More Islands of the San Blas Islands
Posted by Travel Editor
This article explains the islands you can consider and travel to on your vacation in the San Blas Islands. Some are more populated and westernized than others. Other islands are deserted and lacking in tourist facilities, but if that is what you are looking for, these islands are perfect for your escape to the Kuna Yala archipelago.
Cayos Chichime
The Cayos Chichime lie west of the Cayos Holandes. The Cayos Chichime are better known as the Wichudup or Wichitup where you will find a place to stay if there is space, owned by a man called Umburto. These huts will cost you $5 a night, if there’s a vacancy. You can also get some freshly caught seafood and he will provide a boat ride to El Pouvenir for a price. These islands are quite beautiful and worth a visit.
Mamitupo Island
Mamitupo Island has an airstrip and is the gateway to the Isla Uaguitupo or Dolphin Island where you’ll find the Dolphin Island Resort or the Uaguitupo Lodge. If you arrive by yacht, you will be welcomed by a local, Pablo Nunez Perez, in a dugout canoe who is willing to act as your tour guide.
Playon Chico
It is better to go to Playon Chico by airplane because of the rough seas you’ll encounter between here and Corazon de Jesus. It’s a good starting point if you plan to visit more of the San Blas Islands. Playon Chico is a large busy island and probably the most modern of all the San Blas Islands. For the closest thing to a luxury hotel on the San Blas Islands, the island Isla Iskadarp houses the Sapibenega Kuna Lodge. It’s expensive, but has beautiful cabanas on stilts over the water, balconies, private bathrooms, hammocks and beautiful serene views surround the Sapibenega Kuna Lodge. For more information, read our review on the Sapibenega Kuna Lodge or visit their website for booking www.Sapibenega.com.
Corazon de Jesus
Corazon de Jesus is a busy place where there is also a landing strip for flying in, a large grocery shop, and a bank (in Nargana – the only bank you’ll find in the San Blas Islands). It is a bustling center of activity, concrete buildings and commercial activity. It’s an interesting place to visit but very westernized.
Near to Corazon de Jesus, you’ll find Isla Tigre (very clean and the inhabitants living the traditional Kuna lifestyle), Isla Kwadula where the Kuna people also live more traditional lifestyles. The islands are quiet and clean. Accommodation is available on Isla Kwadula with cabanas on stilts overlooking the sea. Good snorkeling will be found nearby in the coral reefs and it has a restaurant and bar.
Also nearby is Rio Acuzar where you will find a grocery store and other stores. Rio Acuzar is a popular stopover for those with boats traveling around the area of the San Blas Islands because of the available services here, including a medical center and phones.
Rio Sidra
There is an airstrip on the island of Rio Sidra and a general store. Rio Sidra is close to the beautiful islands of Isla Kuanidup and Isla Dup Askunikad. Both of these islands have some simple hotels where you will find both hammocks and marvelous beaches. On Isla Kuanidup, you will find some cabana accommodation with hammocks, white sand beaches, coral reefs for snorkeling. Great snorkeling on the reefs can also be found at Isla Nusatupo because of the large reefs, the lack of tourist facilities and tourists. Those with yachts will find the calm, quiet bays here a good place to drop anchor. Nearby, is Isla Maquina, worth a trip to but you won’t find any accommodations or restaurants here.
This sums up the major islands of the Kuna Yala archipelago. Read about the other San Blas islands I wrote in my previous posting, Find your island and enjoy your paradise here on the San Blas Islands.
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.