We are leaders in panama for tours to san blas islands. The region is the territory of the guna people, short for guna yala. You can fly from panama straight into the san blas islands, take a. The islands are postcardperfect and famous for their pearlbright beaches and serene atmosphere. San blas dreams is a specialized tour operator operating from panama city since 2014. San blas islands in panama amazing island paradise. You will have 24 hour electricity, running water, private bathroom, fan, a terrace with a stunning caribbean sea view besides you will have a hammock on which you can lay down and enjoy the sea in the privacy of your terrace. The san blas islands are a semiautonomous panamanian region situated in the caribbean sea between colombia and panama. San blas islandhopping day trip from panama city 2020. Travelling to san blas san blas islands of panama guna. Google map panama city to san blas islands how to go from panama city to san blas islands.
The san blas islands are located in the northwest of panama, which borders colombia in the east and costa rica in the west. Enjoy the free local cuisine breakfast each morning. Officially called guna yala, its a selfgoverned archipelago inhabited by the kuna community. Let this be your reason for a speedboat trip through the san blas islands with san blas adventures, allowing you to experience the worlds most beautiful islands, see untouched villages, an amazing indigenous culture, and make new friends. San blas islands tour colombia to panama by boat journey era. Boats between mainland panama and the islands do not leave that frequently, and the port is located on the other side of hilly terrain along mud track roads, which require a 4x4. Most of the flights are flown with very small aircraft, which can only take up to 20 people. The best way to get around in the san blas area is by boat, you can visit different islands within the hour and enjoy the calm clear sea. House in the san blas islands, panama before we left tupile, we were approached by a lady and her daughter in a handmade wooden kayak. Youll need 3 to 5 days to experience the san blas islands properly. There are three ways to get to the san blas islands. Finally any ideas for storing luggage in panama city. Tips for visiting san blas in panama the blonde abroad. The relative remoteness of the location and the limited tourist infrastructure together mean that the san blas islands are not the easiest place in the world to reach.
The food the locals sell isnt that fantastic but you can get a cheap lobster or redsnapper meal. These are among the most beautiful islands in all of central america. Getting to the san blas islands is not easy thats the point. Because of this, you leave fromarrive in a small town near the border with panama note that you still have to get an allday bus from cartagena and then spend a. Panama city is a nice place to stay for a couple of nights to explorer the panama canal and amazing citylife of the capital of panama. The indigenous kuna yala tribe have selfgoverning authority over the islands. May 06, 2019 i just read the news of a family on a cruising boat, a trawler attacked, with resulting death of the husband, alan culverware, and injury to his daughter, in a previously considered safe area to cruise in the guna yala san blas islands, in panama. Departs all day from panama city from 56am pick up at your hotel. Jul 01, 2018 in this san blas islands blog post, i am going to give you a detailed look into the fourday san blas islands tour with san blas adventures. The san blas islands are off of both panama and colombia on the caribbean coast and stretch along down to the colon region of panama. A part of the comarca district guna yala along the caribbean coast of panama is home to the guna people.
The archipelago is composed of some 400 islands, and spreads across 226 kilometers 140 mi, stopping just shy of the colombian border. Air panama around 155 dollars return prices may vary plus cost of lodge. Travelling to san blas plane, sailboat or 4x4 jeep. From there you can stay in san blas or take a jeep to panama city.
San blas islands a short travel guide to paradise webworktravel. You have to drive through the jungle and get to the dock on the caribbean side of panama before you take a boat to each island. Read this before visiting the san blas islands, panama. Here are some tips to help when visiting san blas in panama. Seriously, it was so difficult to find any update information about visiting san blas panama, which seemed so bizarre. Most travellers travelling between colombia and panama choose to sail from cartagena to san blas islands. Undoubtedly, the best beaches are located in the panamanian caribbean, you will live a unique experience, connecting with nature and back through time and live the guna culture, the people and their lives. Misty views on the way from panama city to the departure dock for the san blas islands, panama going against all of this research, we decided it would be an adventure, so we rented a 4. Although only a 20minute plane ride away from panama city, a trip to the san blas islands will transport you 20 centuries into the past. Venture off the beaten path to panamas san blas islands. We were going to book three nights at this sea bungalow, but then.
