Almirantes is the haul-out facility for Bocas del Toro. Not a destination location for visitors but it is the location where work on your boat. It is the loading dock for Chiquita Bananas and the only boat yard in the Bocas del Toro region.

We hauled out there to do some bottom work and Luso, the yard manager, was wonderful. Prices were very affordable for labor and stay as well. We had some fiberglass work done and it worked out really affordable. If you are 55 foot or less, I would recommend this haulout location. The only drawback is that the location is a 10 minute boat ride from town so be prepared to take a water taxi to get to the yard. The town is relatively safe (for Panama) and the yard is safe. We had no security problems whatsoever while there.

When we were there, we stayed at the Hotel in Almirante for $25/day. Food was cheap and there are 3 eateries by the hotel. We launched our dinghy and we took it into town when we needed supplies. In town, there are 3 chandleries that provided all we needed as far as screws, bottom paint, paint, impellers, rollers, etc.. The boatyard also offers a “workshop” with a heavy duty table, electricity, vise, and other items needed when you are doing work on your boat.

If your goal is to do fiberglass, bottom work, some mechanical engine work, the yard has resources to help you. There are no resources for Stainless Steel work nor for carpentry. The work we had done there was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone needing to haulout.

We’ve hauled out at 5 different boatyards in the Caribbean and I’d say, the Almirante boatyard was wonderful. It is small, personable, out-of-the-way so you don’t get lots of traffic, and the service provided by Luso and workers was great.

We stayed for 2 weeks, launched and headed to Colombia.