The Panama Guide

PREFACE
TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
  PROVINCES OF PANAMA
  WHY CRUISE PANAMA?
  A SHORT HISTORY OF PAΝΑΜΑ
  CLEARING IN AND OUT OF PANAMA
  COMMUNICATIONS
  HAM RADIO
  POSTAL SERVICES
  COURIERS
  TRAVELING IN PANAMA
  BUSINESS HOURS
  HOLIDAYS
  HEALTH MATTERS
  NATIONAL PARKS
  MUSEUMS
  BOATYARD SERVICES
      THE ATLANTIC COAST
      IN THE PANAMA CANAL
      THE PACIFIC COAST
      DRYING OUT
  AIDS TO NAVIGATION
      US DMA CHARTS TO PAΝΑΜΑ
      BRITISH ADMIRALTY CHARTS
      TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS
      LIST OF LIGHTS
  WEATHER FORECASTS
  USING THIS GUIDE
  SPECIAL SERVICES

CHAPTER I ~ PANAMA CANAL
  PORT OF CRISTOBAL
      DIESEL, GASOLINE AND PROPANE
      MEDICAL HELP
      SAIL REPAIR
      SHIP BATTERIES
      MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL REPAIRS
      HARDWARE SUPPLIES
      FREE ZONE
      FOOD SHOPPING
      CHARTS
      INTERNATIONAL COURIERS
      CONNECTIONS WITH PANAMA CITY
  THE PANAMA CANAL SYSTEM
      PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT
      PREPARING A YACHT FOR TRANSIT
  THREE METHODS OF TRANSITING
      CENTER OF THE LOCK
      ALONGSIDE ANOTHER VESSEL
      ALONGSIDE LOCK WALLS
  IN THE PANAMA CANAL
      RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CANAL
  THE TRANSIT
  ALTERNATE ANCHORAGES IN BALBOA
  BALBOA YACHT CLUB
  CLEARING INTO PANAMA IN BALBOA
  THE TOWN OF BALBOA
      TRANSPORTATION FROM BALBOA TO PANAMA CITY SHOPPING AND SERVICES IN PANAMA CITY
      PLAYA KOBBE ANCHORAGE
  VACAMONTE HARBOR
  THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL FROM THE PACIFIC

