Full-Day Caribbean Catamaran Cruise: Beaches, Snorkeling & Lunch
Description
Set sail with us to explore hidden Caribbean gems only accessible by sea! With 20 years of experience navigating these waters, we’ll guide you to vibrant marine spots far from the crowds. This tour explores two stunning and contrasting locations: Playa Drake, known for its incredible snorkeling, and Venas Azules, a turquoise lagoon surrounded by mangroves. Both are part of the unspoiled Portobelo National Park, rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. If you choose the pickup option, we’ll collect you directly from your hotel and take you to the historic town of Portobelo—founded in 1597 by the Spanish to defend against pirate invasions. From there, we’ll cruise toward these breathtaking destinations on a catamaran, raising the sails whenever the wind allows. During the trip, you’ll have the chance to swim, kayak, paddleboard, or simply unwind on the catamaran or beach. Perfect for adventurous travelers looking for off-the-beaten-path experiences and a deep connection with nature!
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in Panama City and driven to Portobelo if you select the option that includes pickup.
You will arrive at the dock in Portobelo, where the tour begins. Here, you can admire the historic Spanish fortifications built over 500 years ago, including Fort Santiago, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. From the dock, a speedboat will take you to the catamaran to begin your adventure.
Our first stop is Isla del Padre, also known as Blue Veins. This beautiful mangrove lagoon features crystal-clear waters. Here, we’ll explore the lagoon by dinghy, allowing you to fully appreciate its natural beauty and peaceful surroundings.
Then we’ll sail for about 30 minutes to Playa Blanca. This tropical white-sand beach is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the Caribbean vibes. Here, you can go snorkeling to admire beautiful coral reefs and colorful fish, enjoy kayaking, take a refreshing swim, or simply unwind on the beach or on the catamaran.
After enjoying our time at the beach, we will head back to Portobelo.
If you’ve selected the return transportation option, you will be comfortably driven from Portobelo back to Panama City, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pickup from Airbnbs or any type of accommodation in Panama City or Colon City IF THE PICKUP OPTION IS INCLUDED in your booking. If you book the tour with a start in Portobelo, PICKUP IS NOT INCLUDED. You must either add and pay the pickup option or meet us directly at the Portobelo dock.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers with limited mobility
- Not suitable for travelers who are unable to go barefoot
- Not suitable for travelers who are unwilling to follow safety guidelines and onboard instructions
Reviews(131)
The area that we went to on the catamaran is beautiful. The time spent on the catamaran is too short versus the drive to get to and from the area. Jenny- thanks for the on time communication over the entire trip.
Hello Sonya! Thank you for your review and for your kind words about Jenny’s communication throughout the trip. We’re very happy you enjoyed the beauty of the area. We’d also like to mention that the travel time was longer than usual that day due to road work along the route, which unfortunately caused delays beyond our control. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future.
Although I didn’t mind people should know that you need to move between boats on this trip. The toilet on the boat was not working but we were notified and given lots of opportunities for a bathroom. Jenny made an amazing lunch. The boat crew was great too!
Thank you for your feedback—we really appreciate you sharing your experience! We’d just like to clarify one point for future guests: as stated in the tour description, we arrive by land transport at the Portobelo dock. This dock is not deep enough for a large catamaran to approach, as it’s designed for smaller speedboats. For this reason, there is a very short transfer (about 2 minutes) by speedboat to reach the catamaran, which is also explained in the tour description. We’re glad to hear that you felt well informed about the toilet situation and that the crew provided plenty of opportunities for bathroom breaks. And of course, we’re very happy you enjoyed Jenny’s lunch and the service from the crew!
A great day, trip was as described. I enjoyed being on the water. Be aware this is about an hour drive one way from Panama City, while fun, it’s a long day.
Thank you for your feedback! 😊 We’re glad you enjoyed the day on the water. You’re right—the trip from Panama City takes about an hour each way, but we hope the experience made it worthwhile! Hope to see you again soon
Fantastic experience the captain and the crew were very attentive. The food was great. I’m vegan and they made me a special dish. They took us to some very nice spots to go snorkeling. The boat was much larger than I thought and in good condition and everyone seemed passionate about the work they were doing.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with our captain and crew — they truly love what they do, and it means a lot to know it shows. We’re especially happy we could accommodate your vegan diet and make your experience even more enjoyable. And of course, exploring beautiful snorkeling spots is always a highlight! ✨ We hope to welcome you back on board again soon for another unforgettable day!
