Flamenco Marina is the biggest full-service marina on the Pacific side of Panama, sitting on Isla Flamenco at the end of the Amador Causeway, a few minutes from the canal's Pacific entrance. It has 260+ slips for boats up to 200 ft, a fuel dock, a 100-ton Travelift and a shipyard, and it is the busiest base for charter boats, sportfishers and ferries in Panama City. It is also usually full of local boats, so a visiting yacht should call ahead on VHF 10 and expect to be fitted in rather than booked.
Quick facts
| Coast | Pacific (Bahía de Panamá) |
|---|---|
| Location | Isla Flamenco, Amador Causeway, Panama City |
| Slips | 260+ (ATP listing) |
| Max LOA | 200 ft / 61 m; draft not published |
| Fuel | Yes: diesel, gasoline, water (reserve on VHF 10) |
| Yard | Yes: 100-ton Travelift, on-site shipyard |
| Charter pickup | Yes: main charter and ferry base in the city |
| Contact | +507 314-1980 · VHF 10 · flamencomarina.com |
Location and access
Flamenco Marina (operated with the Fuerte Amador Resort & Marina complex) sits between Isla Flamenco and Isla Perico at the seaward end of the Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador). The causeway is the breakwater built from canal spoil that links Naos, Perico and Flamenco islands to the mainland at Balboa. From the water you approach from Bahía de Panamá, outside the canal's buoyed channel, and enter the basin from the south side of the islands. The Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP) lists the position as 8°54′44″ N, 79°31′19″ W.
By road it is about 20 to 25 minutes from the city centre and roughly 25 minutes from Tocumen (PTY) outside rush hour. Taxis and ride-hailing know "Flamenco" or "Fuerte Amador". There is parking, restaurants and shops on the island itself, which is the main reason charter operators like it: guests can arrive by car, eat before or after, and walk to the dock.
Hail the marina on VHF channel 10. The office sits near the fuel pontoon and, according to cruiser reports, is open roughly 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday. Confirm hours with the marina.
Slips and who it suits
ATP's marina listing gives Flamenco more than 260 slips and a maximum length of 200 ft (61 m); a newer dock added capacity for yachts up to 160 ft. Noonsite describes alongside berthing on floating pontoons, with most berths taken by local boats and "some pier space" for visitors. Shore power is listed at 30, 50 and 100 amp, with potable water, Wi-Fi, 24/7 dock access and ISPS-certified security.
Who it suits:
- Charter and tour operators based in Panama City who need a public-facing pickup point with parking and food.
- Sportfishers and motor yachts owned in the city that want fuel, power and a yard in one place.
- Superyachts staging for a canal transit or a Las Perlas cruise.
- Cruisers who want a marina rather than the anchorage for a few days of provisioning and canal paperwork, and are willing to pay for it.
Two cruiser cautions repeat across reports: the marina does not take advance bookings for transient yachts (you arrive, call, and are fitted in), and the outermost dock nearest the breakwater takes surge. Ask for an inside berth and set fenders low, because the docks are low. Max draft is not published; the Pacific tide range here is roughly 4 to 6 m, so depth at low water matters for a deep keel. Confirm with the marina.
Fuel, yard and services
Flamenco has a fuel dock with diesel and gasoline and water. Noonsite advises calling ahead on channel 10 to reserve fuel, and notes the fuel dock may charge a mooring fee while you are alongside. This is the most reliable fuel dock in Panama City for a yacht, which is why charter boats from the Amador area fill up here.
The yard side is run as a shipyard within the complex. ATP and the marina's own listings describe a 100-ton Travelift; Noonsite's page names an associated yard, Quality Yachts Panama, and quotes a 150-ton lift. Treat the capacity as "100 tons or more" until you confirm it for your boat. On-site contractors cover mechanical, electrical, fibreglass and bottom work. Yacht laundry, ice delivery and waste disposal are listed as marina services.
Flamenco is ISPS-certified, which matters for commercial and larger yachts, and it has fire-fighting on site. For a broader comparison of where to keep and haul a boat in the city, see Panama City marinas and boat storage compared.
Charter pickup and rules
Flamenco is the main departure point in Panama City for day charters to Taboga, the bay and Las Perlas, and the island's terminals also serve passenger ferries. Historically the Contadora ferry has departed from Flamenco Island; the Taboga ferries leave from the Amador Causeway area as well. Operators and piers change, so confirm the current departure pier before you send guests.
If you operate charters from Flamenco, expect the marina to want a commercial arrangement rather than a private slip, and to check that your boat and company are registered with the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) and the ATP. Guests normally meet at a named dock or restaurant on the island; brief them on the exact gate, because the complex has several piers. Security is 24/7 and dock access is controlled.
