Anchorage· Coco Bandero Cays· Other Caribbean
Coco Bandero Cays Anchorage
9° 30.8′ N · 78° 37.0′ W
Four postcard palm islets with white beaches behind a four-mile barrier reef, often called the most beautiful anchorage in San Blas, with clear water, good snorkelling and Guna women paddling out with molas.
Practical
Position 09°30.776'N 078°36.967'W, 8 m sand, very good protection from all quarters and flat water (SY Balvenie 2012). Noforeignland: sandy bottom, well sheltered (middle anchorage); South anchorage good holding in 6 to 7 m but watch for swell. Excellent snorkelling all round, especially on the reef at the western end between the outer two islands. Caretaker family on one island; they sold drinks from canoes in 2012. Popular with the backpacker boats on the Panama–Colombia run, so can get noisy; some trash on beaches. Do not pay locals to take your rubbish (it has been seen dumped in the anchorage); burn or carry it. Covered by the $10/30-day 'De Los Seis Pueblos' receipt (2018). Cell coverage via the Nargana tower, intermittent. ARC Pacific boats used it in 2023 and noted the islands are quite exposed to weather.
Best for
The prettiest islets in the archipelago and quiet nights
Season
Dec–Apr; northerly swell can reach the southern anchorage
Nearby
- Rubbish Disposal (Coco Bandero & Holandes)Right here
- Dupwala Freshwater Well (Coco Bandero)0.2 NM away
- Coco Bandero West-End Reef Snorkel0.3 NM away
- Two Palm Island Reef & Small Wreck Snorkel (West Coco Bandero)1.9 NM away
- West Coco Bandero Anchorage (Two Palm Island)1.9 NM away
- Orduptarboat Anchorage (West Coco Bandero)2 NM away
- Green Island Anchorage2.2 NM away
- Green Island Freshwater Well2.3 NM away