San Blas Islands Tours
3D/2N - Private Over-Water Cabin in San Blas Islands PLUS Boat Tour
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3D/2N - Private Over-Water Cabin in San Blas Islands PLUS Boat Tour
By Tao Travel 365 - Panama
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About
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 4-99, max of 14 per group
Duration: 3 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- San Blas Boat Tour
- Snorkel Equipment (Mask & Snorkel) during boat tour
- Entry/Admission - San Blas Islands
- Entry/Admission - Isla Perro
What's not included- Guna Entrance Fee paid to border patrol ($22 for Internationals, $7 for Panamanian residents)
- Beverages
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Carti Parking and Boat Terminal, F23C+W2C, Warsobtugua, Guna Yala, PanamaThe starts in the port of Carti. Contact our office for exact driving directions and instructions. Plan to arrive no later than 8:30am. Only 4x4 vehicles are allowed entry into San Blas territory. All other cars and SUVs will not be allowed to enter the territory and you will lose your tour.
Pickup details- If booking with transportation from Panama City: IF YOU HAVE NOT PROVIDED YOUR WHATSAPP NUMBER AND PICK UP INFORMATION (HOTEL NAME & ROOM NUMBER) YOUR TOUR IS NOT CONFIRMED AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PICK YOU UP. On the day of your tour, please be ready to be picked up from your hotel between 5:00am and 5:45am, and wait in the lobby. Since we have shared transportation with up to 6 guests per car, our drivers choose the best route to pick up all guests in a timely manner. To avoid any delays we appreciate your cooperation in being on time. If you are not at your designated pick up point (and waiting in the lobby!), you will loose your tour without refund. The driver will try his best in contacting you via WhatsApp. Please understand that the driver cannot wait longer than 10 minutes before continuing to the next pick up destination, in order to provide timely service for all of the other guests. If driving on your own to San Blas: Please contact our office for exact driving directions and instructions. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ONLY 4X4 CARS ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE TERRITORY. We have many guests who arrive in a regular SUV (such as Hyundai Tucson or similar), but are not allowed to enter, because the SUV is not a 4x4 and is considered too small or not suitable for the treacherous roads.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Airport pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.- Tocumen Intl Airport, Panama City Panama
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 127626P41- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- You are allowed to bring additional snacks/beverages and a cooler.
- Please DO NOT FORGET to bring your ORIGINAL Passport for the Kuna border crossing
- Our 4x4 transportation has insurance for the car and each passenger inside (maximum 6 passengers per car)
- The boat transfer from the port to the islands may be bumpy with some sea spray. If you are sensitive to motion sickness, please prepare accordingly by bringing appropriate medication. You may also get wet, so please bring some water protection for your luggage and yourself
- We recommend that you bring your personal hygiene items, such as towels, sunscreen, hats, mosquito repellent.
- The usage of drones has been made illegal in the islands of San Blas. Heavy fines have been imposed on those who ignore the law. Please don’t do it!
- Please be advised that San Blas is in the Guna territory, which is an autonomous, Indian zone. The services are very basic. The Gunas will be providing all touristic services, such as meal preparations, car and boat transportations, lodging, and tour guiding. We are proud to be working with this friendly tribe and with each booking we give back to the community, supporting their customs and their traditional way of life. We kindly ask you to respect this beautiful culture and their simple way of life, leaving your expectations behind and learning about their innocent culture.
- Aside from using generators for electricity, there are no amenities and utilities as you are used to from the city. Electricity only available between 6pm and 6am. Food is basic, yet freshly prepared such as fresh fried fish, mixed seafood, chicken or lobster (at extra charge) with salad, rice or plantains.
- We will check the availability of the cabin and will send you a confirmation mail.
- PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR A 2.5 to 3 HOUR CAR JOURNEY EACH WAY OVER CURVY ROADS! THERE IS ALSO A 25-30 MINUTE BOAT RIDE TO YOUR FIRST ISLAND WHICH CAN GET QUITE BUMPY AND WET. We feel that the islands are worth the long drive, but some travelers have complained about the drive and the fast boat ride from and to the port. While we strive to provide our guests the best service and an unforgettable experience in San Blas, we are not responsible for road and ocean conditions, and we would like you to be aware of this fact :)
- IMPORTANT SAN BLAS DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ! While San Blas is a beautiful island archipelago with stunning beaches and clear waters, it also has its downsides, for which we would like to make you aware off. In San Blas only the Kuna population is allowed to work in the territory. The services and infrastructure are not what most of us are used to. Kunas are not very service oriented and can often seem shy or reserved. A stay in San Blas can be compared to a camping vacation that offers minimal comfort, services and amenities. We strongly advise those who have 5 star expectations to think twice before embarking on this adventure. We do have alternative tours in Panama with more high-end services. We really care about our reputation and we want our guests to enjoy their vacation with us. We attempt to be as transparent as possible in order to set guest expectations from the start. We do not own any of the islands and we pride ourselves in providing excellent service during your booking process and attempting to assist you during your San Blas vacation. However, please remember that we cannot guarantee the same excellent service during your stay in San Blas. Please read all the below information well! San Blas is very rustic without the amenities and standards you might be used to from home. Compared to places such as Tahiti and Maldives that are managed by international hotel chains, San Blas has remained autonomous without the influence of outsiders. When visiting San Blas, it should be viewed as a cultural experience where guests live with the Kunas and respect their traditions and their primitive ways of living. No air condition - None of the islands offer A/C, some cabins don’t have fans either. No Wifi - You can buy a prepaid SIM card (Tigo or Digicel), which may or may not have signal. No luxury facilities - Bathrooms may be dirty, sinks may get clogged, sheets may be old Isla Wailidup has been known to receive negative feedback due to its old and worn cabins and oftentimes clogged sinks and toilets. Electricity is only available between 6:00pm and 6:00am. Cabins don’t have outlets. Electric devices can be charged in the restaurant. Water is a precious commodity in San Blas. It is either brought in by boat or pumped from the island well, which may have a significant salt content. Oftentimes pumps can malfunction and cause water outages. Beds and mattresses can be uncomfortable and sheets are old, worn or dirty. What seems like trash and clutter around the local huts, are items and tools that Kunas re-use for their daily lives. Please respect the fact that you will spend your time living alongside the Kunas who have different traditions and values. Please respect the fact that different cultures have different education, perspectives and ways of living and do not expect the cleanliness you may be used to from your home country. All services will all be handled by the indigenous Kuna. While Tao Travel 365 strives to provide the best service possible and train the Kuna in customer management, some of the below services are often out of our control. Car transportation - the ride to San Blas takes 2.5 to 3 hours, with 1.5 hours over slow, curvy roads. For those with motion sickness, please prepare accordingly. The transportation is in a shared 4x4 SUV, with one seat up front, three seats in the middle row and 2 seats in the back row. Seats are assigned randomly. Those who require additional space in the car must purchase an extra seat. Pick up from your lodging is scheduled between 5:00am and 5:30am, but can sometimes be as late as 5:45am depending on the timeliness of other guests that we pick up. Out of respect for all others in the car we ask everyone to wait in the lobby of their building at 5:00am. If you are not at the designated meeting point, the driver will make an effort to locate you, but he cannot delay the transportation by more than 10 minutes. No refunds are awarded to guests who don’t show up on time. Boat transportation - depending on weather and ocean conditions, the 20-40 minute boat ride might be bumpy and wet with ocean spray. Luggage is stored in the front of the boat and covered with tarps. Island cabin management - cabins are very rustic and facilities, such as showers and bathrooms are often “home-made” with PVC pipes. Some guests have complained that sheets are old. Please bring your own if you require fresh smelling sheets. Island kitchen - meal plans are repetitive and food might taste bland, without the use of spices. Additional food, drinks and snacks can be purchased on the way to San Blas. The driver will stop at a grocery store. Most Kunas DO NOT speak English. Please attempt to resolve any cabin related issues and requests directly with the island management. Trash is a worldwide problem and unfortunately San Blas has not been spared from the ever increasing issue. During certain tides and ocean and wind conditions plastic trash from throughout the Caribbean ocean accumulates on the beaches of San Blas. While the local Kuna are working hard to collect the constant flood of plastic trash washing up on their beaches, guests will nevertheless find evidence of plastic spread out on the island. During the wet months (April - December) or during windless days, all of San Blas experiences sandflies, which are little blood-sucking flies that leave itchy marks. Please ensure to bring insect repellent and prepare to return to Panama City with a few itchy memories. Some islands, especially Isla Wailidup tend to have more than others. Weather: Panama is located in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which means that the weather is very unpredictable and is impossible to forecast with accuracy. The weather forecast will usually show rain and thunderstorms for most days of the year, when in reality there are oftentimes beautiful, sunny days in San Blas. Please do not rely on the weather forecast in Panama. Due to the tropical conditions in San Blas rain can occur at any time and we do not offer refunds for rainy days. Guests who stay in cabins and would like to return earlier than their scheduled departure date must notify our reservation team one day before by 5:00pm. tours in order for us to arrange your return transfer. No refunds apply for early departures. Due to the complexity of the logistics involved with each reservation in San Blas (arranging cars, boats, tours, cabins and meals), we kindly ask our guests to adhere to the itinerary schedule sent to them in advance of their trip to San Blas. For any changes in schedule, you must first contact our office at least one day before by 5:00pm and we will attempt to accommodate your request. Travel Emergencies: The San Blas islands are located in a very remote region of Panama. We ask all guests to be responsible for their own well being and to be aware that medical assistance can often not be provided right away. The closest medical facility in San Blas is very basic and can only provide assistance for minor issues. Guests with injuries such as broken bones that require more specialized treatment need to be transported to Panama City. Guests are responsible for all charges arising from a medical emergency, such as boat and car transportation and medical care. We suggest all guests to carry a Travel Insurance to cover emergency expenses. We kindly ask our guests to lower their expectation when visiting San Blas and to focus on the beautiful remote paradise that San Blas has remained despite the effects that modern society has caused to them. The Kunas are very gentle and kind people, but can also be somewhat shy at times. When approaching them with a smile and an open heart you will be guaranteed an innocent, happy smile in return. Arriving with the right mindset and expectation usually guarantees an unforgettable experience, where guests are able to focus on the beauties of the islands, beaches, ocean and the people, rather than on the limitations that we mentioned above.
