La Playita de Amador is the small marina and the anchorage next to it on the inside of the Amador Causeway, between Isla Culebra and Isla Flamenco. It is where most cruising yachts wait for a canal transit on the Pacific side: anchor outside the breakwater, pay for the dinghy dock, and walk to the causeway for buses, taxis and supplies. The marina itself has about 80 berths, roughly half kept for yachts in transit, with water, fuel by reservation, basic showers and laundry.
Quick facts
| Coast | Pacific (Bahía de Panamá) |
|---|---|
| Location | South side of Amador Causeway, between Isla Culebra and Isla Flamenco |
| Berths | About 80 (roughly half transient); anchorage outside the breakwater |
| Max LOA | Not published; small and mid-sized boats, 40 ft minimum billing |
| Fuel | Yes, by reservation (small-scale); water 5¢/gal |
| Yard | No; use Flamenco's yard |
| Charter pickup | Yes, small boats and tenders; keycard gate |
| Contact | +507 314-1730 · VHF 9 |
Location and access
La Playita sits on the south side of the Amador Causeway, about 100 m from the anchorage, between the Balboa Yacht Club moorings to the west and Flamenco Marina to the east. Noonsite gives the position as 8°54′44″ N, 79°31′34″ W. Coming in from Bahía de Panamá you stay outside the canal's buoyed channel, pass south of Isla Flamenco and round up into the lee of the causeway. The anchorage is outside the small breakwater; the marina docks are inside it.
Ashore you are on the causeway with its cycle path, restaurants and the Biomuseo at the mainland end. Buses and taxis run the length of the causeway, and the Albrook bus terminal and the Balboa supermarkets are a short ride away. The marina office works roughly 07:30 to 17:00 seven days and answers on VHF 9 (cruiser report); confirm hours before you rely on them.
Anchorage, slips and who it suits
Most boats here are at anchor. The anchorage has room, holding in mud, and is the long-standing favourite over Las Brisas on the other side of the causeway because the dinghy landing is easier and safer. Expect swell and wakes from pilot boats, tugs and tour boats, and expect the Pacific tide to swing 4 to 6 m under you, so anchor with the low-water depth in mind. The ground is soft mud, which holds well but makes a mess of the chain.
The marina lists about 80 berths, with roughly half available to yachts in transit. Noonsite quotes a 40 ft minimum and a transient rate of about US$80 per night in early 2025, with high season from late December to April. Power and water are at the dock. Max LOA and depth are not published; the docks are built for small and mid-sized boats, not superyachts.
Who it suits:
- Cruisers staging for the canal on the Pacific side, or just out of it and heading for Las Perlas and the Galápagos.
- Small charter and tour boats that need a cheap, central base and a dinghy or tender pickup point.
- Boats waiting out paperwork with the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP), the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) or a broker.
Fuel, water and services
La Playita is a basic marina, and that is the point. Noonsite lists fuel and water with a reservation required for both; water was quoted at 5 cents per gallon. There are basic showers, bathrooms and a laundry room, and keycard access to the marina and docks. There is no boatyard, Travelift or chandlery here; for haul-out you go to Flamenco's yard or further afield. See Panama City marinas and boat storage compared for the options.
The dinghy dock is the service most cruisers pay for. Reports put the fee at about US$35 per week (2019). One practical warning from a cruiser: the week starts the day you pay, so if you arrive on a Sunday and pay, you may be asked to pay again for a new week the next day; ask how the marina counts the week before you pay. Confirm the current dinghy fee with the marina.
Fuel at the marina dock is small-scale. For a serious fill, Flamenco Marina next door has the proper fuel dock. Jerry cans and a taxi to a petrol station on the causeway are the cruiser fallback.
Charter pickup and rules
La Playita is used as a pickup point by small charter boats and by tour operators collecting guests for Taboga and the bay, and by water taxis. Keycard access means your guests cannot wander onto the docks; arrange to meet them at the gate or the restaurant and walk them through. Parking is on the causeway, not inside the marina. For a charter company this is a lower-cost base than Flamenco, with the trade-off that guests arrive at a working cruiser dock rather than a resort.
