San Blas Island Activities
Posted by Travel Editor
What to do on your San Blas Island Vacation
The range of activities you can find in San Blas Islands are a plenty on these beautiful islands. From experiencing the culture of the local Kuna Indians to boating around the islands where you can marvel at the beauty of this tropical paradise, there will be never a dull moment for you or your family during your vacation here. The San Blas islands are also an ideal romantic getaway or a honeymoon destination. Some of the hotels have their own restaurants and bars and their hotels consist of lovely cabanas built on stilts over the water with balconies and a hammock, where you can lay back and watch the sea and some gorgeous, memorable sunsets. The photo opportunities are endless. Just working on your tan and swimming could be one of your favorite activities on your San Blas Islands Panama vacation.
From relaxing in a hammock on a lazy hot day, strolling on the beach, snorkelling at any one of the nearby islands or, if you are interested in scuba diving on the coral reefs or finding shipwrecks to explore, there is lots to do or nothing to do. Whichever you prefer. Hiking is plentiful whether you are on your own or with your family. Birdwatching and nature lovers will find themselves in a tropical paradise full of amazing bird and tropical fauna for you to observe. The San Blas islands are a birdwatcher’s paradise. A Kuna tourist guide can assist you when you want to explore the lush rainforests found in the San Blas Islands.
You can visit a Kuna Indian communities near your San Blas hotel where you can learn of their way of life and can buy some of their handicrafts, or the beautiful molas made by the Kuna women. They have continued with their way of life and language since a bloody rebellion in the early 20th century. In the 1950s, the Panamanian government gave them these islands where they could live their traditional life. They own these islands and they govern themselves. You can photograph the Kuna people, but you should give them a dollar tip for modeling for you. They are a friendly and warm people and welcome you to their islands.
The island of Isla Perro (Dog Island) is a must visit destination here. The natural splendour of the coral reef here has to be seen to be believed. The colorful tropical fish filled reef is an amazing sight, offering you wonderful opportunities to explore the rich undersea life here. Bring an underwater camera with you. Snorkelling and scuba diving enthusiasts will find it offers great opportunity to explore the underwater world. The coral reef surrounds almost the entire island. The owners will charge you one dollar to go to the island and they sell molas, other handicrafts and shells. The white sand beaches are absolutely gorgeous with thatched huts and lazy palms on the beaches along the shoreline.
For snorkelling and diving enthusiasts you can rent your equipment if you don’t have your own and your Kuna tourist guide can take you by boat to some of the best locations on some of the uninhabited islands which make up the San Blas Islands . You can also rent a boat by yourself if you are knowledgeable enough and know where to go.
One of the wonderful things you can do here on your San Blas vacation is that it is possible to rent your own private island by the day if you want to splurge and experience being on an island by yourself or with your romantic partner. There are so many secluded beaches around the San Blas Islands that if it’s peace and privacy you want, you will be sure to find it here. A Kuna guide will take you to this isolated island by canoe, dugout boat or motor boat. A San Blas Island vacation is a stress reduction vacation for sure, if that is what you are looking for.
If you are a lover of seafood and tropical fruits – you are really going to enjoy yourself. The fish and lobster and literally “just caught” and you will probably eat lots of it in your hotel restaurant or one of the other restaurants on the San Blas Islands. If you are vegetarian, the restaurant at your San Blas hotel will gladly prepare a vegetarian menu for you.
There best thing to do in the San Blas Islands is relax by the blue crystal clear sea with palm trees behind you or lie back in one of the hammocks and think about life or nothing in particular, so if you like to be hyper-busy, we would suggest just visiting the islands for a couple of days and staying overnight in one of the San Blas hotels.
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The Kuna People of the San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
When you visit the San Blas Islands for your vacation, you should know a bit about the people of these islands. The San Blas Islands are inhabited and controlled by the indigenous Kuna Indians. The Kuna Indians are a closely knit tribal society who have inhabited the San Blas archipelgo for thousands of years now. In fact, there are historical references which point out to their existence in the islands as far back as the 1500s when the European travelers first landed on the Americas. The Kuna Indians are believed to be the descendents of the Caribs. Most of them live in the same ways and traditions as their ancestors before them would have several thousands of years ago.
Kuna Indian society is fascinating because their society is known as a matriarchal society. What this means is that women are accorded great importance, as the line of inheritance is supposed to pass through them. Daughters, unlike the situation in patriarchal societies, are highly valued in the Kuna society since they are the ones who would ultimately bring in additional helping hands into the families.
The Kuna people who inhabit the San Blas Islands are a good example of how both the old and new can exist together. You can find modernity, co-existing peacefully with traditional culture in all the islands that make up the area. The islands themselves are controlled and governed by the Kuna Indian since a bloody revolt in the early 20th century which resulted in the Panamanian government giving the islands to them. They were allowed to continue their traditional way of life and speak their own language and have done so to this day.
The division of labor can be found in all the Kuna families. While the man of the house would typically cultivate the land, gather coconuts and produce wooden utensils, the women would prepare the food, sew the clothes for themselves and their sons, clean the house and unload the boats. The Kunas have their own traditional festivals and customs. These customs have been passed on from generation to generation in the form of ritualistic chants and dances.
The Kuna women are known for creating beautiful molas, brightly colored fabrics with images of special ceremonies, animals, plants, and geometric designs. These molas make up their national dress which is worn daily by the women. They also adorn themselves with arm and leg bands, rings in their noses and sarongs. If you are looking for a wonderful souvenir of your vacation in the San Blas islands, this is one souvenir you should buy. Molas made by the Kuna women are well crafted and spectaculary beautiful and not mass produced from some factory in China. This souvenir of your trip to the San Blas Islands will last forever.
The livelihood of the Kunas is based primarily on fishing and agriculture. A large percentage of what they produce is exported to the mainland, most especially fish, coconuts and plaintain. Their diets include a lot of fresh fish, lobster, some domestic animals, tropical fruits and coconuts. The coconuts of San Blas Islands are particularly famous. In fact, it is still sometimes used as a form of currency in many of the islands among the people, even today.
If you planning a San Blas Islands vacation, you will more than likely be staying with a Kuna Indian family or in a hotel owned by the Kuna Indians and it is good to know a few facts about the Kuna people. They are a friendly and welcoming people and will be sure to make your vacation in the San Blas Islands one you will remember forever. They will do many things to help you on your vacation from giving vacation advice, to transporting you to another of the islands in their own boat. Always remember to tip a dollar if you are going to take a photograph of a Kuna Indian.
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