Agent in Puerto Obladia , Panama

[GinTonic]

If you have checked in at Obaldia, Panama in the past year or so, I'd like to know the contact number for an agento to do the clearing in. Any problems anchoring, getting ashore, finding the appropriate offices, able to get all necessary documents, costs of documents, getting through police and military barriers.

I plan to sail from Cartagena this weekend , thanks !

[belizesailor]

There have been no authorities for yacht check in's for several years now in the San Blas, anywhere.

The farthest east place you can check in is Linton Bay Marina.

Looks like the Colombian Low may get a little sporty this weekend (gusts to 40 knots, seas 4 meters), I would run a SW course from Cartagena to avoid the most turbulent area and then change your course more westerly as you approach Panama to get to Linton.

[GinTonic]

Thanks Curtis , I double checked with someone who did immigration 2 weeks ago in Obaldia , so they are open for stamping the passport , cruising permits still have to get them in Linton Bay !

Originally Posted by belizesailor

There have been no authorities for yacht check in's for several years now in the San Blas, anywhere.

The farthest east place you can check in is Linton Bay Marina.

Looks like the Colombian Low may get a little sporty this weekend (gusts to 40 knots, seas 4 meters), I would run a SW course from Cartagena to avoid the most turbulent area and then change your course more westerly as you approach Panama to get to Linton.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by GinTonic

Thanks Curtis , I double checked with someone who did immigration 2 weeks ago in Obaldia , so they are open for stamping the passport , cruising permits still have to get them in Linton Bay !

Ah, well thats new!

Do you plan to stay in the San Blas a while?

[GinTonic]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Ah, well thats new!

Do you plan to stay in the San Blas a while?

Hi Curtiss , Tonic III will be there until end of November 2021 , I hope to see you !

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by GinTonic

Hi Curtiss , Tonic III will be there until end of November 2021 , I hope to see you !

Hopefully we will cross paths.

Our cruising season got disrupted by COVID and the San Blas have been closed so I'm not sure what our sailing plans will look like the rest of this year. My boat is currently stowed in Bocas del Toro. I'm trying to finish some things up at home to get over there and do some work on it...and see what disasters await me after a year of storage!

[belizesailor]

Re an agent.

Even in normal times, when there were a full compliment of officials in the San Blas, I've never used nor even heard of an agent there. In fact, I have never used an agent anywhere on the N coast of Panama at any port (except for transiting the canal).

I have used a couple of marinas as "agents" to renew my cruising permit when I was not on site, but never for other paperwork.

Unlike Colombia, it is not common to use an agent in Panama, except for transiting the canal.

[HR42]

Find the taxi driver who’s checked people in before. That’s what I did. If they’re hanging around the port they probably speak English, helped smooth the way when I did it. I arrived into fort Sherman when they were on holiday (authorities) so had to go into colon and visit the respective offices.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by HR42

Find the taxi driver who’s checked people in before. That’s what I did. If they’re hanging around the port they probably speak English, helped smooth the way when I did it. I arrived into fort Sherman when they were on holiday (authorities) so had to go into colon and visit the respective offices.

In Obladia???

[HR42]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

In Obladia???

Just general advice, don’t sweat the small stuff

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

In Obladia???

I think hes confused

It's a 1 min walk to the various offices, no agent needed. Very average Anchorage , can be an uncomfortable lee shore, check in and leave , next decent anchorage by memory is only 7-9nm away?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I think hes confused

It's a 1 min walk to the various offices, no agent needed. Very average Anchorage , can be an uncomfortable lee shore, check in and leave , next decent anchorage by memory is only 7-9nm away?

Yep, not likely to find a taxi driver or an agent in Obladia.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by HR42

Just general advice, don’t sweat the small stuff

Yeah, small stuff...like location.

[LubberOnTheLake]

[LubberOnTheLake]

I think this thread is a good enough place to ask this question. If I do find transport via the sea from Colombia to Panama... are the ports open? Like the immigration offices? Or is it currently only possible to go through immigration if you fly into the country?