Rules that matter: anchored boats pay for dinghy access, you should not land dinghies on the north side of the causeway (reports mention accidents there), and the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (SENAN) patrols the bay and can board any vessel. SENAN has a presence at Amador; if you are stopped, have your zarpe, cruising permit and crew list to hand. Any charter operation needs its AMP vessel documents and Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP) registration in order. If you are arriving from abroad, clearance is not done at La Playita; see arrival and clearance for where to go.
Costs and how to contact
Published figures from cruiser sources, which you should confirm with the marina:
- Transient slip: about US$80 per night, 40 ft minimum (early 2025, Noonsite).
- Water: about 5 cents per gallon, by reservation.
- Dinghy dock: about US$35 per week (2019 report).
- Anchoring: no fee reported for the anchorage itself.
Contact: +507 314-1730, [email protected], VHF 9. The marina has been marketed as La Playita de Amador Resort & Marina, linked to the Beach House hotel on the causeway. Office hours reported as 07:30 to 17:00 daily. For how marina contracts and fees work in Panama generally, see marinas and docking for owners.
Nearby waters
From the anchorage you look west at the canal's Pacific approach and the Bridge of the Americas, with the Balboa Yacht Club moorings and the Balboa container port beyond. East of you is Flamenco Marina and, around the causeway, the Las Brisas anchorage. Isla Taboga is about 12 nautical miles south and is the natural first day trip; Las Perlas is a day's sail to the south-east. The cruisers' net runs on VHF 74 at 08:00. Read the Panama Bay boating guide and the Balboa canal entrance guide before you move around the anchorage, because ship traffic and the ACP's channel rules are close by.
Your practical starting checklist
- Call +507 314-1730 or VHF 9 before arrival to ask about dinghy-dock and slip availability.
- Anchor outside the breakwater in good mud with the 4–6 m tide in mind; keep clear of the fairway into the marina.
- Go to the office with your boat papers and pay for dinghy access; ask exactly when the week ends.
- Reserve water or fuel at the dock a day ahead if you need them.
- If you want a slip, give LOA and dates; expect a 40 ft minimum and a nightly rate.
- Keep zarpe, cruising permit and crew list aboard for SENAN checks.
Frequently asked questions
Is La Playita an anchorage or a marina?
Both. Most yachts anchor outside the breakwater and pay the marina for dinghy-dock access. The marina itself has about 80 berths, around half for boats in transit.
How much is the dinghy dock at La Playita?
Cruisers reported about US$35 per week in 2019. The fee changes, so confirm with the marina office when you pay.
Can I get fuel and water at La Playita?
Yes, by reservation at the dock, in modest quantities. Water was quoted at 5 cents per gallon. For a big fuel fill use Flamenco Marina next door.
Is there a boatyard at La Playita?
No. The nearest Travelift is at Flamenco Marina's yard on the next island. La Playita is for anchoring, short slip stays and dinghy access.
Is the anchorage safe?
It is the preferred Pacific-side cruiser anchorage, with good mud holding and controlled access to the docks. Expect swell and wakes, lock the dinghy, and expect SENAN patrols in the bay.
En español: La Playita de Amador, marina y fondeadero
La Playita de Amador es la marina pequeña y el fondeadero en el lado sur de la Calzada de Amador, entre Isla Culebra e Isla Flamenco. La mayoría de los veleros que esperan el tránsito del Canal fondean afuera del rompeolas y pagan a la marina por usar el muelle de dinghy. La marina tiene unos 80 puestos, agua y combustible con reserva, duchas y lavandería básicas. Teléfono +507 314-1730, VHF 9; confirme tarifas actuales con la oficina.
The next question to answer
Boats up to 125 ft transit the Panama Canal as handlines: register in ACP's ASEM portal, pay toll and buffer, carry 4 line handlers and 4 lines. Read How to transit the Panama Canal in a yacht: step by step.
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.
- Noonsite: La Playita de Amador Resort & Marina ↗
- Noonsite: Panama, Balboa — comments and tips from cruisers ↗
- Noonsite: Clearing out of Panama at Balboa (cruiser report) ↗
- Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (Tourism Panama): Marinas in Panamá ↗