For arriving yachts, Flamenco has long had officials nearby: a 2011 cruiser report quotes the Balboa port captain saying AMP, Customs and Health officers worked at the Flamenco complex around the clock. Since 2013, however, Immigration at Flamenco and the Balboa Yacht Club has been a branch office that can only stamp a 72-hour entry; the full visa is issued at the main Migración office in Diablo Heights. Treat clearance here as a starting point, not the whole process, and read arrival and clearance in Panama before you come in.
Costs and how to contact
Flamenco does not publish a rate card online, and cruisers consistently describe it as the most expensive option in the city. Expect per-foot nightly and monthly rates, separate charges for power and water, and a fee for dinghy landing if you are anchored at Las Brisas and want to use the docks. Confirm current rates with the marina before you commit, and get the quote in writing for a monthly or seasonal slip.
- Phone: +507 314-1980 (ATP listing); +507 314-1535 is also published.
- Email: [email protected] (marina services); [email protected] appears on the ATP listing.
- Web: flamencomarina.com / fuerteamador.com.
- VHF: channel 10.
- Address: Isla Flamenco, Calzada de Amador, Balboa.
For what docking costs typically include in Panama and how contracts work, see marinas and docking for owners.
Nearby waters
Out of the basin you are in Bahía de Panamá with the canal's main channel and the Bridge of the Americas to the west. Isla Taboga is about 12 nautical miles south; the Las Perlas archipelago (Contadora, Pedro González, Isla del Rey) is roughly 35 to 40 nautical miles to the south-east. Just inside the causeway is La Playita de Amador, the cruiser anchorage and small marina, and the Las Brisas anchorage on the east side of the causeway. The Balboa Yacht Club moorings sit under the bridge. Cruisers run a VHF net on channel 74 at 08:00 from the anchorages. The full picture of the bay is in the Panama Bay boating guide.
Your practical starting checklist
- Call the marina office (+507 314-1980) or hail on VHF 10 a day or two before you want a slip; transient space is not reserved online.
- Give LOA, beam, draft and how long you plan to stay; ask for an inside berth away from the breakwater.
- Confirm the nightly or monthly rate, power and water charges in writing.
- Arrive in daylight, fenders set low, and expect to raft or wait for a slip to clear.
- If arriving from abroad, report to the officials at the marina, then complete Immigration at Diablo Heights within 72 hours.
- Reserve fuel on channel 10 before coming to the fuel pontoon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a slip at Flamenco Marina in advance?
Long-term slips are arranged with the office. For transient visits, cruiser reports say the marina does not hold advance bookings; you call on arrival and take what is free. Phone ahead anyway so staff know you are coming.
How big a boat can Flamenco Marina take?
ATP's listing says up to 200 ft (61 m), with a newer dock for yachts to 160 ft. Maximum draft is not published, so confirm with the marina if you draw more than about 3 m.
Is there a fuel dock at Flamenco?
Yes, diesel, gasoline and water. Call ahead on VHF 10 to reserve fuel, and expect a possible mooring charge while alongside the fuel pontoon.
Can I clear into Panama at Flamenco Marina?
Officials have historically attended arriving yachts at Flamenco, but Immigration there is a branch office that stamps a 72-hour entry only. You must then visit the main Migración office at Diablo Heights. Check the current procedure before arrival.
What does a slip at Flamenco cost?
The marina does not publish rates online. Cruisers describe it as the most expensive marina in Panama City. Ask for a written quote by email or phone.
En español: Marina Flamenco (Flamenco Marina), Amador
Flamenco Marina está en Isla Flamenco, al final de la Calzada de Amador, en la entrada pacífica del Canal de Panamá. Según la Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá tiene más de 260 puestos para embarcaciones de hasta 200 pies, muelle de combustible (diésel y gasolina), Travelift de 100 toneladas y astillero. Es la base principal de los charters, botes de pesca deportiva y ferris de la Ciudad de Panamá. Llame al +507 314-1980 o por VHF canal 10 para consultar disponibilidad y tarifas; la marina no publica precios en línea.
The next question to answer
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.
The cruiser anchorage and small marina just inside the causeway. Read La Playita de Amador.
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.
- Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (Tourism Panama): Marinas in Panamá ↗
- Noonsite: Flamenco Marina ↗
- Superyacht Services Guide: Flamenco Marina ↗
- Noonsite: Clearing out of Panama at Balboa (cruiser report) ↗
- Noonsite: Diablo Heights now the only official Immigration office ↗