"I need a rental lease and a bill of sale notarized this week. Someone told me the Notary Public comes over to Isla Colón on Thursdays, but someone else said they stopped doing visits. Does anyone know the current schedule, or do I have to take the water taxi all the way to Changuinola?"
In Panama, a Notary Public (Notaría Pública) is a specialized legal official who authenticates real estate contracts, vehicle transfers, powers of attorney, and commercial leases. There is no permanent, five-day-a-week notary office operating on Isla Colón.
The official provincial notary headquarters sits on the mainland in Changuinola. While the notary makes scheduled visits to Isla Colón, relying on those pop-up dates without confirmation leads to missed deadlines. Here is how the system functions and the exact steps to get your paperwork stamped.
The Official Notaría Headquarters in Changuinola
The provincial office serving Bocas del Toro is located at the bus terminal complex in Changuinola:
- Location: Centro Comercial Terminal de Transporte Urracá, Changuinola.
- Notary in Charge: Lic. Elizabeth Pérez Centeno.
- Phone / WhatsApp: +507 6787-3229 (and office line +507 6787-3222).
- Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
How Island Visits Work
The notary coordinates temporary signing dates on Isla Colón, usually once or twice per month depending on demand. These sessions typically take place inside a designated legal office or conference room in Bocas Town.
However, visit dates shift due to court schedules, weather, or mainland court proceedings. Never assume the notary will be in town on a specific Thursday without sending a WhatsApp message to the central office or checking with a local legal assistant (tramitador) on the island first.
If you have an urgent closing or lease signing, waiting for the next island visit is unnecessary. You can complete the entire trip to the Changuinola office and return to Isla Colón in under four hours:
- Catch the 30-minute water taxi from Bocas Town to Almirante ($6.00 one way, boats leave every 30 minutes from docks on Calle 1ra).
- At the Almirante dock, take a shared taxi or minivan to the Changuinola Terminal ($2.50 to $3.00, roughly 40 minutes).
- Walk directly into the Notaría office inside the terminal, complete your signatures, and head back.
What to Bring to Avoid Being Turned Away
Notary clerks in Panama will reject documents that lack basic formalities. Prepare these items in advance:
- Three printed copies: Most contracts require one copy for the notary archive and two copies for the signing parties.
- Original passport or cédula: Photocopies alone will not work. Bring the physical identification document plus two clear paper copies of the photo page.
- Cash in small bills: Notary fees vary by document length (typically $10 to $25 per signature or stamp). Card machines are often offline, so carry $5, $10, and $20 bills.
- Blue ink pen: Legal documents in Panama must be signed in blue ink to distinguish originals from black photocopies.
WhatsApp Script to Confirm the Next Island Visit
Send this polite message to the Changuinola office (+507 6787-3229) or to a local Bocas legal assistant to confirm whether an island date is scheduled this week.