Fancy sailing to the San Blas Islands of Panama? After years of dreaming about sailing the San Blas islands and having it on my bucket list for what felt like forever, it was finally time to take the trip.
The San Blas islands are in the Caribbean Sea just off Panama’s east coast in Central America. They are a collection of over three hundred tropical islands inhabited by the indigenous Kuna people and are, for the most part, the most picture-perfect, paradisal, coconut-lined, white-sanded islands imaginable.
I was beyond excited! But, with so many people sailing from Cartagena to Panama, are the San Blas Islands worth visiting?
Want To Go On A San Blas Sailing Trip In Panama? Here’s What I Thought Of The 5-Day Trip!
In this post, I will share my experience sailing in San Blas from Cartagena on a 5-day sailing voyage. This is a Blue Sailing review and the best Cartagena to Panama sailing trip!
- Why I think the 5-day sailing trip is the best way to visit the San Blas Islands for an unforgettable trip
- I’ll talk about the people who live there and what makes the islands so special
- I’ll share my trip expenses so you know exactly how much it will cost you and what’s included
- Answer some common questions about safety around the islands
- I’ll also include my essential packing list to make your trip comfortable!
Are you planning a trip soon? Use my links below to book!
Accommodations – I recommend Booking.com
Flights – I recommend Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – I recommend SafetyWing
Tours/experiences – I recommend Get Your Guide
Car rental – I recommend DiscoverCars
These are all the sites I personally use to book my trips, and if you use them, some of them will earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps reduce the ever-increasing costs of keeping my site up. Thanks!
Is sailing the San Blas Islands worth it?
The answer is definitely YES! 100%, the San Blas Islands of Panama are worth visiting. I can’t rave more about how incredible this trip was. I had the most memorable experience. You’ll witness stunning islands, endless beaches, coconut palms, azure waters, and friendly indigenous communities; it’s a true tropical paradise!
I think it’s an amazing and beautiful way to reach Panama ( or leave Panama), depending on where you’re heading!
Of course, if you’re already in Panama, then it’s totally possible to take a day trip to the islands as well. You can also do multi-day tours, which include island-hopping adventures while staying on either a sailboat or in sea huts!
First up, are you already in Panama and looking to book a San Blas Island tour? I recommend checking out the tours I’ve hand-picked below:
🌟 MY TOP PICKS
1. San Blas Island day tour from Panama City: Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visiting 4 Islands.
2. San Blas Island multi-day tour from Panama City: Panama City: 4-Day Island Hopping San Blas Adventure.
3. San Blas Island sailboat tour from Panama City: 2 Days/2 Nights All-Inclusive San Blas Island Hopping on Sailboat.
⭐ Pro tip >> Not finding the right tour for you? We’ve written a whole post on the San Blas Sailing tours departing from Panama; find your perfect trip now!
What are the San Blas Islands?
The San Blas Islands are a group of tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea. The archipelago to which the San Blas Islands belong is made up of 365 islands and cays; incredibly, 49 of these islands are still uninhabited, contributing to the maintenance and sustainability of ecotourism on the islands.
⭐ Pro tip >> Read all about my personal experience in detail towards the bottom of this post! But, first of all, what are the San Blas Islands of Panama?
The San Blas islands are located off the north coast of the Isthmus of Panama, east of the Panama Canal. They are part of the Guna Yala province, which is controlled by an indigenous group of people known as the Kuna people.
Due to the location of the San Blas islands, they have become a much-loved holiday destination, still relatively unknown. The islands provide a fantastic location for a remote tropical paradise getaway!
Where are the San Blas Islands of Panama?
How much does a San Blas Islands sailing trip cost?
Before I left for the San Blas islands, I did a lot of research, reading reviews while trying to understand what the trip would involve, what was included, and if it was worth the cost; at £509.00 / $600.00, it’s quite a hefty lump!
I discovered that that was the more affordable option and that, in fact, if I wanted a private room on the boat, it would be more on the Colombia to Panama boat.
P.S. If you’re interested in sailing trips, you might want to check out our article on sailing around the Komodo National Park in Indonesia as well!
