panama yacht adventures photos

• Panama City
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday homes
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Amazing experience - Panama Yacht Adventures Day Tours

• Central America    
• Panama    
• Panama Province    
• Panama City    
• Panama City - Places to Visit    
• Panama Yacht Adventures Day Tours

Amazing experience

Amazing experience!!! We saw whales just 30min after we left the city. The guide explained everything in detail of what the wales where doing! The best service from all the crew, very attentive during the whole day trip. Very much recommended!!!!

We are glad to hear your experience onboard was amazing, we remain attentive to serve you always 💙

Incredible and exciting trip, watched a group of 5 whales jumping, very corteous staff, nice stop at the beach..AAA+++

We are glad to hear your experience was exciting! We remain attentive to serve you 💙

Best experience ever of whale watching, super recomendado!! Attention to the client and to ecosystem are the best point of this agency in addition to the dj oc Superrrr

We are glad to hear your experience onboard was exciting, we remain attentive to serve you 💙

Absolutely amazing experience. We saw baby whales along their mothers playing in the waters of las Perlas. Great service and the beach was super relaxing.

Agradecemos sus valiosos comentarios sobre nuestra aventura, es un placer para nosotros recibirles y saber que disfrutaron su experiencia a bordo! Esperamos tenerlos a bordo en una próxima oportunidad!

Great mother/daughter experience. We saw a bunch of moms with their calves. Beach was clean and not crowded. The crew and DJ were great!

Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. We are all very happy you enjoyed it. All our team makes a great effort to bring our guest the best possible experience. We look forward to having you on board on another one of our adventures. Thank you! 🙌

The experience was excellent we got to watch some whales. The island is beautiful and good service, good food and beverages. Totally recommended.

Panama Yacht Adventures Day Tours

• See all photos

Round Trip High Speed Ferry to Contadora Island

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Panama Yacht Adventures Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Sailing Panama: Exploring idyllic islands just miles from the famous canal

• March 18, 2020

Sheridan Lathe shares her veterinary skills with the locals on a unique cruise of the Panama islands of Las Perlas

Photo: Age Fotostock / Alamy

We looked out at the expectant faces before us: kids with footballs in hand, an elderly woman yelling at the teenage boys to turn down their reggaetón music, and two dozen dogs ready for their first ever trip to the vet. As the storm clouds began rolling in over our makeshift clinic on a local islander’s porch, with our yacht anchored in the bay in front of us in just 1m of water, we couldn’t help but wonder what exactly we had got ourselves into.

That feeling was typical of our new way of living. After buying our first boat in December 2016, only to poke a hole through the aluminium hull with a toothbrush (more on that later…), we were certainly learning that boat life is anything but boring.

Chuffed is a 37ft Gamelin Madera, built in France in 1990. And, despite a few challenges, her name reflects how we feel about living aboard: it is British/Aussie slang for feeling content and pretty pleased with life.

Chuffed ran the gauntlet of squalls and encounters with whales in the Gulf of Panama – but there were also peaceful anchorages

After living the 9-5 routine in Australia I decided to take a chance on a unique job providing veterinary care to rescued bears in China. This in turn inspired my husband, Joel, to pursue his dream of working with boats and he managed to land himself a job as an assistant shipwright in Northern Queensland.

A year later we decided it was time for us to combine our passions for animals, the ocean and boats, and sold all our material possessions to purchase Chuffed . We’ve been living aboard ever since, sailing the Pacific Coast of Panama providing free veterinary care and education to local organisations and communities in need.

There was a lot of work ahead of us before we could reach the Islands of Las Perlas. As with many boats bought cheap, Chuffed needed some care and attention before we could cast off. While I was working in China I received an anxious voice message from Joel in Panama. “Hi Sheddy,” he said. “I’ve just got my toe over a hole in the hull, we’re taking on a bit of water… But it’s all good, my toe is doing the trick and my friends are coming over with some epoxy.”

