The Islands of the Kuna Yala Archipelago
Posted by Travel Editor
There are some 365 small islands which form the archipelago known as the Kuna Yala or the San Blas Islands. The San Blas Islands are a collection of islands of pristine sun bleached sandy beaches, coconut plantations and palms and home to the Kuna people who govern the Islands. Most of the islands are unspoiled, the perfect place to kick back and forget the rest of the world. Accommodations are, for the most part, simple and rustic. But it’s the best thing in life to spend the day on your own tropical deserted island and be the first one to place your feet in the sand. You can book a day on a deserted island and a Kuna guide will take you by boat to the island and provide you with a simple lunch. It is possible to travel by road and boat to the islands, but the most convenient way is to fly by either Aeropuerlas or Air Panama. The following is an introduction to some of the major islands of the Archipelago de San Blas.
El Pouvenir
San Blas Islands Relaxation
El Pouvenir is the main island, the capital of the San Blas islands. It is a small island known by the name of Gaigirgordup to the native Kuna people. This is where many tourists will arrive when they travel to the San Blas Islands. There is not much here, but there is an airstrip where Aeropuerlas and Air Panama flights land in the early morning. You will find a small grocery store, a few small bamboo huts of the locals, the Museo de la Nacion Kuna, a museum which has some displays of Kuna Indian culture and artifacts. It is worth a visit as an introduction to the Kuna heritage. On El Pouvenir, there is a simple hotel (the Hotel El Pouvenir) and a small beach.
Islands close to El Pouvenir are Isla Nalunega and Isla Wichub-Huala – busier than El Pouvenir. Both islands have more of a selection of accommodations, local government buildings and a few shops which do not stock much in the way of merchandise. The Hotel San Blas is located on Isla Naluenga. Naluenga is cleaner but has no beach. A man named Alberto Vasquez rents out a couple of the rooms in his home to tourists. He also provides food if you arrange it with him. On these islands, you will experience the life of the Kuna villagers up close, especially by staying with a Kuna family.
Not far away from El Pouveir lies Ukuptupu Island between Isla Nalunega and Isla Wichub-Huala. The Cabanas Ukuptupu Hotel is located on Ukuptupu Island. This popular hotel consists of wooden cabins built on stilts over the water. Cruise ships stop at Isla Wichub-Huala and the island becomes full of tourists when the ships dock and Kuna women busy selling molas. The Smithsonian Institute was located on this island until until 1998. From the Cabanas Ukuptupu, you can watch the sun set, the canoes, the ships and yachts sail relaxing in a hammock.
Nearby lie some other popular small islands, worth taking a day trip to snorkel, relax and soak up the sun. These small islands include Isla de los Perros (Dog Island or also known as Achutupu) – are less crowded, with fantastic snorkeling about the shipwreck where underwater life is plentiful. The silence and the glorious beaches make it ideal for relaxation under the palm trees. Other nearby islands is Isla Pelicano – good for snorkeling on its coral reef and Isla Ogobsibu which is a private island.
Carti
At Carti, there is a landing strip for airplanes and some large villages of the Kuna people. There is also the Kuna Museum of Culture featuring Kuna mythology and culture, a medical center, a school, a library and post office. Many Kuna people dress in traditional clothes waiting for the cruise ships to arrive. Some of them then trade their traditional clothes for western dress. You will find many Kuna people here selling molas. It is polluted here with garbage littered on the beach and not as clean as one would like. There is basic hotel here, dormitory style accommodation on Carti.
Close by, there is the island which is less crowded and has beautiful beaches and palm trees – this island is called Isla Aguja of the San Blas Islands archipelago. You’ll like this island more if you like snorkeling and relaxing on white sand beaches under the palm trees.
Cayos Holandes
Cayos Holandes or the Dutch Keys are a group of remote islands, the furthest from the mainland of Panama, where a few Kuna people live. The Cayos Holandes are surrounded by clear water, coral reefs full of marine life and make a great location for snorkeling. If you are sailing near these reefs, careful navigation is required. You can hear the waves break against the coral reefs, most aptly named “Wreck Reef” because of the Spanish ships that got shipwrecked here.
I will write further of more of the San Blas Islands in another posting. There’s much to explore in the way of snorkeling in the coral reefs and observing shipwrecks and the stunning marine life, sunning on the white sandy beaches or under the palm trees and experiencing the culture of the Kuna people. If you are seeking a busy activity filled vacation doing anything more than boating, snorkeling and relaxing, this may not be the vacation for you. A San Blas Islands vacation is the perfect place to relax and escape from it all.
Anbabnega Lodge on San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
Situated on the island of Carti Tupile on the beach, where you will be taken by boat which will cost you about two dollars (per island visit), not far from the Carti airport, you will find the Anbabnega Lodge. To get to the hotel, you will then take a 4 x 4 through the jungle – a trip that takes about two hours. Carti Tupile is a part of the San Blas Islands Panama, otherwise called the Kuna Yala. Anbabnega Lodge is an eco lodge hotel owned by Chela and her daughter Stephany. They are both very friendly and helpful and speak English and Spanish so there won’t be any difficulties here in communicating. There are about 200 Kuna people living on the island who live in their traditional ways without running water or electricity in bamboo huts. You will find them very hospitable and welcoming. And this San Blas island is like a tropical paradise found. Definitely a place you’ll want to visit for your vacation for fun, sun and adventure.
The Anbabnega Lodge has bamboo walls and a thatched roof with solar powered lighting and running water for the showers and toilettes. There are beds and hammocks to sleep in – the hammocks being quite comfortable to sleep in. There are also hammocks on the balconies which overlook the sea. Whether staring at the sea, sunrises or sunsets are your thing, you will find the verandahs and the hammocks ideal for just kicking back and relaxing. Try some coconut milk from the island or beer as you enjoy your beach surroundings laying in one of the balcony hammocks.
Your three meals a day are included in the price of the room. The food is local, delicious and fresh, served at picnic tables by the water’s edge. Meals include tropical fruits, freshly caught seafood, fresh chicken, and vegetables, all local food and delicious. The food here is amazing!
The staff at the Anbabnega Lodge hotel are friendly and helpful. Your hotel stay at this San Blas Islands hotel also includes trips out to other uninhabited islands where you can spend the day on these marvelous white sand, deserted beaches, where the snorkeling offers views of colorful tropical fish and coral reefs. You will bring a picnic lunch with you to enjoy a full day at the other various islands such as Hook Island, Dog Island, Pelican Island and Iguana Island. Your stay will also include a visit to the Kuna Museum and a shopping trip to the Kuna community shops.
Travel to the San Blas Islands is best in January to April when it’s warm and sunny. Months outside of this time of year are the rainy season which doesn’t mean that it rains all the time.
The beach is beautiful, the service at the Anbabnega Lodge is excellent. The price ranges about $60 – $100 per person, depending on your length of stay and the season (high or low). Prices include your meals and the daily trips to the islands. This is an island adventure in a truly beautiful paradise on a stunning beach on the San Blas Islands Panama, whether you visit in the rainy season or not. With amazing service, its unspoiled white sandy palm tree lined beach in a rustic setting, a stay at the Anbabnega Lodge is a great vacation for kids, family, honeymoon couples or singles. They have a website where you can book online at kunaislands.webs.com.