How to Visit the San Blas Islands (Guna Yala) in Panama

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A group of 365 islands in the Caribbean Sea, some not much bigger than a football field, covered in palm trees, powdery white sand beaches with vibrant turquoise waters. Sounds like paradise doesn’t it? 

These are the Guna Yala or San Blas Islands. Located on the northeast coast of Panama in an autonomous Indigenous region, the islands offer an escape from modern-day life. 

It can be overwhelming to know where to start planning a trip to the San Blas Islands. With dozens of different tours, 49 inhabited islands to choose from and even the possibility of travelling to Colombia – it seems far too complicated when all you want to do is park up on a stunning beach.

This post is jam-packed with all the logistical information you need to know about the San Blas Islands. I’ll lay out all your options for visiting Guna Yala from one day tours to international sailings, and all the key info you need to know to get the most out of your trip.

There are two parts to the post, so be sure to read both: 

• San Blas Essentials – read first: general information about visiting the San Blas Islands (culture, when to go, what to bring, best time to visit etc.)

• How to Visit San Blas – read second: logistical information and all the options for visiting the islands (day tour, multi-day stay, sailing tour to Colombia etc.)

About the San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands are a collection of 365 islands and cayes in the Caribbean Sea off the northeast coast of Panama. 

The correct name for the islands is actually the Guna Yala Islands, as the archipelago is populated and controlled by the Guna people.

The name San Blas is reminiscent of the Spanish invasion and comes from the gulf the islands are located in, the Golfo De San Blas. San Blas is still commonly used to refer to the islands, and I’ll use both terms interchangeably here. 

The archipelago is part of the Guna Yala comarca indígena (Indigenous District). Panama has several comarcas which are autonomous regions, allowing Indigenous groups to self-govern and control their ancestral lands, justice system and society in accordance with their culture. 

They are still technically part of Panama but sit outside of the main government system. You even have to show your passport to enter Guna Yala!

The Comarca Guna Yala occupies a large stretch of Panama’s eastern coastline and the archipelago. Of the 365 islands, about 49 of them are inhabited. A small number of these are local or village islands, where the Guna people live, and many islands are tourist islands, usually with one basic accommodation and tropical postcard scenes.

🛂 You must bring the original copy of your passport to enter the Comarca Guna Yala and there is a fee of $20 for foreign visitors, plus an additional $3 – $5 fee to use the port at Carti 

About the Guna people

The Guna (sometimes called the Kuna) are a fiercely proud and independent Indigenous group. 

The Guna originally inhabited the mainland, in what is now Northern Colombia and the Darien Province in Panama, but after conflict with the Spanish and other tribes, they migrated to the coast. 

In 1925, the Guna led a revolution to gain independence from the Panamanian government. They received status as an autonomous, self-governing Indigenous region, becoming the first Indigenous group in Latin America to achieve independent status. 

The Guna people have a deep cultural identity with a strong commitment to preserving their customs and traditions. Rather than hiding from the modern world, they have embraced elements of it without sacrificing their way of life. 

Their economy is based on the sale of coconuts, fishing, agriculture, tourism and molas. 

The Guna are famous for their intricately designed textiles, the mola. These brightly coloured panels are stitched with vibrant patterns and symbols and form a key part of the traditional dress for Guna women. They are now sold to tourists as decor and account for a large portion of the community’s income. 

Don’t be alarmed by the Guna flag. It features the symbol most of us identify as a swastika, but it has nothing to do with the Nazis. 

🌈 If you’re interested in learning more about the history and culture of the Guna people, this is a great article by tour operator San Blas Dreams

Amenities on the San Blas Islands

The number one thing you need to understand about the Guna Yala Islands is that they are very basic. 

The whole appeal of these islands is that they are an escape from modern life, a chance to disconnect and unplug and get back to nature. 

While that sounds romantic (and it is, the islands truly are paradise!), the reality is that this rustic way of living is very different to what most of us are used to. 

We love camping and travelling to remote and lesser-developed places, but I still want to know where I’m going to go to the toilet and exactly what level of ‘rustic’ I should be mentally preparing myself for. 