- Departure time is between 5:00am and 5:45am from your Panama City lodging. If staying at Playa Bonita area, your departure time is between 5:00am and 5:15am.
- In San Blas Islands there are no ATMs - please bring cash. You can buy additional drinks, snacks, souvenirs etc.
- “Tigo” is the cell phone company that has the best reception in San Blas.
- There are no electrical outlets in the huts, only light. You can recharge your phones and cameras in the main house.
- AGAIN!!! Please be prepared for a 2.5 hour car journey each way (1 hour on a highway and about 1.5 hours through the mountains over curvy roads! Please do not leave bad reviews because of the road. We try to warn you ahead of time ;)
- The road to San Blas is very curvy. If you are sensitive to motion sickness, please prepare accordingly by bringing appropriate medication.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 127626P41
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₱17,357.86
per adult
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Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
6 stops
Day 1
Explore and enjoy beautiful Isla...
Day 2
Island Day
Day 3
Check-out from cabin at 8am &...
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- johnpP1138PG0 contributionsNot worth the price!Got picked up around 6:45am from the hotel. Spent a good amount of time in the shuttle. Finally got to the boat launch place and took a 25 min boat ride before we got any sightings of any monkeys on the monkey island. Be aware that there are quite a few tour operators that are looking to do the same thing as you. Boats will literally bump into each other all to get a shot at being able to have the monkeys feed out of your hand. Put another way, there might be three monkeys in proximity and 15 hands waiting to get a shot. Our boat only had 4 tourists including myself, plus the tour operator and the driver of the boat. The tour operator got to feed as he was demonstrating how to do it. Perhaps he should've paid us for the tour instead of the other way around. By the time I was able to get to the front of the boat to have a shot, the monkeys were gone. So, I was able to get a few photos of others.. The butterfly, frog, sloth exhibit was also very underwhelming. I would not recommend this tour at all. Next time I would hire a private guide and create my own schedule and spend whatever amount of time I desire doing any specific activity.Written November 27, 2024
- 160chuckt0 contributionsDefinitely worth seeing the sloths but remember they don’t move much.We were very happy to get up close to see the sloths and we also saw the 3toed sloth in the wild. The butterflies were ok but seeing the frogs was super cool (but they are tiny). We hired a driver to take us & that was very helpful as we could go at our own pace & he had a great eye for the sloths and knew a lot about them.Written November 24, 2024
- Alexia D0 contributionsPerfect beaches, plenty space for everyone.Pleasant trip and wonderful beaches. Food was great too. Try the Coco Loco. Bring ginger pills if you arent comfy riding a roller coaster for 2h straight. The hills of San Blas are a nice little bonus experience but most will need a little something for the nausea to enjoy them.Written November 23, 2024
- 89lisettel0 contributionsSloth lover!The sanctuary is on the small side, they have 4 sloths which are lifers. The staff is very nice and helpful however the displays were kind of lacking…..Written November 21, 2024
- ducki170 contributionsbook this tour! such a great small group experience.This was such a great experience, we were lucky to have just us, another guest and Mario our guide for our tour. We were picked up at our hotel and driven to the lake where we boarded a boat and were taken thru the lake and river as far as we could go then we put on our water shoes and walked thru the creeks to the waterfall. After some time enjoying a swim there we went back to the boat and then went to visit the village of the Parara Puru. We had a nice visit and lunch and were able to purchase some nice items that they made. They were very welcoming and such nice people. I would definitely go back if I come to Panama again. tips are make sure you bring bug spray and are ready and able to walk thru rocky water and do some climbing. we had water shoes that were recommended by the guide and so helpful but we saw other tours and their guests had on loafers and jeans and they were struggling.Written November 18, 2024
- 235rhondak0 contributionsGreat tourOur tour guide was great. He explained what we were seeing on the way to the canal and the Fort. He was knowledgeable, accommodating and kind.Written November 12, 2024
- Belinda M0 contributionsRide from hellHorrible driver there’s no tour just maniac driving. Making passengers ill. Never made it on the boat because my husband and another passenger were throwing up and shaken from the horrible driver. Then he laughed when we needed to get back to the hotel. We paid 130 US dollars to get back.Written November 10, 2024
- Sherpa682193657660 contributionsBeautiful sites, but poor executionThe scenery was great, but the tour itself was poor overall. The tour guide was hard to understand and didn't speak very good English. The activities described in the advertisement happened, but in a completely different order. What was most disappointing is that we did not get lunch until 3 pm. And then right after lunch was the only opportunity for snorkeling (which should have occurred before lunch which was supposed to be at noon.). The Zapatilla Cay we stopped at had beautiful white sand and crystal clear water. We were supposed to be there 2 hours, but the police stopped by and asked everyone to leave the cay about an hour and 15 minutes into our visit there. We were given no reason why.Written November 6, 2024
