Arriving in Panama by plane: the simplest (and probably the best) solution from Europe

Reaching Panama from Switzerland and Europe turned out to be surprisingly simple thanks to Condor, the German airline that connects Zurich and Frankfurt directly to Panama City. There are also flights from Milan Malpensa, always with a stopover in Frankfurt.

It’s a very effective choice for several reasons:

• extremely competitive prices, often much lower than traditional airlines;
• new planes, recently renewed in the long-haul fleet;
• careful and punctual onboard service;
• convenience of departing from Zurich or Milan Malpensa with a transit through Frankfurt without complications.

For those needing to reach Panama from Europe, this combination probably represents the best value for money available.

Entering the Country

Among the entry requirements, besides having $500 with you, Panama requires the presentation of a return or exit ticket from the country. It doesn’t necessarily have to be to the country of origin: it can be a flight, a ship, or any other means that demonstrates exit from Panamanian territory.

Formally, the control is the responsibility of the immigration authorities, but in practice, it is the airline that requires proof already at check-in, as it is responsible in case of rejection upon arrival.

In my case, it wasn’t a problem because I would be returning to Europe after two weeks. However, for those flying to Panama to return to their boat and continue their journey, this requirement can become an obstacle.

One possibility is to get a letter/confirmation from the marina, stating that the boat is in the marina and will leave Panama as it is a boat in transit.

Obviously, this option can create discussions and waiting times for the necessary checks, often difficult for the airline.

To simplify the situation, there are services like Onward Ticket that, for about 16 USD, issue a temporary exit reservation, valid and verifiable for 48 hours, with 24/7 human support. It is a tool widely used by backpackers and travelers without a defined itinerary and represents, in practice, an effective solution when you don’t yet have a definitive exit ticket.

How to get around in Panama

The marinas on the Caribbean side of Panama are far from inhabited centers.
To give some reference:

• from Shelter Bay Marina to Colón it takes about 30 minutes by car;
• from Linton Bay or Panamarina to Colón the travel time increases to about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Public transport is limited, unreliable, and often subject to particular restrictions. A concrete example: on the bus connecting Shelter Bay Marina it is not allowed to transport gas cylinders. If you want to have them filled (for example in Chilibre), this forces you to take a taxi or deliver the cylinder to the marina, which takes care of the transport applying a fee of about 40 USD.

It’s useful to know that taxis are affordable. There are many and they are used daily by Panamanians for short trips, like going grocery shopping.

Nevertheless, if you need to go shopping, it’s not guaranteed to find what you need at the first store. Often you have to visit two or three before finding the right material.

That’s why, even if it initially seems like a significant cost, renting a car is actually one of the smartest choices. Having a vehicle available 24/7 allows for great flexibility and saves a lot, as we will see later with concrete examples.

The car can be rented:

• at Tocumen airport;
• in Colón, reachable by taxi or bus.

The average cost is about 35 USD per day. However, if you rent the car directly through Shelter Bay Marina, the price rises to about 70 USD per day. Not surprisingly, many sailors jokingly call the marina “Shelter Pay”.

An important warning:
the roads have deep potholes and local driving is often unpredictable. A lot of attention is needed at the wheel.

The marinas

The following evaluations are based on my direct experience during the two weeks spent on site and from discussions with people who have been in Panama for a long time.

Shelter Bay Marina

Well-structured marina, divided into:

• water area,
• work area,
• bunkering area.

It has a hotel, restaurant, pool, small market, ship chandler (with limited selection), and sailmaker.

It is generally considered the most expensive marina in the area, but operates with higher standards than the others.
The work area alternates between concrete and gravel zones; in the latter, a durable fabric tarp is normally placed under the stands to prevent pollution but I imagine also to avoid soil erosion during heavy tropical rains. The stands are also connected to each other with chains, increasing safety (something not done in other marinas in the area).

The shipyard is supplied directly by its own ship chandler, which results in much higher prices compared to the market.