CHAPTER II ~ BAHÍA LAS MINAS TO PUERTO OBALDIA, INCLUDING THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS
  WEATHER AND WINDS
  CURRENTS AND TIDES
  NAVIGATING WITH GPS
  ANCHORAGES BETWEEN CRISTOBAL AND PUNTA SAN BLAS
      BAHÍA LAS MINAS
      ISLAS NARANJO
      BUENAVENTURA
      PORTOBELO
      PLAYA BLANCA
      JOSE POBRE
      ISLA LINTON (ALSO JUAN JOAQUIN)
      ISLA GRANDE
      ENSENADA INDIO
      NOMBRE DE DIOS
      PUNTA MACOLLA
      PLAYA CHIQUITA (details on DMA chart 26065)
      ENSENADA BARRO (details on DMA chart 26065)
      BAHÍA DE ESCRIBANOS
      THE INNER ROUTE BETWEEN NOMBRE DE DIOS AND PUNTA SAN BLAS
  ROUTES INTO THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS
  SAFE PASSES INTO THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS
      CANAL DE SAN BLAS
      HOLANDES CHANNEL
      CAOBOS CHANNEL
      IMPORTANT CAUTION FOR WATERS EAST OF LA COQUERA POINT LONGITUDE
      ISLA PINOS CHANNEL
      ESCOSÉS CHANNEL
      PILOTING BY EYE
  THE PEOPLE OF SAN BLAS
  SHOPS AND SUPPLIES
  CLEARING IN AND OUT OF SAN BLAS
  PORVENIR AND THE NEIGHBORING ISLANDS
      CHICHIME CAYS-UCHUTUPU PIPPI AND UCHUTUPU DUMAT
      WESTERN LEMON CAYS
      EDEN CHANNEL
      EASTERN LEMON CAYS
      YANSALADUP
      NUINUDUP
  HOLANDES CAYS, KAIMOU
      WESTERN HOLANDES CAYS
      EASTERN HOLANDES CAYS
  THE GULF OF SAN BLAS
  ANCHORAGES ON THE NORTH SHORE OF THE GULF OF SAN BLAS
      NALIA (BAHÍA DE TIBURON)
      NELOGUICHI
      URUSUKUN
  TADARGUANET - ISLAS ROBESON
      TUPSUIT ISLANDS - ISLAS GERTIE AND ELSIE
      TUWALA - ISLA GEORGE
      UBICANTUPU - ISLA NELLIE
      NUPNUTUPU
      ARITUPU - ISLA LENA
  RIO NICUESA - CHART 26065
  ISLAS AMMEN - NARBAGANDUP DUMAT AND PIPI
  ACUADUP
  NONOMULU
  CARTI ISLANDS
  UARSADUP
  NURDUPU
  SOLEDAD MIRIA
  MORMAKE TUPU-MAQUINA
  RIO SIDRA
  NUSATUPU
  ARIDUP
  GUNBOAT ISLAND - NUBASITUPU
  TUBASANIKET
  MORON ISLAND - NARASKANDUP
  LOS GRULLOS - KUANIDUP
  NAGUARGANDUP CAYS
      THE WESTERN NAGUARGANDUP CAYS
      EASTERN NAGUARGANDUP CAYS
  TUBORGANA
  ORTUPU
  MADUNUNUDUP AND BANERDUP
  LIGHTHOUSE ISLAND - SIMONDUP
  GREEN ISLAND - KANILDUP AND SURROUNDING CAYS
  COCO BANDERO CAYS
      ORDUPTARBOAT
      EAST END OF COCO BANDERO CAYS
  RIO AZUCAR - UARGANDUP
  RIO DIABLO (NARGANA) AND CORAZON DE JESUS
  IGUANA ISLAND
  PUYADAS - PUGADUP
  FAREWELL ISLANDS PASSAGE
  TIGRE - MAMARTUPU
  NIADUP
  PLAYON GRANDE CHANNEL
  RATONES CAYS - ARIDUP
  SNUG HARBOR
      ISKARTUPU
  PLAYON CHICO-UKUPSENI
  PLAYON CHICO TO SAN IGNACIO DE TUPILE
  SAN IGNACIO DE TUPILE (MONO VILLAGE ON CHART NO. 26042)
      ISLA MONO
  PUNTA BRAVA CHANNEL
  PUNTA BRAVA TO MAMITUPU
      AILIGANDI
      ISLANDIA
      ACHUTUPU
      MAMITUPU
  ACHUTUPU TO USTUPU
      USTUPU
  BAHÍA DE MASARGANDI
  USTUPU TO ISLA PINOS
  ISLA PINOS - TUPBAK
  ISLA PINOS TO CALEDONIA
      MULATUPU
      TUBUALA AND NUBADUP
      CALEDONIA - KANIRDUP
  PUERTO ESCOSES - SUKUNYA
  CARRETO
  ANACHUCUNA AND PUERTO PERME
  PUERTO OBALDIA
  LA MIEL
  SAPZURRO - COLOMBIA

