Permit· Isla Bastimentos· Other Caribbean
Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (permits & rules)
9° 17.0′ N · 82° 8.4′ W
Panama's first marine park (1988) protects 13,000+ ha of Bastimentos forest, mangroves, reefs and the Zapatilla Cays — nesting beaches for four sea-turtle species and some 80 coral species.
Practical
Position from Wikipedia (09°16'57"N, 082°08'23"W). Managed by MiAmbiente (formerly ANAM); IUCN category II. Entry to the Zapatilla Cays costs around US$10 per person (Tourism Panama; Scuttlebutt notes a fee for visiting the cays) — confirm current boat and per-person fees with the rangers. Coral Cay is a secure anchorage outside the park limits (Scuttlebutt). Turtles nest at Playa Larga (Long Beach) and the Zapatillas roughly March/April–September; no take of turtles or eggs (Wikipedia; Visit Panama). The western tip of Bastimentos (Old Bank) is not in the park. Lobster and shrimp have regulated seasons under Panama's 2021 fisheries law — check ARAP rules before fishing (Wikipedia).
Best for
Know the rules before anchoring in the park
Nearby
- Sea Turtle Nesting Season (Bocas)Right here
- Bocas Weather Windows (dry Jan–Apr & Sep–Oct)1.4 NM away
- Fishing Rules & Closed Seasons (Bocas del Toro)1.4 NM away
- Bahía Honda Anchorage (Isla Bastimentos)2 NM away
- Nivida Bat Cave (Bahía Honda, Isla Bastimentos)2.2 NM away
- Salt Creek (Quebrada Sal) Landing & Anchorage2.2 NM away
- Coral Cay Snorkel Gardens2.3 NM away
- Crawl Cay (Cayo Coral) Over-Water Restaurants2.3 NM away