- 457imah0 contributionsDon’t miss this experienceThis was the best tour I have had in year. Daniel our guide was fantastic and so knowledgble. We hiked all of India Dormida and saw Anton Valley highlights. Dont miss this experienceWritten September 19, 2024
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsDont miss it!We loved the new island! I have been in San Blas islands before but visited touristy islands! This island is brand new and just opened. The gunas are very welcoming! Tao Travel 365 is very communicative, helpfull and replied all of our doubts! 100% reccomendedWritten September 19, 2024
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsBeautiful India Dormida and amazing guideThis is a full day tour, be ready to spend a beautiful day outside of Panama City hiking the beautiful India Dormida! It is full reccomended. Ali was an excellent guide!Written September 19, 2024
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsAmazing tour!Amazing tour at an affordable price! Pick up was on time, good guide/boat driver and Bioluminescence experience was awesome! Totally recommended Tao Travel 365!Written September 19, 2024
- N4606JNstephanies0 contributionsYou'll love it!If you want to get up close to at least 3 different kinds of beautiful monkeys, this is your tour! We also got to watch sloths and have a lovely boat ride on the Chagres River.Written September 1, 2024
- Rizzle8Cinco0 contributionsAmazing!This truly was a unique experience! From boating along the river to hiking in the jungle to swimming at the beautiful waterfall. At the end meeting/eating and dancing with the beautiful embera tribe. Amazing day!Written August 20, 2024
- Rizzle8Cinco0 contributionsGamboa adventureAn amazing beautiful sanctuary! Great place to connect with nature! The gandola ride to the top was very relaxing..just you and nature with a great view at the top over seeing the canal. It was great to see the sloths at the sanctuary (spoiled little fur balls ❤️) and all the other animals (butterflies, rain frogs). Had an amazing time overall. There is also ziplining but you need to book in advance.Written August 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ken h
7 contributions
So this is a totally mixed bag. There is no way you can experience over the water cabins than this. It was so amazing, little islands around us, fish at our dock, swimming, snorkeling, sail boats anchored close by, as close to paradise as you can get.
The food was nothing spectacular but was quite decent. Chicken and rice, fresh fish, common for a tiny island.
The cabins could use some work, if you are going with the website pics they are not up to date. They need quite a bit of work and cleaning. Beds weren't great, I would bring your own sheets, we did and were happier. I would say if you can get past campground type lodging you will be perfectly happy, we were.
The island really could use some cleaning quite a bit of garbage as well. The crew need to tighten it up and clean more and put it up.
The food was nothing spectacular but was quite decent. Chicken and rice, fresh fish, common for a tiny island.
The cabins could use some work, if you are going with the website pics they are not up to date. They need quite a bit of work and cleaning. Beds weren't great, I would bring your own sheets, we did and were happier. I would say if you can get past campground type lodging you will be perfectly happy, we were.
The island really could use some cleaning quite a bit of garbage as well. The crew need to tighten it up and clean more and put it up.
Written April 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Chorny, thank you for your feedback. We are happy that you enjoyed your stay in San Blas. The islands and cabins are very basic and we try to communicate this fact in our listing and in our San Blas disclaimer. We clearly state that guests should expect camping-like conditions. Those who come prepared with the right expectations, as you did, will enjoy their stay.
We do communicate to the island frequently about improving their facilities, which in the end is up to the resident Kuna family. Slowly but surely they do the work ;)
Thanks again for choosing our company for your travel and we hope to hear back from you again on your next visit to Panama.
Written April 23, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Molly H
5 contributions
I came to Isla Wailidup with my parents and family friend for 2 nights and 3 days over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
It was one of, if not the most beautiful place I have travelled to. As the information provides said the cabin was basic however the sheets were clean and soft, and the bed was so comfy! We had an en-suite bathroom in our cabin which we were not expecting. There was a mosquito net that covered one bed (we had 2 doubles in our cabin) so it might be worth taking one with you as that area has yellow fever risk.
The food was served on time, if not early each day and they remembered that I was vegetarian at each meal without me reminding them. We took a large bottle of water with us and some snacks, which I’d recommend doing - there is a stop on the way where you can purchase some snacks to take with you. Our island had both soft and alcoholic drinks to purchase (2$ for a beer, 2$ for a coffee - there was wine, spirit and mixer to have however I don’t know the prices of these as we didn’t buy them).
Everyone on the Island was so kind and accommodating, they made us feel at home with their hospitality. We spoke a little Spanish and they spoke a little English so we were able to communicate our needs perfectly. They went above and beyond our expectations.