Not what we expected! Not worth $200/person. Catamaran was very small and very run down. Spent more time in the car then on the sea. Food was ok. No drinks. Other excursions offer more bang for your buck.
Thank you for your feedback — we’re genuinely sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We’d like to clarify that the catamaran is advertised with real photos, so guests can see the exact size and condition before booking. That said, we’re excited to share that within the next two weeks we will be introducing a new, larger boat to further improve the experience. Regarding the itinerary, the destination is approximately 1.5 hours from Panama City, although travel time may vary depending on traffic conditions. In your case, the transfer took longer because the pickup location you requested was outside Panama City, which increased the overall journey time—particularly in the morning, when traffic on the bridge is typically heavy due to commuters heading into the city for work. In terms of refreshments, the inclusion of water only (and no additional drinks) is clearly specified from the beginning, so guests are informed in advance of what is included. Finally, it’s important to note that many other excursions you may be comparing are based within Panama City, whereas this experience takes you to the Caribbean side, which involves additional logistics and transportation reflected in the price. We truly appreciate your comments, as they help us improve, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
Snorkeling and swimming at the beaches was the most fun part for our children. This is a fun family acitivity
Hello! Thank you so much for your kind review! 😊 We’re really happy to hear that your family had a fun time and that the snorkeling and beach swimming were the highlights for the kids — those moments are always special! 🐠🏝️ We also appreciate your comment about the boat size. In fact, in the next couple of weeks we will be adding a bigger boat, which will provide more space on the roof and a more comfortable experience for everyone. We hope to welcome you and your family back again in the future! 🚤☀️
Wosrt experience ever. Totally not worth it. The food was 2-3 / 10. The catamaran is very small and old. In addition, they charge us a fee that doesn’t make any sense
Hi David Thank you for your feedback. However, we would like to clarify the situation. Your reservation was made for 4 adults and 2 infants, but when you arrived there were 6 adults in your group and no infants according to our tariffs. When our team explained that the reservation needed to be corrected to reflect the actual number of 6 adults, and that the corresponding balance needed to be paid, you became upset and spoke disrespectfully to several members of our staff. The additional amount you mention was not a random fee—it was simply the difference for the two additional adults who were not included in the original booking. We always aim to provide a great experience for all our guests, and most visitors really enjoy the tour, the beaches, and the snorkeling. Unfortunately, it appears this review was left in retaliation after we asked that the correct amount be paid according to the actual number of adults attending.
This was a well organized tour with a lot of stuff to do. Unfortunately, the day was rainy, but it did not take away from the experience for me. I would recommend this!
Hello Vahed! Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re really happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it well organized, even with the rainy weather. Sometimes the rain adds a special touch to the experience, and we’re glad it didn’t take away from your day. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon!
It was a good experience, the captain is friendly, only the captain speaks English, the road is long are about 2 hours journey to reach portobelo but the transport is comfortable. The catamaran is quite small and is an old model but still enjoyable are however take it into account. It is a trip to relax and enjoy the view, you can also swim a bit and snorkel, even hopefully you get to see monkeys and sloths. The food is good but if I recommend that you bring your own snacks as you could go hungry
¡Muchísimas gracias por compartir tu experiencia! 😊 Nos alegra enormemente saber que disfrutaste el viaje, las vistas, el snorkel y ese merecido tiempo para relajarte. También te agradecemos por destacar la amabilidad del capitán — para nosotros es fundamental que se sientan bien acompañados durante toda la experiencia. Nos encanta que hayas podido nadar y hacer snorkel, y que incluso hayas tenido la posibilidad de ver monos y perezosos. ¡Esos encuentros hacen que cada salida sea realmente especial! El tiempo de traslado desde Panama City suele ser de aproximadamente 1 hora y 30 minutos; sin embargo, dependiendo del tráfico, puede extenderse hasta unas 2 horas. Asimismo, siempre recomendamos llevar snacks y bebidas adicionales, o algo de efectivo, ya que en la playa pueden encontrar opciones para comprar. Gracias nuevamente por tu recomendación y por elegirnos. Será un placer recibirte otra vez para vivir otra increíble experiencia en el mar
The day was a success. The captain and his 1st mate were very obliging. They worked very hard to ensure we had a great time and that our needs were met. The weather was great and the sloths in the trees at Playa Blanca were an added bonus. Snorkeling at Playa Blanca was the best.
Hello Liz Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a successful day and that the captain and first mate helped make it special. Playa Blanca really is a gem—between the great weather, the sloths in the trees, and the incredible snorkeling, it’s hard to beat. We’re so glad you enjoyed it all and hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
