Flats outside Shelter bay - very rolly anchorage
Shelter Bay Marina - has restaurant, sail loft, small chandlery, laundry, pool and a free bus that goes into Colon for shopping.
Transit the Panama Canal, Fort Lorenzo tour, Chagres river day adventure, visit the San Blas Islands (We regret NOT doing this!)
El Rey Supermarket in Colon
The closest international airport is the Tocumen International Airport about a 1hr and 15min ride from Shelter Bay Marina. A uber will cost around $120 one way.
We used Eric Glavez as our agent to transit the Panama Canal. We had a great experience. Several other cruisers used other agents with not a great experience.
La Playita Anchorage - dingy dock is about $53/week
Flamanco Anchorage - dingy dock is $1/pp PER landing
Transit the Panama Canal, visit Tobaga Island, Smithsonian Center, Old Town
Allbrook Mall (HUGE with a variety of stores), Multiplex Mall (highly recommend - Higher end stores such as Louis Vuitton but also bath & body works, childrens place, shark store), Discovery Center (imagine if Home Depot & Walmart had a baby), Riba Smith supermarket (most American items even Diet Coke), El Rey Supermarket, Cost U Less (like Costco - great for bulk items including great meats and fresh foods, Several small chandleries along the waterfront all have different items but VERY FEW sailing supplies (no blocks, lines or rigging).
We used Air Cargo and More to have items shipped (Amazon, Defender, Sailrite, Wal-mart) from the US to their address in Ft. Lauderdale then shipped in 2 days to Panama. Cost was around $2/lb.
Their is NO rigger in this area. There is two men located on the Colon side that call themselves riggers but have very limited skills. Have a rigging check PRIOR to arriving in Panama.
Ubers are available in Panama and a great way to get around. We did rent 3 separate cars just because we had to return to Shelter Bay sail loft several times to pick up or drop off sails for repair. The metro bus is VERY cheap but you must 1st get your card from the Allbrook Mall metro hub. Use the green machine to dispense a card and top it off on the orange machines.
Check out this great video
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