So many travellers go to San Blas with this romantic, paradisiacal image in their head, only to have a terrible time because it was far, far from what they were expecting. 

That’s why so many tour operators and booking companies have pages and pages of FAQs and make you agree to many T&Cs, so you understand what you’re signing up for. 

You will have a bad time on the San Blas Islands if you don’t understand what you’re in for, so let’s get into the nitty gritty so you are prepared! 

Every island is slightly different in the exact amenities they offer and the standards of those amenities, but as a general rule you can expect: 

• 🛖 The huts or cabins you stay in are very, very basic. Most of them are handmade from wood, many with palm-thatched rooves. There are no fly screens, doors and windows don’t close properly, meaning you can’t properly lock the door. The newer huts have wooden floors, but most are sand (which means a very sandy bed!). 

• ⚡️ No electricity or very limited electricity from generators for a few hours per day. Most rooms don’t have any electrical outlets or lights, but you can usually charge devices in the restaurant. We were lucky enough to have both lights and a power outlet in our room on Chichime Island but the power was not on all day. 

• ❄️ No air conditioning or fans. With such limited power, there is certainly not enough to run an AC, and I’ve never seen a room with a fan in it either. Sleeping is difficult as it is very steamy at night, and most cabins don’t have fly screens, so if you open the windows you’re at risk of being eaten alive by mosquitoes and sandflies. Most cabins do have mosquito nets, but they’re of varying quality (ours was full of holes). 

• 🚽 The majority of accommodations have shared bathrooms. There is no hot water in the shower and most of the toilets are mostly self-flush with a bucket. 

• 🐟 The meals served are pretty basic and incredibly repetitive. The quality of food varies by island. Our food on Chichime Island was very tasty, but you can only eat fish, rice and salad so many times before it gets old. Lunch and dinner were almost exactly the same every day, we found breakfast had a bit more variety. 

• 🤳🏼 There is no wifi and very limited phone service. Plan to be disconnected. 

• 💵 It’s cash-only on the islands, with no ATMs and no credit card machines. Come prepared! You will usually have to pay for your entire stay in cash, on the day of arrival, which means carrying a lot of cash from Panama City. 

We loved every minute of our time on the San Blas Islands, and I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable our stay was on Chichime Island. That’s because I was fully prepared for the worst, so I enjoyed myself a lot more when the reality was better than my expectations. 

Sustainable tourism in Guna Yala

The Guna Yala Islands are perhaps one of the best examples of community-based tourism in the world. 

Tourism is entirely controlled by the Guna, with strict regulations in place to ensure it is beneficial to them and has a limited impact on their land and lifestyle. 

Foreign land ownership is prohibited in Guna Yala and they have rejected offers to build large hotels and resorts. They do not want mass tourism, and their islands are nothing like other Caribbean islands, filled with all-inclusive, foreign-owned mega-resorts. 

The Guna do not live to please tourists. They are allowing you to visit their slice of paradise, but it is completely on their terms. The Guna people live a basic and traditional life, and if you want to visit their land, you adjust to their lifestyle. 

The Guna way of life by its very nature is eco-friendly. They live in very simple dwellings made with natural materials, with limited or no electricity. They are careful conservers of water and understand that it is a precious resource. As farmers and fishermen, they are in tune with the environment. 

They’re not perfect. The Guna have problems with waste management, face the same threats of climate change and of course, face challenges with their cultural identity and the modern world. But they’re doing a damn fine job, and you can be confident that your visit is sustainable and ethical because it’s on their terms. 

Being an ethical tourist in Guna Yala

Despite the autonomous control and strict management of the tourism industry, the Guna cannot control how tourists behave – that’s on you. 

The most common problems involve cultural interactions and expectations. 

The Guna are normal people, like you and me. Yes, they live a different life from what we are used to seeing in the developed world, but they are still regular humans going about their day. 

Reading negative reviews on tours and even some other blog posts with people complaining that they couldn’t take photos of the Guna or they weren’t able to ‘authentically connect’ with them because they were trying to sell their wares makes me sick. 

Have you ever thought they might not want to ‘connect’ with you? If the first thing you do is stick a camera in their face, can you blame them? (The Guna now charge for photos). 

