5 Ways to Visit the San Blas Islands in Panama
There are multiple ways to visit the San Blas Islands, Panama from a quick day trip from Panama City to a multi-day sailing adventure. No matter what option you choose, you’ll be impressed with the beauty of these rustic Panamanian islands and how untouched they are.
Let’s take a look at five different options to allow you to customize your San Blas trip to your interests, budget, and timeline.
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1. Take a Day Trip to the San Blas
The easiest option for visiting the San Blas Islands is to take a day trip from Panama City. This makes the islands easily accessible to everyone, however you’ll find you spend more time in transit than on the islands.
This route will definitely leave you wishing you had more time on the islands, but if you’re short on time in Panama, it will give you the sampling of the San Blas that you crave!
San Blas Island Hopping and Snorkel Tour to Visit 3 Islands
Spend one fun-filled day exploring the beautiful San Blas Islands, including stops at Isla Perro, Isla Yansailidup, Isla Chichime, and swimming at the Natural Pool with the San Blas Island Hopping and Snorkel Tour. It includes lunch and snorkeling equipment so you can have no worries as you enjoy the natural beauty around you.
Check current availability and price.
San Blas Day Tour to the Famous “Money Heist” Island
Enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, sunbathing, and swimming on four islands, including Isla Pelicano, the island from Netflix’s series “Money Heist” on this San Blas Day Tour. This day trip from Panama City includes all the necessities you need to have an awesome time in the San Blas, including lunch, snorkeling gear, beach chairs, towels, and more!
Check the current availability and price.
Learn more in the Ultimate Guide to Visiting the San Blas Islands.
2. Book a Tour to the San Blas Islands
Another simple way to visit is through a San Blas Island tour. Tours provide you the advantage of having your roundtrip transportation, accommodation, meals, and activities mostly planned out for you.
You won’t have to navigate the islands on your own. This is particularly helpful if your Spanish is limited! Just be forewarned, that tourism is still very early on in the San Blas Islands, so tours are still fairly few and far between!
2 days/1 night San Blas Islands Tours
You’ll find many options for 2 day/1 night tours where you can base yourself on Isla Wailidup, Isla Yansailidup, or Isla Aroma. Almost every 2 day tour will include a trip to nearby islands so that you can see more of the San Blas archipelago.
3 days/2 nights San Blas Islands Tour
Spend 3 days and 2 nights in the San Blas Islands, basing yourself on beautiful Ina Island in your own private beach cabin. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the islands, including the Money Heist filming locations, meet the local Guna community, hike through the Guna jungle to the stunning Saiba waterfall, and more!
Check the current availability and price.
4 days/3 nights San Blas Island-hopping Tour
See the most of the Islas San Blas with this 4 day/3 night island-hopping adventure. You’ll spend one night on Perro Chico Island, one on Aguja Island, and one on Franklin Island. This gives you the opportunity to snorkel, tour the Natural Pool, kayak, hike through the jungle, visit the Money Heist locations, and more!
Check the current availability and price.
Explore more options for touring the San Blas Islands, like:
3. Book a Hotel in San Blas, Panama
If you like to book things yourself rather than taking a tour, you can book a hotel in the Guna Yala Islands and figure out transportation on your own. If you need additional guidance, you can ask your accommodations to provide the details you need to arrive safely to the island of choice.
That being said, the logistics of finding the transportation to the port, from the port to the island, and day trips from the island, can be quite complex. That’s why tours and pre-planned trips are so popular here!
Search all accommodations in the San Blas.
Travel Tip: Before booking, make sure you have San Blas, Panama and not San Blas, Mexico or Florida!
Plan a day trip to the Panama Canal from Panama City!
4. Go Sailing in the San Blas Islands
If you’ve dreamed of sailing in Panama, this is it! While sailing trips typically cost a bit more, you will be able to explore more islands and maybe even live in a bit more luxury. Just always make sure to clarify what is included before booking to avoid unpleasant surprises!
3 days/2 nights San Blas All Inclusive Sailing Charter
Explore the San Blas Islands in a different way by setting sail on a privately owned sailboat. You’ll get to sail around the islands, stopping at multiple islands along the way with options for snorkeling, sunbathing, paddle boarding, and more. One of the perks of this trip is you’ll have your own private bathroom! Something not commonly found when staying on the San Blas Islands.
Check the current availability and price.
Book a Boat Directly
That’s right, there are sailboats you can book online to take you around the San Blas Islands. They are often listed as accommodation options, but you can book your full trip through the islands this way and customize how many days you want to spend. Not to mention you can choose between sailboats and catamarans!
Check out the options on Booking.com.
5. Take a Boat Trip from Colombia through the San Blas Islands to Panama City
A popular backpacking adventure is taking a 4-5 day boat journey from Colombia through the San Blas Islands and on to Panama City, and vice versa. I originally planned to go to the San Blas this way after hearing all about it from a fellow passenger on my 4 day boat trip to Komodo Island in Indonesia.
Ultimately, I ended up doing a multi-day tour to the San Blas from Panama City as I was able to spend more time on the islands versus in transportation. However, this option will give you an epic adventure!
These popular boat trips come in two forms, so you can choose what you prefer.
Sailboat to/from Cartagena, Colombia
This route will typically take 5 days to slowly sail from Cartagena, Colombia to Panama City, Panama or vice versa. It is a bit more expensive, coming in around $550 + taxes, but it allows you to take in the islands up close as you make your way into Panama.
Speedboat to/from Capurgana, Colombia
Taking a speedboat from Capurgana, Colombia to Panama City, or vice versa, typically takes only 4 days. This route is a bit faster, and it also tends to cost a little less – closer to $400 + taxes.
There are a lot of different boating providers, so make sure to do your research before settling on one. There are many nightmare stories out there about them!
I have heard great things about San Blas Adventures, but ask around at hostels in Cartagena and Panama City to get the latest information on how the trips are going and find a tour provider you trust.
Lastly, if you are easily seasick, I would recommend skipping this adventure as you spend about 2 days on the open ocean between Colombia and the San Blas Islands, and it can get quite rocky!
Learn More about Visiting the San Blas Islands, Panama
Getting excited about visiting the San Blas Islands? You should be! It’s a one of a kind destination offering a local sub-culture in addition to untouched beaches surrounded by sparkling turquoise water. While you won’t find luxury resorts like you will on other islands in the Caribbean, the San Blas are a can’t miss destination!
Continue your planning with the Complete Guide to the San Blas Islands and of course, don’t miss the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal while you’re in Panama! Learn all about it in How to Visit the Panama Canal from Panama City.
Want more help planning your trip to Panama? Check out this Epic 5 Day Panama Itinerary: Panama City and San Blas Islands.
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