Adventure travel sailboat charters in San Blas and winter 2019 packages! San Blas adventure travel destinations are a hot thing in 2019. Can you take your luggage to San Blas? Nope! You need to leave your luggage behind in Panama City an pack a day-bag for San Blas. If you are in these small planes, you cannot take a big bag, you can’t fit it into these packed tourist Jeeps, and you can’t take it on the small boats out to the islands. Both our original “hotel” (really just a bed over the sand) and our sailing company told us no luggage. You could get by with a backpack 48L or less I suppose. Definitely no rolling luggage! We left ours at our hotel in Panama City when we checked out. They are used to this.
Your San Blas adventure starts early in the morning. A friendly driver will meet you at your Panama City lodging between 5:15am and 5:45am and safely transport you and up to five other guests to the Port of Carti. Relax and start enjoying during the 2.5-3 hour journey through the spectacular jungle highlands. Oftentimes we encounter wildlife, such as monkeys and sloths on the road and will gladly stop the car to give you opportunities to admire these beautiful animals and to take photos. Our drivers will also stop at a grocery store in case you want to purchase any items, such as snacks, water or fruit. When arriving at the port your “lancha” boat and San Blas trip tour guide will be waiting for you, ready to commence the San Blas tour. The 30-minute boat ride to the first island may be a little bumpy and, depending on ocean conditions, there may be some ocean spray. All of our boats have ample space and feature sun protection that will make this journey more comfortable.
To get to San Blas you’ve got four options. You can fly from Panama straight into the San Blas Islands, take a sailing boat from Cartagena, take a speedboat from Capurganá, or take the bus from Panama City. Most backpackers travelling between Colombia and Panama choose one of these options. For a good reason: Travelling over the land border, known as the ‘Darien Gap’, can be very dangerous . This is a popular drug trafficking route out of Colombia to Panama and is not safe (plus it’s just untamed jungle the whole way!). Find additional details at San Blas Day Tours.
We do use organisations with in whom we have confidence and have used for years, but this doesn’t mean that your trip will always go smoothly. San Blas is still basically third world country and things do not operate as they do back home. The transport is operatd on a shared basis and they have to pick up other passengers so will sometimes be late to pick you up and to return you home. They may stop along the way to make stops that are unscheduled, they may try to fit one extra person in the car. The music could be too loud and there could be mechanical problems. When you arrrive in San Blas you may spend time waiting for transport to your place of accommodation and it may seem like no one knows what is happening. But it usually works out and you’ll make it there. Bear with it and remember, you’re not back home! A little discomfort now will be worth it when you’re relaxing on those beautiful beaches.
Few locations include Isla Isabel National Park, This island was cataloged National Park for being the habitat of a great variety of birds. Your visit will be unforgettable as you will enjoy sunrises and sunsets framed by the Pacific, plus you will have the possibility to camp one night on the island. If the visits during the winter opens the eyes well because they will pass whales.
For fans of surfing, beaches like El Borrego, Matanchen Bay, Los Cocos, and Las Islitas are ideal for surfing, especially during the summer when the waves reach great heights. At the famous Ramadas (small restaurants) located at the edge of the beach you can find instructors and rent surfboards. Do not miss this opportunity!
If you truly want to get off the beaten track and have a taste of adventure, a trip to the San Blas Islands might be just what you’re looking for. Postcard perfect islands with palm trees and crystal-clear water gently lapping the white-sand beaches is what this area is all about. However, you need to be prepared to bring out your inner Robinson Crusoe, as the accommodations are generally on the rustic side. The only way to visit these idyllic islands is to book a package with the local indigenous Guna people, which includes transport to, from, and around the islands, accommodation, and three basic meals a day. This is a totally off-the-grid type of trip, so prepare accordingly. See extra info on San Blas Adventures.