Transport to the Kuna Yala San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
To fly to the Kuna Yala or better known as the San Blas Islands, you have the option of using either of the two national airlines, Aeroperlas or Air Panama. There are approximately 20 airstrips located in the San Blas archipelago and most of these airstrips are served by the two airlines. The most popular one is El Pouvenir which has access to a couple of accommodations nearby. If sailing, this is where you will go to check in or out of Panama. Other points of entry include Mamitupo, Playon Chico, Rio Sidra, Corazon de Jesus and Carti. There is a local tax to pay when you reach the islands and for each island you go to. You need to pay in cash and it costs about three dollars for each island.
It is also possible to drive to the San Blas Islands and then take a boat which goes to the Islands. It is best to hire an experienced driver and make your hotel bookings ahead of time. Before leaving, make sure that you check on the road conditions, weather and boat schedule. You can do this by phoning your hotel. The overland route from Panama City goes along the Interamericana to El Llano village and then over the mountains, heading north to Carti where you can catch a boat to the Islands.
Another option for getting to the San Blas Islands is travel by boat from Colon or take a sail boat – this having to be booked beforehand.
For those who like hiking, you can take a bus in the direction of Darien, get off at Canita. The hike will then take you about two and a half to three hours where you will reach either the Burbayar or Nusagrande Lodge. The next day you head to Serrania de San Blas where you can camp on the sea side. On the third day, you have to arrive in Carti before 4:00 p.m. because that’s the time of departure of the last boat to the San Blas Islands. The boat ride will cost you about $25 to go to El Pouvenir. If you want, you could take a boat to Isla Noranjos which costs about $10. US
As always, remember to take cash in small bills with you to the San Blas Islands because you won’t be able to use your credit card at most places and you won’t find any automatic cash dispenser machines. As you can see, getting to the San Blas Islands is an adventure and a very exciting one. Once you get to the Kuna Yala San Blas Islands, you will know that you have arrived in one of the most stunning tropical island paradises of all,sparsely populated, white sands and clear, crystal blue waters.
In my next post on San Blas Islands vacations, I will write about getting around the San Blas Islands, from one island to another.
The San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
Why did I start a site about the San Blas Islands, its hotels? Not totally. Because I love the place Panama and especially the San Blas Islands. It’s still an undiscovered tourist destination. You will find in the San Blas Islands: miles and miles of unspoiled, pristine beaches, blue, clear ocean waters, coral reefs and lazy palm trees to find shade under and you’ll meet the Kuna people, a very friendly people.
The San Blas islands off the coast of Panama offer eco tourism at its best, especially on the main islands such as El Pouvenir, Cayos Chichime or the Cayos Holandes, islands that make up the San Blas Islands. This is my favorite place to go when I am in Panama. The San Blas islands are a group of 378 islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. They are owned and controlled by the Kuna Indians, the indigenous people of Panama. In about 1923, they revolted against the Panamanian government and the outcome of this was that the government of Panama gave them the San Blas Islands where they could live their traditional lives, hunt and fish and speak their own language and carry out their customs.
San Blas Panama Vacations
If you go to the San Blas Islands, you should make sure you arrange your trip with a travel agency that is familiar with what the San Blas Islands offer, what lodgings are available, etc., because if you are looking for luxury hotels in the San Blas Islands like what you are accustomed to in, say, North America or Europe, you are not going to find it. Everything here is commonly described as rustic.
The San Blas Islands, Panama, are best described as a tropical island paradise. The San Blas Islands hotels and resorts do not have 24/7 running hot water and electricity. You arrive in the San Blas Islands by way of airplane to an air strip called Achutupo and then will be taken by boat to whatever island you are staying on. You can also travel by jeep or boat to the islands. Your hotel might be a sort of cabin on stilts over the water. You may or may not have a private bathroom. You will have a hammock where you can relax big time. The sunrises and sunsets are glorious.
For these types of accommodations, you can pay anywhere between $80 to $300US+ per night. These hotels are quite rustic and wonderful and are run by the Kuna people. You will have peace, beautiful scenery, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, trips to other islands, fresh sea food for your meals and be able to visit a Kuna Village and experience the culture of the people.
It is a wonderful experience if you want to get lost on a tropical desert island – somewhere on one of the San Blas Panama Islands, relax on the beautiful beaches and escape from it all. If you arrive here stressed, you will lose all that stress and not want to leave this paradise.