Anchorage· Porvenir (Gaigirgordub)· Other Caribbean
Porvenir Anchorage
9° 33.0′ N · 78° 57.1′ W
The westernmost San Blas anchorage and the archipelago's administrative front door: a small, reef-encumbered spot off the Porvenir airstrip where boats drop the hook to clear in before heading to the Lemmons or Chichime.
Practical
Position 09°33.03'N 078°57.11'W (Noonsite). Limited space, reef-encumbered, good holding but subject to swell; planes landing and taking off disturb the anchorage. Cruiser reports: 9 m sand, slightly rolly and could be very rolly (SY Balvenie 2012); 13 m good holding (SY Two Fish 2016); possible to anchor just in front of the dinghy dock on the SW side of the island (SY Moya 2018). Approach via the San Blas channel is a narrow gap between the island's outer reef and the reef at Sail Rock; not advisable in a lively NE wind and swell. In northerlies go right round outside the reef and anchor in the lee of the island group on the south side, then dinghy in. Yachts have been wrecked on the reefs here: never approach at night or without proven waypoints (Bauhaus). Shops ashore mostly sell tourist items; small hotel and restaurant by the airstrip.
Best for
An overnight stop to clear in or out
Season
Year-round in trades; rolly, and the approach is hazardous, in N–NE swell (Dec–Mar Northers)
Nearby
- Cabañas y Restaurante Nalunega0.2 NM away
- Guna Yala Clearance & Congreso Fee (Porvenir)0.5 NM away
- Porvenir Airstrip & Port Services0.5 NM away
- Porvenir Hotel & Restaurant0.5 NM away
- Nalunega Mola Festival (Yala Burba Mola Riba)0.6 NM away
- Wichubhuala & Nalunega Villages0.6 NM away
- Iguabi Restaurant (West Lemmon Cays)3.1 NM away
- West Lemmon Cays Anchorage3.1 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).