The Guna have opened their islands to tourism for economic purposes. They’re entitled to provide the services that visitors are paying for, of course, but they’re not entitled to put on a show for you. 

By their nature, the Guna are very private people. They mostly live on village islands that are closed off to tourism, and they would prefer to keep tourism confined to separate islands that don’t interfere with their daily life. 

There is nothing wrong with having an interest in cultural tourism, but if you’re visiting Guna Yala solely for this purpose, you most likely won’t find it, because they don’t necessarily want that type of connection. 

People are not attractions, and while genuine cultural exchange is a beautiful and powerful thing, it has to be offered from both sides. Despite what you’re paying, the Guna may not want to reciprocate, and that is okay. 

There are some very important rules to follow when visiting Guna Yala to make sure you are a kind and respectful traveller: 

• 📷 Always ask before taking photos of people, and expect to pay at least $1 per picture 

• 🧍🏻 Respect the rules and limitations of your visit, don’t attempt to visit independently

• 🚁 Drones are prohibited, do not bring or fly one (despite the photos you see online)

• 🥥 Do not take coconuts from anywhere on the island, it’s their primary source of income and you must pay if you want one

• 🫧 Scuba diving, windsurfing, jet skis or any other motorised activity besides boats are prohibited

• ⭐️ Do not touch starfish AT ALL (do not listen to anyone who says it’s okay to touch them but not move them or move them but not take them out of the water – they are living creatures, LEAVE THEM ALONE!)

• ☀️ Use reef-safe sunscreen, or ideally no sunscreen at all. Cover up with a hat and light clothing instead to avoid any chemicals in the ocean

• ♻️ Dispose of any rubbish correctly but ideally pack it out with you, rubbish disposal is very difficult on the islands 

How to get to the San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands are located approximately 3.5 hours from Panama City. Transport is either included or facilitated with most tours or accommodation bookings. 

The journey involves a 2.5 – 3 hour car ride, which is done in 4×4 vehicles like Jeeps or Toyota Landcruisers. 

The first part of the trip is smooth, along the Panamerican Highway out of the city. It takes around 1.5 hours to reach the turn-off for the comarca. At this point, your driver will stop at a service station and give you a few minutes to go to the toilet, get something to eat or buy any additional food or drinks you want to take to the island.

The last hour of the drive is on a windy, mostly paved but heavily potholed road through the comarca. The scenery is stunning, and the monotonous highway is replaced with a jungle-clad road, that winds and climbs through the mountains. Most drivers will stop at a lookout, which has a stunning view out to the islands and across the misty mountains of the mainland section of the comarca. 

At some point along this road, you will reach an official checkpoint to enter the comarca. The officials look like proper immigration officers, and they will check your passport and take your payment to enter the comarca. 

Eventually, you will arrive at the port at Carti. It’s organised chaos here, and after a lot of shouting and conferring between the drivers and boat captains, you’ll be ferried to the correct boat and set off for your island. 

The trip will take anywhere from half an hour to an hour depending on the island you’re going to. The boats are small, wooden pangas and you should be expecting a fast and bumpy ride (weather dependent) and some splashing, so secure your bags and electronics. 

✈️ There is the option to fly from Panama City to several small local airports around Guna Yala. I don’t think this is necessary given the drive is only 2.5 hours, but Air Panama does run regular flights. It’s best to check directly with your tour/accommodation which airport would be best, and they can facilitate a boat transfer. 

When to visit the San Blas Islands

WEATHER 🌦️

Being a beachy, island destination, bad weather can really ruin your time in the San Blas Islands (I know, we had 2 days of constant rain!). 

There isn’t much to do here when it rains, and everybody wants to see the sunshine illuminating the sparkly blue waters. 

However, the San Blas Islands are a very tropical destination that is prone to rain year-round, even in the dry season. It’s a hot and humid climate with temperatures rarely dropping below 20°C (68°F) and usually hovering around 28°C (82°F), give or take.  

The Caribbean Coast is much wetter than say Santa Catalina on the Pacific Coast.