Returning on board after the rainy season may not be immediate, both due to the high humidity rate and because it’s necessary to restore onboard services and tidy up what was carefully stowed before leaving the boat. It may therefore be a good idea to initially sleep off the boat, working during the day to make it habitable again.

One option is to take a room within the marina, at a cost of about 130 USD per night. Alternatively, Airbnb often represents a more convenient solution: well-kept apartments can be found, even with a pool, at 30–40 USD per night.

Once again, renting a car and the independence of being able to move around pays for itself.

Shelter Bay Marina is ideal for those seeking high standards and safety.

Website: http://www.shelterbaymarina.com/

Linton Bay

Lower prices, more informal atmosphere, and generally younger community.
It probably has the best-stocked ship chandler in the area, with a wide availability of Victron products (not exactly cheap). It has docks and buoys to keep the boat in the water and a yard for working on the boat.

It is 25 minutes from the town of Portobelo and 1h30 from Colón.

Linton Bay Marina is suitable for those who prioritize lower costs and flexibility.

https://www.lintonbaymarina.com/

Panamarina

Even more basic marina, suitable for those seeking low costs.
It has a small ship chandler and a sailmaker. Limited lifting capacity by weight.

This marina is also as distant as Linton Bay.

Panamarina is a basic solution for reduced budgets.

https://www.panamarina.net/

Savings and organizing purchases

One aspect to keep in mind when working on a boat in Panama is that most local ship chandlers are primarily oriented towards fishing and commercial boating, while the offer for leisure boating is often more limited. This means that, especially for specific materials or important equipment, it is essential to organize in advance, plan purchases, and, when necessary, order the material before arrival.

Buying directly in the marina is certainly convenient, but often involves significantly higher prices and not always short waiting times. Moving towards Colón and the Free Zone, it is possible to find greater availability of material and more interesting conditions, provided you dedicate time to organization.

To give two concrete examples:

• Sea Hawk 44 antifouling

  • 300 USD/gallon if purchased at the shipyard

  • 150 USD/gallon at Max Industries in Colón

• ISO 9650-1 liferaft for 6 people

  • 3300 USD at the marina’s ship chandler, with at least a week’s wait for the certificate release

  • 1260 USD in the Free Zone, with the certificate issued immediately

In a single day of shopping — three gallons of antifouling and a liferaft — the total savings was about 2500 USD.
This is a concrete example of how, with a minimum of planning and moving outside the marina, it is possible to significantly optimize the budget during a stop in Panama.

The Colón Free Zone: a vital resource for sailors

One of the aspects that makes Panama particularly interesting for those traveling by sailboat is the presence of the Colón Free Zone, the largest free zone in Latin America and second worldwide. It is an area where numerous importers and distributors operate and where you can find a huge variety of nautical materials, tools, spare parts, electronics, and safety equipment, often difficult to find in one place elsewhere.

The main advantage of the Free Zone is not only the availability of material but the fact that it is a free zone, therefore with a simplified tax regime and no VAT or internal duties. For sailors with boats declared as “vessel in transit”, this translates into easier purchases and reduced bureaucracy, provided the documentation is correctly set up.

Compared to purchases made directly in the marinas, the Free Zone often offers more choice, greater flexibility, and generally more interesting prices, especially on technical items and important equipment. For this reason, it is worth planning a dedicated visit, organizing purchases in a targeted way.

Keep in mind that there are often no shops and these importers are inside anonymous warehouses. It is therefore essential to search for them and contact them first, then go on site.

Once again, having a car greatly facilitates movements and allows you to make the most of the opportunities offered by the Free Zone, making it an almost obligatory stop for those who need to work on or equip a boat during a stop in Panama.

https://www.zolicol.gob.pa/

The Panama Canal and the role of the agent

For those arriving in Panama by sailboat, the Panama Canal often represents a central stop, whether you intend to cross it immediately or consider it as a preparation point for the Pacific. It is important to clarify that the canal crossing can also be organized independently, without necessarily resorting to an agent. In this case, however, you need to account for a certain amount of bureaucracy, appointments, forms, and checks to manage personally.

