A List of Hotels in the western San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
The western islands (the Comarca Kuna Yala) of the San Blas Islands is situated inside a coral reef that makes the water calmer and clearer and makes it an ideal location for snorkeling. The following article is a list of San Blas hotels located in the western part of the San Blas Islands. Most of the available San Blas Island lodging is rustic and quite basic but the surroundings of the islands make it a great tropical island escape adventure. The scenery of white sand beaches lined with palm trees, the sea and the mountains in the distance is tranquil and beautiful.
Access to the western San Blas Islands is by way of a flight from Panama City with either Air Panama or Aeroperlas airlines to the airport at El Porvenir. There is little public transportation, but there is a road to Carti Suitupo where you will then travel by boat the San Blas Islands. These hotels are owned and run by the Kuna people and many of the hotels offer trips out to other islands of the Kuna Yala where you can find excellent snorkeling, fishing, and visiting Kuna villages. The food available on the menus is fresh, and consists of lots of tropical fruits, rice, and freshly caught seafood such as lobsters and fish.
Cabanas Wailidup
Cabanas Wailidup consists of small cabins built on stilts with wooden floors and private bathrooms on Isla Wailidup. There is also a restaurant and bar.
Hotel San Blas
The Hotel San Blas is located on the island of Nalunega where there lives a community of about 300 Kuna people. It is not far from the El Porvenir airstrip. The 31 hotel rooms are very simple with few furnishings and electricity available only between 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Their telephone number is: 262-5410
Cabanas Coco Blanco
Located on Ogobsobudup Island or “Coco Blanco” Island, the Cabanas Coco Blanco is made up of four small cabins built of bamboo and thatched roofs and come with their own bathrooms. To make reservations, their phone number is 6700-9427 and their email is cocoblanco (at) centrodereservas (dot) net. I’ve put the email address this way so that they don’t get tons of spam emails.
Coral Lodge Eco Resort
The Coral Lodge Eco Resort is perhaps your most luxurious accommodations in the San Blas Islands. Consisting of six bungalows built over the water, this resort has a restaurant and bar. Each room has its own bathroom, nicely decorated with teak and rattan furniture, air conditioning and sun decks. Their website is at www.corallodge.com
Cabanas Ukuptupu
The Ukuptup Island (“Sand”) Island cabanas consists of cabanas resting on stilts over the sea, just 5 minutes from El Pouvenir. Their website is at www.ukuptupu.com
Cabanas Kuanidup
Located on the Isla Kuanidup, the Cabanas Kuanidup has simple cabins, shared bathrooms and no electricity. Kerosene lamps will light your way in the evening.
Cabanas Veronica
The Cabanas Veronica, formerly called Robinsons Cabanas, is closer to Rio Sidra airport than the airport at El Pouvenir. The Cabanas Veronica consist of simple cabins.
Kuna Niskua Lodge
Classified as a hostel on Wichub-Wala island, the Kuna Nishua Lodge is only five minutes from El Porvenir. The K Lodge is not on the beach, but it is clean with comfortable beds and private bathrooms. There is limited electricity which runs from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. They have a website at: www.kunaniskua.com
These San Blas Island hotels usually charge a price which includes your room and food and some activities. Some of these western San Blas hotels have websites where you can book online. Others have email addresses and phone numbers which will enable you to arrange your San Blas Island vacation.
Below is a map of the San Blas Panama islands.
Map of the San Blas Islands