How to spend super vacation on San Blas islands, Panama.

Date: March 10, 2016

Location: San Blas islands, Panama.

Camera: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D610

Lens: TAMRON
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/400 sec
Aperture: 22.0
Focal Length: 35mm
Flash Used: No

San Blas islands is a paradise on earth. Over 350 small and mostly uninhabited islands surrounded by reef. Warm water, great snorkelling, fantastic beaches. Many compare these islands to South Pacific atolls.

How to get to San Blas?

You start your journey in Panama City. From the Panama City airport or any hotel take a taxi to a very small port called Carti. The trip lasts about 3 hours and costs 25 USD pp and per trip. The road in very curvy and you ride through the rain forest. When the taxi enters the Kuna territories you pay 20 USD pp  entrance fee and you get a passport controlled. Then you arrive at the Carti port, where you pay 1 USD pp port fee. From the port you must take a speed boat (so called "lancha") to your final destination (island or the boat). The price is 20 USD pp and per trip.

All can be easily arranged by many Panamanian travel agencies.

How to spend your time on the islands?

1. Many people take a one day trip. You start at 5.30 a.m. in Panama City. At about 10 a.m. you arrive at the island and take your time at the beach. At about 4.00 p.m. you start your way back to the Panama City.

2. Some people stay a couple of days on the island living in rather primitive conditions in small huts called "cabanas" or in small rooms. The price for a night is about 30-50 USD.

3. Others, like we did, sail on boat with a all included option. There are many boats&yachts to choose from. The cheapest way is to contact directly a boat captain. When you book with him, he can easily arrange all the transport from the Panama City.
On the yacht you can reserve a private charter, like we did, meaning there will be only you on the boat (normally with a captain and 1 crew member to serve you meals) or you can join other people who book in the same time.
With a private charter you choose where the yacht goes. We asked for visiting very small, uninhabited islands, away from any other people with beaches only for us.


If you want to spend wonderful time, like we did, with a very friendly captain, please contact Franco Alpini at barilon2000@yahoo.es


March 2016.