Relying on an agent is therefore not an obligation, but a practical choice. An agent allows you to save time and energy, taking care of the transit organization, date planning, and document control. This allows the crew to focus entirely on the preparation of the boat for the Pacific, which often requires important work, supplies, and checks.

An additional advantage is that the agent knows in detail the updated procedures and ensures that all documents are correct and complete, reducing the risk of delays or problems during the process.

I talk about it later, but within the downloadable PDF from the Cruisers at Shelter Bay WhatsApp Community there are several agent contacts available. In our case, we chose Stanley, who proved to be a great professional, very competent, and particularly attentive to the documentation part.

For a 41-footer, the total cost (canal, line rental, agent work, etc.) was around $3,700.

Sending material to Panama

Be careful if you bring material in your suitcase: importation to Panama is a delicate issue. Authorities may decide to treat the material as commercial importation, greatly complicating the procedures.
Some reports mention requests for value declaration and “informal” payments to let the material through. Essentially, bringing material by plane is a lottery.

Couriers

If you decide to ship material (for example, sails from Asia), be aware that not all couriers operate the same way in Panama.

• DHL seems to be able to operate with the status “Vessel in transit”, if the package is correctly addressed (e.g., Vessel in transit – SY Boat Name).
• UPS, on the other hand, generally treats the goods as commercial, relying on a local courier for delivery. This involves:
  • high customs costs,
  • complex bureaucratic procedures,
  • need for bank payments,
  • very long delivery times.

Logistics companies (forwarders)

A very effective solution is to rely on forward logistics companies like:

• Shopline Panama
• PTY Shipping

By registering online, you are provided with a personal address in Miami. You can order material (for example, from Amazon USA) and have it delivered there; the forwarder then takes care of forwarding it to Panama (e.g., offices in Colón).

• delivery in 3–5 days;
• no customs clearance fees;
• batteries only by sea (cost by volume);
• the rest of the material by air (cost by weight).

https://shoplinepanama.com/
https://ptyshipping.com/

Useful ship chandlers

• Fermarine – Colón | WhatsApp +507 6218 7466
• Abernathy – Colón | www.abernathypanama.com | WhatsApp +507 6852 0055 (Spanish only)
• Suminapa – Linton Bay | suminapa.com | WhatsApp +507 6009 8579
• Shelter Bay Marina Chandler | WhatsApp +507 6383 1636

Cash and payments

Cash is often the preferred payment method and allows, in many cases, to obtain additional discounts, always requesting the related invoice.
However, it’s good to keep in mind that ATM withdrawals incur high fees.

Discounts

Always ask if there are discounts as a customer of a specific marina or as a vessel in transit.
Well-known stores offering agreements:

• Sobeys (grocery – Margarita)
• Abernathy (Plaza 4 Altos)
• Fermarine
• Max Industrias (Millenium Plaza)
• Novey (depends on the cashier, always ask)

230V Appliances

In Panama, the power supply is 110V. If you need to replace any appliances or electrical tools, keep in mind that it’s not easy to find those that operate at 230V.

Regarding dockside power, Shelter Bay Marina also provides 230V connections. I imagine other marinas are equipped as well.

Mobile Subscriptions

Among the providers with unlimited data tourist plans:

• Tigo
• Más Móvil

WhatsApp Groups

There is the Cruisers at Shelter Bay WhatsApp Community, managed by Debi and Kelly.
Inside, there are various thematic groups and a crucial PDF: “Shelter Bay Marina & Colón FAQs”, full of practical information that saves time and money.

Access is moderated, and to join, you need to write to them indicating:

• name,
• boat name,
• current location.

There are also groups for Linton Bay, Panamarina, and San Blas.

