Contadora Island (Pearl Islands)

Good to know

Reserve by phone +507 391-1424, +507 209-4010, or WhatsApp +507 6424-8000; passport required and one bag per person. A second company, Ferry Las Perlas, uses a different terminal, so check which pier your ticket is for. Fare is not published on the operator's site.

Details

Hours

Sea Las Perlas (operator page): daily, boarding 6:45 a.m. at Flamenco Marina, departing 7:30 a.m.; return boarding 2:45 p.m., departing Contadora 3:30 p.m., arriving Flamenco about 5:00 p.m.

Duration

Full day (about 1.5 hours each way by ferry) or overnight

Seasonality

Year-round; whales offshore July-October

Best for ages

All ages

Shabbat

Ferry required; go Sunday-Thursday, or stay overnight and arrive well before Shabbat.

Booking

Yes

Kosher food

The island has a few restaurants and three small grocery stores (operator site); none are known to be kosher. Bring food. The operator says there are no banks or ATMs on the island.

Distance from Panama City

~66 km straight-line from Punta Paitilla (computed from coordinates; road distance is longer); about 1 hour 30 minutes by ferry; operator says 32 miles