Table One: Example Costs Of 5-Day San Blas Island Trip
| Type of Accommodation | Cost |
| Single-shared cabins and dorms | $600 / £506 |
| Double beds in shared cabins and dorms | $625 / £527 |
| private double cabin with shared bathrooms | $650 / £548 |
| private double cabin with a private bathroom | $700/ £590 |
Table Two: What’s Included In The San Blas Island Sailing Trip?
Here is a quick table to show what was included in that price.
| 5-day San Blas Islands of Panama Sailing trip | |
| 5-days tour of the islands | We visited 2 islands each day. The first day was pure sailing so we had 3 days on the islands – we visited 6 islands. |
| Breakfast | We were really lucky as, in the end, we all had our own rooms. There is usually a different price for private rooms but as we were not full we got cabins all to ourselves! |
| Lunch | For lunch, we enjoyed meals like freshly caught fish (bought from the Kuna fishing men) and lobster, pasta, fresh fruits and salads |
| Dinner | We had a selection of traditional Colombian meals, fish, pork and homemade burgers for dinner. |
| Passports and Immigration | We were provided with snorkelling equipment, including flippers. |
| Snorkelling | We did have a fishing rod, which unfortunately snapped during our crossing from Colombia to the San Blas Islands. (Unless agreed with the Kuna, it’s not possible to fish in their waters). |
| Fishing | At the start of our trip (before we left Cartagena), our passports were taken to be stamped out. This cost is included, and our passports are held by the captain until we depart in Puerto Lindo |
| Private and shared rooms | We visited 2 islands each day. The first day was pure sailing, so we had 3 days on the islands – we |
Are the San Blas islands of Panama safe?
The San Blas Islands are very safe. This is mainly due to the Kuna, who oversee the island community. They have their own police force that enforces law and order. But, they are also very welcoming and kind people who want to make sure tourists feel welcome – as long as you follow their rules.
Are the crocodiles in the San Blas Islands of Panama?
Although not common, there have been sightings of crocodiles at the San Blas islands. Luckily for us, the locals are always keeping their eyes open and will tell you if there have been any sightings in the area or around their islands.
Are there sharks in the San Blas Islands?
There are sharks in the San Blas Islands, however, they are the more gentle types like nurse sharks and lemon sharks. I was actually lucky enough to stroke a nurse shark and swim with it during my visit to the islands!
Who lives on the San Blas Islands?
Some of the islands are still uninhabited, but for the most part, it is the Kuna people who live on the San Blas Islands of Panama.
The Kuna are a relatively small community of tight-knit indigenous people; there are around 300,000 in total, with 50,000 living on the 38 major islands of San Blas. Amazingly, each community has their own distinct traditions and is led by a chief (saila) who is both the political leader of the island and spiritual leader.
The Kuna are known for their colourful textiles, which are intricately embroidered and called molas. Interestingly, the Kuna have a long history of resistance to Western influences and some of the islands should not be visited due to this!
What to pack for the San Blas Islands sailing trip
If you’re spending 5 days sailing around the San Blas islands in Panama, there are a few items which you will need to take. I’ve listed them below for you.
Generally, your items will be split in two, with your main bag being stowed away on the boat, and a small backpack is recommended for items you want for the trip.
Some boats will allow you to have your large backpacks with you in your cabin. Either way, the boat stays much tidier if you store your large bags and use a smaller backpack for the trip.
Packing List
Essential packing items. Here is a list of items we recommend including in your small pack.
- 4-5 days of light clothing
- Flashlight
- Swimming costume(s)
- Light sweater or jacket
- SPF Sunscreen (if possible reef safe)
- Bug repellent
- Seasick medication (Dramamine or Mareol)
- Camera and charger (No drones! Their use is prohibited; you can have them on board, but you can not use them)
- All electronics
- Reading material
- Toiletries
- Towel
- A water bottle that you can refill and keep by your bed
- You may want moist toilettes but DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE TOILET!
- Sufficient cash in US Dollars to pay for transport to Panama City and souvenirs on the islands. There are no ATMs in the San Blas Islands of Panama.