Do you need support to prepare your sailboat for the next season?

I handle sailboat transfers for private owners, brokers, and shipyards. Additionally, I assist new owners with personalized coaching sessions or simply as navigation support when sailing solo.

I can also help with shipyard work and managing technical interventions, with the ability to travel anywhere in the world.

Tell me about your project and your needs: I will be happy to listen and find the most suitable solution together. Contact me here.

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Last update: Jan 6, 2026 @ 19:45

L'articolo Panama by sailboat: logistics, marinas, and practical tips proviene da Yamana - Sailing Life.

I must admit, from the very first evening Lisbon surprised and captivated me: for the local people, for the organization, for the cleanliness, for the architecture, and for the open spaces. It’s a human-scale city, where people get around on foot or by public transport and where it’s still a pleasure to stroll through its unchaotic streets, encountering many green spaces both in the center and along the banks of the Tagus.

To visit the city, you need to take your time – I’d say roughly one day per neighborhood. A week in Lisbon allows you to visit the main 5 neighborhoods and take the two day trips to Sintra and Cascais.

The neighborhoods of Lisbon that you absolutely must visit can be discovered using the famous tram 28, by metro, or even better on foot. I highly recommend wearing good hiking shoes, also because the limestone calçada used for the sidewalks is slippery, even more so when they start cleaning them with water cannons!

The Bairro Alto Neighborhood

Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s most creative and authentic neighborhood, where history, artists, galleries, and folklore are at home. During the day it’s quiet, but in the evening it comes alive and the nightlife becomes vibrant.
There are two funiculars that lead to the neighborhood: the Elevador da Glória north of Rossio station and the Ascensor da Bica right behind the Mercado da Ribeira Nova.

Don’t miss the panoramic viewpoint Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, from where you can admire the Baixa neighborhood and the Castelo de S. Jorge.

Baixa, Chiado and the Docks

Symbol of the city’s rebirth, Baixa is a central neighborhood of Lisbon that extends from Rossio to the river, with elegant pedestrian streets and squares. Here you’ll find the major shops and during the day it’s among the busiest in the city. The neighborhood was rebuilt after the 18th-century earthquake by the Marquis of Pombal. Towards the Tagus River you’ll find Praça do Comércio and the Arco da Rua Augusta.

While wandering around Lisbon, you can’t help but taste Ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur that’s sweet and spicy at the same time, typical of the area. You can taste it in various places, but the most characteristic and historic remains Ginjinha Espinheira, in Largo de São Domingos.

In the Baixa neighborhood are hidden shops dating back to the early 1900s and even earlier, where these commercial establishments have preserved their original furnishings. Don’t miss Confeiteraria Nacional, a pastry shop active since 1829; Manuel Tavares, a grocery store founded in 1860; Retrosaria Bijou, a haberdashery opened in 1922; Luvaria Ulisses, a glove shop from 1925.

Chiado is a small traditional and characteristic neighborhood of Lisbon. Once a meeting place for writers and intellectuals, today it’s an elegant area where you can shop or have a drink in one of the many establishments.

Along the docks, the old port wharves on the Tagus, everything has been renovated. The former warehouses once used by importers of exotic goods have been converted into nightclubs, restaurants and trendy bars, as well as some design shops. Opposite Cais de Sodré station, where bus, train, tram, metro and ferry lines meet, we find the Mercado da Ribeira, a renovated metal and glass structure that houses the wholesale food market and the Time Out Market, an area where you can find various restaurants, bars and shops. It’s definitely a place to visit and stop for lunch.

Alfama

Alfama is one of the neighborhoods of Lisbon to visit: it’s actually the most popular in the Portuguese capital, the neighborhood of narrow streets and daytime tourist visits. The first thing to visit is definitely the Castelo de S. Jorge, not so much for the structure, but rather for its position that dominates the city and thanks to which it offers an unmissable 360° view. In one tower of the castle there’s the “camera obscura“, which I recommend going to see, even though you need to queue a bit.