Article continues below…

Through the Panama Canal in your yacht: everything you need to know

Cape Horn sailors and ditch diggers sacrificed all to make the path between the Atlantic and Pacific easier for the…

Sailing in Cuba: The joys of exploring the island by yacht

“If someone has to go to prison, I volunteer,” said new first mate, Neal, with a grin as we sat…

With a cork poking out of the toothbrush-sized hole we booked an emergency haul out with a full hull overhaul; this included scraping off the barnacle beard, welding some questionable areas and new antifouling. Once she was back in the water I arrived on board to find Chuffed in complete bedlam. Tools littered the cockpit and saloon, there was no running water and the heads consisted of a yellow five-gallon bucket. This was not the yachting life I’d dreamed of.

Soon enough we sorted out the major problems; a new water pump, a repaired toilet, and Chuffed ’s hull had never looked better. However, there was still work to be done. I tackled Panama’s chaotic public transport systems to obtain much needed anaesthesia, pain relief, surgical equipment and other veterinary supplies we’d need for our trip.

Finally, it was time to raise the sails and make our way to the islands of Las Perlas, 40 miles south of Panama City. Humpback whales migrate through these waters from July to October, so we were constantly in the midst of these gentle giants. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to swim alongside with snorkels and waterproof camera. One whale nearly ran into our boat, but thankfully we avoided collision and made it safely to anchor.

Islands on the horizon in the Gulf of Panama

Near whale collisions were not the only difficult part of sailing in the Gulf of Panama. Weather in this area is difficult to predict, with unexpected squalls, sudden changes in wind direction and large swells. The weather is heavily influenced by the Inter-Tropical Conversion Zone (ITCZ), where the southern and northern tradewinds meet, creating a band of confused weather.

From May to November the ITCZ moves to its northern-most position, which was of course the time we chose to visit Las Perlas. Not only that but weather from both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans can affect the Gulf, with only a narrow strip of land separating the oceans.

The journey began under motor, there was no wind in sight but thankfully we’d chosen to make the short journey to Isla Taboga first, only nine miles from our anchorage in Las Brisas, Panama City. After an hour of motoring the weather took a turn, and with the wind blowing directly on our nose we decided to tack our way to Isla Taboga.

Once settled we took advantage of the calm waters in the anchorage to do a final hull clean; the Gulf of Panama is rich in nutrients – great for marine life but not so good for the lifespan of the antifouling and Chuffed had accumulated a beard of algae and barnacles.

We were then off to Las Perlas, once again with very little wind. We managed to raise the sails for a few hours but the majority of the trip was spent motoring the Doldrum-like conditions of the Gulf of Panama, with seas so flat you could see a perfect reflection of the boat gliding along.

As we neared the archipelago we had to pass the narrows between Isla Mogo Mogo and Isla Casayete; a difficult task with a whale and her calf blocking the way. Thankfully we’d already dropped the sails and were able to drift past them as they played.

Chuffed is a 37ft Gamelin Madera, built in France in 1990

We finally ended up in the village of San Miguel, the largest in the Las Perlas archipelago towards the northern end of Isla Del Rey. San Miguel is home to 1,000 people and approximately 120 dogs. The villagers mostly work as fishermen, supplying their catch to resorts on surrounding islands. Tidal changes of over 5m makes anchoring in the shallow bay a bit of fun, though thankfully our swing keel means we can convert Chuffed to a flat-bottomed boat so she can float in just 1m of water.

As we made our way to shore aboard our dinghy a beautiful sight greeted us: brightly coloured fishing boats lined the beach, in front of a hill crowded with makeshift houses with dense jungle surroundings, while a pack of dogs played in the sand. We unpacked our plethora of veterinary supplies, jammed tight in suitcases, dry bags and toolboxes, and made our way through the vivid thoroughfare of the village to the small orange dwelling that was to be our veterinary clinic for the next five days.

As soon as we began setting up, we had people and their dogs already waiting to see us, with a long list of appointments our local contact had arranged – not that appointments have much meaning when everyone runs on ‘island time’. Our surgery suite was a small undercover porch, with just enough room for Joel, myself and our surgery table.

Sheridan Lathe treated and operated on dozens of dogs in Las Perlas – more often than not under the curious eyes of the locals

It also provided the perfect viewing platform for locals, and we were to be the best entertainment in town. The combined kitchen, dining and lounge area, totalling around 10m 2 , was converted into a patient recovery, storage and cleaning space.

