Puerto Armuelles
We anchored at 08 15.919N 82 51.475W
13-21ft of water - 8 ft Tide
SUMMARY
Services
Fuel - Yes -Via Jerry Can from the gas station.
Cell Service - Yes 3G
Wifi - Yes. No
Dingy Landing - Medium to Large Surf (End of May) . You can also use the ladder to the pier.
Garbage - Yes. Near the port captain
Re-cycle - No
Potable Water - Yes- You could buy bottled water
Showers - No
Laundry - Possibly. Forgot to check.
Groceries- Yes. Several options
ATM - Yes
Water Taxi - No.
Fuel - Yes -Via Jerry Can from the gas station.
Cell Service - Yes 3G
Wifi - Yes. No
Dingy Landing - Medium to Large Surf (End of May) . You can also use the ladder to the pier.
Garbage - Yes. Near the port captain
Re-cycle - No
Potable Water - Yes- You could buy bottled water
Showers - No
Laundry - Possibly. Forgot to check.
Groceries- Yes. Several options
ATM - Yes
Water Taxi - No.
Puerto Armuelles
As the first official Port of Entry for Panama we stopped here in order to complete our International Check-in into Panama.
Of course as soon as we arrived the dark clouds moved in and the rain began. Not to be wimps we radioed in to be sure they would be able to accommodate us. The person on the radio answered that we needed to wait for a bit and they would call us back. We hadn’t looked at a calendar in a while and also didn’t notice that is was a Saturday. Oh well. It was already in motion.
They called us on the VHF about 30 minutes later. This of course was all in Spanish. It was really hard to understand much of what he was saying or where he wanted us to meet him. As usual we just decided to get in the dingy and figure it out on the go. Just to add a little pizzaz it was windy, rainy and there was some pretty good wind chop going on. We headed in towards one of the few places it looked like you could both land and lock up the dingy. There was small to medium surf on a short steep beach but we landed without crashing so it wasn’t too bad.
Of course as soon as we arrived the dark clouds moved in and the rain began. Not to be wimps we radioed in to be sure they would be able to accommodate us. The person on the radio answered that we needed to wait for a bit and they would call us back. We hadn’t looked at a calendar in a while and also didn’t notice that is was a Saturday. Oh well. It was already in motion.
They called us on the VHF about 30 minutes later. This of course was all in Spanish. It was really hard to understand much of what he was saying or where he wanted us to meet him. As usual we just decided to get in the dingy and figure it out on the go. Just to add a little pizzaz it was windy, rainy and there was some pretty good wind chop going on. We headed in towards one of the few places it looked like you could both land and lock up the dingy. There was small to medium surf on a short steep beach but we landed without crashing so it wasn’t too bad.
The port captain showed up a few minutes later in his car. He introduced himself as Omar. He explained that this wasn’t the best spot to land. He said it was better and more secure on the north side of the pier. It would also be closer to all the offices that were part of the check in.
No worries though. We were already all locked up so we just hopped in his car and he drove us back to the Capitania.
No worries though. We were already all locked up so we just hopped in his car and he drove us back to the Capitania.
The Capitania is literally at the base of the old Pier. The other buildings you need are about 50 yards away. We pulled out our paperwork and Omar started the process. He filled out all the forms and asked questions when he needed more info. He even has his own copy machine and printer. He then made sure we had enough money for all the fees. (50ft boat, 26tons, 2 people)
- $46.50 Port Captain
- $40 Immigation
- $20 Customs
- $205 Merchant Marine
- $35 Quarantine
In the end we had a pack of forms and a small pile of $USD for each of them.
We walked diagonally across the street to the small building that had all the other offices. Omar led us through the shuffle bringing us from one door to the next. The whole process took about 2 hours with most of that being Omar filling out all the forms.
Unfortunately for us the Quarantine officer was not in that day (it was a Saturday). We would need to return the next morning for our final signatures and payments.
- $46.50 Port Captain
- $40 Immigation
- $20 Customs
- $205 Merchant Marine
- $35 Quarantine
In the end we had a pack of forms and a small pile of $USD for each of them.
We walked diagonally across the street to the small building that had all the other offices. Omar led us through the shuffle bringing us from one door to the next. The whole process took about 2 hours with most of that being Omar filling out all the forms.
Unfortunately for us the Quarantine officer was not in that day (it was a Saturday). We would need to return the next morning for our final signatures and payments.
