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Mike Bickell – Caribbean South - Bocas del Toro –to Green Island

Mike Bickell – Pacific East – Balboa to Las Perlas Islands - Isla del Rey

Isla Cavada – 07°59.54'N, 82°01.90'W
Isla Rancheria – 07°38.38'N, 81°41.81'W
Panama Canal – 08°53.00'N, 79°31.00'W See separate entry on the Forum
Porvenir – 09°35.00'N, 78°57.00'W
Taboga – 08°48.00'N, 79°33.00'W

Las Perlas and Isla San Jose:
Isla Contradora NE – 08°37.80'N, 79°08.70'W
Canal de Gigraleon – 08°30.60'N, 79°02.00'W
Isla Espirito Santo – 08°25.89'N, 78°51.30'W
Isla Pedro Gonzales – 08°24.06'N, 79°04.95'W
Isla Contradora South – 08°37.00'N, 79°02.25'W
Isla Chapera and Mogo Mogo – 08°35.00'N, 79°01.19'W
Puento Cocas – 08°14.82'N, 78°54.19'W
Isola San Jose – 08°14.82'N, 79°06.00'E

Isla Cavada – 07°59.54'N, 82°01.90'W
The position is shown on land in Google Earth; therefore “seamanlike caution required”. The island is a private island, which may be why Google have it so fuzzy, but as far as we know it is only a holiday resort, and nothing sinister. We have mentioned it in Equatorial Escapade, as: “We headed there via a private island where folk spend outrageous amounts of money to live in large eco-friendly tent-like structures with no electricity in a ‘wilderness holiday location’, with the privilege of watching us anchored off the beach for free, viewing the same tropical sunsets.” We seem to recall we took 3 attempts to anchor securely. It is open to the E. At HW swell can enter across a bar which normally provides shelter from the W. When we left we headed towards Boca Chica through the gap between Isla Cavada & a small offlying islet, finding 7.5m least depth.

