Panama Boat Tours on a Private Yacht

Yachts for a private tour

The boats above are the Panama fleet, cheapest first. A couple takes a 32 to 40 ft boat; a family takes a catamaran or a 46 to 65 ft yacht with shade; a group takes a Todomar or a PBTF party boat. There is no set guest cap in Panama: send the full head count, children included, and the team matches the boat.

Private tours, not a shared ticket

A shared tour sells a seat on a fixed route at a fixed time. A private boat tour gives your group the whole boat: you choose when it leaves, where it goes and how long it stays at each stop, and nobody else is aboard.

The tours

Four routes cover most Panama boat tours, each with its own page.

The bay and the skyline

Out from Amador past Flamenco, Perico and Naos, along the Casco Viejo bayline and the Cinta Costera, to the towers of Punta Paitilla and Punta Pacífica. The full route is on yacht rentals in Panama City.

The canal entrance

The Bridge of the Americas, the port of Balboa and the ships anchored for their transit, seen from the water. The route is on the Panama Canal cruise.

Taboga

The Island of Flowers, 12 nautical miles out: coves for a swim, the village and the skyline on the way home. The day is on Taboga Island yacht charters.

The Pearl Islands

Contadora, Saboga and the quieter islands, 38 nautical miles into the Gulf of Panama: beaches, snorkeling and, from July to October, humpback whales. The day is on Pearl Islands yacht charters.

Sunset and night tours

The sunset tour leaves in the late afternoon, with the sun going down behind the Bridge of the Americas between about 6:00 and 6:45 pm all year. The night tour shows the skyline lit and the anchored ships glittering across the bay.

Choosing a tour by group

A first visit to Panama: the bay and the canal entrance, then the skyline at sunset. A family with children: Taboga, with calm coves and the village for lunch. Couples: the sunset tour with a bottle on the bow. Photographers: the canal entrance in the morning light and the skyline at golden hour. Groups who want a beach with nobody else on it: the Pearl Islands in the dry season.

When to go

The dry season, December to April, has the calmest Pacific and the clearest skies, and it is the best time for the Pearl Islands. From May to November short storms build in the afternoon, so morning tours are booked first; the green season is also humpback season in the Pearl Islands, from July to October. The captain decides the route on the day by the sea, and the group decides the stops and how long to stay at each one, from a quick photo stop to a long swim.

What every tour includes

The whole boat for your group, a licensed captain and crew, ice, water, life jackets and Bluetooth sound. The captain and crew know the landmarks and answer questions as you go. Catering, a bartender, a photographer and transfers from the hotel are added to your charter when you book.

What a boat tour costs

The boat and the route set the price, with the captain and the crew on the card. The bay is the shortest route, so it is each boat's lowest figure; Taboga and the Pearl Islands cost more on the same boat because the crossing is longer. A 50% deposit online holds the date, and the balance is paid in person on the day.