Tao Travel 365 was organised to perfection. They were really easy to contact, kept us up to date with everything and responded quickly.
We were collected from our AirBnB at the exact time we were told by our driver Adrian and taken to the port where Adrian got us onto our boat who took us directly from there to our over the water cabin arriving at 10am for a full day of relaxing on the beach and in the crystal clear water.
Our full day was spent doing more relaxing, lazing in hammocks, swimming and lots of reading our books.
The final day, we had breakfast then checked out at 8am and we were collected from the Island to go on a tour of 2 other islands and some natural pools. The boat driver and his crew were on time, kept us informed as to what we were doing and the time we had to spend at each place. Lunch was provided along with a drink. We were then taken back to the port where Adrian met us and took us back to Panama City.
I cannot recommend this trip enough!!! I will be dreaming of it for months to come.
One little tip, towels aren’t provided so you will be using the same towel for beach/swims and showering so if you can it might be worth taking 2 towels if you want to.
It was one of, if not the most beautiful place I have travelled to. As the information provides said the cabin was basic however the sheets were clean and soft, and the bed was so comfy! We had an en-suite bathroom in our cabin which we were not expecting. There was a mosquito net that covered one bed (we had 2 doubles in our cabin) so it might be worth taking one with you as that area has yellow fever risk.
The food was served on time, if not early each day and they remembered that I was vegetarian at each meal without me reminding them. We took a large bottle of water with us and some snacks, which I’d recommend doing - there is a stop on the way where you can purchase some snacks to take with you. Our island had both soft and alcoholic drinks to purchase (2$ for a beer, 2$ for a coffee - there was wine, spirit and mixer to have however I don’t know the prices of these as we didn’t buy them).
Everyone on the Island was so kind and accommodating, they made us feel at home with their hospitality. We spoke a little Spanish and they spoke a little English so we were able to communicate our needs perfectly. They went above and beyond our expectations.
Tao Travel 365 was organised to perfection. They were really easy to contact, kept us up to date with everything and responded quickly.
We were collected from our AirBnB at the exact time we were told by our driver Adrian and taken to the port where Adrian got us onto our boat who took us directly from there to our over the water cabin arriving at 10am for a full day of relaxing on the beach and in the crystal clear water.
Our full day was spent doing more relaxing, lazing in hammocks, swimming and lots of reading our books.
The final day, we had breakfast then checked out at 8am and we were collected from the Island to go on a tour of 2 other islands and some natural pools. The boat driver and his crew were on time, kept us informed as to what we were doing and the time we had to spend at each place. Lunch was provided along with a drink. We were then taken back to the port where Adrian met us and took us back to Panama City.
I cannot recommend this trip enough!!! I will be dreaming of it for months to come.
One little tip, towels aren’t provided so you will be using the same towel for beach/swims and showering so if you can it might be worth taking 2 towels if you want to.
Written April 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Molly,
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful time and that our island staff was able to make you feel at home. Our office team also does their utmost to provide excellent service to provide memorable guest experiences, which. is our main goal.
Your kind and detailed feedback is the best reward for our hard work.
We appreciate your tip about bringing an extra towel. We will also remind the island staff to provide them to the guests.
We hope you return soon so we can show you more amazing Panama sites :)
Written April 15, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Braeden C
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Solo
Truly an amazing experience. If you are able to let go and relax and enjoy the time for what it is- you will be very rewarded.
Written December 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Braeden, we are happy you enjoyed your visit to San Blas in our Over-the-Water cabin. Thank you for choosing our services and we hope to hear back from you soon :)
Written December 9, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Debra H
6 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
First the positives:
Our driver picked us up on time at our hotel. Our drive was uneventful, and more pleasant than expected as the road is now mostly paved, making what was once a four hour trip a two-hour trip. This must be a recent addition, as everything we heard and read said it was a very bumpy and arduous drive. We had internet and phone service the entire time which was a surprise. And finally, even though the food was simple, it was very good. We even had lobster one night, and our host, Orlando only charged us $10 per person.
Now onto the realities:
The motorboats hauling people from island to island are not inspected for safety. We got on the boat and as we were heading out, one of the guides grabbed the stanchion to the boat canopy to hoist himself to the front of the boat. The stanchion broke free because the screws holding it in place had come out, and it came crashing down on our daughters’ legs. It cut her leg, thank goodness, not severely, but the next day she had a huge bruise. And it was painful for the rest of our trip.
The boats are not easy to get onto or off of. The one review I read said the San Blas Islands were for anyone from 1-99 years old. Not true. I would never take a child. It’s too dangerous. And I am a healthy active 67-year-old, but I have double knee replacements. It was low tide when we arrived, so getting on the boat required us to fold ourselves in half like Gumby, while leaping onto the boat, which got more difficult as the boat filled with people. When we arrived at our island, exiting the boat required some unsightly acrobatics somewhere between a full split and a lunge in conjunction with two people pulling us up. There isn’t a ladder on the boat and there isn’t one on the dock. Those should be minimum safety requirements.
