With over 350 islands nestled in the Pacific Ocean, visiting this area is a great way to spend a day exploring Panama. Managing expectations will make the whole thing more enjoyable.
What to expect:
It’s an early morning from Panama City! With a 4:30 a.m. pickup from your hotel, it can be a rough wake-up call. Sleeping on the way might not work either, so try to get lots of sleep the night before by going to bed early.
Be ready for some rough terrain. There is ONE dirt road that leads to the area, and it’s a lot of winding around tight bends with big potholes and constant hills. The guides usually stop at a gas station where you can get snacks and drinks for breakfast or bring them along the way. If you want alcohol, you can purchase it there, and your guide will keep in a cooler for you, hopping from island to island.
Once arrive at the port, you might wait around a little before you get on, so load up on sunscreen and maybe some anti-nausea meds while you can. Going from the mainland to the first island can take up to 1 hour, depending on the water conditions, and it’s a bumpy ride in the best of circumstances.
Everything in San Blas Islands leans towards backpacker conditions with only basic amenities. Restrooms are few and far between, in small huts that hold either compost toilets or holes that have been dug into the ground with small seats. There are showers available on some islands to rinse the salt off your skin but bear in mind the water is very cold, and they’re open air. You need to remember that these islands are removed from the mainland and home to the Kuna people, who love to show their culture.
Most guides will also provide fresh fruit for you on the beaches and make sure you’re comfortable. Kayaks, paddle boards, and masks are provided and are free to use. I’d encourage you to jump in the water to experience the crystal clear ocean. Tropical fish dot the water if you’re there during the right season, you might just see lots of starfish.
We made four stops: 3 beautiful islands and 1 sandbar where we jumped out of hte boat and enjoyed some swimming. Each island had it’s own unique charm to it. One even had a shipwreck you could explore!
While they do serve a luch, I’d reccomend you bring a sandwich or some protein bars to tide you over until you get back to the city. It wasn’t the greatest food and most ofht egirls from our group weren’t able to finish it. Plus, if you opt out of the lunch it gives you more time to explore!
My biggest regret was that I ket meaning to out sunscreen on, but continuously forgot to do so. We spent so much tim ein the water, so our group figured we’d always put some on when we got out, but it seems like we rarely spent any time on land. So, it meant we all ended up with pretty bad sunbruns.
Overall, though, it’s a stunning piece of this world that I would recommend you visit. With fresh fruit, beautiful views and kind people, the Islands took my breath away. Crystal clear waters, endless seashells, vibrant fish and endless sunshine were well worth the chaos of getting there.
If you’re looking to visit this beautiful area and experience some island hoping, here are the pros and cons of the trip:
Pros
Beautiful scenery – it’s such a unique part of the world. ISlands holding just one or two psalm trees and crystal clear waters draw you in. It’s like nothing I’ve seen before. Bring your camera! It might seem daunting, but I held my camera in my hands the whole time and it never got wet. If you’re worried, inves tin a dry bag. If not though, your phone’s camera roll will be filled with stunning images!
The culture is stunning – The island have been inhabited by the Kuna people for centuries and getting to see their way of life is an incredible experience. They will excitedly share any and all stories if you ask and they’re very welcoming.
Affordability – for a full day trip with transport out of the city, it’s a very reasonable price. Plus, by doing this tour, you make a drect impact on the Kuna people and help support their livelihood.
Cons:
It’s an early wake-up and a long day. The journey to the islands is rough because they are so far away and there is only one way to get there.
Tough for motion sickness. – if you experience motion sickness on the regular, come prepared. It was hard on mst of our group who struggle with car and boat sickness. When they were on dry land though, they were fine. They each said they would do it again so take that information for what you will. Two of us (including myself) never experience any symptoms.
Rough conditions – As stated earlier, this is NOT a luxury experience by any means. To do that, you’d likely have to rent a yacht or stay in the cabins overnight. I still wouldn’t expect outstanding food or restrooms, though.
Noteworthy – The Kuna flag was adopted after the 1925 rebellion against Panamanian suppression. Horizontal stripes have a proportion of 1:2:1 and the central swastika is an ancestral symbol called Naa Ukuryaa. According to one explanation, it symbolizes the four sides of the world or the origin from which peoples of the world emerged] In another explanation, it symbolizes the octopus that created the world, its tentacles pointing to the four cardinal points. They bear no attachments to any nazi parties.
Here’s what I would do differently:
- Pack snacks.
- Apply sunscreen religiously.
- Make sure to have motion sickness solutions for anyone who might experience it.
- Bring water bottles, a towel and moisturizer.
- Bring lots of bug spray for the sand fleas.