The dry season usually runs from January – April. It doesn’t mean there is no rain during this time, but the likelihood of persistent rain is less. However, this period is also the windiest time of the year, with the Caribbean trade winds blowing and occasionally creating rough seas and not-so-pleasant beach conditions. 

Yep, it’s a toss-up – is there a right time to visit San Blas? I don’t know! 

We visited in late June, which we knew was the start of the rainy season. Spoiler: it rained. It was grey and overcast on our first day, rained almost the entire second day and finally the sun came out on our final day. 

Seeing the islands in all their glory for a day was enough to forget the miserable grey days, but I know I would have been VERY disappointed if all we had was rain. 

☀️ You can’t control the weather, but if you’re adamant about seeing the islands in the sunshine, I’d say February – April is your safest bet, and you’ll have to put up with the wind. 

HOLIDAYS 🗓️

Another thing to consider is holidays and local travel. 

The San Blas Islands are a popular tourist destination for Panamanians and can get extremely busy and crowded during holidays like Christmas, New Year and Semana Santa (Easter). The weekends in the dry season can also be busy. 

For a peaceful stay that is more aligned with your Castaway fantasy, visit mid-week outside of the holiday periods. 

How long to stay on the San Blas Islands

My first answer was forever! I want to stay on these dreamy tropical islands forever. 

We are usually very slow travellers and we like to allow plenty of time in each destination we visit, but take it from us, you don’t need that long in the San Blas Islands. 

One day, or even one night is far too rushed given the journey from the city, but I think the sweet spot is anywhere between 2 – 4 nights of your Panama itinerary. 

The duration will also depend on the type of trip you book (staying on one island, island hopping tour, sailing to Colombia). 

We tossed up staying 3 nights but instead decided to do 2 nights, adding on a late checkout option on our final day. This meant we departed the islands at 3:00 pm, instead of 8:00 am. Most tours/accommodations will give you this option. We essentially got 3 full days on the island and that was enough for us. 

If the weather cooperated I could have stayed one more day (3 nights/4 days), but I was getting pretty sick of eating the exact same meal every day, and I was ready for a proper, hot shower and a comfy bed in a room that didn’t have sand for a floor. 

We are happy to ‘rough it’ and this is by no means a complaint, but the reality is, even if you’re used to basic amenities or camping, you will eventually be ready for the comforts of modern life, and it will probably be sooner than you think. 

What to pack for the San Blas Islands

Unless you’re travelling onwards to Colombia, you only need to pack a small bag for your trip to Guna Yala. Leave your big luggage behind at your accommodation in Panama City, as there is nowhere to put it in the car, on the boat or in the small huts. 

In terms of clothes and shoes, you pretty much need one pair of sandals or flip-flops, multiple pairs of swimmers (so you’ve always got a dry one!) and some light beach clothes and cover-ups – that’s it! I literally wore a bikini and a beach shirt for 3 days straight. 

While nudity is definitely not okay, it is our understanding that the Guna people are not particularly traditional when it comes to clothing, and appropriate beachwear is acceptable.

In addition to all your usual beach essentials and toiletries, some things you should pack for the San Blas Islands: 

• 🛂 Passport: you must present your original passport to enter the comarca. Store it in a dry bag or zip lock bag to keep it safe. 

• 💵 Cash: to pay for your entrance to the comarca, the balance of your tour or accommodation, for molas, extra drinks, snacks etc. There are no ATMs or card machines.

• 💧 Drinking water: most islands do not have fresh drinking water readily available, only for purchase in single-use plastic bottles. We brought a 5-litre water jug and supplemented it with a few small bottles on our last day. 

• 🍪 Drinks and snacks: three meals a day are included, but if you get hungry, you might want some extra snacks. We bought chips, biscuits and lollies. Just remember there is no fridge! You can also bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks with you. We packed a bottle of wine. Remember that the purchase of extra soft drinks and beers is a major source of income for the Guna people so be sure to buy a few drinks with your meals too. 

• 💊 Medicine: there are no pharmacies or doctors here! If you take regular medication or just feel comfortable having things like painkillers or diarrhoea tablets on hand (me!), pack all these things. 

• 🤢 Motion sickness tablets: if you get car or seasick, you will definitely want this. The car trip is windy and the boats can be rough. 

