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5 minutes to book. Best day of our entire trip. Everything felt effortless from pickup to sunset.
Destination guide
Panama — at a glance
12 boats are available to book across 4 departure bases. The largest are San Blas Islands (7), Bocas del Toro (2), Isla Aguja Cabins San Blas (2). The fleet is 10 catamarans and trimarans, 2 sailing boats. Weekly prices start from €5,264 for a sailing boat; every price on this page is the boat’s own listed rate for 7 nights, before extras.
When to go
Panama sits below the hurricane belt and sails all year: December to April is the dry season with steady trade winds on the Caribbean side and the San Blas at their best; May to November is the wet season with lighter winds, calmer seas and lower prices, and the islands are just as clear. Bocas del Toro on the western Caribbean coast is wetter and greener with its own micro-seasons. Charters are mostly crewed, by the week or by the cabin.
Where to sail in Panama
Sailing the San Blas islands (Guna Yala)
The San Blas - three hundred and sixty-five coral islands along the Caribbean coast, run by the Guna people - are the reason most sailors come to Panama: palm islets with a single family and a fish for sale, reefs, no marinas and no roads. Boats are based in the islands and at Isla Aguja, and reached by four-wheel drive from Panama City in three hours or by small plane.
Boats leave from San Blas Islands 7 Isla Aguja Cabins San Blas 2
Catamaran charter from Portobelo and the Caribbean coast
Puerto Lindo and Portobelo, an hour and a half from Panama City near the Caribbean entrance of the canal, are the bases for a longer charter that sails east to the San Blas over a day; Portobelo's Spanish forts and Isla Grande are the first stops.
Boats leave from Puerto Lindo, Portobelo 1
Yacht charter in Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro, the archipelago on the western Caribbean coast near Costa Rica, is a separate cruising ground: sheltered water between Isla Colón, Bastimentos and the mainland, mangroves, surf breaks and the Zapatilla cays, with a small fleet based in Bocas town.
Boats leave from Bocas del Toro 2
Bareboat, skippered or crewed
Most Panama charters are crewed - captain and cook, meals included - because the San Blas have no charts to speak of and the Guna charge landing fees island by island; bareboat catamarans are rented against a sailing résumé from Portobelo and Bocas. Cabin charters on shared catamarans through the San Blas are the cheapest way to see them.
Types of boats in Panama
Catamarans of 40 to 50 feet are most of the Panama fleet on Adriavela, with two sailing monohulls; the boats are set up for crewed weeks in the islands.
- 10 catamarans and trimarans from €8,603 per week
- 2 sailing boats from €5,264 per week
Ports and marinas in Panama
- San Blas Islands 7 boats
- Bocas del Toro 2 boats
- Isla Aguja Cabins San Blas 2 boats
- Puerto Lindo, Portobelo 1 boat
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to charter a boat in Panama?
Most Panama charters are crewed - captain and cook, meals included - because the San Blas have no charts to speak of and the Guna charge landing fees island by island; bareboat catamarans are rented against a sailing résumé from Portobelo and Bocas. Cabin charters on shared catamarans through the San Blas are the cheapest way to see them.
When is the best time to sail in Panama?
Panama sits below the hurricane belt and sails all year: December to April is the dry season with steady trade winds on the Caribbean side and the San Blas at their best; May to November is the wet season with lighter winds, calmer seas and lower prices, and the islands are just as clear. Bocas del Toro on the western Caribbean coast is wetter and greener with its own micro-seasons. Charters are mostly crewed, by the week or by the cabin.
Where can I sail in Panama?
3 sailing areas: San Blas islands (Guna Yala) (from San Blas Islands, Isla Aguja Cabins San Blas); Portobelo and the Caribbean coast (from Puerto Lindo, Portobelo); Bocas del Toro (from Bocas del Toro). Each has its own bases, and the boats on this page leave from all of them.
How do I get to the charter bases in Panama?
The nearest airports to the largest bases: San Blas Islands (7 boats): Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY), about 85 km away; Isla Aguja Cabins San Blas (2 boats): Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY), about 85 km away. Distances are as the crow flies; most charter companies arrange a transfer on request.
How many boats can I charter in Panama?
12 boats from 4 bases: 10 catamarans and trimarans, 2 sailing boats. Availability and prices are live from the charter companies.
How much does it cost to charter a boat in Panama?
On the boats listed here day rates start from €752 and a week (7 nights) from €5,264. These are the boats’ own listed rates before extras; fuel, marina fees on the route and local taxes are paid separately.