Top Travel Tips for San Blas
- Be aware that there is a new charge of $100.00 when you enter Panama City via boat. To avoid this charge, buy a ticket showing your departure from Panama City within 72 hours of arrival.
- Its difficult to know what boat to choose as there are so many. Just be mindful that alot of the boats are very hit and miss, more miss then hit so a lot of research is needed.
- The standard price for the sailng trip is $550.00 so it is alot of money to be dissapointed.
- You will not get seafood everyday, this is dependant on the Captain. I would advise looking for boats the hire a seperate chef to cook. The captains wife cooked for us and the food was not great. We got seafood once but only because we insisted that the Captain bought some.
- There are trips run by the Darian Gapster that do 3 days around the island via speedboat from Capurgana, Colombia. This cost $350.00 which is considerably less. You have to provide your own food and you wont be on a sailing boat BUT you do see the San Blas which is the highlight, sailing or not sailing.
- If your sailing be prepared to have choppy seas and you will probably feel sea sick. Dont buy too much alcohol as you will find sailing and drinking dont really mix.
On our travels in South America we bumped into many people who had sailed across the San Blas islands located off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Initially it had not been our plan to do Central America, but with the unrest in Venezuela we decided to skip that and use the extra time to travel from Panama up to Guatemala.
Our only dilemma was whether to sail or catch a plane, but with the rave reviews about the sail trip from Colombia we decided to go ahead and sail.
We chose our boat Maluco, a 38 foot sailing boat would host us for the next 5 days. Our German friends Mark and Fabian were on the boat too so we had a good crew. We were due to leave but most importantly we had to head to the supermarket to stock up on snacks and vitally booze, Jo opting for 5 bottles of wine and me 2 crates of beer and a bottle of rum. Super, we're ready!
We head to the peer fully loaded looking for our captain and boat. We get our first sighting of Maluco and we all look at each other and thing how the hell are we going to fit 9 people on this boat, along with all our backpacks and booze!! Surprisingly after 20 minutes we're all packed up and ready to go, with plenty of space to go around.
So we wave goodbye to Cartegena, Colombia and sadly South America. We'd travelled 6 months across 6 countries and as we left a sudden silence came across the boat as we all reminisced about the times we had on this fantastic continent.
Our trip would consist of two days sailing in open water across the Caribbean sea and on the third morning we would arrive at the San Blas islands just off the coast of Panama. See map of planned route from Cartagena to Colombia.
The islands consist of around four hundred small islands that range from the size of holding one coconut tree to thousands, with each island being owned by a family of the Kuna tribe.
We sail merrily at 5 knots and a couple of hours later all we see is blue sea around the boat, sky blue and not a cloud in sight. Beers flowing nicely whilst John our captain teaches a few of us to keep the boat on track, heading 270 degrees off west with the sun setting to the right of us.
Nights in open sea are better than day as the darkness of the surroundings and there being no man made light the stars really shine brightly, with even the milky way in sight. We ask John whether there are ever any whales or dolphins to which he replied there could well be but it is very rare to see one. That same night we heard the sound of a dolphin blowing air out of its blow hole right next to our boat but we didn't see it! shame!
After the two days sailing we finally start to hit some of the small coconut tree lined islands in crystal clear blue waters! Wow this really is paradise. John our captain throws the anchor down at a very small island and we jump straight into the water, our first chance in two days to have a proper wash! Heaven, the water is warm and beautifully clear. And a two minute swim we have our very own little private island.
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| Our boat home to 9 people for the next 5 days |
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| Out at sea for 2 days before arriving at the San Blas Islands |
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| Michael telling his fishing story |
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| The San Blas are finally in view |
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| Boat banter |
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| Our home at San Blas |
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| Amazing Sunsets |
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| MMMMMM |
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| Tuck in quickly |
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| The gang |
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| Paradise |
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| The whole crew |
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| Captain Keller |
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| Buying the lobster from the locals |
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| Sorry guys but needs must |
We head off with our snorkels and swim across the small reefs dotted around the island, seeing all sorts of small fish full of colour. Back at the boat two locals arrive in their wooden canoe offering the catch of the day, lobsters which we purchase, 8 for the price of 10 dollars. Not bad at all! We mess around with the poor fellows before John our captain takes them away to prep for dinner later in the evening.
The day is spend sunbathing and taking in the scenery.... pics are better than words here.That evening we all feast on the lobster, delicous but we could have done with more but best not be greedy!
The next day we mess around again in the sea and then head of to another island.We take in the delights of the San Blas, it really is paradise and being on a boat makes it all the more special. On our final day we head by speedboat to Panama mainland where we jump in a 4x4 and head for Panama City, our Central American adventure begins....
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