Since 2012, IGY Marinas has been the marketing partner for Red Frog Beach Marina. It now not only owns the property, but also manages operations.
Due directly to IGY Marinas’ involvement, more megayachts have called in at the Panamanian locale. It’s 133 nautical miles from the Panama Canal, therefore convenient for refueling and reprovisioning before the crossing. Red Frog Beach Marina is 10 minutes from the main town’s shops and restaurants, accessible via a boat shuttle. The on-site customs and immigration clearance, plus on-site Canal concierge, are additionally alluring.
Among the 80-plus slips at Red Frog Beach Marina, 12 are for megayachts. They can accommodate yachts to 300 feet (91.4 meters), too, with a draft to 25 feet (7.6 meters). Kay Mellinger, the company’s sales and marketing manager, says, “We see value in the destination, and we see value in the marina itself.”
The destination does have a lot of pluses. Situated in Bocas del Toro, a 68-island archipelago, Red Frog Beach Marina is in a hurricane-free zone. The archipelago further has its own international airport. In addition, the island upon which it’s located, Isla Bastimentos, regularly gets high marks from tourist books and websites. It boasts hiking trails through a rainforest, multiple reefs for diving and snorkeling, and even sea turtle nesting sites. The resort and spa to which the marina belongs, and which marina guests can enjoy, is adjacent to a nature preserve. That’s why you’ll spy sloths in the trees at the property. And, of course, Red Frog Beach Marina and the resort derive their names from the region’s famous red frogs.
Yet another value that IGY Marinas sees is a recent change to visa requirements. Mellinger says that the company, along with other marinas in Panama, lobbied the government to do so. Previously, visitors had to pay for a one-year visa. Considering most yacht crew, owners, and guests stay far shorter periods, Mellinger explains, the cost turned many away. Now, however, Panama has a six-month tourist visa. The government website states that certain nationalities, such as Americans, also no longer need to apply.
IGY Marinas has a few upgrades in store for Red Frog Beach Marina. These include augmenting on-site dining. Marina guests currently can dine at the resort’s restaurants. It’s considering adding more slips as well, depending on demand. While some slips currently have long-term leases, most are for transient use.
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