San Blas Island-Hopping : Full-Day Adventure from Panama City

I usually get motion sick on long drives, so I was nervous about the 4x4 journey through the mountains, but our Sea San Blas driver was super smooth and stopped when we needed air. Once we reached the port, the boat ride to Isla Perro Chico was quick. The snorkeling at the sunken boat was awesome, and lunch was fresh fish with plantains. Perfect balance for a day trip!

It poured rain for about 30 minutes right after lunch, and honestly? It was one of the coolest parts of the trip. Swimming in warm, crystal-clear Caribbean water while tropical rain is coming down is an unbelievable feeling. The island team handled the weather smoothly, keeping our dry bags safe under heavy-duty tarps on the boat. A raw, unforgettable nature experience!

Islands were good but coordination of the island tours could have been smoother. Also, the team ran out of snorkeling masks which were only available on the first island, so it would be a good idea to take your own snorkeling gears. This way you would fully enjoy each Island. It was a good trip overall and the islands are breathtaking.

Sea San Blas organized a fantastic excursion in this virgin paradise. It is important to know that you are entering an autonomous territory, so the agency reminded us to bring our original passports for the border controls. The local guys accompanied us step by step, indicating the limits for swimming safely around the natural pool. Excellent and very professional service!

There is no electrical grid on the small islands, since the energy comes solely from generators that are turned on for a few hours at night. Make sure to charge your phones, e-readers, and cameras to the maximum at the hotel in Panama, and bring at least two external batteries. It would be a shame to run out of battery in the middle of such a landscape. 🌴✨

If your life depends on double-checking work emails every five minutes, please stay away from these islands 🤣. There is absolutely zero signal, and you know what? It was the greatest gift ever. My battery lasted for days because the only thing I was capturing was the sunset over the horizon. An absolute paradise for anyone looking to go missing from civilization for a weekend

Beyond the postcard beaches, we chose the option to spend a night in a real Guna community. It was an incredible human experience to see their way of life, learn the history of their traditions, and buy molas (textile art) directly from the artisans. The daily transfers by boat require a spirit of adaptation, but the authenticity is well worth it.

I enjoyed the island hopping, having a delicious lunch and experiencing the different vibes of each island. The people managing the boats were lovely and helpful. The San Blas islands were stunning!. Now for the organizing- we waited close to 30 minutes waiting for hotel pick up w no communication. The organizers used WhatsApp the night before to confirm the trip. So, a text,or call would have been appreciated. Secondly, I asked for a English tour guide. The group only spoke Spanish. Thankfully, I know enough Spanish to navigate conversation, but that was a little disappointing. Lastly returning home, their were 4 workers, dropped off and we were the last stop. For a 3 hour ride it made for a longer journey. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful day in spite of the misteps, oversight and opportunities for improvement.

We were with the Catamaran Anai. And it was to experience, André and Andréia are the best in what they do, I confess to speak Portuguese was gold. We gained two friends for life, SAN Blas is a dream. It was a natural ebo amei!

Simply amazing, everything went very smooth and organized. Driver was very good and responsible while driving with all the guests in the car. The tour guide person was exceptional and knowledgeable with información provided and organizing the group in and out of the different islands. I highly recommend to work with company. Tour was all Spanish but for those who don't understand it, just use a Google translate and you will be just fine. At the end of the day, it's about experiencing the islands, the people, the culture etc.