We choose the over-water cabins because of the online picture and the Tao Travel website stated that the over-the-water cabins on Wailidup island were newly constructed. The website also advertised a clubhouse that served cocktails.
Ok. These cabins are NOT newly built. In fact, they are falling apart. I sat on a bench in the dining area, and it fell apart. The owner switched it for another one for me. Our bed had a huge crack in it and felt like it was going to break every time we turned over. Only one bed had mosquito netting. The sheets were not clean and there was no telling when the last time was they were washed. The planks on the dock were coming un-nailed, with rusty nails sticking up. It was very shaky walking, and I was afraid we were going to fall through or pierce our foot with a nail. There was no gorgeous beach. It was full of trash. This was not trash that had washed up on shore from Columbia. It was trash from day to day living by the Guna residents. There was no clubhouse. There certainly were no cocktails, and we had to walk across a cesspool to the other side of the island to get a lukewarm soda. In between some coconut palm trees on the beach were some hammocks. You laid in these at your own risk. The hammocks were full of coconuts that had fallen from the tree above, and looking up there were plenty more in the trees still to fall. So that was a concussion or a subdural hematoma waiting to happen, depending on if your head was harder than a coconut or not. If there are going to be hammocks, the coconuts need to be removed. There were no other chairs or seating on the beach, and since the beach was so filthy, I was not going to lay one of my towels on it.
Inside our cabin, there were rusty nails sticking out of the wall, and my husband cut his arm on one. The sink fell of the wall when my husband leaned against it, so he had to re-attach it. We were not expecting hot water, but the water we showered in was gray in color, so I really did not feel clean after a shower. You need to bring water shoes for even the shower, as it is a very rough concrete base which will cut your feet, and it is filthy, so the risk of infection would be high. Then one day our host ran out of gasoline. So that meant there was no water at all, because the water pump is gasoline powered.
We could not go in the water because there was human excrement floating in it. The sewer line leading from the cabin toilets to the cesspool in the center of the island was broken under the dock, and the toilets were flushing directly into the ocean. The owner finally noticed it too and fixed it the second day we were there. But by that time, we had no desire to go in the water anywhere near these cabins. And good thing. One morning we got up to an 8-foot crocodile swimming a few yards from our cabin. No one mentioned those.
The Tao Travel website regarding this trip talks about the trash seen on the beaches, since this seems to be a major complaint of tourists. They even claim they have been actively involved in educating the Guna people in recycling. The $2 every tourist pays to enter the San Blas is supposed to help the Guna people clear the beaches of the trash.
I have no problem paying $2-5 to help the Guna people keep the beaches clean. But they need to keep the beaches clean. Our host sat on the dock most of the day and his son was in one of the cabins playing video games on his phone. They threw more trash on the beach but no one was picking any up. The trash is a health hazard and attracts vermin. We left no trash and took everything we brought back with us. There are no trash bins for recycling as claimed, and the one bin that I put my food waste in was overflowing. With all the motorboats coming and going to these islands, some boats need to be dedicated to helping remove trash from these islands and take it back to the mainland where it can be disposed of in a more sanitary fashion. Maybe Tao Travel and any other tour companies sending tourists to these islands need to be even more proactive in helping the Guna dispose of this trash, since much of the trash is being generated from servicing tourists. The trash we saw is not washing up on the beach from Columbia as Tao Travel wants you to think.
And the bane of our existence for the entire 3 days, was the sand fleas on this island. There is nothing being done to control them and with all the trash they are taking over. The second we stepped off the boat they descended on us. We had bug repellent wrist bracelets on both wrists and on our ankles. No help. We tried Eucalyptus/Lemon bug repellent. No help. Then we put on Precaridin, the heavy-duty stuff, which worked if we kept reapplying it every couple of hours. It was misery. There is no reason the sand fleas had to be that bad on Walidup. They were not a problem on any of the other islands we were taken to on our third day. My husband and daughter were allergic to the bites and ended up with huge, migrating, itching rashes that took a full two weeks to go away. Sand fleas do carry a disease called Tungiasis. It is caused by adult female sand fleas that burrow into the skin mostly of the feet. It occurs in poor and marginalized areas of the Caribbean. And once again, this is a safety issue. If companies are going to run tours to these areas, they should assist the Guna population, so they are not so poor and marginalized, and their islands are not bug infested. Sand fleas are controllable.
On our return boat ride back to the mainland, one of the guides was putting a wood rod in between the stanchions to hold the canopy, and it slipped and hit my husband’s hand, cutting it. It would not stop bleeding, so I am trying to reach my pack in the front of the boat which has bandages in it while the boat is bumping along at high speed on the water. No one seemed to really care that my husband’s hand was dripping blood all over the boat. I finally got a bandage on it, but he also still had to hold pressure on it. This made it difficult for him to get off the boat. While we were going from island to island, one woman stepped on a sea urchin, and another was stung by a stingray. There was no one around with medical knowledge, and medical treatment was non-existent. I am truly shocked no one has gotten seriously injured. Or maybe they have and we just haven’t heard about it.
