Anchorage· Cayos Limones (East & West Lemmons)· Other Caribbean
East Lemmon Cays Anchorage
9° 34.4′ N · 78° 51.2′ W
A sociable maze of small reef-ringed cays just east of Porvenir, where the veggie boats call regularly, the snorkelling is excellent and a few Guna families run simple beach bars and camping.
Practical
Position 09°34.432'N 078°51.184'W, anchored between Yansaladup and a Kuna-house cay in 10 m sand, good holding (Spirit of Argo 2016). SY Balvenie (2012) anchored at 09°33.791'N 078°51.600'W in 8 m sand and found only small pockets with shallows around. 'Bit of a maze to get in': enter in good overhead light with the Bauhaus charts and a bow lookout. Snorkelling off the reef at the southern entrance; Spirit of Argo rated the fish variety here the best they saw in San Blas. Regular veggie boats with produce, chicken, wine and beer. Island fee reported at Perro Grande in the East Lemmons: $2 per person and $5 per dog (2018, verify locally). Security: three thefts of dinghy anchors from hoisted dinghies were reported here in one month (CSSN, Dec 2018), so lift and lock everything. Cell coverage: Movil reported good in the Lemmons/Carti area. A wrecked yacht on the inside reef is a reminder to proceed with caution.
Best for
A social first anchorage with good snorkelling close to Porvenir
Season
Best Dec–Apr in steady trades; busiest anchorage in the west in high season
Nearby
- Lemmon Cays Beach Bars (Guna-run)Right here
- Rays, Nurse Sharks & Turtles (Lemmon & Chichime Cays)Right here
- Banedup Anchorage (East Lemmon Cays)0.7 NM away
- Isla Pelícano (Gorgidup) Beach, Cayo Limón1.2 NM away
- Dog Island Anchorage (Isla Perro)1.3 NM away
- Dog Island Wreck (Isla Perro / Assudub)1.7 NM away
- Isla Diablo (Niadub) Beach1.7 NM away
- Isla Perro (Dog Island) Landing & Anchoring Fees1.7 NM away