The san blas islands, with its crystal clear, turquoise waters, white sands and swaying palm trees cheats no ones idea of paradise. Since we had been awake for so long at this point, of course we were getting hungry, but lunch wasnt going to be for a while. I think you might be able to see some of the fancy boats in our photos. How to get to san blas islands and what to do keteka. With a plethora of deserted islands, chilled caribbean vibes on one side and monster pacific swells on the other, panama sits poised to deliver the best of beach life. Part of a large archipelago, this amazing cluster of 378 islands cover an area of approximately 100 square miles. San blas is the supermodel of panamas archipelagos. The best way to visit the san blas islands explore with lora. San blas islands blog from waisalatupo, panama becky. Essential things to know before visiting san blas panama hippie. The truth about visiting the san blas islands, panama.
An internet search provides a very limited number of tour operators providing both land travel to the san blas islands and accommodations on a good selection of vacation islands. There were tons of tents as you can opt to camp there. You can book flights at air panama or aeroperlas, but book in advance since it are all small. I want emails from lonely planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, thirdparty offers, and surveys. Behind the narrowish coastal plain there are big hillssmall mountains the tallest, cerro carti, is 748 meters. You can reach the san blas island by sea or from the mainland panama. The writer utilized lam tours panama to make overland travel arrangements and found the service safe and reliable with good pretravel communication. The san blas islands of panama is an archipelago comprising approximately 365 islands and cays, of which 49 are inhabited. This book, part 1 of a series, recounts his experiences traveling island to island throughout the san blas archipelago of panama in his 45footlong dugout. They lie off the north coast of the isthmus of panama, east of the panama canal.
The best place to book the trip is in the many hostels in cartagena and panama city. It seemed like this very difficult place to get to and that taking a day trip to san blas islands on a tour was. The 360 or so tropical islands off panamas northern coast are home to the guna people. It was seriously an epic four days of living like nomadic pirates and getting a unique insight into the kuna culture and way of life. About 365 islands exist in san blas of all sizes, only 40 of which are lived on and they are truly like an island paradise. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Hi i am hoping to visit san blas islands for a few days in august and was wondering the cheapest and best way to get there from panama city. We will get back to you as soon as possible with a booking confirmation usually in less than 24 hours.
Since a revolution against the panamanian government in 1925. May 03, 2018 thinking of crossing panama to colombia, but arent sure whether to fly or sail. They were selling mola fabrics, and we were keen to buy some of the beautiful designs. The 360 or so tropical islands off panama s northern coast are home to the guna people. Getting to the san blas islands is easy if you know the way to go. The flight leaves from panama city with airpanama to various landing spots around the san blas islands. The sea is ginclear and can be seen essentially wherever you turn. San blas is a series of 378 islands of which only 49 are inhabited by the fiercely independent kuna indians. The name is really guna yala, after a name change in 2011 but as most people search san blas, i will call them that in this article.
Transportation from panama city to san blas san blas tour. Essential things to know before visiting san blas panama. Just two hours from panama city, you able to visit the san blas paradisiac islands. The islands are mostly visited by backpackers that travel by sailboat from panama to colombia or visa versa. Aug 11, 2012 portobelo, panama, is the unofficial capital of the costa abajo, that stretch of panamas caribbean coast that runs west from kuna yalasan blas. Here are the benefits of a private san blas koshertour. When rachel and i first started planning our two weeks in panama we pretty much only had two places on our itinerary. Best san blas islands specialty lodging on tripadvisor. Enjoy crystal clear waters, snorkeling among reefs and coral. The kuna indians, who run all the islands as an autonomous province with minimal interference from. There are 365 pieces of paradise scattered in the caribbean, just off the coast of panama. Every shore has soft, real white sand and the waters are insanely clear, with shades of blue from turquoise to dark. In the san blas islands on the caribbean coastline of panama, there are literally hundreds. We will have the jeep organized to be there to pick the group up, however, this is not our company and its not included in our trip price.
