Cartí area
Most tripsIslands close to the port.
Island guide
Things to do in San Blas
Guna Yala, an autonomous territory of hundreds of palm-fringed islands on Panama's Caribbean coast: basic cabins and hammocks on the sand, fresh fish, snorkelling over reefs and shipwrecks, and the culture of the Guna people.
1
Hostels in the city
7.7
Average, from 2 reviews
365
Islands, roughly
2–3
Nights
Guna land and sea
San Blas is the outside name for Guna Yala, a self-governing territory of the Guna people along Panama's north-east Caribbean coast. It takes in a strip of mainland and around 365 islands, most of them uninhabited coral cays with a few palm trees.
The Guna run tourism on their own terms: visitors stay on organised trips in simple cabins or hammocks on small islands, eat fish and rice, and pay community fees. There is little or no electricity, phone signal is patchy and the point is to switch off. The Guna are known for their molas, colourful layered textile panels.
Trips leave Panama City before dawn by 4x4, then boat. Give San Blas two or three nights, or join a multi-day sailing trip to Colombia.
Where to base yourself
Most trips use islands in the Cartí area, close to the port; further islands are quieter and take longer to reach.
Chichimé
Popular caysTwo islands with cabins and reefs.
Eastern islands
RemoteQuieter islands further along the coast.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in San Blas
Island-hop by boat to tiny cays, swim in turquoise water and snorkel over reefs. Visit the Piscina Natural, a shallow sandbar with starfish, and snorkel a shipwreck.
Visit a Guna community island to learn about Guna life and buy molas directly from the women who sew them. Ask before taking photos; some islands charge for them.
Or do very little: lie in a hammock, watch the sunset, and sleep to the sound of the sea.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Once on your island, swimming, snorkelling from the beach and the sunsets are free.
Walking around small islands takes minutes and costs nothing.
All visits involve fees: transport, accommodation, Guna Yala entry and island fees.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Meals are usually included in trips: fresh fish, rice, plantain and coconut, and lobster or crab for an extra fee in season.
Bring snacks and water, as there are no shops on most islands.
Some islands sell beer and drinks.
Nightlife
Going out
There is no nightlife beyond your island: a few drinks, a bonfire, and the stars.
Some islands are more social, with backpacker groups.
A beer costs €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around
Trips include a 4x4 from Panama City, leaving around 5am, to the port at Cartí (about 2.5 to 3 hours), then a boat to the islands. Some trips fly to island airstrips.
Multi-day sailing trips link San Blas with Colombia, usually ending in Cartagena or Capurganá. Choose a well-reviewed operator.
There are no roads between islands; you travel by boat.
Costs
What San Blas costs
A two-night trip costs about €120 to €250 including transport, a basic cabin or hammock, and meals. Guna Yala entry and island fees are paid in cash and may not be included.
A sailing trip to Colombia costs several hundred euros.
Panama uses the US dollar, alongside its own balboa coins, which are worth the same. There are no ATMs in Guna Yala, so bring all the cash you need, in small notes.
Safety
Safety and scams
Book with a reputable operator, and check that boats have life jackets; crossings can be rough. Respect Guna rules, including on photography and alcohol.
Medical care is far away. Bring sun protection, insect repellent and a torch.
Drink bottled water. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Islands and onward travel.
Panama City
Back to the capital.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Guna celebrations.
Late February
Guna Revolution anniversary
Guna Yala
Marks the 1925 Guna uprising.
December to April
Dry season
Guna Yala
Sunny, windier crossings.
March or April
Holy Week
Guna Yala
Busy with visitors.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in San Blas, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry season, with stronger winds and choppier crossings. May to November is calmer at sea but rainier.
Jan
Dry, windy
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Easter
May
Rain
Jun
Rain
Jul
Calm
Aug
Rain
Sep
Rain
Oct
Rain
Nov
Wettest
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on San Blas prices.
Treat these as a guide. Trips usually bundle the bed, meals and transport; Guna fees may be extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
San Blas questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to San Blas?
On an organised trip: a 4x4 from Panama City and a boat from Cartí.
Is there electricity?
Little or none on most islands.
Are there ATMs?
No; bring all the cash you need.
Can I sail to Colombia?
Yes, on multi-day sailing trips.
Can I take photos?
Ask first; some islands charge.
How long should I stay?
Two to three nights.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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