Shelter Bay Marina is the full-service marina on the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal, in the former Fort Sherman base across the bay from Colón. It is where most yachts wait for a transit, meet their agent and line handlers, haul out or store a boat for a season. It is remote, secure and hurricane-free, and the marina bus is your link to town.
Quick facts
| Coast | Caribbean (canal entrance) |
|---|---|
| Location | Fort Sherman, Colón |
| Slips | About 200 (Noonsite) |
| Max draft | 7.6 m / 25 ft channel |
| Fuel | No dock; delivery only |
| Yard | Yes, 100-ton Travelift |
| Liveaboard | Yes |
| Website | shelterbaymarina.com |
Location and access
Shelter Bay sits inside the Limón Bay breakwater on the west side of the canal entrance, at 30 Butner Street, Fort Sherman, Colón (about 9°22'N, 79°57'W). The marina is on the grounds of the old US Fort Sherman, next to San Lorenzo National Park, so the setting is rainforest and old barracks rather than a town waterfront.
By sea you arrive through the Cristóbal breakwater with the canal traffic, then turn west into the marina cove. Noonsite advises keeping at least 90 m off the port-side headland and following the green markers, because a reef lies just off the entrance. The marina is dimly lit; if you arrive at night, anchor in the designated yacht anchorage and come in at first light. Call the office on VHF 74.
By road the marina says it is about 50 minutes from Panama City. In practice that depends on the Atlantic bridge and Colón traffic. The marina bus to the Cuatro Altos mall in Colón costs US$1.50 each way and runs mornings Monday to Saturday and afternoons Monday to Friday. A taxi to Panama City is "generally $100 or more" according to the marina; some seats may also be available on the 4:00 pm employee bus to the city. There is no walk-to town.
Slips, anchorage and who it suits
Noonsite lists about 200 wet slips enclosed in the cove and a channel that can take a 7.6 m (25 ft) draft. Rates on the marina site start at US$0.45 per foot for monohulls and US$0.58 for multihulls, varying with vessel size and length of stay; the page does not state the billing unit, so confirm whether that is per day before you budget.
Shelter Bay suits three kinds of boat:
- Transit yachts. Boats waiting for a canal date, meeting their agent, loading tyres and lines, and taking on line handlers. Noonsite reports an on-site Port Captain and Immigration office, which saves the trip into Colón.
- Cruisers between seasons. Panama has no hurricanes, so owners leave boats here in the water or on the hard between the San Blas season and the next passage.
- Refits. The yard is one of the few on this coast with a Travelift, an enclosed workshop and a chandlery.
Yachts anchored outside can use the dinghy dock, pool and showers for a daily fee; Noonsite reports cruisers paying about US$25 a day for access, with the marina planning to waive it against a minimum spend. Confirm current terms with the office.
Fuel, yard and services
Fuel: there is no fuel dock. According to Noonsite, diesel is delivered by an outside supplier's boat, which is not always available. Fill up in Colón or Portobelo if you need a lot, and ask the office to arrange delivery ahead of time.
Yard: Noonsite lists a 100-ton Travelift, a 5,000 sq ft enclosed refit space and secure long-term storage for up to 120 vessels. The marina's own yard page lists bottom prep and painting, blister repair and carpentry, with contractors for diesel and outboard repair, refrigeration, hydraulics, rigging, saildrive, sail and canvas work and certified electrical work. You may bring your own specialists and outside contractors, subject to approval. The dry-storage area has 24/7 video surveillance, a mast crane and a 110 ft man lift, plus concierge boat care, battery maintenance, dehumidifiers and shrink wrapping.
Ashore: a remodelled pool, the Dock Restaurant and bar, the Marina Hotel, a laundry (self-service or drop-off), an air-conditioned gym, a mini market, a chandlery (the Dock Shoppe), a sail loft and marina-wide Wi-Fi packages. A provisioning service shops in Colón and Panama City for you.
Canal staging: agents, line handlers and timing
Shelter Bay is not an agent and does not set your transit date; the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) does. What the marina gives you is a safe berth while the ACP inspection is completed (since 2023 it is normally done online, without a visit), the fees are paid and the date is confirmed. Agents meet clients here, and most line-handler, line and tyre arrangements are made from the docks. Noonsite reports the marina planning to bundle line handlers, lines and fenders into its new dinghy-dock packages; ask what is current.
Read our canal transit guide for the ACP steps and fees, and the arrival and clearance page for the cruising permit and immigration stamps you need before the transit. A daily cruisers' net runs on VHF 77 at 07:30 (per Noonsite) and is the quickest way to find line handlers and crew looking for a ride through.
Charter pickup is not a feature here. Shelter Bay is a cruising and transit marina, not a day-charter base; if you plan to board paying guests, talk to the office first and see marinas and docking rules.
Costs and how to contact the marina
Published starting rates are US$0.45/ft (monohull) and US$0.58/ft (multihull), with lower long-term rates for storage and periodic haul-out promotions (a 50% off haul-out offer was on the site when we checked). Electricity, water, Wi-Fi and the Colón bus are extra. For a full quote with slip, haul, storage and yard day rates, confirm the current tariff with the marina.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| [email protected] | |
| Phone / WhatsApp | +507 433-3581, +507 6781-6631 (others listed on the site) |
| VHF | Channel 74 |
| Reservations | Online form: dates, captain, yacht name and length |
Book ahead for January to April, when the transit queue is longest.
Nearby waters
East along the coast are Portobelo and Puerto Lindo, home to Linton Bay Marina and Panamarina, then the Guna Yala (San Blas) islands. West is the Chagres River and, much further, Bocas del Toro. December to March brings northerly swell to this coast; inside Shelter Bay you are protected, but the breakwater entrance can be rough. Noonsite notes crocodilians in the marina water, so do not swim off the docks. Theft from boats has been reported over the years; the marina has 24-hour security and an electric fence around the yard, but lock dinghies and outboards.
See the Panama marinas hub for the Pacific-side options you will reach after the transit.
Your practical starting checklist
- Send the online reservation form or email [email protected] with dates, yacht name and LOA.
- Ask for the current per-foot rate, the billing unit, and electricity, water and bus charges.
- Line up your canal agent (or decide to self-handle) before arrival so the admeasurement can be scheduled quickly.
- Approach by day, 90 m off the port headland, follow the green markers and call VHF 74.
- Clear in with the on-site Port Captain and Immigration if you have not already cleared in Panama.
- Book any haul-out or yard work early; the Travelift schedule fills up in the dry season.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Shelter Bay Marina from Panama City?
The marina says about 50 minutes by road. A taxi is generally US$100 or more each way; the marina bus serves Colón, not the city.
Does Shelter Bay Marina have a fuel dock?
No. Diesel is delivered by an outside supplier by boat and is not always available. Arrange it with the office or fuel elsewhere.
Can I leave my boat at Shelter Bay for the season?
Yes. The yard offers long-term dry storage with video surveillance, and Panama is outside the hurricane belt, so there is no hurricane-season restriction.
Can I anchor outside and use the marina?
Yes, for a daily fee that covers the dinghy dock, showers and pool. Noonsite reports about US$25 a day; confirm with the office.
Does the marina arrange my canal transit?
It hosts you while your agent or you deal with the ACP. Agents, line handlers and equipment are all easy to arrange from the docks.
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.
- Shelter Bay Marina: home and rates ↗
- Shelter Bay Marina: amenities ↗
- Shelter Bay Marina: boat yard ↗
- Shelter Bay Marina: dry storage ↗
- Noonsite: Cristóbal (Colón) docking ↗