Almirante - General Info

Select your download option below


Description:

While this is a commercial port and not really suitable for yachts, it is the haulout destination for Bocas del Toro and the only one in the region. 

A new haulout facility opened here in 2013 (http://www.bocasboatyard.com) just a quarter of a mile outside of town (10 minute water taxi). Reports on the cruising forums are positive in respect of safety, management, price and service. The management of the facility is, in fact, the same management as Bocas Marina, a short ferry ride away and is reported to be friendly and personable.

Almirante town has shops and markets and it’s a twenty-minute water taxi ride to Bocas Del Toro where you can get a flight to Panama City, or San Jose, Costa Rica. Alternatively catch the bus across the mountains, four hours to David on the Pacific side.

Position:

09° 17.31’N, 82° 23.70’W (harbor)

Read and Post Related Comments

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).


Select your download option below


Next Section: Profile: Clearance

Almirante was last updated 5 years ago.

Related to following destinations: , ,


YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

You must Login or Register to submit comments.

  1. January 25, 2020 at 4:11 PM
    twikman says:

    Almirantes is the haul-out facility for Bocas del Toro. Not a destination location for visitors but it is the location where work on your boat. It is the loading dock for Chiquita Bananas and the only boat yard in the Bocas del Toro region.

    We hauled out there to do some bottom work and Luso, the yard manager, was wonderful. Prices were very affordable for labor and stay as well. We had some fiberglass work done and it worked out really affordable. If you are 55 foot or less, I would recommend this haulout location. The only drawback is that the location is a 10 minute boat ride from town so be prepared to take a water taxi to get to the yard. The town is relatively safe (for Panama) and the yard is safe. We had no security problems whatsoever while there.

    When we were there, we stayed at the Hotel in Almirante for $25/day. Food was cheap and there are 3 eateries by the hotel. We launched our dinghy and we took it into town when we needed supplies. In town, there are 3 chandleries that provided all we needed as far as screws, bottom paint, paint, impellers, rollers, etc.. The boatyard also offers a “workshop” with a heavy duty table, electricity, vise, and other items needed when you are doing work on your boat.

    If your goal is to do fiberglass, bottom work, some mechanical engine work, the yard has resources to help you. There are no resources for Stainless Steel work nor for carpentry. The work we had done there was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone needing to haulout.

    We’ve hauled out at 5 different boatyards in the Caribbean and I’d say, the Almirante boatyard was wonderful. It is small, personable, out-of-the-way so you don’t get lots of traffic, and the service provided by Luso and workers was great.

    We stayed for 2 weeks, launched and headed to Colombia.

  2. March 7, 2016 at 10:24 PM
    Data Entry3 says:

    Almirante is not a town you really want to visit. It has NO tourist facilities and is generally dirty and poor. Other than the haulout facility, there is nothing to recommend Almirante. There is not really any place to anchor (other than at the haulout). You can, however, catch the bus here to go to David, but you would be far better to go to Bocas, leave your boat there and take the water taxi to Almirante if you want to go to David.