daylight the first time and call ahead on VHF 68.
Getting there without a boat is easy by Panama standards: daily flights from Panama City's Albrook airport to Bocas (Isla Colón) airport, which is a few minutes from the waterfront, or the overland route via David and Almirante with a water taxi across. Bocas Town has grocery stores, hardware shops, restaurants and ATMs within walking distance of the marina dinghy dock.
Bocas del Toro is a port of entry. The Port Captain (AMP) and immigration offices are in town; see our arrival and clearance page for the cruising permit and what to budget.
Slips and who it suits
The marina's site says its docks "can accommodate boats ranging from 20 ft to 120 ft, offering a total capacity of up to 100 slips." Docks are floating concrete with aluminium ramps to shore; catamaran berths and side-to or stern-to berthing are available. Short- and long-term visitors are welcome and the marina explicitly caters to people who live on their boat.
- Liveaboards and long-stayers. This is the archipelago's social hub for cruisers, with a daily Cruisers and Expats Net on VHF 68 at 07:45 (Noonsite).
- Boats arriving from the north and west. Bocas is the natural first Panamanian stop from Costa Rica, Providencia or the Bay Islands.
- Owners who want a town. Compare Red Frog (resort, superyachts) and Marina Carenero (small, quiet) across the water.
Many cruisers also anchor off the town and use the marina's bar and services; Noonsite warns that theft from anchored yachts (deck gear, kayaks, dinghies and outboards) is common in Bocas, so a slip buys security as well as convenience.
Fuel, yard and services
Fuel: diesel is available at the marina (PredictWind listing). Gasoline for outboards is sold in town; confirm with the office whether the marina pumps it.
Services at the dock: metered electricity, water, Wi-Fi, showers and toilets, a bar and restaurant, and laundry. The listing also names a boatbuilder, sailmaker, rigger and haul-out among the facilities; the marina's own site has a separate "Bocas Boat Yard" section. Ask what lift capacity is actually available on site before planning a haul.
Yards nearby: Noonsite notes Bocas Yacht Services, next to Almirante on the mainland, with haul-out facilities up to 60 tons. For bigger lifts you are looking at Linton Bay or Shelter Bay, several hundred miles east along the coast.
Bocas Town itself has hardware stores, repair shops and easy provisioning, which is more than you can say for most Panamanian marinas.
Charter pickup and rules
Bocas del Toro is Panama's second tourism hub after Panama City, and small-boat tours, dive boats and crewed sailing charters all work from the archipelago. If you want to board guests at Bocas Marina, confirm the marina's commercial terms, and make sure the operator is registered with the Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP) and the vessel and crew are in order with the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP). The Isla Bastimentos marine park and the Ngäbe-Buglé communities around the lagoon have their own rules on anchoring and visits; a local captain will know them.
Costs and how to contact the marina
The marina does not publish slip rates on the pages we could open. Confirm current daily and monthly per-foot rates, electricity and water charges and the 7% ITBMS tax directly with the office. For a sense of local pricing, nearby Marina Carenero publishes monthly rates of US$12 per foot for monohulls and US$15 for catamarans.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phone | +507 757-9800, +507 6616-6000 |
| [email protected] | |
| VHF | Channel 68 |
| Website | bocasmarina.com (also reachable at bocas-marina.com) |
| Max LOA | 120 ft |
| Depth | 3 m+ at MLW |
Nearby waters
The Bocas del Toro archipelago is a sheltered lagoon of mangrove islands, reefs and Caribbean beaches: Isla Carenero and Isla Solarte opposite the marina, Isla Bastimentos and its national marine park to the east, the Zapatilla cays beyond, and the long Laguna de Chiriquí to the south-east. Depths are mostly modest and charts are imperfect, so eyeball navigation in good light is the rule. The region is wet for much of the year, with afternoon squalls and lightning; the winter northerly swell that affects the Colón coast is felt here too on exposed northern shores but not inside the lagoon. See cruising grounds for the wider picture.
Your practical starting checklist
- Email [email protected] or call +507 757-9800 with LOA, beam, draft, catamaran or monohull, and your dates.
- Ask for the current per-foot rate, electricity and water charges, and liveaboard terms if you plan to stay.
- Arrive in daylight, call VHF 68 for a berth assignment and someone to take lines.
- If arriving from abroad, clear in with the Port Captain and immigration in Bocas Town before or right after berthing, as instructed.
- Join the 07:45 VHF 68 net the next morning for local services and weather.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bocas Marina the same as Bocas Yacht Club and Marina?
Yes. Listings use both names; the contact details are the same ([email protected], +507 757-9800, VHF 68).
What is the biggest boat Bocas Marina can take?
The marina says 120 ft, with 3 m or more at low water at the docks.
Can I live aboard at Bocas Marina?
Yes. The marina welcomes long-term stays and people living on their boats, and there is an active cruiser community.
Is there fuel in Bocas del Toro?
Diesel is listed at the marina. Confirm gasoline and hours with the office.
Is Bocas del Toro safe from hurricanes?
Yes. All of Panama lies south of the hurricane belt, which is why boats stay in Bocas year-round.
The next question to answer
Panama's Caribbean coast by boat: Shelter Bay, Portobelo, Linton, Isla Grande, San Blas and Bocas del Toro. Winter trades and swell, reefs, fuel, security. Read Cruising Panama's Caribbean coast: Colón to San Blas.
Clear into Panama at a port of entry: fly the Q flag, see Migración, then the AMP port captain for your cruising permit; Aduanas and health where posted. Read Arriving in Panama by boat: how to clear in.
Every marina, anchorage and yard that matters, both coasts. Read Marinas in Panama.
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.
- Bocas Marina (marina site) ↗
- PredictWind: Bocas Yacht Club and Marina listing ↗
- Noonsite: Bocas del Toro docking ↗