Working in a remote area with limited supplies turns you into a bit of a veterinary cowboy – rigging up contraptions to deliver intravenous fluids, stabilising our patients’ surgical position using towels and tying up patients wherever you could to prevent escape.

Many of these dogs had never been held, let alone restrained by a vet, so we administered a sedative half an hour before surgery to help them feel calm. This would often leave the dogs acting like a drunk and more than once we had to rescue a patient that was weaving their way down the hill after escaping their confines.

Maintaining a healthy pet population improves health outcomes for people too

San Miguel does not get a lot of foreign visitors, let alone foreign visitors wielding scalpel blades. As soon as the school bell rang children would come running and screaming down the street to watch the surgeries take place.

These surgeries were not pretty, with blood and organs appearing regularly, much to the delight of the local kids. The only doctor on the island also turned up to watch: he does surgery so infrequently he had many questions and thought it was a great learning opportunity.

It was like no veterinary clinic I have ever worked in. With errant soccer balls flying at my head, patients trying to mate each other and music blasting from every house on the street it was hectic to say the least!

Joel and I averaged eight surgeries and 20 patients a day, while also cleaning and preparing all our own equipment. By the time evening rolled around it was all we could do to take the dinghy back to Chuffed , eat some instant noodles and fall asleep ready to start all over again the next day.

The language barrier also provided entertainment to the locals and added an extra challenge for us. We learned quickly, with broken Spanish and hand gestures proving sufficient to explain even the most bizarre of medical conditions, including one hermaphroditic dog. Explaining that their beloved pet had both female and male parts caused much hilarity, especially for the watching teenagers.

Living, sailing and working in San Miguel was one of the most amazing experiences we have ever had. The community invited us into their homes and lives. Locals would walk up with bottles of soda, handfuls of apples and fresh fish for us to enjoy. They would tell us about their lives, the economy and their struggles.

They trusted us because we were providing a completely free service to their community. We learnt about the difficulties young people face finding work in the city, the constant problems with power and water supply and the lack of veterinary care for their animals. The closest vet for these islands is in Panama City, a 40-mile boat journey.

It was a rewarding experience providing veterinary care for the animals and their humans. The health of the environment, animals and people is intricately linked and if one suffers they all suffer. An overpopulation of dogs has increased risk of disease to the dogs, wildlife and humans, and puts a strain on the community trying to feed, shelter and care for a growing dog population.

As I placed the closing suture in our final patient, storm clouds rolled in. Gusts of wind were blowing the surgical equipment all over the porch, and we couldn’t help but feel the gods were telling us we had done enough. We’d spayed every female dog in the village, effectively stopping the growth of the dog population, at least for now. We’d provided treatment for more than 100 dogs, with a range of conditions from intestinal parasites to fleas and respiratory infections. We had truly made a difference.

Las Perlas offers amazing cruising waters for short or long-term stays. With over 200 islands in the archipelago, many of which are completely uninhabited, there are endless opportunities to explore.

Anchoring in some areas can be difficult, especially for boats with deep draught because there are many rocks and shoals scattered between islands, and some passages that are only a few metres deep at high tide.

But this island playground is perfect for a modest boat like Chuffed , with her lifting keel we were able to anchor close to the beach, and sit on the sandy bottom. Our favourite spot to explore was Isla Espiritu Santos (Holy Spirit), a tiny uninhabited Island located on the eastern side of Isla Del Rey that is rich with wildlife, including iguanas, waterfowl and plenty of fish – not that we managed to catch any with Joel’s Hawaiian sling harpoon.

We explored miles of coastline, not all without incident. Entering the south-eastern anchorage of San José is tricky in the best conditions – a shoal in the middle of the bay creates a huge rolling break and massive pillars of rock form dangerous islands on both the northern and southern points.

Sailing Panama in the wet season guarantees regular squalls, and one such storm kicked up the waves before we entered this bay. It was at the exact moment we passed one of the rock pillars that our engine cut out. We quickly unfurled enough headsail to keep momentum, and fortunately managed to restart the engine within minutes to make it to anchor.