CHAPTER III ~ RIO CHAGRES TO BOCA DEL DRAGO
  WINDS, CURRENTS and TIDES
  RIO CHAGRES
  RIO CHAGRES TO TOBOBE CREEK, GOLFO DE LOS MOSQUITOS
      AGUACATE
      LIMÓN
      RIO EUERO
      BELÉN
      BEJUCO
      ESTERO SALADO
      CALOVÉBORA
      ESCUDO DE VERAGUAS
      TOBOBE CREEK
  LAGUNA DE CHIRIQUI
      ENTRANCE INTO LAGUNA DE CHIRIQUÍ
      PUNTA ALLEGRE
      LAGUNA DE BLUEFIELD
      PUNTA AVISPA
      BAHÍA AZUL
      PLAYA RAYA
      EASTERN AND SOUTHERN ISLA POPA AND CAYO DE AGUA
      ISLA TIGRE
      PUNTA LAUREL BAY
      CAYO PATTERSON
      IRISH BAY AND RIO CRICAMOLA
      CHIRIQUÍ GRANDE
      ENSENADA DELISCANOS
      ENSENADA TAPAO AND ITS ANCHORAGES
      CAUCHERO
  THE PASSAGES FROM LAGUNA DE CHIRIQUÍ INTO BAHÍA ALMIRANTE
      SPLIT HILL CHANNEL - LOMA PARTIDA
      SPLIT HILL - LOMA PARTIDA
      SUMWOOD CHANNEL
  BAHÍA ALMIRANTE
  ANCHORAGES NORTH OF SPLIT HILL
      ISLETS SOUTHEAST OF THEMUNG POINT
      FINCA CORDOBA
      ISLA POPA NUMERO UNO
      ENSENADA POPA
      ISLA POPA NUMERO DOS
      VISCAINO CAYS
      SHARK HOLE
  THE ROUTE TO BOCAS DEL TORO
  BOCAS DEL TORO
      CARENERO - CAREENING ISLAND
  OCEAN ENTRANCES TO BAHÍA ALMIRANTE
      BOCA DEL TORO
      BOCA DEL DRAGO
  ISLA COLÓN ANCHORAGES
      SAIGON
      BIG BIGHT
      CONCH POINT
      GROUND CREEK
  ISLA BASTIMENTOS
      BASTIMENTOS VILLAGE
      HOSPITAL BIGHT
      SHORT CUT
      BAHÍA HONDA
      THE GAP
  NANCY CAY - SOLARTE
      NORTHEAST OF BUTTONWOOD CAY
      NORTH OF BUTTONWOOD CAY
  CRAWL CAY CHANNEL
  SALT CREEK
  CAYOS ZAPATILLA
  WESTERN PORTION OF BAHIA ALMIRANTE
      ALMIRANTE
  AMBROSIO BIGHT ANCHORAGES
      QUARY'S POINT
  ENSENADA SHEPHERD - PUNTA DE GALLINAZO
      ISLA SHEPHERD
  ISLA CRISTOBAL
      PIGEON CREEK
      BAMBOO BIGHT
      BAHÍA GRANDE
      BERMUDEZ POINT CHANNEL
  PALOS LAGOON - DARK LAND
      LAGUNA PALOS CUT
  BOCA TORRITOS
  CANAL BOCA TORRITO
  SHARK HOLE LAGOON

CHAPTER IV ~ BALBOA TO PUNTA BURICA
  WINDS
  CURRENTS
  AIDS TO NAVIGATION
  ANCHORAGES AND HARBORS IN THE GULF OF PANAMA
      TABOGA
      ISLA OTOQUE
      ISLA BONA
      BAHĨA CHAMÉ, ISLA ENSENADA AND ISLA TABOR
      AGUADULCE
  AZUERO PENINSULA
      BAHÍA PARITA TO PUNTA MALA
      ENSENADA BENAO
      PUNTA GUANICO
      PUNTA GUANICO TO PUNTA MARIATO
      ENSENADA NARANJO
      BAHIA ARENAS
  CEBACO
      SOUTH COAST OF CEBACO
      NORTH COAST OF CEBACO
  ISLA GOBERNADORA
  BAHÍA MONTIJO
      PUERTO MUTIS
      RIO DE JESUS
      RIO PONUGA
      ISLA VERDE
      BOCA DE LA TRINIDAD
      RIO SAN PABLO 
      ISLA LEONES
      HICACO
      RIO CATÉ
  SANTA CATALINA TO BAHÍA HONDA
      ISLA SANTA CATALINA
      FROM SANTA CATALINA TO PUNTA CATIVO
      ISLAS CIMARRONES
      ENSENADA DE CATIVON
      PUERTO ESCONDIDO
      HACHA
  BAHÍA HONDA
  CAUTIONARY NOTE
  ISLA MEDIDOR (on some charts, Isla Canal de Tierra).
  ISLA CANAL DE AFUERA
  COIBA
      PUNTA MACHETE
      RANCHERIA COIBITA
      GRANITO DE ORO
      PLAYA ROSARIO and ENSENADA SANTA CRUZ
      JICARON
  ISLAS DE CONTRERAS
  MAINLAND BAYS BETWEEN PUNTA ROBLE AND ENSENADA MUERTO
      PUNTA ROBLE and ISLA MONA
      ENSENADA DE PIXVAE
      ENSENADA DE ROSARIO
      ENSENADA DE MUERTO
      ENSENADA DE PLAYA BRAVA
  RIO SANTA LUCIA and SURROUNDINGS
      RIO SANTIAGO
      ISLA SILVA DE TIERRA
  ISLAS SECAS
      ISLA CAVADA
      SOUTHERN ISLAS SECAS
  ISLA VENADO TO PEDREGAL
      ISLA VENADO
      ENSENADA DE BEJUCO
      BOCA CHICA
  PEDREGAL AND THE CHANNELS TO THAT PORT, INCLUDING PUERTO CABRITO
      BOCA BRAVA
      PUNTA CHALAPA
  OFFSHORE ISLANDS SOUTH OF ISLA BOCA BRAVA (or south of BOCA CHICA)
      ISLAS SAN JOSE
      ISLA BOLAÑOS
      ISLA PARIDA - PUNTA JUREL
      PLAYA DEL SOCORRO
      ISLA GAMEZ
      NORTHWEST OF MOGOTE DE SEPULCRO
      ENSENADA DEL VAREDERO
      ENSENADA SANTA CRUZ
      ENSENADA LOS NEGROS
  PUERTO ARMUELLES