• ☀️ Sun protection: if you have to use sunscreen, make it reef-safe. Also pack sunglasses, a hat, a cover-up shirt, rash-top etc. 

• 🦟 Insect repellent: at certain times of the year the mosquitoes and sandflies can be brutal! The cabins aren’t necessarily screened either. 

• 🧥 Warm layer: it’s never cold in San Blas, but the temperature can drop quite a lot after rain, and I was happy for a long-sleeve layer in the evenings. 

• 🧖🏽‍♀️ Towels: check if you have bath towels included at your accommodation. If you don’t, ideally you should bring a beach and a bath towel with you. No one wants to use a sandy wet towel after their shower! 

• 🎒 Waterproof bags: make sure you’ve got something (a bag cover, plastic bag, dry bags) to store your things in, especially electronics, in case of splashing on the boat or heavy rain. 

• 🔋 Power bank: electricity is limited, so if you’ve got a power bank, bring it! Make sure it, and all your other devices, are fully charged. Don’t forget to bring your chargers, as most islands do have some outlets they’re just not available all day. 

• 📷 GoPro or waterproof phone case: you will want to take photos under, in and around the water. I brought my camera and took most of my island photos with that, but if you want to capture the starfish and snorkelling, you’ll want some kind of underwater camera. 

• 📖 Book(s): you will most likely be doing a loooot of reading on the islands. I think I read 2.5 books in 3 days. If you’ve got an e-reader, make sure it’s fully charged. 

• 🃏 Deck of cards or other games: a fun activity for the evenings. 

• 🔦 Flashlight / head torch: if you travel with one of these, bring it. It’s handy for getting around the islands at night, going to the toilet etc. Also, some cabins don’t have lights so you can hang this up for a makeshift light. 

• 🛌 Inflatable pillow and sleeping bag liner: if you ordinarily travel with either or both of these items (we do), bring them with you for a comfier sleep.  

• Other items: I don’t expect you to ordinarily travel with these items, and if Guna Yala is part of a lengthier trip, you probably won’t have room to carry them. But if you have the luxury of space and you really want the ultimate San Blas experience, these things would be amazing: 
  • 🌴 Hammock: most islands have them but they’re limited and not comfortable 
  • 🍩 Inflatable doughnut: for dreamy floating in the paradise waters
  • 🤿 Snorkel gear: they’re usually available to borrow on the islands but your own is always better 
  • 🦟 Mosquito net: if you’re travelling with one, bring it with you as not every room will have one or they may be old and tattered 
  • 🪭 Portable fan: sleeping would be a lot nicer with a rechargeable

🇵🇦 Plan your trip to Panama with our Panama travel guide

How to visit the San Blas Islands

Option 1: Return trip from Panama City

If you’re not travelling onwards to South America, the most popular way to visit the San Blas Islands is a round-trip from Panama City. 

There are dozens of different options for tours, island accommodations and sailing trips, it can be overwhelming to decide which is right for you. 

Option 1a: day trip from Panama City

First off, let me start by saying you should NOT do a day trip to the San Blas Islands. It is way, way too far to go for one day and you’ll spend more than 7 hours in a car/boat during a 14-hour day trip. 

I know if you’re short on time the desire to see somewhere is strong, but the experience will not be worth it. Although you will enjoy a few hours on the islands, with time to swim and snorkel, it’s just too rushed. 

If you want some beach time from Panama City, spend a day at Taboga Island instead. It takes a ¼ of the time to get there, costs a lot less and you’ll enjoy your day more. 

If you absolutely have to take a day trip to the San Blas Islands, these are the best-rated tours: 

• Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visiting 4 Islands
• All-Inclusive San Blas Islands Day Tour from Panama City
• Visit San Blas Paradise – Day Tour to 4 Spots + Meal + Drink

Option 1b: stay on one island for 1+ nights

A much better option is to spend one or more nights on one of the islands. This gives you plenty of time to relax, get on island time and truly enjoy San Blas. It also helps safeguard against bad weather. The more days you spend, the better chance you’ve got of a blue, sunny day. 

