Site Sponsors

Panama

Pacific

Profile

Repair Facilities

Canvas Work

Hull & GRP Repair

Refrigeration

Air Conditioning

Marine Services

Yacht Charters & Brokers

General Services

Shore Services

Banks

Activities

Attractions

Noonsite aims to provide a free and comprehensive service to cruising sailors. Help us keep it that way by letting companies know that you found them on Noonsite.

Balboa : Profile

Clearance

Flamenco Signal Station should be contacted on VHF Channels 12 or 16 upon arrival at the sea buoy. Yachts will be directed to pick up a mooring off the Balboa Yacht Club. Occasionally the yacht club launch will come out and the launch operator will direct the yacht to a vacant club mooring if available. On arrival, yachts are normally boarded by a Panamanian Migration and Drug Enforcement Officer. Immigration is completed ashore at the yacht club.

The main yacht club building was destroyed by fire early in 1999 and both club and immigration use temporary offices. Balboa Yacht Club finally received in 2006 a new concession to operate a marina and work will begin on the new club house and other facilities.

The other alternative is to use the facilities of the new Flamenco Marina.

Centenario & Co. S.A.
Cristobal/Balboa, Rep. of Panama
Tel:(507) 6676-1376 (MBL), Fax:(507) 290-3548
www.centenarioconsulting.com, info@centenarioconsulting.com
POC: Erick Galvez. Ship and yacht agency services.

[Show additional 3 entries for this category]

Docking

Docking facilities on the Pacific side are limited. When approaching the Pacific side of the Canal, boats can anchor on the northwest side of Isla Perico. Landing a dinghy on the rocks near the two restaurants is daunting but possible. It may not be prudent to leave your dinghy unattended. (The nearby Flamenco Marina offers a dinghy dock for $5.00 per day) The anchorage itself is relatively comfortable but landing from the dinghy can be a problem.

The Pacific Ocean entrance channel to the Canal is protected on the east by a breakwater called "The Causeway" that extends south two miles from Balboa on the mainland to three interconnected islands, Naos, Perico and Flamenco. In the past transiting yachts have been able anchor on the west side of The Causeway between Perico and Flamenco when the wind was blowing out of the east or on the east side of The Causeway when the wind is out of the south or west. The other option was to take a mooring at the Balboa Yacht Club. However, since the attacks of 9/11 the Panamanian Coast Guard (the Servicio Maritimo Nacional or SMN) had been preventing yachts from anchoring on either side making Balboa YC the only choice. Traditionally, the yachts anchored on the Causeway would move from side to side depending on the wind conditions. In recent months, there had been no yachts anchored on the west side of The Causeway and the normal group of ten to thirty yachts on the east side. Recent strong winds made that anchorage very uncomfortable or worse dangerous and one by one they moved to the west side which, though formerly forbidden, is now being used. There are now moorings and a dinghy landing on the west side of the causeway between Perico and Flamenco.

The new Flamenco Yacht Club and Marina inside the breakwater on the East side of the causeway between Perico and Flamenco is already completely full, so yachts in transit are very unlikely to find a space. It is therefore advisable to phone before starting the Canal transit to find out if there is space. If not it is better to try to get a mooring at the Balboa Yacht Club, which is closer to the Canal.

Another option more used in years past was to anchor on the northeast side of Isla Taboga and take a ferry to Balboa. If the SMN runs the yachts out of both Causeway anchorages again that will be the only option for anchoring.

There is also a marina at the Miramar Inter-Continental in Panama City, but it is tidal and has severe draft restrictions. Berths may also be available at neighbouring Club de Pesca.

Flamenco Marina
Tel:507-314-0665, VHF Channel 10
marina@fuerteamador.com
There are only twelve slips at this point at $2.50 a foot per day; the moorings are 50 cents a foot per day. 150 travelift.

Miramar Inter-Continental hotel
Plaza Miramar, Avenida Balboa, Panama City
Tel:(507) 214 1000, Fax:(507) 214 1002
Berthing and fuel available here, but draft restrictions due to the tide. Located right in city centre.

Yacht Clubs

Located at the entrance of the Canal on the east side of the channel, is the Balboa Yacht Club in Balboa Harbor. Care must be taken to enter and turn right at buoy 14.5. Turning sooner will run you aground. While there is no clubhouse, the Balboa Yacht Club is friendly to visiting yachts and offers a membership fee of $25.00 which entitles one to rent a mooring for 30 cents a foot per day. It can be rolly, but is a good place to be when arranging for an advisor to board your boat for the Canal transit. It is also a safe place to leave your boat if you travel. They have railway haulout facilities, showers, and a 24-hour water taxi service.

Balboa Yacht Club
Tel:507-228-5794, VHF Channel 6
Moorings available at 30 cents per foot per day. Marine railway.