Private Fishing & Island Hopping – 38ft Speedboat | Pearl Islands

The ultimate private boat charter to the Pearl Islands for whale watching!

The absolute best whale watching tour in Panama! We booked a full-day private boat charter on the Todomar 38 with Panama GEM Charters to go whale watching around the Pearl Islands (Saboga and Contadora). It was a breathtaking, 5-star luxury experience from start to finish. Booking was smooth, and departing right from the terminal at Isla Flamenco Marina on the Amador Causeway made logistics super easy. The Todomar 38 center console was immaculate, powerful, smooth in open waters, and fully equipped with great shade, sound system, and top-tier safety gear. Captain Sofia and Lulo were unbelievable guides—they knew exactly where to navigate to spot humpback whales jumping and swimming right alongside the boat, all while keeping a safe and respectful distance. We even had time for some offshore fishing and snorkeling near a private beach on Saboga Island! If you are looking for the ultimate private yacht rental or boat tour agency in Panama City, Panama GEM Charters is unmatched in safety, authority, and service. Thank you, Captain Sofia and team, for an incredible day on the Pacific!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a real pleasure having you on board!

via Tripadvisor

Mix Experience - Great crew but safety concerns with our captain and operations

Overall: The crew were fantastic and attentive, but there were serious safety and decision-making issues tied to the captain and overall operations. Safety and navigation concerns Tugboat issue: A tugboat had to horn at us to alert its approach, indicating limited situational awareness. Inconsistent anchoring: captain steering lead to inconsistent anchoring, leaving us farther from shore at both islands we visited. The captain seemed distracted by the phone, raising concerns about focus during navigation. It felt like there was a mismatch in command when a second, smaller boat (friends’ rental) appeared to have the “real captain,” while our vessel seemed led by someone less experienced. Waiting on the vessel before or during bad weather: During rough weather offshore, our boat deviated from the plotted course even though GPS and instruments worked; visibility was poor, and erratic steering seemed unnecessary. This lead to us losing the lead vessel (the one with the real captain) during low visibility in the midst of the storm. Diverging from plotted routes in a storm appeared unsafe and could have put everyone at greater risk of hittingthe nearby islands or shallow water. We didn’t regain sight of them for about an hour and a half, by which time our friends on the lead boat had already experienced a traumatic moment thinking we were lost. Communication after reporting discontent: After we raised concerns, Jennifer (who assisted with booking and payments) had been very responsive, even at midnight. Since we reported our dissatisfaction, she has gone silent, which added to our frustration and concern about how issues are handled post-trip. Storm safety and equipment protection: A prudent captain should safeguard critical communication gear during a storm, such as removing or protecting the vessel antenna to shield it from weather and lightning. This precaution was not observed. Crew performance (positive) The service staff were fantastic—courteous, responsive, and attentive to our needs throughout the trip. Recommendations for the operator Assign a clearly qualified captain to each vessel, especially in adverse conditions. For this suggestion I think regardless of weather conditions, each boat should have an experienced captain, as Pacific weather is unpredictable and anyone responsible for others’ safety should be capable of handling adversity if needed. Reassess anchoring procedures and crew training for safe positioning near shore and at anchor. Improve coordination between vessels when multiple boats are involved, including unified weather decisions. Establish strict low-visibility navigation protocols, emphasizing staying on plotted routes and safe distances from other boats. Provide guests with a clear safety briefing before departure. Ensure consistent follow-up and communication channels after guest concerns are raised, with timely responses from a designated point of contact. Implement storm safety protocols for protecting critical equipment, including procedures to safeguard antennas and other comms gear. Bottom line: The trip offered great value thanks to the excellent service from the crew. If the captain and operations safety issues are addressed, this could be an outstanding experience.

via Tripadvisor

Perfect boat day

I'm so glad we found GEM Charters for our boat trip in Panama. We were looking for a nice boat for 5 girls celebrating a bachelorette. GEM was super responsive over Whatsapp for every little detail I asked about: sent photos and videos from all angles of the boats, broke down the costs, how we could plus it up, where we could go, great recommendations, and were just so patient as we decided what was best for our group. We booked the 38' Todomar boat which was incredible - lounge space in the front AND back and a bathroom. Lino & Oscar were amazing and took charge when I said "take us to the prettiest water" it literally looked fake it was so blue and pristine. If you have the time & funds to go to the Pearl Islands over Taboga, I highly recommend it. Again, Lino & Oscar were so hospitable, knowledgable, took pics for us and found us a tasty lunch spot on one of the islands. A perfect day. Thank you!

Response from the operator: What an awesome day we had! Thanks for being such a great guest. We loved having you on board. Let’s do it again soon!

via Tripadvisor

Great Day at Pearl Islands, Panama

It was my 3rd GEM CHARTER trip, previously July 2023 and April 2024. This is a very well managed group… and why I returned again in March 2026. From the second I met Miguel, I could tell it was going to be great. This trip, my second to Pearl Islands, was even better than the first… and this is why! First, the area, at least an hour by boat from Panama City, is amazing. There is one island, Contadora, with homes and restaurants but the other islands are uninhabited. You don’t have to go to Fiji in the South Pacific to see those photos of beautiful and serene ocean views or to be alone with friends on an uninhabited island… I have never experienced that. Our captain, Miguel made an exceptional trip even better. There is nothing better than having someone who knows everything… and enjoys sharing his knowledge and excitement. For me, as inquisitive as I am, Miguel and I chatted a lot… he knows all about each island, each beach area on each island, and did a magnificent job getting this boat close to the beaches for an easy off and on. We also saw dolphins and whales thanks to Miguel as he is acutely aware of his surroundings… I’d request him if you had a choice… also, Boris, the mate was incredible, anticipating everything we wanted or needed… it was uncanny! This was a experience of a lifetime… there was an island with purple shells, including a narrow stretch of this island where you can see both beaches at once and yes, we walked the 1 minute to the other side… it was truly “Fiji- like”… it was “a moment”… We snorkeled at another uninhabited island… and enjoyed cocktails everywhere… You should strongly consider this trip, as it was just something you dream about.

Response from the operator: It was truly a pleasure to have you aboard again. We’re grateful for your continued trust and support. Thank you for sharing your experience and for being part of our fishing family!

via Tripadvisor

Amazing day trip!

Great day trip. Very easy to work with and they arranged everything we needed. It was a perfect day and would highly recommend! The captain and crew were very knowledgeable and prepared!

Response from the operator: What an awesome day we had! Thanks for being such a great guest! We loved having you on board. Let’s do it again soon!

via Viator