Prepare paperwork for your trip. Americans need a valid passport while others may require a visa or tourist card. Check with the Panama consul in your country. Decide whether to traverse west to east -- starting in Balboa, Panama, on the Pacific Ocean -- or east to west, from Cristobal, Panama on the Atlantic. Visit the website of the Panama Canal Authority to download a customer form (see Resources). File this with the Authority to obtain a permit to cruise the canal.
Transport your yacht to either Bilboa or Cristobal. Make an appointment with the Admeasurement Office through VHP channel 12 Flamenco Signal Station in Balboa or Cristobal Signal Station in Cristobal. Alternatively, wait until you get on shore and telephone the Admeasurement Office to make an appointment, 507-212-4511 in Balboa; 507-443-2293 in Cristobal.
Visit the Canal Authorities. Facilitate review of your ship's documents and allow an inspector to look over your yacht. Show passports and travel documents for all crew members. Make and provide photocopies of any of these documents if required. In many cases, the Authority requires a signed waiver form. Review and sign the waiver if necessary (see Resources).
Verify the current crossing fee amounts with the Panama Canal Yacht Club or the Panama Authority. Pay fees at the Bank of Panama, including the crossing fee and a "buffer" fee in case you damage the locks or require towing assistance. Fee amounts vary depending upon the length of your yacht, with the lowest fee for boats under 50 feet listed at $500 as of 2010. The Authority retains the right to raise fees at any time, a right it exercises liberally.
Prepare your boat for departure on the date the Authority assigns. If you don't have four line handlers on board, hire temporary line handlers through the Panama Canal Yacht Club. Similarly, rent four 125-foot warps from the club if your boat lacks them. Be sure to carry sufficient food and water for the duration of the trip.
