Permit· Portobelo· Other Caribbean
Portobelo Clearance (Port Captain & Immigration)
9° 33.2′ N · 79° 39.3′ W · approximate
Portobelo has a Port Captain and Immigration office and is a recognised port of entry, convenient for boats arriving straight from the San Blas or Colombia.
Practical
Coordinate approximate: town centre (Church of San Felipe); offices are in town. All documentation is done at the Immigration office; all crew must present passports in person; waits are possible if the Port Captain is out; reportedly only the Port Captain speaks English. A cruising permit can be obtained after immigration formalities (Noonsite, April 2025), though older reports say Portobelo arrivals had to buy the permit in Colón. No bank, but an ATM next to the Police Station. Canal agents can reportedly complete transit paperwork and payment from here, so the boat can wait in Portobelo except for a day trip to the Flats in Colón to be measured.
Best for
Clearing in after the San Blas, or arranging a canal transit via agent
Nearby
- Festival of the Black Christ (Portobelo)Right here
- Portobelo Town Provisioning, Bakeries & LaundryRight here
- Portobelo Town Shops, Buses & ATMRight here
- Captain Jack's Bar & Grill (Portobelo)0.1 NM away
- Portobelo Fortifications (UNESCO World Heritage)0.1 NM away
- Casa Congo Restaurant & Dinghy Dock (Portobelo)0.2 NM away
- Casa Vela Bar, Restaurant & Sail Loft (Portobelo)0.2 NM away
- Portobelo Anchorage & Forts0.8 NM away