CHAPTER V ~ LAS PERLAS AND THE EAST COAST
  NAVIGATIONAL LIGHTS
  SOUNDINGS
  TIDES
  LAS PERLAS
      CONTADORA, PACHECA, SABOGA
      ISLA CHAPERA AND MOGO MOGO
      BAJO BOYARENA
      CANAL GIBRALEON
      ISLA CASAYA
      ISLA BAYOΝΕΤΑ
      ISLA MINA
      ISLA VIVEROS
  ISLA DEL REY
      SAN MIGUEL
      ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO
      ISLA DE CAÑA
      PUNTA GORDA
      PLAYA DE SAN JUAN
      SANTELMITO CHANNEL
      BAHÍA SAN TELMO
      MORRO DE CACIQUE
      RIO CACIQUE
      ESMERALDA
      PUNTA DE COCOSES
      THE WEST SHORE OF ISLA DEL REY
  ISLA DE SAN JOSE
      ENSENADA PLAYA GRANDE
      NORTH OF PUNTA TIMON
      ENSENADA BODEGA
      SOUTH TIP OF SAN JOSE
  ISLA PEDRO GONZALES
      PEDRO GONZALES
      ISLA SEÑORA
      DON BERNARDO
  EAST COAST OF THE GULF OF PANAMA
      ISLA CHEPILLO
      RIO CHEPO
      PUNTA BRUJAS
  GULF OF SAN MIGUEL
      ISLA IGUANA
      RIO CONGO
      RIO SUCIO
      RIO CUCUNATI
      ISLA IGUANA TO BOCA GRANDE
      ISLA CEDRO
      PUNTA PLAYA GRANDE
      BOCA GRANDE
      ISLA BOCA GRANDE
      LA PALMA
  RIO SABANA
      ESTERO NOPO
      ESTERO GREGORIO DIAZ
      RIO IGLESIAS
  RIO TUIRA AND RIO BALSAS
      CHEPIGANA
      RIO TUIRA
      RIO BALSAS
      ISLA MANGLE
  ANCHORAGES ON SOUTHERN SHORES OF THE GULF OF SAN MIGUEL
      PUNTA ALLEGRE
      PUNTA PATIÑO
      PUNTA GARACHINE
  THE PACIFIC COAST TO THE BORDER WITH COLOMBIA
      BAHÍA PIÑAS
      JAQUÉ
      FONDEADERO GRANDE
      GUAYABO
      A WORD OF CAUTION

  APPENDIX
  FOOD!
     Pifa, Pijiba, Pejibaye, Piba, Pixbae
     Boiled Pifas
     Pifa and Okra
     Pifa Dasheen Soup
     Roots
     Corn
     Irene Castrellón's Tortillas and Bollos
     Kuna Cakes
     Coconut Bread
     Lucrecia Chocón's Coconut Bread
     A Few Fruits
  Bibliography
  Index