New Year's Eve Yacht Party in Panama

Yachts for New Year's Eve

The boats above are the Panama fleet, cheapest first. A group of friends takes a 46 to 65 ft yacht with an aft deck and a flybridge; a party of 20 to 30 takes a Todomar or a PBTF party boat; a seated dinner takes the 90 ft Broward. There is no set guest cap in Panama: send the full head count, children included, and the team matches the boat.

Midnight on Panama Bay

At midnight, fireworks go up along the waterfront, from the Cinta Costera to Punta Paitilla and the towers of Punta Pacífica, and from the beaches and buildings around the bay. From the water the whole skyline is in front of you. The captain holds the boat in the bay off the city, away from the anchored ships, and the music stays on until the booked end time.

The displays are the city's and the buildings', not ours, so where and how many go up changes year to year.

New Year's Eve or New Year's Day?

New Year's Eve is the night cruise: board in the evening, dinner or drinks aboard, midnight on the water, back at Amador after. New Year's Day is the quiet one: a late start, a swim at Taboga and a slow lunch at anchor. Both dates book early, and the boats that take the night often do not take the morning.

Making it a party

Bring your own drinks in cans or plastic, or add a bartender, a DJ, decorations and catering when you book the charter, each with its price shown beside it. Sparkling wine in plastic flutes for the toast. Glass, confetti and glitter stay off the deck, and so do your own fireworks or flares.

Booking a New Year's date

Book weeks ahead, not days: the party boats and the larger yachts go first. A 50% deposit online holds the date, and the balance is paid in person on the night. Arrive at Flamenco Marina 30 minutes early, because the causeway is busy on the 31st. The other holiday dates are on Panama holiday yacht rentals.

What New Year's Eve costs

The boat and the hours set the price, with the captain and the crew on the card, the same as on any other night. The DJ, the bar and the decorations each have their price shown beside them when you add them. The route and the planning are in the Panama New Year's Eve yacht guide.