The Low Down On My Experience Visiting The San Blas Islands Of Panama
So, what was it like sailing to the San Blas Islands of Panama? It was frickin amazing… here’s my thoughts on the journey!
Cartagena to San Blas Islands
We boarded the Amande, a 50 ft sailing yacht from club Náutico Marina in Cartagena at 8 pm. The group, having previously met earlier in the day to organise passports and payments, was a mixture of French, Swiss and Dutch (and English – me).
The Amanda, captained by Daniel, a Spanish native and his assistant Angie, was a beautiful boat. We were told she would hold up to fourteen passengers, but for this trip, luckily, we were nine (including two crew).
In all honesty, it was a perfect number, which meant we could move freely around the boat and wouldn’t be sticky sardines come mealtime!
The Departure
We set off around 8:30 pm on a Saturday evening, I think everyone including myself was really excited! Daniel told us we would have a couple of hours inside Cartagena Bay – which would be smooth sailing – before reaching the open sea. At this we all moved to the front of the boat and sat musing at our surroundings, slowly watching the skyscrapers drift away.
It was going to be a thirty-hour sail until we reached the first of the San Blas islands early Monday morning and everyone was a little apprehensive about the crossing. We were told to bring seasickness tablets and to take them an hour before we slept. Which we did.
However, there was nothing to worry about!
We had a calm and smooth journey. Others onboard noted it was more peaceful than expected, shorter, easier and not as daunting as they had thought.
Day One At Sea
The time flew as we all enjoyed sitting on the deck, reading and watching for dolphins which, to all of our disappointments, we didn’t see.
At some point during the sail (which was mostly motorised), we had the chance to jump into the water! I think Daniel felt sorry for us all sweating away in the Caribbean sun with little respite.
It was so refreshing and a wonderful feeling. There was literally nothing around apart from the deep blue sea pierced by sun rays. It was captivating.
That night we were also really lucky to see glowing plankton around the waves bouncing off the boat and an extremely starry night. It sparkled above and below!
Waking up to the San Blas Islands of Panama
The following morning we woke to the first of our San Blas Islands. Daniel, our captain, had chosen a small uninhabited island for us to explore first.
It was our first experience of these stunning islands full of tall coconut trees. There were white and pink flowing vines which crawled along the sandy ground and conch shells at every corner!
The sand is fluffy and white and the sea is, the gorgeous colour of translucent turquoise. It was perfect!
The Rest Of Day Two
We were given breakfast and told we would stay there until lunchtime. Free to swim and snorkel, we explored the island and the nearby coral reef, which was teeming with wildlife and appeared super healthy! (We’ve had a few sad encounters).
Later that day, we moved to a slightly larger island where a family was living. I met a lovely lady called Maribella, who was more than happy to have us join her.
⭐ A Nice Thought…
I had taken some toys to give to the children, a bag of toy animals and another with small cars. She explained she had nephews and nieces, so I left the bag of animals with her.
If you want to bring gifts for the children it’s a nice idea to bring toys or stationery: pencils, pens and coloured books, rather than sweets.
The Downside Of Paradise!
Unfortunately, one side of the island was covered in plastic, which was sad and ugly to see. We had to watch where we were walking so as not to step on pieces of plastic, glass and rubbish. There were a lot of larger pieces of rubbish washed up as well.
It was only on one side of the island so if we hadn’t walked around we wouldn’t have noticed it.
Fresh Catch For Dinner
Later in the day, a wooden canoe with a couple of local Kuna men appeared with a fresh catch. A large barracuda was going to be dinner. Daniel decided to do some fishing with the head in hopes of attracting sharks. They came, to all of our excitement!
Swimming With Sharks
We had two lemon sharks which were very cautious, maybe a metre and a half in length. One took what was left of the tail end of the yummy barracuda. The other disappeared before a two-meter nurse shark appeared. It turned out to be quite placid, and we were able to swim with it!
It was scary stuff, but I got in the water along with the rest. It was so curious to spend some time swimming closer to us, but luckily, it was more interested in the barracuda head!