I enjoyed talking with our host. I speak Spanish so we had some enjoyable conversations, and he was lonely, so I did not mind spending time with him. And we enjoyed learning about the Guna culture. However, the trip was far from enjoyable, and we were perplexed at the reviews describing this wonderful tropical island paradise, when it was so far from our experience. We are hikers and backpackers, and we are used to “rustic” experiences. This was not rustic. It was dangerous and a health hazard. I was never so happy to put my feet on shore back on the mainland and get back to our hotel in Panama City to shower and wash twenty layers of bug repellent off our skin. We were on this trip, celebrating my husband’s 70th birthday. I was hoping to give him a relaxing three days away from the hustle and bustle of the big City on a beautiful Caribbean Island. Instead, we were literally trapped on an island for two days. We ended up feeling like we had just filmed a segment of a survival series and we were lucky to make it to the end of the show.
We were in Panama almost two weeks. We took several other tours with three different companies, and they were all wonderful and exactly as advertised. This trip was nothing like advertised and where we stayed looked nothing like the online photos. We were very disappointed, and sadly wish we had not done it. I wrote a letter to Tao Travel directly and got no response. So they are not available while on your trip or afterward.
Our driver picked us up on time at our hotel. Our drive was uneventful, and more pleasant than expected as the road is now mostly paved, making what was once a four hour trip a two-hour trip. This must be a recent addition, as everything we heard and read said it was a very bumpy and arduous drive. We had internet and phone service the entire time which was a surprise. And finally, even though the food was simple, it was very good. We even had lobster one night, and our host, Orlando only charged us $10 per person.
Now onto the realities:
The motorboats hauling people from island to island are not inspected for safety. We got on the boat and as we were heading out, one of the guides grabbed the stanchion to the boat canopy to hoist himself to the front of the boat. The stanchion broke free because the screws holding it in place had come out, and it came crashing down on our daughters’ legs. It cut her leg, thank goodness, not severely, but the next day she had a huge bruise. And it was painful for the rest of our trip.
The boats are not easy to get onto or off of. The one review I read said the San Blas Islands were for anyone from 1-99 years old. Not true. I would never take a child. It’s too dangerous. And I am a healthy active 67-year-old, but I have double knee replacements. It was low tide when we arrived, so getting on the boat required us to fold ourselves in half like Gumby, while leaping onto the boat, which got more difficult as the boat filled with people. When we arrived at our island, exiting the boat required some unsightly acrobatics somewhere between a full split and a lunge in conjunction with two people pulling us up. There isn’t a ladder on the boat and there isn’t one on the dock. Those should be minimum safety requirements.
We choose the over-water cabins because of the online picture and the Tao Travel website stated that the over-the-water cabins on Wailidup island were newly constructed. The website also advertised a clubhouse that served cocktails.
Ok. These cabins are NOT newly built. In fact, they are falling apart. I sat on a bench in the dining area, and it fell apart. The owner switched it for another one for me. Our bed had a huge crack in it and felt like it was going to break every time we turned over. Only one bed had mosquito netting. The sheets were not clean and there was no telling when the last time was they were washed. The planks on the dock were coming un-nailed, with rusty nails sticking up. It was very shaky walking, and I was afraid we were going to fall through or pierce our foot with a nail. There was no gorgeous beach. It was full of trash. This was not trash that had washed up on shore from Columbia. It was trash from day to day living by the Guna residents. There was no clubhouse. There certainly were no cocktails, and we had to walk across a cesspool to the other side of the island to get a lukewarm soda. In between some coconut palm trees on the beach were some hammocks. You laid in these at your own risk. The hammocks were full of coconuts that had fallen from the tree above, and looking up there were plenty more in the trees still to fall. So that was a concussion or a subdural hematoma waiting to happen, depending on if your head was harder than a coconut or not. If there are going to be hammocks, the coconuts need to be removed. There were no other chairs or seating on the beach, and since the beach was so filthy, I was not going to lay one of my towels on it.
Inside our cabin, there were rusty nails sticking out of the wall, and my husband cut his arm on one. The sink fell of the wall when my husband leaned against it, so he had to re-attach it. We were not expecting hot water, but the water we showered in was gray in color, so I really did not feel clean after a shower. You need to bring water shoes for even the shower, as it is a very rough concrete base which will cut your feet, and it is filthy, so the risk of infection would be high. Then one day our host ran out of gasoline. So that meant there was no water at all, because the water pump is gasoline powered.
We could not go in the water because there was human excrement floating in it. The sewer line leading from the cabin toilets to the cesspool in the center of the island was broken under the dock, and the toilets were flushing directly into the ocean. The owner finally noticed it too and fixed it the second day we were there. But by that time, we had no desire to go in the water anywhere near these cabins. And good thing. One morning we got up to an 8-foot crocodile swimming a few yards from our cabin. No one mentioned those.
