A Day in Paradise: San Blas Islands, Panama
*Disclaimer* This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase through one of these links I would receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I had heard rave reviews about the San Blas Islands and had seen some gorgeous photos, but you never know until you see it with your own eyes. However, today I can confidently say the San Blas Islands look just like those tropical Instagram shots you see. With insanely beautiful and clear blue water, these sand and coconut tree-filled islands will not disappoint.
Ranging from day trips to overnight stays and even the possibility to sail onto Colombia, if you are in Panama you have to visit the San Blas islands. So keep reading to find out more about our sadly short time visiting these beautiful islands.
What are the San Blas Islands?
A collection of around 378 islands of which about 50 are inhabited by the indigenous Kuna people. You’ll find the islands in the stunning turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, off the eastern coast of Panama.
The San Blas Islands are technically not in Panama as it lies within the Kuna Yala Indigenous territory. Also the name ‘San Blas’ actually comes from the Panamanian government, but its official local name is Kuna Yala meaning the land of the Kuna.
The Kuna people are thought to have first inhabited the islands back in the 16th century after fleeing the mainland conflict with the Spanish. Around 50,000 people live within the San Blas Islands today and from my understanding, all tourism is run and controlled by the Kuna people.
If you want to know a little more about life living in the San Blas and the Kuna people, this article goes into more detail.
Getting to the San Blas Islands
The easiest way to get to the San Blas Islands for just a day trip is to take a tour, they pick you up bright and early from your accommodation in Panama City and it's about a 3/4 hour drive down to the port when the boats head out to the islands. The road for the last 2 hours of the journey is a seriously bumpy trail, so even if you had your own transport I wouldn’t recommend driving to the port. I do believe if you are ridiculously boujee there is the possibility of flying to the islands but involves private planes and things way above my budget.
Review of our San Blas Day Trip
Due to time restrictions and a few other factors we opted to take a day trip to the San Blas Islands and we booked this trip with Tao Travel, find the exact tour here.
We honestly had one of the best days of our 6 months travelling Latin America in the San Blas, I won’t lie doing it all in a day is LONG and likely won’t be the best option for everyone. However, we found our tour to go at the pace that worked best for us. We never felt rushed other than when they told us it was time to leave, I mean I never wanted to leave.
So let’s give you a rundown of what the day looked like, we got picked up around 5:30 in the morning and on the drive to the port, we stopped at a supermarket to pick up any last-minute snacks or drinks. We got to the port just a little before 9 and I think it was about 10 when we arrived at our first island, Isla Pelicano. This was the spot we stayed at the longest and was my favourite island too, it was heaven. The palm trees, seashells, soft white sand and incredible waters, honestly please someone take me back.
You also have the option to take the paddle boards out around the island, which I highly recommend, the waters are so clear you can see so much marine life without even using a snorkel. We got our lunch on Isla Pelicano, you get the option of chicken, fish or vegetarian and a bottle of water too. Being a fussy eater I always get worried about lunch but this was perfect, lovely and simple.
After lunch, it was time to head to our next stop the Natural Pools, where you will find shallow crystal clear waters in the middle of the ocean, with fish all around. It feels like an island that just recently got taken over by the sea, the perfect spot to kick back and open a beverage of your choice.
Isla Ucubsui was where we found ourselves next, this was by far the smallest island we stopped at. This stop was definitely given deserted island vibes, surrounded by coral and covered in palm trees it was a scenic stop for sure.
Our last and final stop was something a little different, we visited a traditional Kuna Village known as Naranjo Chico. I say it was different, but it was still very much an island paradise, but this time there were people living there and I have to say I was very jealous. There were places here to buy local crafts, cocktails and even a volleyball pitch if you wanted a game.
Unfortunately, around 3:30 we had to begin the long journey back, I think it was around 8 before we got back to our accommodation in Panama City, so like I said before a long day, but worth every hour. I would absolutely recommend booking through Tao Travel as we had no issues and were extremely happy with how the day went. Overall this day was nothing short of magical.
Overnight Stays in the San Blas Islands
Staying a night or even a few in the San Blas is totally what I will do when I return. Our day was beautiful but I so could have spent a million days there. You have a few options when it comes to staying overnight. You can go on an organised tour either to stay on the islands or on a sailboat at night. Or alternatively, you can contact accommodations within the San Blas Islands directly and they will help arrange your trip.
I think it’s important to note, that although these islands compare to the likes of Mauritius, Maldives or Fiji, the accommodation is still very basic. For me they seem extremely luxurious after some of the hostels of the last 6 months, however having the right expectations is important. So I’m talking about no hot water, minimal electricity, shared bathrooms and no air con. But it only takes one look at the photos to know this shouldn’t put you off visiting.
As I mentioned before you can actually tie in visiting the San Blas Islands by travelling to or from Colombia. Again two options, one is to take a sailboat, you’ll spend a few days exploring the islands and then a few days out at a rough sea crossing over to Cartagena, Colombia. The other option if you are worried about sailing is to go by speedboat, so again a few days around the San Blas, but this time only a few hours crossing the ocean to arrive in Capurgana, Colombia.
Things to Know Before Visiting the San Blas Islands
You’ll have to pay a Kuna entrance fee of $ 22 USD per person.
You need to show your passport at the entrance to the port, so don’t forget to pack it.
I totally recommend purchasing an ocean bag to keep your valuables dry, those boats can get quite bumpy and wet at some points.
The dry season is from January to May, although outside of this time you can expect downpours they also clear up pretty quickly.
It isn’t the most budget-friendly destination to visit, but I actually don’t think it should be, it's like insanely beautiful. Worth the price tag a million times over.
As tourism increases in the San Blas Islands there has been an increasing issue with trash, as you can imagine controlling this in the middle of the ocean isn’t the most simple. So please try and leave nothing but footprints on your trip and bring as much of your rubbish as you can back with you.
You can buy snacks and drinks on the island, but you can expect to pay island prices, so it doesn’t hurt to have a few tipples and nibbles in your bag. But don’t forget the point above, if you bring it, take it back.
Look but don’t touch when it comes to marine life, including coral and starfish. It’s important to protect this incredible sea life.
Fun Fact- Isla Pelicano was used for the filming of La Casa de Papel or better known as Money Heist. Did you recognise it from my pictures above? It’s where Rio and Tokyo begin the 3rd season in a beautiful island paradise. Honestly, whoever had the job of scouting this location, I am majorly jealous, also how do I get into this career?
I think you get this point already, but this place is insanely special and easily one of my favourite places I have ever visited. The Kuna people work really hard to maintain these incredible islands whilst also being welcoming to visitors from far and wide, I hope it continues to flourish in a sustainable way.
Let me know your magical island paradise stories in the comments below.