This option isn’t a ‘tour’ as such, you’re choosing one island and basing yourself there for as many nights as you book. You can take tours to other islands and sights around the archipelago, but you’re mostly left to your own devices to enjoy the island of your choice, relaxing, reading, swimming, snorkelling etc. 

There are no restaurants in San Blas, so whichever island you stay on will provide 3 meals a day. Extras like transport to the islands and tours to neighbouring islands may or may not be included, depending on how you book. They are always available to organise as extras though if they’re not included in your booking. 

There are two ways to organise an overnight/multi-day stay on one of the San Blas Islands: 

• Book via a tour operator that packages everything
• Book directly with an accommodation 

Book via a tour operator that packages everything

This is the easiest and safest way to book your stay on the San Blas Islands. There are tour operators that specialise in arranging trips to San Blas and they sell a complete package that includes transport from Panama City, your accommodation, 3 meals per day and usually 1 tour throughout your stay. 

San Blas Dreams is the most popular and well-rated option, and we booked with them. 

I think doing it this way is slightly more expensive compared to booking accommodations directly on an island, but we were happy with our decision (and visiting the San Blas Islands is a big chunk of your Panama budget no matter how you visit!). 

San Blas Dreams has worked with the different Guna families for years and only offers bookings on islands that meet a certain standard. Given that it is a very remote area with basic amenities, we were happy to have the comfort of booking with a third-party operator who tries to enforce minimum standards. 

San Blas Dreams are super upfront about what a trip to the islands entails and they’re not sugar-coating how basic and rustic the experience is. But they do have 10+ years of experience acting as a mediator between tourists and traditional Guna families on the islands and I trust they know how to deliver a trip that meets the expectations of visitors, but also is realistic with the amenities and standards of the islands. 

Communicating directly with the islands would be very difficult as there is limited phone service and no internet, so I knew we would end up being frustrated and confused if we tried to do it ourselves. Whereas San Blas Dreams have excellent communication, they answered any question we had and the entire trip went off without a hitch, from the moment we were picked up in Panama City at 5:45 am (on the dot!) to the second we got back to the city. 

There are other operators who sell these trips, but we highly recommend San Blas Dreams. 

All their different packages include: 

• 🛻 4×4 transport from Panama City and back 
• 🚤 Boat ride to your island
• 🛖 Accommodation (you choose the room type, and they’re very clear about what is available)
• 🍽️ Three meals per day at your accommodation 
• 🤿 One tour during your stay to neighbouring islands and attractions like swimming or snorkelling spots (I thought there were tours every day but no, it is one for your whole stay, you choose what day you’d like to do it on)

Book directly with an accommodation

It is possible to find accommodation in the San Blas Islands on Booking.com or Airbnb. 

You would book directly with the ‘hotel’ (it feels wrong to call it that, hostel? Cabin? Let’s stick with accommodation!). They may or may not be the same accommodations on the islands sold by tour operators like San Blas Dreams. 

You will also see a lot of sailboats advertised on these platforms. If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s not a bad way to find them but if you want to stay on an island, you’ll need to sift through a lot of boats! 

Most of them will include full board (3 meals a day) in the prices you see online, but any extras like transport to the islands and day tours are not included. 

If you’re staying with a decent accommodation, they will be helpful with organising these things and should be able to either book your transport for you or at least connect with you a driver. 

This option can be cheaper, but it relies on you to be more organised and discerning. You won’t have any layer of protection or guarantees from a third party, so you need to read reviews carefully and ask the right questions to know what is included and what the schedule of your stay will look like. Information isn’t always very clear online and it can be hard to know exactly which island you’re booking on and what’s included. 

🏝️ Browse for accommodation in the San Blas Islands on Booking.com

Choosing which island to stay on

Of the 365 islands in San Blas, only 49 are inhabited, and even fewer are open for tourism. Some islands are exclusively local/village islands. You’re still left with a choice of more than a dozen beautiful islands with accommodation and amenities for tourists. 

With some of the other options for visiting San Blas (day tours, sailing tours etc.) the islands you visit are out of your hands, so you don’t really have any choices to make. 

Whereas if you’re choosing to stay on one island, you’re going to spend a lot of time there, so you want to make the right call!

