Destinations / Central and South America / Panama / Panama City / Visiting

The Panama City skyline at sunset from the bay off the Amador Causeway

For owners and charter guests

Visiting Panama City by yacht

When to come, the anchorage off Balboa, how a small craft transits the Panama Canal and how to get here.

Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.

Seasons

When to come

Rain is lowest from January to March.

Months	Rain per month	Mean daily high	Season
December to March	10 to 105 mm	33 to 35 C	Peak
April	65 mm	35 C	Shoulder
May to October	169 to 331 mm	33 to 35 C	Off
November	252 mm	33 C	Shoulder

WMO World Weather Information Service, Panama City, 1971 to 2000. Season bands are our own estimate.

Anchorage

Where yachts anchor

Balboa anchorage

A small craft arriving on the Pacific side contacts the Flamenco Signal Station on channel 12, 13 or 16 and gets anchoring instructions.

Canal pickup point

For a handline transit the pilot or transit advisor normally boards at the Balboa anchorage, in front of buoy 2 and buoy 6.

Panama Canal Authority, form 4352-I, V.08-2026.

Canal

Panama Canal transit for small craft

Who

Up to 38.1 m

38.1 m

The Panama Canal Authority defines small craft as vessels up to 38.1 m (125 ft) in length overall, which transit the canal as handlines. Applications go through VUMPA with an agency or ASEM without one.

Equipment

Lines, fenders and crew

Each craft must be equipped for a center chamber lockage, which needs 5 crew and 4 mooring lines. The lines must be at least 125 ft (38.1 m) long. The craft needs at least 4 fenders and must hold 8 knots, with 5 knots as the minimum. Sail craft must use motor propulsion.

Timing

Evening southbound, morning northbound

Small craft normally transit in the evening hours southbound and in the morning hours northbound. Southbound craft normally take two days. A craft may not cross the America Bridge moving north without a canal pilot or transit advisor on board.

Tolls

Handline transit charges

Length overall	Transit toll	Deposit required
Less than 65 ft	US$2,130	US$3,975
65 to 80 ft	US$3,200	US$5,045
Over 80 to 100 ft	US$4,660	US$6,505
Over 100 ft	US$6,000	US$7,845

Panama Canal Authority, form 4352-I, V.08-2026. The deposit includes a US$120 inspection charge, a US$165 security charge, a US$500 scheduling fee and a US$1,060 buffer. The refund takes about 60 days. A delay in transit costs US$550.

Getting here

Getting here and what is nearby

Airport

Tocumen International

It is about 25 minutes by car from Isla Flamenco at the Amador Causeway, according to the Panama Tourism Authority.

Nearby

Locks, old town and islands

Flamenco Marina lists the Miraflores Locks, the Casco Antiguo, Taboga and Las Perlas as places near the marina.

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