Before entering the water, I had actually managed to stroke its head when it came up to the boat for a nibble for the first time! It was tougher and drier than I’d imagined, smooth, not slimy like fish…
Bonfire On the Beach And Rain!
That night we had a bonfire on the beach which the family had kindly set up for us. El Capitan Daniel had bought along some marshmallows for roasting but the ‘roasting’ part didn’t go very well.
The heat was too much and the sticks too short, plus it started to rain so we were back on the boat before long – the idea was great so thanks, Daniel!
Beach BBQ On Day Three
The following day and on another island we had a bbq on the beach planned for lunch. The island was bigger than the previous ones but still possible to walk around.
The bbq was incredible! We really were spoiled with all the fantastic meals being prepared for us. For the bbq, we had a typical Colombian cooked salad made from boiled beetroot, potato, carrots and eggs and a whole load of mayonnaise.
For the meats we had a selection of pork belly, chorizo, kebabs and steak chops served with roasted courgettes and stuffed aubergines! We even got a fresh chimichanga sauce made for us!
Coco Loco Beach Days
The rest of the day we spent on the beach drinking rum and coco and visiting a spider monkey living on the opposite side of the island. The monkey, lovingly named Moggy, was rescued and brought to the island. It’s moving around the trees freely, although maybe it would be better off in a sanctuary.
I also bought a colourful beaded bracelet from an adorable old lady living on the island. I gave her the last bag of toy cars to give to the children who seemed to be absent from the islands we were visiting!
On a side note, we were also told there was a crocodile around this island and to be careful. Although we didn’t see any crocodiles and the family told us they had left, it’s good to know that they can be there, so be wary!
Porvenir – The Capital
That evening, we headed to Porvenir, the political island of the Kuna tribe. It’s here the police, political and immigration offices are, and the surrounding islands are more built up around here too.
We took to jumping off the boat and swimming to the island before doing some exercises on the pier and racing to the boat and back with the local police! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit the main island. Daniel told us it was because they didn’t really like tourists and so it was best to stay away.
We stayed anchored at Porvenir that night hoping for a beautiful sunset which we hadn’t yet had. It was okay but nothing special – we weren’t going to have any great ones!
The Final Day Of Island Hopping
The last San Blas island of Panama we visited had a small shipwreck and a fantastic coral reef. We swam around the whole island admiring the sea life; a couple of people spotted a reef shark, but I missed it. It was a little daunting swimming back to the boat, knowing there was a shark around!
The rest of the evening was spent enjoying the sunset, reading and eating!
San Blas Islands to Puerto Lindo (Panama)
We set sail that night heading for Puerto Lindo on Panama’s east coast. Like the sail over to the San Blas Islands of Panama, it was smooth with no problems. (I have read that the sail from Panama to Colombia can be rougher than that from Colombia to Panama).
We woke already moored at the beautiful marina. Daniel, having successfully manoeuvred into what looked like a tight space sometime during the early hours of the morning, was happily preparing breakfast.
Stomachs full and heads bursting with stories of adventure, it was time to depart the Amande. Leaving Daniel and Angie behind, we headed to a much-welcomed air-conditioned minivan, which, for $25, would be taking us back to Panama City.
Sailing The San Blas Islands Of Panama
It was, if I’m being completely honest, one of the best trips I’ve had. I think that, combined with the fact that I’ve wanted to do it for years and finally had the opportunity to do so, plus the fantastic group of people who joined me, the trip was made epic.
Sailing the San Blas Islands from Cartagena is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Sailing to the San Blas islands of Panama ticked all the boxes and more. The food was out of this world, and the company was the best. Everyone was so happy to be there.
We were blessed with more good weather than less (we had travelled during the rainy season), but because of this, we witnessed some wonderful storms and had refreshing rain! It was the perfect trip.
P.S. The company we used to book our 5-day sailing trip was Blue Sailing. 😉
👉 Read Next: I absolutely loved sailing around the magnificent San Blas Islands, but we also enjoyed the mainland. In particular, hiking in Boquete is a must, check out the best 19 things to do in Boquete!
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