# Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management, Panama: what it is and when to go

> Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management is a protected area (Zona Especial de Manejo Marino Costero Archipiélago de Las Perlas) in Panama. Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is December to March. There are about 12 h 29 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/special-zone-for-coastal-marine-management/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Protected area · Nature, Wildlife
- **Local name:** Zona Especial de Manejo Marino Costero Archipiélago de Las Perlas
- **Where:** Panama
- **Best time:** December to March.
- **Nearest airport:** PTY Tocumen, 84 km as the crow flies
- **Run by:** Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá
- **Coordinates:** 8.43441, -78.98089

## What it is and where

Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management is a protected area (Zona Especial de Manejo Marino Costero Archipiélago de Las Perlas) in Panama.

Its coordinates are 8.43441, -78.98089; the nearest main airport is Tocumen International Airport (PTY, Tocumen), 84 km as the crow flies. How to get around Panama (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=8.434409%2C-78.980889)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=8.434409%2C-78.980889)

- **Run by:** Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/fauna/) places in Panama. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management is **December to March**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 11 h 34 |
| February | Best time | 11 h 44 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 57 |
| April | Possible | 12 h 11 |
| May | Possible | 12 h 23 |
| June | Possible | 12 h 29 |
| July | Possible | 12 h 27 |
| August | Possible | 12 h 17 |
| September | Better not | 12 h 03 |
| October | Better not | 11 h 49 |
| November | Possible | 11 h 36 |
| December | Best time | 11 h 31 |

There are about 12 h 29 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | December to March | April to August and November |
| Wildlife | December to March | April to August and November |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Panama in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Panama

To enter Panama there are 8 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid passport, onward ticket and proof of funds”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Panama checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Balboa, pegged at par to the US dollar, which is what circulates; plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 911 for everything.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Gulf of Panama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/golfo-de-panama/): Gulf in the Pacific Ocean · 30 km
- [Galera Island Special Coastal Marine Management Zone](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/galera-island-special-coastal-marine-management-zone/): Protected area · 35 km
- [Panama Bay Wetland Wildlife Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/panama-bay-wetland-wildlife-refuge/): Protected area · 50 km
- [Trollope Rock Special Coastal Marine Management Zone](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/trollope-rock-special-coastal-marine-management-zone/): Protected area · 51 km
- [Isla Boná Wildlife Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/isla-bona-wildlife-refuge/): Protected area · 70 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Panama guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/).

## More in Panama: Nature

- [La Amistad International Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/parque-internacional-la-amistad/): international park
- [Los Katíos National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/parque-nacional-natural-los-katios/): national park in Colombia
- [Volcán Barú](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/baru-volcano/): Stratovolcano in Panama
- [Darién National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/parque-nacional-del-darien/): national park in Panamá
- [Coiba](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/parque-nacional-coiba/): island and national park in Panama
- [Ancon Hill](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/ancon-hill/): mountain in Panama

Every Panama place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management?

It is a protected area (Zona Especial de Manejo Marino Costero Archipiélago de Las Perlas in the local language) in Panama.

### When is the best time to visit Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management?

December to March. There are about 12 h 29 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.

### How do you get to Special Zone for Coastal Marine Management?

The nearest main airport is Tocumen International Airport (PTY), 84 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=8.434409%2C-78.980889) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Panama is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Panama map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Gulf of Panama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/golfo-de-panama/), [Galera Island Special Coastal Marine Management Zone](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/galera-island-special-coastal-marine-management-zone/), [Panama Bay Wetland Wildlife Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/panama-bay-wetland-wildlife-refuge/). The rest is in [the Panama guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/panama/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1486546113), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).