The islands of Las Perlas are barely 40 miles south of Panama City, but are rarely visited. Photo: Hemis / Alamy

The Pacific coast of Panama offers much to the sailing community; with a cruising permit of nine months (and six months on your personal visa) it allows you plenty of time to explore. While anchored in the free anchorage of Las Brisas in Panama City we were able to take advantage of being close to civilisation and taking the opportunity to visit the Miraflores Museum, which documents the construction and history of the Panama Canal.

We had some amazing experiences: rescuing a critically endangered marine turtle, hiking the jungle in search of rare frogs and enjoying some spectacular sunsets, cocktail in hand. We’re privileged to be doing what we love, and even a bad day on board still beats the daily grind of our old lives.

About the author

Sheridan and Joel Lathe are sailing around the world, offering free veterinary care to communities in need. They blog and vlog their adventures, you can follow and donate to support their work at: vettails.com and facebook.com/vet0tails

First published in the September 2018 edition of Yachting World.

Explore our large variety of yachts and catamarans to charter in Panama below.  Boat rentals by day or multi-day excursions available for City Bay charters, to Taboga Island or the Pearl Islands. Please consult direct with us for available options for San Blas.  The vessels listed are constantly updated and in some cases we have additional vessels that we have not yet listed, so if you don't find what you're looking for below please contact us directly and we will try our best to find the right charter for you. Not sure which boat is for you, but want to do some deep sea fishing, throw a VIP yacht party, or host a dinner cruise then check out our Charter Trips section. 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN EACH CHARTER

Yacht of selection, captain/crew, cooler with ice, sound system, dock fees, grill* and floaties

Typical Day Charter Schedule:  9am - 5pm (depending on your charter you can indicate a different schedule) You can bring your own drinks or food at no additional cost or we can coordinate. We have a catering menu and also a menu of additional services to improve the experience even more!

25' Scarab

Starting at: $750

___________________

6h Taboga or Bay - $750

Recommended Activity : Watersports 

Capacity : 8 (comfortable 6)

No. of Cabins: 0

No. of Bathrooms : 0

Port : Ocean Reef

27' Proline

Starting at: $650

8h Taboga - $950

8h Contadora - $1,300

Recommended Activity : Inshore Fishing, 20 fathoms, Pearl Islands

Capacity : 8

No. of Bathrooms : 1

Port : Diablo Public Boat Ramp

36' Luhrs

Starting at: $1,000

5h city bay - $1,000

8h Taboga - $1,550

8h Contadora - $2,150

Recommended Activity : Fishing, Pearl Islands

Capacity : 10

No. of Cabins:  1

Port : Flamenco Marina

37' King Cat

Starting at: $1,200

8h Taboga - $1,200

8h Contadora - $1,600

Recommended Activity : Isla Contadora 

Capacity : 15 (Taboga) / 12 (Contadora)

Port : Brisas de Amador

38' Todomar

Starting at: $900

4h City Bay - $900 (Taboga - $975)