I don’t think you could choose a bad island in San Blas, they all look like something off a postcard, but some islands are better known for certain things than others. 

For example, some islands have overwater bungalows which is a big drawcard for some people (but don’t be expecting anything like the glamourous overwater bungalows in Bocas del Toro!). Others have a great reef nearby with snorkelling, but may not have a sandy beach. Some islands are more local islands, with the ability to see more local Guna life. 

🤿 In our experience, snorkelling is better on the Pacific Coast. In one day at Coiba Island, we saw more marine life than our entire stay on the San Blas Islands. That’s not to say there isn’t good snorkelling or pretty reef, but if snorkelling is your top priority, I’d suggest Coiba Island near Santa Catalina

We only visited a handful of islands in our time in San Blas, but from our research, we can mention a couple of the more well-known islands you might like to consider: 

• 🏝️ Chichime Island (Wissudub Bibbi): this is the island we chose after reading lots of positive reviews (read all about our experience on Chichime Island). They have shared and private rooms, including some with private bathrooms. It has a big, sandy beach with great waters for swimming, not just a rocky reef, which was a priority for us after loving the beaches in Bocas del Toro so much. The accommodation on the island was great and the family who runs it was well-organised and friendly. They had kayaks available for free too which was a bonus, and a decent number of hammocks. We saw no one on the island besides the people who were staying there, it was very peaceful and felt remote. 

• 🏝️ Yanis Island (Yansailadub): this island was our second option because there are overwater bungalows here that look amazing! The other room options (shared rooms or private waterfront cabins) are some of the nicest in San Blas. They are made of wood with wooden floors and look very new and clean. The island looks beautiful, and there are sandy beaches, but from the pictures, it looks like the reef and seagrass are quite close to the shore so there isn’t as much area for swimming as Chichime. 

• 🏝️ Isla Perro Chico (Assudub Bibbi): this is the island with the barco hundido or sunken ship, and most tours (either day tours from Panama City or the day tours you take from a neighbouring island) stop here to snorkel. We visited ourselves as part of our included tour, and we both said we were so glad we didn’t stay here. The island was really nice, but it was tiny and so hectic. I imagine there would be people coming and going all day because of the proximity to the sunken ship. 

• 🏝️ Isla Diablo (Niadub): a stone’s throw from Isla Perro Chico, Isla Diablo looked like a beautiful option, but again, very busy. It’s one of the more popular and well-known islands and from what I understand it’s often booked out and also receives day-trip visitors. It has a very beautiful sandy beach and swimming area, you’re very close to the sunken ship for snorkelling and the island is big enough to stroll around and explore. There is a good range of accommodations from shared rooms, to private cabins with or without private bathrooms. 

• 🏝️ Isla Pelicano (Gorgidub): this island is famous as it was featured in the Netflix show Money Heist. The family that runs this island is incredibly welcoming and well-organised. There is a gorgeous sandy beach with clear waters for swimming on one side of the island. On the other, there is a reef that runs close to the shore for snorkelling. There are shared and private rooms, all with shared bathrooms. 

Option 1c: multi-day island hopping tour

If the idea of staying put on a tiny island for days on end, lazing in a hammock and reading books is boring to you (who are you!), you can opt for a more action-packed island hopping tour. 

Instead of basing yourself on one island, these pre-packaged tours hop around to different islands and attractions in the archipelago daily. You will see and do more if you’re not a sit-still-on-the-beach kind of person! 

Some of the tours will move accommodations and stay on multiple islands, while others will be based on one island but include tours every day. 

The accommodation, meals and transport to/from Panama City will be the same, you’ll just have an itinerary with a lot more sightseeing. 

You’ll visit some of the remote and uninhabited islands such as Cayos Hollandeses which are popular for their pristine beaches and waters, go to different swimming and snorkelling spots and some tours include more cultural activities on the village islands. 

San Blas Dreams offers a few different island-hopping tour packages, ranging from 2 – 3 nights. These tours are slightly more expensive as you are doing more activities. 