Boasting breathtaking sunsets and a slower pace of life, the san blas islands are ideal for a relaxing vacation. Most of these yachts keep to themselves and rarely venture onto the village islands. When you book with us everything is included, transportation in jeep 4x4 from panama city, boats for the islands, food, tours, accommodation at the islands, etc. For the most part, the san blas archipielago is extremely safe and touristfriendly. Our large cabins offer all the comfort you are used to together with a great caribbean atmosphere. San blas islands the san blas islands is a group of islands just off the caribbean coast of eastern panama. Firsttimers guide to panamas islands lonely planet. If there was ever a reason to visit panama, even just for a moment, then it would be to visit the san blas islands. Be sure to book the flight at least a week in advance as only one plane leaves a day at 6am and returns at 7am. Jan 11, 2019 first, youll need to plan how youre getting to the san blas islands and where youll stay. How to visit the san blas islands panamas hidden paradise. An archipelago of over 360 beautiful islands along the carribean coast of panama enough islands for each day of the year, belongs to the gunayala people aka kuna yala, an autonomous territory of panama.
There were also yachts out in the distance who stop over at these islands. The two most popular options are to travel from cartagena or panama. To get to san blas islands, you need to book a 4wd transfer that takes 2. The best san blas islands specialty lodging of 2020 with. That basically means theyre like the middle child of a family. Getting to san blas islands san blas islands forum. We will be traveling onwards for another week afterwards and will have a least 1 case.
Before you visit san blas you are probably staying in panama city or sailing from colombia. San blas or guna yala pronounced kuna yala is a paradise, an indigenous reservation of more than 350 caribbean islands. We can get off the wellbeaten tourist track to explore the most. The san blas islands is also a heaven for cruising yachts and sportfishing boats. Dont make my mistakes here ive compiled a complete san blas islands guide to everything you should know. The truth about visiting the san blas islands, panama heart. There are pros and cons to both, and in the end, i decided to do my san blas tour via speed boat with san blas adventures. Essential things to know before visiting san blas panama when i was researching about the san blas islands in panama before this trip, i was so disappointed with the information i found and after going, i can honestly say its so outdated or written by people who did a day trip and stayed for a. Choosing air panama for your flight to the san blas archipelago is the only option. One for every day of the year, san blas has 365 islands to rival your wildest fantasies. Travelling to san blas plane, sailboat or 4x4 jeep san blas islands. The truth about visiting the san blas islands, panama heart my. Traveling through the san blas islands with san blas adventures is not only the best way to get between panama and colombia, but one of the most epic adventures you can go on in central america.
Sailing the san blas islands in panama was a dream come true, but there were a lot of things i wish i had known while planning my san blas trip. From clear turquoise seas to the coffee farms and cloud forests of chiriqui, panama can be as chilled out or as thrilling as you wish. There are a number of san blas tours from panama city either via a sailing tour or a speed boat. San blas island in researching panama and things to do in panama, i came across san blas islands and i knew i had to visit there. When i was researching about the san blas islands in panama. Heres everything you need to know to plan a successful trip. More than 300 of them are uninhabited, all are coated in coconut palms, and most are. San blas island tours panama how to get to san blas. Sep 10, 2018 sailing the san blas islands in panama was a dream come true, but there were a lot of things i wish i had known while planning my san blas trip. San blas island tours panama how to get to san blas islands. Since a revolution against the panamanian government in 1925 they have maintained political autonomy from the. Essential things to know before visiting san blas panama home.
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