Isla Rancheria – 07°38.38'N, 81°41.81'W E bay is a pleasant isolated anchorage, but open to the E.
Porvenir – 09°35.00'N, 78°57.00'W
1) Information Submitted by George Curtis – on board Asterie
2) Date 2002
3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long Porvenir, San Blas Islands, Panama 9°33’N 78°57’W approx
4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts Port of entry for San Blas Islands and Panama. Entry point to idyllic cruising ground with few other yachts, friendly people and good beaches and snorkelling.
5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage Anchorage off South end of Porvenir Island reported in the Pilot Book as at 09°33.5N 78°56.98W. Keep clear of aircraft approach to runway on Porvenir
6) Entry Ports Porvenir, Puerto Obaldia, Colon. Graham Morfey, “Flight of Time” was specifically warned in 2000 not to go to the port on the Colombian border, Puerto Obaldia, as the last yacht had arrived with bullet holes in the hull.
7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing:
a) from/to same country Clear in at Police Post on Porvenir
b) from/to abroad Clear in at Police Post / Immigration on Porvenir. No cruising permit is issued so yachts going outside the San Blas Islands will need to apply for one elsewhere in Panama.
c) visa requirements Nil for UK citizens
8) Location/Existence of:
b) customs/immigration - “Intendencia” at Porvenir
d) police - Porvenir and Nargana
9) Control of Foreign Yachts The Intendencia at Porvenir will levy a small charge for cruising in the San Blas. Where there is a village (there is none on Porvenir) call on the sahila (chief) for permission to anchor. He will probably levy a charge of $5.
10) Attitude of Officials to Visiting Yachtsmen - Very friendly.
11) Repair/Hauling Facilities None seen. It is possible to fly to Panama to obtain spare parts or you may be able to negotiate with the pilots on daily air services to obtain spared for you.
12) Sailing Directions or Charts US DMA 26063 and 26065. Admiralty Chart 2417 covers part. Beware of shallow outcrops which remain uncharted typically 20 ft deep or even shallower just inside the 100 fathom line. During the dry season, swells may break on them. There are a few deep safe passages mentioned in the Cruising guide. One of these is the Canal San Blas. There is a bank in Canal San Blas about 4 miles East North East of Punta San Blas with depths of as little as 8ft. Large vessels enter using the deep water to the west of the bank. Coming from the San Blas channel, head for Porvenir when its south point bears 270°T. Leave good access to the pier which is frequently used by small freighters, and avoid the approach to the air strip where aircraft approach at very low altitude.
13) Cruising Guide and where Obtainable. Include Phone and/or E-Mail The Panama Guide by Nancy Schwalbe Zylder and Tom Zydler, Seaworth Publications, ISBN 0-9639566-3-9 has good coverage of the San Blas Islands.
17) Other Facilities:
drinking water The islanders obtain their drinking water from rivers on the mainland, purity unknown. We used a water maker and only drank bottled water and canned drinks when ashore.
Fuel May be available in some of the Islands. There is a fuel dock at Nargana Island (approx 9°26N 78°35W) This is shown on the US chart as Rio Diablo
gas (propane)/gaz - Not seen
chandlers - None – but can air freight in spares from Panama
bank - Bank in Nargana will change large dollar bills for smaller denominations
shops/market - Bread, chickens and very basic stores available from villages. Nalunege (about half a mile SW of Porvenir) has a store. Naranga has several restaurants/hotels Very basic resort hotel on Porvenir and Nalunege post office/telephones including mobile facilities - It is reported that there is a call box on Porvenir. There are also call boxes on Nargana
internet cafes - Not seen
transport/air services Daily air services to local airport near Armador, about 40 minutes drive from Panama International. These flights can only be booked in Panama. We had excellent service arranging to join Asterie in Porvenir from Margo Tours, Email: ecocircuito@cwp.net.pa Tel: +507-264-8888 /264-4001 Cel. 507-617-6566 ; Fax: 507-264-5355. There are also air services to Nargana
medical facilities/hospital - There is a clinic at Nargana
18) Recommendations or Warnings Chart Surveys are very old and inaccurate. Out GPS position at anchor often placed us ashore on the chart. The Pilot book “The Panama Guide” (see above) gives good advice for safe entry into numerous anchorages but Pilotage by eyeball with the sun as high as possible is necessary.
19) Other Information – please include here general impressions, opinions, comments or any other matter which might be of use to those visiting. A delightful cruising ground with very friendly locals who have clung to tribal culture rather than joined the 21st Centaury. Be prepared to buy beautifully worked “molars”, tribal tapestry, varying in price fro £10 to £40. If you go ashore you will be expected to do so to support the local economy but they will not be pressed on you if you firmly decline. Some Islands contain tightly packed villages and some coconut plantations with only a caretakers house. All coconut trees are “owned” by individuals. We took an interesting trip in a motor canoe up the Rio Diablo from Nargana. It was arranged by Frederico who will act as guide and facilitator for yachts in Nargana. He flies a white flag on his jetty. When we were there in March we sometimes anchored on our own and sometimes with three or four other yachts but the islands can in no way be described as crowded.

