Marina Carenero is a small, owner-run marina on Isla Carenero, the wooded key a few hundred metres east of Bocas Town across the channel. It suits cruisers who want a secure place to leave a boat for months, with metered power, pressurised drinking water, a common kitchen and a monthly deck wash included, and it is one of the few Panamanian marinas that publishes its rates: US$12 per foot per month for a monohull. There are no roads or cars on the island; a water taxi takes you to town.
Quick facts
| Coast | Caribbean (Bocas del Toro) |
|---|---|
| Location | Isla Carenero, opposite Bocas Town |
| Slips | Small marina; count not published |
| Max LOA | Takes boats over 60 ft; confirm |
| Fuel | No |
| Yard | No; 60 t yard near Almirante |
| Liveaboard | Yes |
| Website | marinacarenero.com |
Location and access
The marina is on Cayo (Isla) Carenero at roughly 9°20.6'N, 82°14.1'W, inside the Bocas del Toro lagoon and directly opposite Bocas Town on Isla Colón. The marina describes Carenero as "a wooded key" a few hundred metres east of Isla Colón, with no roads or cars. Daily water taxis run to Isla Colón and the other islands, and the crossing to town takes a couple of minutes, so you have the shops, restaurants and airport of Bocas without living in it.
By sea, approach through the main Bocas channel between Isla Colón and Carenero in daylight; the marina does not publish a VHF channel or depths, so email or WhatsApp ahead for berthing instructions. By air, fly Panama City (Albrook) to Bocas del Toro and take a water taxi from the town waterfront.
Bocas del Toro is a port of entry with the Port Captain (AMP) and immigration in town; see arrival and clearance.
Slips and who it suits
The marina does not publish a slip count or maximum length, but its rate card has a category for boats over 60 ft and separate catamaran pricing, so it takes multihulls and mid-size yachts. Confirm your LOA, beam and draft with the office before you book. There are no moorings.
Who it suits:
- Absentee owners. The marina's own pitch, echoed in its guest reviews, is "a safe, secure marina to leave your boat for any length of time", with a yacht maintenance service and a monthly wash of decks and freeboards included.
- Long-term liveaboards who want a quiet island with a shared kitchen, dining room, barbecue, TV room, book swap and herb garden, and a town two minutes away by boat.
- Anyone who likes to know the price first. Carenero publishes daily, weekly, monthly and annual rates, with prepay discounts.
It does not suit large motor yachts needing heavy shore power or a fuel dock; for that see Red Frog Marina.
Fuel, yard and services
Fuel: none listed. Diesel is available at Bocas Marina across the channel and gasoline in town.
Utilities: metered electricity at US$0.30 per kWh; unfiltered water free and filtered rainwater at US$0.10 a gallon; free dockside Wi-Fi; phone and internet at the office. Visa and MasterCard accepted.
Ashore: clean bathrooms and showers, a dining room and common kitchen with barbecue, a work area, TV room, book and DVD swap. The marina offers a yacht maintenance package and periodic cleaning; ask for the current scope and price, as the details were not on the pages we could open.
Yard: there is no haul-out at Carenero. The nearest yard is Bocas Yacht Services near Almirante on the mainland, which Noonsite lists at up to 60 tons; larger boats go to Linton Bay or Shelter Bay on the Colón coast.
Charter pickup and rules
Carenero is a private cruisers' marina, not a charter base, and its rate card is written for owners, not operators. If you want to run guests from here, ask the owners first and confirm your Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP) and Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) paperwork is in order; most Bocas charter and tour boats work from the town docks on Isla Colón. The marinas and docking page covers what Panamanian marinas usually require.
Costs and how to contact the marina
Published rates (the marina notes new rates from July 2026), in US dollars per foot of LOA, plus 7% sales tax:
| Term | Monohull | Catamaran | Over 60 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | $0.75 | $1.00 | $1.50 |
| Weekly (per day × 7) | $0.60 | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| Monthly | $12 | $15 | $14 |
| Annual, prepaid | $10 | $12 | — |
Prepay three months for 5% off or six months for 10% off. The annual rate must be prepaid unless you are retired, and the marina says higher rates do not apply to clients docked for more than five years. Example: a 42 ft monohull costs US$504 a month plus tax and metered power, or US$420 a month on the prepaid annual rate. Reservations are by email up to 90 days ahead with a deposit equal to the first month's slip rent. Rates change; confirm the current card before you budget.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phone / WhatsApp | +507 6451-5559 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | marinacarenero.com |
| VHF | Not published |
Nearby waters
Carenero sits in the heart of the Bocas lagoon. Bocas Town is across the channel to the west; Isla Solarte, Isla Bastimentos and the Red Frog resort are to the east and south-east; the Zapatilla cays and Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park lie beyond. The lagoon is flat in most weather and protected from the winter northerly swell, but the wet season (roughly May to November) brings afternoon squalls and lightning, and theft from boats at anchor is a known problem in Bocas, which is part of the case for a slip. Day trips to Starfish Beach, the Dolphin Bay mangroves and the Zapatillas are all within a few miles; see cruising grounds.
Your practical starting checklist
- Email [email protected] with LOA, beam, draft, hull type and dates, up to 90 days ahead.
- Confirm the current rate card, tax, metered power and the maintenance package if you will be away.
- Pay the deposit (one month's slip rent) to hold the berth.
- Arrive in daylight through the main Bocas channel and follow the office's berthing instructions.
- If arriving from abroad, clear in with the Port Captain and immigration in Bocas Town.
- Leave spare keys and a contact with the office if you are leaving the boat.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Marina Carenero cost?
US$12 per foot per month for a monohull, US$15 for a catamaran, US$14 for boats over 60 ft, plus 7% tax, with 5–10% off for prepaying and a US$10/US$12 annual prepaid rate.
Can I leave my boat at Marina Carenero while I am away?
Yes. Long-term and absentee owners are the marina's main business, with a monthly deck wash included and a yacht maintenance service available.
Is there fuel or a haul-out at Carenero?
No. Diesel is at Bocas Marina across the channel; the nearest yard is Bocas Yacht Services near Almirante (up to 60 tons per Noonsite).
How do I get to Bocas Town from Carenero?
By water taxi; the crossing is a few hundred metres. There are no roads or cars on Isla Carenero.
Is Bocas del Toro in the hurricane zone?
No. Panama lies south of the hurricane belt, so boats stay in Bocas year-round.
The next question to answer
Every marina, anchorage and yard that matters, both coasts. Read Marinas in Panama.
The in-town marina on Isla Colón, with diesel. Read Bocas Marina.
IGY's resort marina on Isla Bastimentos, up to 300 ft. Read Red Frog Marina.
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.