There are also a range of great multi-day island hopping tours on Viator: 

• 3-Day / 2-Night in San Blas Including Trip to Cayos Holandeses
• 3-Day Boat Tour in San Blas with Pickup from Panama City

There is a lot less choice involved with this option. You still want to research the different tour options and understand what is included and which islands you will be staying on. But in most cases, you’ll be hopping around to so many different islands, so there is less pressure on choosing just one. 

Option 1d: multi-day sailing tour

If you love the idea of sailing but you’re either not travelling onwards to Colombia or you can’t handle the ocean crossing, you can take a round-trip sailing tour. 

Instead of sleeping on an island, you’ll sleep on a sailing boat. Every day you’ll sail around the archipelago, stopping off at different islands for beach time, swimming, snorkelling etc. 

We really wanted to do this, but the cost compared to staying on the island was much, much higher. 

You can join a shared departure and just pay for a cabin, or charter an entire boat. Generally, there is a 2-night minimum. 

Option 2: Panama to Colombia via San Blas (or vice versa)

If you’re travelling through both Central and South America, a bucket list activity is sailing from Panama to Colombia (or vice versa) via the San Blas Islands. 

Boat travel is the only way to get between these two countries without flying. The land area between Panama and Colombia is known as the Darien Gap and is a very remote, rugged jungle with no development or amenities. There are no roads, and the area is a known drug and people trafficking route and is extremely dangerous. 

That leaves flying or boat travel, and it just so happens that this stunning archipelago is on the way! 

Our Central America trip was finishing in Panama, and we were saving South America for a future adventure, so we didn’t go down this route. There are plenty of valuable blogs out there from people who did this trip, but I will include a brief rundown of the options for travelling between Panama and Colombia via the San Blas Islands. 

Option 2a: sailing boat tour

The traditional option to travel between Panama and Colombia is on a sailing boat. 

The boats usually sail from Portobelo or El Porvenir on the Caribbean Coast of Panama, but transport from Panama City is included or available for an extra fee. They dock in the city of Cartagena in Colombia. 

Most tours are 5 days, which include 3 days sailing around the islands, with plenty of time for swimming, snorkelling, island hopping etc. and then 2 days crossing the open ocean. 

The order in which this happens will depend if you’re departing from Panama (islands first) or Colombia (ocean crossing first). 

You will sleep on the boat, with three meals per day included. 

Option 2b: speed boat island hopping tour

If you want to travel from Panama to Colombia by boat, but you’re not up for a 2 day navigation across the rough, open ocean, there is an alternative. Whether you get seasick or you’re just not into spending that long on a boat, you can go via speed boat instead. 

These speedboat island hopping tours travel much closer to the mainland, skip the ocean crossing and sleep on the islands, not on the boat. 

They don’t go all the way to Cartagena in Colombia, instead, they end (or start) in the towns of Capurgana or Sapzurro, right on the border. These tiny little towns have boat-only access, so to travel onwards through Colombia you’ll need a combo of boat and bus to get to Cartagena or Medellin.

You’ll sleep on a new island each night, with a mix of local village islands and more remote, beachy islands. Accommodation is basic huts or sometimes camping. 

Final thoughts: Visiting the San Blas Islands

The Guna Yala Islands are a truly special place. It’s rare to visit a tropical destination so untouched and remote, that resorts and mass tourism haven’t overrun. 

It comes with its challenges, and a stay here is far from luxury. But waking up, walking straight into the calm, clear ocean and lazing under palm trees on white sandy beaches is worth sacrificing some creature comforts. 

No matter how you decide to visit, parking up on one island for a few days, zipping around the archipelago on an island hopping tour or sailing all the way to Colombia, with the right expectations, I know you’ll love San Blas! 

We chose to stay on one island for 3 days and landed on Chichime Island. If you’re thinking of doing something similar, make sure to read my detailed article about our experience

If you’re looking for tropical with a few more amenities, the Bocas del Toro archipelago in the northeast of Panama is a great alternative (or addition!). We loved these islands just as much as San Blas, for different reasons. They are more developed, but they’ve still got a lot of charm and the tourism industry is mostly small-scale.

MORE SAN BLAS ISLANDS POSTS

• Our Experience Staying on Chichime Island (San Blas Islands)