8h Taboga - $1,350

8h Contadora - $1,900

Recommended Activity : Pleasure, Fish, or anything

Capacity : 18

42' Silverton

Starting at: $1,100

8h Taboga - $1,100

Recommended Activity : Boat Party at Taboga

No. of Cabins: 1

42' Prestige

Starting at: $1,600

4h bay - $1,600

8h taboga - $2,100

Contadora - $3,650

Recommended Activity : Taboga or Contadora

Capacity : 12

No. of Cabins:  2

No. of Bathrooms : 2

44' Tiara

Starting at: $1,550

4h City Bay - $1,550

8h Taboga - $1,900

Recommended Activity : Fishing or Pearl Islands

Capacity : 15

No. of Cabins: 2

44' Lagoon

Starting at: $1,300

4h - $1,300

8h Taboga - $2,350

Pearl Islands - $3,500 per day

Recommended Activity : Day charter or Multi-day in Family

Capacity : 25

46' Fountaine Pajot

Starting at: $ 1,350

4h - $1,35 0

8h Taboga - $2,000

8h Contadora - $2,800

Recommended Activity : Taboga or Pearl Islands

Capacity : 22

No. of Cabins:  3

No. of Bathrooms : 3

46' Viking

Starting at: $1,500

4h City Bay - $1,5 00

8h Contadora - $3,100

Capacity : 16

47' Sea Ray

3h City Bay - $1,200

5h taboga - $1,600

8h taboga - $1,900

Contadora - $2,700

Recommended Activity : Taboga Day Party

48' Azimut

47' Fountaine Pajot

Starting at: $1,850

4h City Bay - $1,850

8h Taboga -  $2,800

9h Contadora - $4,650

Capacity : 20

No. of Cabins: 3

Port : JW dock

54' Carver

Starting at: $1,250

4h City Bay - $1,25 0

10h Contadora - $3,500

Recommended Activity : Taboga day party / Bachelor Party

Port : Balboa

60' Searenity

Starting at: $2,650

4h Bay Tour - $2,650

8h Taboga -  $3,550

9h Contadora - $4,200

Recommended Activity : Large Groups & Pearl Islands

Capacity : 55

No. of Cabins:  0

63' Ferretti

Starting at: $3,450

3h City Bay - $3,450

8h Taboga - $4,150

8h Contadora - $7,150

Recommended Activity : Taboga or Pearls Family Trip

70' McKinna

Starting at: $4,600

City Bay or Taboga- $4,600

Contadora  - $7,000 (discounts for multi-day)

78' Azimut

____________ _______

3h City Bay - $4,600  (4h city bay - $5,600)

8h Taboga - $6,650

8h Contadora - $8,750

Recommended Activity : Taboga or Pearls Day Trip

No. of Cabins: 4

No. of Bathrooms : 4

78' Catamaran

Starting at: $1,660

7h Taboga charter - $1,66 0 up to 20pax then $79 per additional passenger

Recommended Activity : Taboga day party 

Capacity : 56

80' Horizon

Starting at: $3,600

4h Bay - $3,600

8h Taboga - $4,500

8-10h Contadora - $7,800

Recommended Activity : Family trips 

80' Pendennis "Ocean Phoenix"

___ ________________

4h Sunset Bay Tour - $1,600 (+$50pp over 10pax)

8h Taboga - $2,900 ( + $50pp over 10pax )

Pearl Islands - minimum 2 days (starting at $5,800)

Recommended Activity : Family trips & Corporate

80' Ferretti

Starting at: $6,750

8h Taboga - $6,7 50

8h Contadora - $9,950

No. of Cabins:  4

90' Broward

Starting at: $1,800

4h City Bay - $1,800

Capacity : 30

100' Ferretti

Starting at: $9,850

8h Taboga - $9,850

Daily Rate -Contadora or Pearls - $14,5 00

Recommended Activity : Corporate charters

No. of Bathrooms : 4.5

Port : Flamenco

105' Broward

Starting at: $3,350

8h Taboga - $3,350

Feel free to contact us below to get more information about your desired charter as well as schedule a walk through of any of our vessels prior to booking. We are more than happy to assist you in determining the best option for your event and budget. 

Panama Yacht Adventures Day Tours

• See all photos

Round Trip High Speed Ferry to Contadora Island

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Panama Yacht Adventures Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

INTERNATIONAL

At Panama Yacht Adventures, there are no limits to exploration and adventure. We take pride in being your gateway to any corner of the world you have in mind. We are always ready to take your group to exciting internationaldestinations, providing unforgettable experiences every step of the way.

We have a strong and well-established logistics network all over the world, and we are pleased to announce that our sister company, ITA Global, is in charge of managing all the logistics. This means that we will be there, at your preferred location, to welcome you with open arms and offer you first-class service from the moment you step out of your home country.

ITA Global, with its vast experience in logistics and international travel planning, will work closely with our highly experienced and dedicated team to ensure that every detail of your international journey is carefully planned and executed. From transportation logistics and activity coordination to the selection of quality accommodations, we will be by your side to make your dreams of traveling to any corner of the planet come true.

Whether you want to enjoy the lush Amazon rainforest, relax on the paradise beaches of the Caribbean, explore the ancient cultures of Asia, or experience the wonders of Europe, we are here to make it possible.

At Panama Yacht Adventures, along with our sister company ITA Global, we are excited and prepared to take you to your dream international destinations. There are no borders to stop us, and we are eager to make your travels memorable and unforgettable.