Anchorage· Cayos Zapatilla· Other Caribbean
Cayos Zapatilla Anchorage (Bastimentos Marine Park)
9° 15.5′ N · 82° 2.7′ W · approximate
A daytime stop off the Zapatillas' reef-fringed beaches: drop the hook on sand in the park and snorkel healthy coral straight off the boat.
Practical
Position approximate — plotted between the two cays from the Wikipedia/GeoNames points; reef surrounds both cays, so approach only in good light and anchor on clear sand. No published depths or protection data in our sources; the Bauhaus Panama Cruising Guide has aerial photos with lat/long grids. The cays lie on the outer edge of the archipelago and are more exposed to Caribbean swell than inner anchorages — plan for the calm Sept–Oct window. Inside the marine park: pay the ranger fees, no fishing or collecting, don't anchor on coral. For an overnight outside park limits, Coral Cay is the recommended secure anchorage (Scuttlebutt). Dive amid healthy, vibrant coral (SAIL).
Best for
Day stop for snorkeling and the beaches
Season
Settled weather only; best Sept–Oct
Nearby
- Zapatilla Reefs (dive & snorkel, Bastimentos Marine Park)0.2 NM away
- Cayos Zapatilla (Bastimentos National Marine Park)0.5 NM away
- Las Bromelias Trail (Zapatilla 2)0.5 NM away
- Zapatilla Shallows Snorkel (Cayo Zapatilla No. 1)0.7 NM away
- Salt Creek (Quebrada Sal) Landing & Anchorage3.9 NM away
- Coral Cay Snorkel Gardens5.5 NM away
- Crawl Cay (Cayo Coral) Over-Water Restaurants5.6 NM away
- Cayo Coral Reef Dive (Crawl Cay)5.7 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).