Quick facts
| Coast | Caribbean, Colón province (canal entrance east to the Costa Arriba) |
|---|---|
| Distances | Shelter Bay–Portobelo about 20 nm; Portobelo–Linton Bay about 6 nm; Linton–Porvenir about 38 nm |
| Tidal range | Under 0.6 m |
| Marinas | Shelter Bay (Fort Sherman), Linton Bay (Puerto Lindo), Panamarina (moorings only) |
| Yards | Shelter Bay 100-ton Travelift; Linton Bay 160-tonne Travelift (39 ft beam) |
| Fuel | No dock at Shelter Bay (delivery only); listed at Linton Bay; delivery at Portobelo; none at Panamarina |
| Ports of entry | Cristóbal/Colón (officials at Shelter Bay); Puerto Lindo port captain with Migración in Portobelo |
| VHF | Cristóbal Signal 12/16; Shelter Bay 74; Panamarina 69; Portobelo cruisers' net 72 at 09:00 |
Geography and waters
The canal's Caribbean entrance is Limón Bay, closed off by the Cristóbal breakwater. Colón city is on its east side. The old US base of Fort Sherman, now home to Shelter Bay Marina, is on the west, beside San Lorenzo National Park and the mouth of the Chagres.
East of the breakwater the coast becomes the Costa Arriba. Portobelo is a deep, enclosed bay ringed by green hills and the ruins of Spanish forts. Together with Fort San Lorenzo, those forts are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Further east, Puerto Lindo sits behind Isla Linton, with Linton Bay Marina inside. Panamarina is a mooring field in the mangroves toward Isla Grande, inside Portobelo National Park. Isla Grande lies just off the mainland at the end of the road.
This is reef water: clear, warm and with almost no tide. Approaches have reefs close to the entrances. Near Shelter Bay, keep about 90 m off the port-side headland and follow the green markers. After heavy rain, rivers bring down logs and debris; see sargassum and debris.
Getting there by boat or road
By sea. Arriving from the north you come in through the Cristóbal breakwater with the ships. Call Cristóbal Signal on VHF 12 or 16, then turn west for Shelter Bay. Portobelo is about 20 nm east along the coast, and Linton Bay about 6 nm beyond. Arrive in daylight; the reefs at the entrances are close. The legs, east and west, are in cruising Panama’s Caribbean coast.
By road. Take the highway from Panama City toward Colón. Shelter Bay says it is about 50 minutes from the city, but the Atlantic bridge and Colón traffic often make it longer. For Portobelo, Linton Bay and Isla Grande, turn east at Sabanitas, where the banks and ATMs are. Allow about two hours to Linton Bay; the coast road is slow. Isla Grande is a short water-taxi ride from the end of the road.
Through the canal. Boats coming from the Pacific reach Colón at the end of a transit; see transiting the Panama Canal in a yacht.
Marinas and anchorages
- Shelter Bay Marina: about 200 slips, a 100-ton Travelift, and a port captain and Immigration on site. No fuel dock. The marina bus runs to Colón, and this is where most transit yachts wait.
- Linton Bay Marina: 80-plus slips, about 16 moorings and a 160-tonne Travelift. There is a port captain on site; Immigration is in Portobelo. It is the base for San Blas.
- Panamarina: screw moorings in 2 to 4 m, a yard and dry storage. There are no docks and no fuel. Staffed Monday to Saturday.
Anchorages. Portobelo's bay has strong holding in mud on the north side and a cruisers' net on VHF 72 at 09:00. The open Linton Bay anchorage is often swell-affected. Behind Isla Linton is better, except in north or east wind. Isla Grande is sheltered from trades and swell but rolls with boat traffic.
Fuel and water. Shelter Bay has diesel by delivery boat when available. Portobelo can arrange diesel and water delivery. Linton Bay lists fuel; confirm before you count on it. Compare slips and storage in dry storage vs wet slip.
Tides, weather and seasons
The tide is under 0.6 m, so docks, ramps and anchor scope behave the way a Florida boater expects. The wind and the swell set the plan.
December to April: the north-east trades blow strongest and steadiest. Northerly swell works into open anchorages like Linton Bay, and cold-front surges can bring heavy rain. This is the best sailing season for San Blas, and the worst for comfortable nights in exposed bays.
May to November: lighter winds, calmer seas, frequent afternoon thunderstorms and lightning. Many owners leave boats here in the rainy season because Panama is south of the usual hurricane tracks. It isn't immune: Hurricane Otto passed about 75 nm north-north-east of Colón in 2016. Watch the NHC outlooks from June to November, and read lightning protection before you leave a boat on a mooring for the season.