To see the castle it’s better to arrive between 9:00 and 11:00, because when I left at noon there was a line at the ticket office of at least 30-45 minutes.

In the Alfama neighborhood you can find various interesting graffiti and see various buildings with the famous “azulejos“, the typical Portuguese ceramics, which became famous following the arrival of the Moors in the country.

Bélem

The Bélem neighborhood is far from the center, but still well connected by train and tram 15. Don’t go on Mondays, because several attractions are closed. Important expeditions that brought conquests to Portugal departed from this neighborhood and it therefore has a certain importance for the city. In Bélem there are 3 important points of interest: the Monasteiro dos Jerónimos, the Torre de Belém and the Monument to the Discoveries dedicated to Henry and his navigators. Another point of interest little mentioned in guides is the Maat, the museum of art, architecture and technology. If these are subjects of interest, it’s worth entering and visiting both buildings.

Before returning to the center don’t forget to go and try the original “Pastel de Bélem” at the bakery of the same name.

Nations Park (Parque Das Nações)

The Nations Park is the neighborhood of modern Lisbon. Before its redevelopment, it was in a state of decay and abandonment: outdated industrial complexes, old military depots, a disused slaughterhouse and an open-air dump. Thanks to the fact that it was chosen for the 1998 International Exhibition (Expo ’98), the area underwent major redevelopment and since then became part of the life of Lisbon’s inhabitants. Today this area is the most privileged and expensive to live in Lisbon.

It’s definitely worth taking a walk along the banks of the Tagus to admire the Vasco de Gama bridge, which at 17.2 km is the longest bridge in Europe. Nearby is the Vasco da Gama Tower, 140 meters high, designed as a panoramic tower, now converted into a luxury hotel. Both were built for Expo 98.

The Parque das Nações also preserves other buildings and former pavilions that were built specifically for the exhibition: from the Pavilhão Atlantico to the Oceanario (one of the largest and richest aquariums in the world), not forgetting the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, the Pavilhão de Portugal, designed by the famous Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza Vieira and the Pavilhão do Futuro, now converted into a Casino.

The neighborhood is reachable via the red metro line that runs from São Sebastião to the airport.

For meat lovers, in the area I can recommend the Butchers restaurant, located right behind the Casino.

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Last update: Feb 27, 2018 @ 20:07

L'articolo Lisbon Neighborhoods to Visit proviene da Yamana - Sailing Life.

Before leaving for Lisbon, I had planned to rent a car, which luckily I didn’t do in advance because once I arrived, I realized that public transport is well-served and quite affordable. This morning I wake up early, as it will be a long day. The plan is to go to Sintra to see the Moorish Castle (Castelo de Mouros) and the Palacio e Parque da Pena, then take bus 403 which follows the Atlantic coast passing by Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point of the European continent, finally ending the journey in Cascais.

From here I will take the train to Algés, where I will get off and meet Sergio at the shipyard, who at 4:00 PM will launch his Class 40 “Calaluna” and bring it back to the marina, a unique opportunity to see Lisbon and its surroundings from the Tagus River. I will make a nice “round trip” using various means of transport.

The train to Sintra departs from Rossio station, just a stone’s throw from the apartment. It takes about 40 minutes. I take the 7:41 train, but once I arrive, I realize that the entire tourist “machine” of Sintra is still at a standstill.
The first bus to the two main attractions leaves at 9:15 from the station, so there’s time to walk to the historic center of Sintra for a coffee and to see the National Palace from the outside.

We’re off, the route that bus 434 takes to climb Mount Luna is winding, and the driver must have good experience for the very narrow passages, but especially for the natural obstacles on the road, like bent plants or rocks that force you to stay in the middle of the lane. I stop at the first attraction we encounter, the Moorish castle, but I later realize that the ideal would have been to go up to the palace, visit it, and then walk down to the castle. Both open at 10, so there’s a bit of waiting involved.

