Brief History of the San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
The San Blas Islands, Panama, are among the most beautiful vacation destinations in the world. Consisting of 365 magnificent islands, located along the coast of northeast coast of Panama, they offer a spectacular combination of rich culture heritage and beautiful scenery consisting of mountains and miles of unspoiled beaches. The islands are full of natural beauty and dense vegetation. The scenic coastline has been attracting visitors from around the world recently and cruise ships stop over on the islands as they sail by.
The original inhabitants of the islands are the Kuna Indians. The first European travelers, while on the way to discovering the Americas, arrived here in the 1500s. Although the native Kuna Indians have been pressurized several times to embrace a more modern way of life, they have resisted it quite bravely and still hold on to their ancient and rich cultural heritage. In fact, it is their lifestyle that makes a trip to the San Blas Islands such a memorable experience. You can enjoy the feeling of escaping to a tropical island, and learn about the ancient culture of the Kuna people. Along with the pleasures of breathtaking beaches, snorkeling in the reefs, swimming, sunbathing, you can visit the villages of the Kuna people and perhaps go fishing with them in one of their traditional boats. You will step back in time and experience a most rewarding break from the stress and hassles of everyday modern life.
The Kuna have been really passionate when it comes to preserving their traditional culture. They have managed to hold on their traditional way of life and their language, for a long time now. In fact, their history is intertwined with the history of Panama. After a bloody revolt, the islands were given to the Kuna Indians and they were granted autonomy and the right to live their traditional lifestyle by the Panamanian governement in 1925.
The Kuna women are more intriguing than their men folk, when it comes to their dressing sense, still they wear the traditional clothes. The women here wear their colorful handmade clothing of mola pattern and weave, while the men have gradually started wearing western clothes in recent times.
Fishng and agriculture have been the main drivers of the local economy of the San Blas Islands, Panama. Coconuts and fishing count among the major produce of the islands Tourism has recently added to their economy and is slowly becoming being one of the main revenue earners for the islands. However, you will not find a chain of luxury hotels here. Accommodation is simple and basic as far as hotels go,. The other choice would be to stay in a guest house or with a Kuna family. The Kuna people have always welcomed visitors with open arms. This would give you a chance to observe their life and culture at close quarters, to truly immerse yourself in their culture and lifestyle.
The gorgeous beaches, the numerous natural attractions and activities and the traditional age old culture, combined with the long and cherished history of the area and the warm nature of the people here, make the San Blas Islands Panama, one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. If it is not already the most visited tourist destination, it will soon become one for those longing to escape to a peaceful tropical paradise.