What people do on the water
Canal staging. Most yachts heading to the Pacific wait at Shelter Bay or the Flats anchorage for admeasurement, an agent and a transit date. See scheduling and wait times.
Haul-outs, refits and storage. Shelter Bay and Linton Bay have the biggest lifts on this coast, and Panamarina offers cheap long-term moorings and dry storage. See haul-out yards in Panama.
History by boat. In Portobelo you can anchor below the forts and land at the town, a Spanish treasure port from the colonial era.
Isla Grande weekends. Isla Grande is a beach and day-trip island for people driving from the city, with water taxis from the mainland.
The jump to San Blas. From Linton or Portobelo it is a day sail east to Porvenir; see the San Blas guide.
Rules, permits and agencies
Clearing in. At Cristóbal/Colón, Migración and the port captain have been on site at Shelter Bay on weekdays; Noonsite (Feb 2025) reported a US$75 weekend surcharge. At Puerto Lindo the AMP port captain works Monday to Friday, and Migración is in Portobelo. Get the cruising permit and a domestic zarpe naming your next port before you head east. See arriving in Panama by boat and the ports of entry list.
The canal. The ACP controls Limón Bay, the breakwater entrance and the anchorages. Monitor VHF 12 and keep out of the ship channel.
Protected areas. Portobelo and San Lorenzo are national parks under MiAmbiente. Anchor in sand or mud, away from coral and seagrass, and don't take anything from the reefs.
Security. Colón has a serious crime problem: use taxis, not walks. There are reports of armed boardings in Portobelo and thefts in Colón anchorages. Lock up, lift the dinghy at night and anchor near other boats.
Who this coast suits
Yachts transiting the canal from Florida or the Caribbean. Cruisers who want a Caribbean base with a big lift and no hurricane season. Absentee owners storing a sailboat cheaply between seasons. Panama City owners who trailer or drive to the Caribbean for clear water. It suits large superyachts less: for berths over about 80 ft on this side, look at Red Frog in Bocas del Toro.
Your practical starting checklist
- Choose your base: Shelter Bay for a canal transit, Linton Bay or Panamarina for storage, yard work and San Blas.
- Call Cristóbal Signal on VHF 12 or 16 before you enter or leave the breakwater.
- Clear in on a weekday to avoid overtime charges, and keep every stamped paper together.
- Get the cruising permit and a domestic zarpe before heading east.
- Arrange fuel delivery ahead; don't plan on a fuel dock at Shelter Bay or Panamarina.
- Anchor on Portobelo's north side or behind Isla Linton, and check in on the VHF 72 net.
- Lock up, lift the dinghy and use taxis in Colón.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Portobelo from Colón by boat?
About 20 nautical miles east of Shelter Bay and the Colón breakwater. Linton Bay and Isla Grande are about 6 nm further east.
Can you get fuel at Shelter Bay Marina?
There's no fuel dock. Diesel comes by delivery boat when available, or by jerry can from a Colón station. Arrange it ahead with the office.
Which marina is best for going to San Blas?
Linton Bay Marina at Puerto Lindo is the usual base: it has slips, moorings, a big Travelift and a port captain, and Porvenir is about 38 nm east. Panamarina next door is the cheaper mooring option.
Can I clear into Panama at Portobelo?
Portobelo has Migración, and the AMP port captain is at Puerto Lindo nearby, so many boats clear in between the two. Colón, with officials at Shelter Bay, has everything in one place.
¿Cómo llegar a Isla Grande desde la ciudad de Panamá?
Por carretera hacia Colón, desviando en Sabanitas hacia Portobelo y siguiendo la costa hasta el final de la vía; desde allí se cruza en lancha. En barco, Isla Grande queda a unas 6 millas al este de Portobelo.
En español: navegar en Portobelo, Colón y Linton Bay
La costa caribeña entre Colón e Isla Grande es la base de la navegación en el Caribe panameño. Shelter Bay Marina, en Fuerte Sherman, está en la entrada del Canal. Portobelo queda a unas 20 millas náuticas al este, y Linton Bay, Panamarina e Isla Grande unas 6 millas más allá. La marea es menor de 0.6 metros. De diciembre a abril soplan los alisios con mar de fondo; de mayo a noviembre hay menos viento y más tormentas eléctricas. Shelter Bay no tiene muelle de combustible. Para entrar al país hay oficiales en Shelter Bay, y en Puerto Lindo hay capitán de puerto, con Migración en Portobelo. Asegure la lancha auxiliar de noche y use taxi en Colón.