Taboga – 08°48.00'N, 79°33.00'W
1) Information Submitted by Tanya Leech, Thursday 's Child of Lee
2) Date June 2006
3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long Taboga, near Balboa, Panama08°48’N 79°33’ W approx
4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts. Include details of relevant web sites Two attractive anchorages in much cleaner water than at the Balboa YC moorings and away from the constant wash of the Panama Canal traffic. Also much cheaper/free compared with the YC moorings and yet the city and facilities of Panama City are very easily accessible, either by ferry from the island or by taking one 's own boat the 7 miles or so back to the mainland.
5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage
1. Anchor north of the causeway in about 6 metres with excellent holding
2. Anchor south of the causeway in 10metres or more, but its difficult to get the anchor dug in.
3. Pick up a mooring south of the causeway. The moorings appear to belong to a variety of locals, who may or may not bother to come out and request US$5 per night Dinghy landing on the sandy beach from either anchorage; just remember the tide! 6) Entry Ports Balboa or Colon in the Atlantic
7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing:
a) from/to same country Entering/Departing:Formalities will all be completed in Balboa or Colon. We had no contact with any officials on the island
10) Attitude of Officials to Visiting Yachtsmen Fair but slow!
11) Repair/Hauling Facilities None on Taboga
13) Cruising Guide and where Obtainable. Include Phone and/or E-Mail Undoubtedly in Zydler 's Panama Guide, though we don 't have a copy and also in Lars Akerholm 's Cruising Guide to Panama, which I was lucky enough to find secondhand in Plymouth,UK!
14) Port Radio Services None
15) Weather Forecasts None
16) Yacht Club(S) None
17) Other Facilities:
a) drinking water None readily available
b) fuel None
c) gas (propane)/gaz None
d) chandlers None
e) bank None
f) shops/market Small shop selling fresh milk and bread and limited fresh meat and vegetables
g) restaurants/hotels Cheap Chinese restaurant and bar
h) post office/telephones including mobile facilities Cable and Wireless payphones including mobile facilities
i) internet cafes None
j) best mailing address
k) showers Very basic shower available at the Chinese bar for 50 cents
l) laundry None
m) transport/air services Ferry twice a day to Panama City - now lands at the Flamenco anchorage
n) medical facilities/hospital I think there is a doctors surgery on the island, but better to head for Panama City
19) Other Information – please include here general impressions, opinions, comments or any other matter which might be of use to those visiting. Taboga is a very quiet and sleepy backwater from Monday through to Saturday. On Sunday afternoons, the Panamanians fill the bay in their sports fishing boats and whizz round in RIBS and jet skis, but by 1700 each Sunday, you 'll have the place to yourself again! Facilities ashore are very limited but the island provides the complete antidote to the hustle and bustle of Panama City and we found the anchorages much more uomfortable than either Balboa YC or the Flamenco anchorage and with much cleaner water. When you run out of food, water or fuel, or you just want some more civilisation, simply sail back to the mainland - it only takes an hour and a half or so.

Brian Wallace’s report - Las Perlas and Isla San Jose:
Anchorages in Las Perlas Panama Pacific 2012
These notes to be used in conjunction with Eric Blauhaus Panama
Cruising Guide I used the third edition, but understand that there is
now a fourth edition.
Isla Contradora:
We anchored at the NE end 008.37.80N 079.08.70W in 6 metres at low
water, good holding in sand altough we were a fair way from the land.
A lot of rocks exposed further in.
Isla Contradora:
We also anchored on the South side, really beautiful, good holding in
sand, although quite a few local moorings plenty of room for all. A
few shops and resaurants on the island. No ATM .Diesel available in small quantities at Blany 's shop. Anchor anywhere between 08.37N
079.02.25W and 08.37.56N 079.01.70W
Isla Chapera and Mogo Mogo:
Good holding in sand in 5 metres at LW. at the Eastern end of the channel. A good current runs through the channel except at slack water. 08.35.00N 079.01.189W
Canal de Gigraleon:
We entered at LW from the N. according to the guide, there are three rocks piles exposed at LW. we only saw two. the western crop could not be found even after a good search in the dinghy with an echo sounder. There is at least 6 metres in the passage at LW. turn South after you pass the second crop of rocks which stretch a good way to the North, but are hidden at HW. At HW the second crop of rocks is the only one that can be detected, then keep a fair way off to the North, and also the West, and there is aminimum of 6 metres all the way in through the entrance. It then deepens to 10 metres. We anchored in 8mtrs LW at 008.30.60N 079.02W. Holding was good once we got the anchor to dig in after the third attempt. A strong current runs through the canal.
Isla Espirito Santo:
An easy to enter anchorage from the N and S with good holding, We anchored in 5mtrs LW 008.25.89N 078.51.3W. good holding in sand
Puento Cocas:
Easy entrance into the bay We anchored 08 14 82N 079.06.01W in about 6 metres LW It took a while to get the anchor to hold, but once in it seemed solid. Good protectioin from the S swell, and we were there when the wind went NW, and no problem but winds were only up to 15 kts.
Isla San Jose:
Ensenada Playa Grande: Easy entrance to bay We anchored at 0814.82N 79.06W in 8.5 metres LW good holding in sand. Beware of rocks closer in shore.
Isla Pedro Gonzales:
Good anchorage at 08.24.06 79.04.95 beside Isla Don Bernado. Good holding in sand. And good protection from the swell, but if wind comes from the North more than 10knts, a fetch makes it a bit uncomfortable. Easy Entrance and Exit Very pretty anchorage.