That being said, there are some things I cannot accept – and visiting a day island where a turtle was tied to a rope and forever trying to swim out to sea should never be acceptable. If it helps cans of beer, soft drink, and water are usd 2 on every island – not the 1 – 2 usd we were told at the meeting. So take bottles of mixers and all the rum you need if you plan to drink, which you will!

It wasn’t the best boat experience – our knees bashed on the side of the boat each time it splashed on the waves. There were a few moments when we felt uneasy because the driver was going too fast for the choppy conditions. I suppose you can arrange boat transportation and overnight accommodations at puerto de carti, but I would not recommend that option. If you’re staying overnight, like we did, the boat will take you directly to your island. You may have a couple of stops along the way to drop off other guests at their island.

Again the sailboat is by far the best option to hop from island to island.san blas tours Most captains know the best places that have parties or are totally deserted; it’s up to you! Check out our sailing page for more information about sail charters into san blas. Traveling with san blas adventures is like stepping into another world for 4 days.

The last hour or so of driving is up and down a pretty windy, bumpy road, but it’s not so terrible, and you’ll need to show your passport and pay some guna fees, so don’t be alarmed. You’ll likely stop at a grocery store on your way to stock up on snacks, supplies, and other items you may want/need for your trip. Dotted along the caribbean coastline of panama are the marvelous islands of san blas, also known as guna yala by the local and indigenous people.

Sadly, the san blas islands are also said to be the first in the world to disappear due to global warming, and it’s not hard to see why. The daily itinerary is basically a day island and a night island, which you sleep on. The day island generally has no structures and can be walked around in less than 2 minutes. The night islands depend, but there is generally always something beautiful to look at – a sunset, the stars, the waves rushing up the beach or birds sneaking into dorm rooms. While day trips are available, you'll spend so much time en route if traveling overland from panama city that it'd be hard to relax fully.