The castle is truly beautiful, from its walls you can see 360 degrees, all the way to the Atlantic coast.
In about 45 minutes, I saw all the walls, the cistern, and visited the archaeological part, which honestly wasn’t anything special. It was a quick visit, as time is running out.

I leave the castle and walk towards the palace. The entrance ticket also includes access to the 200-hectare park, where there are tree-lined walks leading to panoramic spots and hidden lakes. Unfortunately, I can’t see them due to lack of time.

The palace is truly enchanting, with an Arabian air, terraces with breathtaking views, and many tiles and bright colors. Inside, the state rooms have been preserved as they were in 1910, when the Portuguese royal court had to flee the revolution. It has a somewhat fairytale-like quality.

It’s now half past noon, and I need to catch the bus back to Sintra station. Here I have a quick lunch and then take bus 403 which, passing by Cabo de Roca, will end its journey in Cascais. I quickly check the schedule, but unfortunately, time is tight, and I can’t stop at Cabo de Roca to take photos, I have to go straight to Cascais to catch the train.

At 3:53 PM, I arrive at Algés train station, I still have a 15-minute walk to reach the shipyard. I meet Sergio, they are applying the antifouling on the last spots where it was resting, and then off we go, Calaluna goes into the water.

We motor along the Tagus and head towards the Lisbon marina. The tide is rising, so we have the current in our favor. In Lisbon, the tidal range reaches about 3.5 meters, so the currents can be significant. We arrive at the marina, and the bridge is still closed, we have to wait for it to open to enter. Once docked, we have a coffee and then say goodbye, with my intention to return and do a week-long course on this boat.

I haven’t yet seen the stretch of shore from the marina to the center of Lisbon, so I walk there, heading to Cais de Sodré station where I’ll take the subway home.
And today, I’ve walked my 18 km.

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Last update: Feb 25, 2018 @ 12:50

L'articolo Sintra proviene da Yamana - Sailing Life.

I’ve been in Lisbon for a couple of days, and one thing I understood right away: if you want to move around easily and perhaps visit some important attractions, you need to start your day early in the morning. Around 11:00 AM, hordes of tourists start arriving, creating long queues at monument ticket offices, and you can be sure that despite your efforts to avoid them, some Japanese tourist will end up in your photos.

I leave home at 8:15 AM and head to Cais de Sodré station, where I’ll catch the train to Cascais. The city is slowly waking up, there’s little traffic around.

In Cascais, there are several attractions and museums, apparently with free admission. Note that most are closed on Mondays and holidays. I’ll skip them as I want to walk and enjoy the outdoors.

Leaving Cascais station, I walk through the town center until I reach the main beach in front of the town hall, Praia da Ribeira. It was once Queen Dona Amelia’s private beach.

For those interested, you can take the free BICAS bikes and ride to Guincho beach, one of Portugal’s most spectacular beaches. Thanks to its magnificent waves, it’s also very popular among surfers. You can reach it by cycling about 8 km along the beautiful bike path next to the Atlantic coastal road.

I don’t take a bike, but I follow the path next to the imposing Cascais fortress (Fortaleza da Cidadela) until I reach the marina. From there, I continue to the Santa Marta lighthouse, then take the Atlantic coastal road that leads me to Boca do Inferno, a collapsed cave where the huge Atlantic Ocean waves have eroded the rock.

It’s noon, after seeing the cave I walk towards the town center and end up eating at MyAtlanticRestaurant, above Praia da Rainha.

A Brazilian street musician entertains during lunch, singing songs in English, Italian, French, and Russian… impressive repertoire and great entertainer!

After lunch, I move to the beach next door, Praia da Conceição, where I treat myself to a couple of hours of relaxation in the sun. The temperature is around 20°C and people are swimming, not bad for February 20th.

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Last update: Feb 22, 2018 @ 11:21

L'articolo Cascais proviene da Yamana - Sailing Life.