Puerto Rico to Panama Canal & Summer in Panama ?

[Talefin]

Any info and comments would be a big help. We have a 62 sport fish, sorry no sails, and have done the E. carib for the last 4 years. We are currently in St. Martin and are planning to head to Panama - thru the canal and eventually to Costa Rica (fishing). I have a few questions and concerns. First - What is Panama / Costa Rica (E. & W. coasts) like in the summer, is it so wet that it isnt worth going or just hit or miss rain. Second - Our intended route is St. Martin - Puerto Rico - DR - Jamacia - San Andres - Panama Canal. We of course have fuel limitations (approx 400 nm) and would need to stop in San Andres to get fuel or carry a bladder. Can anyone comment on the route in general and specifically on San Andres - fuel, safety for a US boat, general info. Is there a better route going from Jamacia to the east coast of Nicaragua, Costa Rica or Panama and then down to the canal? If so are there any good marinas with fuel and electric on the way? Thanks Bob

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Talefin

. We of course have fuel limitations (approx 400 nm)

Hi Bob,

St Martin to Colon, panama is only 1,000 miles. Can you make that range if you slow down to, say, 8 knots?

Mark
PS Wet season weather there is fine. Rains then clears.

[osirissail]

From Jamaica the next place with marinas are Isla de Providencia; Isla de San Andres; and then Bocas del Toro in Panama.

[Misiu]

There are two marinas at Bocas del Toro. One on Isla Colon Bocas Yacht Club & Marina and another one on Carenero Island (next to Colon, across from Bocas town) Careening Cay Marina Bocas del Toro, Caribbean, Panama
People anchor in the vicinity of both marinas. In both cases there is a short dinghy ride to Bocas town.