After a rolly night in the anchorage and we were up and ready by our appointed meeting time of 9am. The wind had died out but the swell was up. That combined with the different tide made the dinghy landing pretty sketchy. We opted to have Laura drop me off at the access ladder on the old Pier. This was actually fine. Laura waited in the dinghy while I went and dealt with our last bit of officialdom.
Once that was done it was back to the boat and off to Isla Parida.
Once that was done it was back to the boat and off to Isla Parida.
Anchoring
Water temp and Clarity
Water temp was 85 deg when we arrived at the end of May. Clarity was about 5-10ft in the anchorage.
Water temp was 85 deg when we arrived at the end of May. Clarity was about 5-10ft in the anchorage.
Entry / Approach
Easy approach with deep water right up to the anchorage area.
WIND / SWELL
We saw as much as 10-15kt winds from the south but it was short lived. Mostly light and variable. A slight current parallels the beach. Swell is generally from the south.
Getting to Shore
You can either do a dinghy landing North of the pier or use the old rusty ladder and walk the pier.
If you choose the ladder you will either want to be dropped off or you will need some kind of stern anchor to hold the dinghy away from the pier while you are gone. Also remember the tidal range if you expect to be gone for more than an hour or two...
Water Taxi
None
If you choose the ladder you will either want to be dropped off or you will need some kind of stern anchor to hold the dinghy away from the pier while you are gone. Also remember the tidal range if you expect to be gone for more than an hour or two...
Water Taxi
None
Diesel / Gas
You could totally get fuel at a gas station in town and shuttle it back via Jerry jug.
Officialdom - CHecking In/out
International Port of Entry. We checked into Panama here. It was very easy as the Port Captain did all the work for us.
Contact him via VHF before you come in and he will even meet you on the beach or on the pier.
We brought our paperwork (Passports, Zarpe, Crew list and Boat Documentation.) and he took it from there. It’s a good thing too. There are a ton of forms to fill out for
Immigration
Customs
Quarantine
Merchant Marine
Port Captain.
He handled all of it. He made copies and filled out forms. We signed where we needed to and he kept going. He asked us questions when he couldn’t find information and got everything filled out. When we had our five piles ready he led us across the street and over a bit to pay all the fee’s. We passed from one office to the next but everything else was in the same building and everyone was super nice.
Fee’s added up but here is what we ended up with for two people on a 50ft boat.
Maritime& Marine $205 Essentially your Cruising Permit
Immigration $45 We got a 6 month visa without asking
Aduana $20
Quarantine $35
AMP $46.50 Autoridad Maritima de Panama (the Port Captain)
There was actually something up with the Quarantine office when we were there. We ended up needing to come back in the next morning to finish that part of the process. I don’t think that’s a normal occurance.
If it wasn't for the Quarantine officer the total process from leaving the boat to being back on board would have been about 2 or 3 hours. We would have had about 50 yards of walking total. No busses, no taxis it is all right there at the base of the pier.
Contact him via VHF before you come in and he will even meet you on the beach or on the pier.
We brought our paperwork (Passports, Zarpe, Crew list and Boat Documentation.) and he took it from there. It’s a good thing too. There are a ton of forms to fill out for
Immigration
Customs
Quarantine
Merchant Marine
Port Captain.
He handled all of it. He made copies and filled out forms. We signed where we needed to and he kept going. He asked us questions when he couldn’t find information and got everything filled out. When we had our five piles ready he led us across the street and over a bit to pay all the fee’s. We passed from one office to the next but everything else was in the same building and everyone was super nice.
Fee’s added up but here is what we ended up with for two people on a 50ft boat.
Maritime& Marine $205 Essentially your Cruising Permit
Immigration $45 We got a 6 month visa without asking
Aduana $20
Quarantine $35
AMP $46.50 Autoridad Maritima de Panama (the Port Captain)
There was actually something up with the Quarantine office when we were there. We ended up needing to come back in the next morning to finish that part of the process. I don’t think that’s a normal occurance.
If it wasn't for the Quarantine officer the total process from leaving the boat to being back on board would have been about 2 or 3 hours. We would have had about 50 yards of walking total. No busses, no taxis it is all right there at the base of the pier.
Groceries
There are grocery stores in town but we never went to any of them.
ANNOYANCES
Open roadstead anchorage so it is rolly.
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Just a quick 360 view of the anchorage. |
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Download our Google Earth KAP files for use in OpenCPN. | ||
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Download our gpx track to approach this area
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