The Tao Travel website regarding this trip talks about the trash seen on the beaches, since this seems to be a major complaint of tourists. They even claim they have been actively involved in educating the Guna people in recycling. The $2 every tourist pays to enter the San Blas is supposed to help the Guna people clear the beaches of the trash.
I have no problem paying $2-5 to help the Guna people keep the beaches clean. But they need to keep the beaches clean. Our host sat on the dock most of the day and his son was in one of the cabins playing video games on his phone. They threw more trash on the beach but no one was picking any up. The trash is a health hazard and attracts vermin. We left no trash and took everything we brought back with us. There are no trash bins for recycling as claimed, and the one bin that I put my food waste in was overflowing. With all the motorboats coming and going to these islands, some boats need to be dedicated to helping remove trash from these islands and take it back to the mainland where it can be disposed of in a more sanitary fashion. Maybe Tao Travel and any other tour companies sending tourists to these islands need to be even more proactive in helping the Guna dispose of this trash, since much of the trash is being generated from servicing tourists. The trash we saw is not washing up on the beach from Columbia as Tao Travel wants you to think.
And the bane of our existence for the entire 3 days, was the sand fleas on this island. There is nothing being done to control them and with all the trash they are taking over. The second we stepped off the boat they descended on us. We had bug repellent wrist bracelets on both wrists and on our ankles. No help. We tried Eucalyptus/Lemon bug repellent. No help. Then we put on Precaridin, the heavy-duty stuff, which worked if we kept reapplying it every couple of hours. It was misery. There is no reason the sand fleas had to be that bad on Walidup. They were not a problem on any of the other islands we were taken to on our third day. My husband and daughter were allergic to the bites and ended up with huge, migrating, itching rashes that took a full two weeks to go away. Sand fleas do carry a disease called Tungiasis. It is caused by adult female sand fleas that burrow into the skin mostly of the feet. It occurs in poor and marginalized areas of the Caribbean. And once again, this is a safety issue. If companies are going to run tours to these areas, they should assist the Guna population, so they are not so poor and marginalized, and their islands are not bug infested. Sand fleas are controllable.
On our return boat ride back to the mainland, one of the guides was putting a wood rod in between the stanchions to hold the canopy, and it slipped and hit my husband’s hand, cutting it. It would not stop bleeding, so I am trying to reach my pack in the front of the boat which has bandages in it while the boat is bumping along at high speed on the water. No one seemed to really care that my husband’s hand was dripping blood all over the boat. I finally got a bandage on it, but he also still had to hold pressure on it. This made it difficult for him to get off the boat. While we were going from island to island, one woman stepped on a sea urchin, and another was stung by a stingray. There was no one around with medical knowledge, and medical treatment was non-existent. I am truly shocked no one has gotten seriously injured. Or maybe they have and we just haven’t heard about it.
I enjoyed talking with our host. I speak Spanish so we had some enjoyable conversations, and he was lonely, so I did not mind spending time with him. And we enjoyed learning about the Guna culture. However, the trip was far from enjoyable, and we were perplexed at the reviews describing this wonderful tropical island paradise, when it was so far from our experience. We are hikers and backpackers, and we are used to “rustic” experiences. This was not rustic. It was dangerous and a health hazard. I was never so happy to put my feet on shore back on the mainland and get back to our hotel in Panama City to shower and wash twenty layers of bug repellent off our skin. We were on this trip, celebrating my husband’s 70th birthday. I was hoping to give him a relaxing three days away from the hustle and bustle of the big City on a beautiful Caribbean Island. Instead, we were literally trapped on an island for two days. We ended up feeling like we had just filmed a segment of a survival series and we were lucky to make it to the end of the show.
We were in Panama almost two weeks. We took several other tours with three different companies, and they were all wonderful and exactly as advertised. This trip was nothing like advertised and where we stayed looked nothing like the online photos. We were very disappointed, and sadly wish we had not done it. I wrote a letter to Tao Travel directly and got no response. So they are not available while on your trip or afterward.
Written October 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your detailed report about your San Blas experience. We are very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your time and that your expectations were not met.
Firstly, when traveling to a third world country, especially to a remote location such as San Blas that is inhabited by a primitive tribe, such as the Kunas, guests should leave their expectations behind. We try to prepare our guests ahead of their stay with our thorough San Blas disclaimer, detailing the basic conditions and services, which are all managed by the primitive Kuna.
Since you mentioned the lancha boats in San Blas, we would like to stress that these boats, while very basic, are regularly inspected by the Kuna port authorities. If the awning broke, during your ride to the island, your boat crew did their best to stabilize it to provide shade for you. While you perceived this as a safety hazard, we can assure you that our boat crew is doing their best to keep all guests healthy and safe. All boat personal participates in a regular first-aid course and is trained to assist in emergencies. We are very sorry to hear about your husband's hand and we hope he feels better again.
Sand flies are common in all of the Caribbean, especially during the wet season, when there are no winds. Again, we mention this fact in our disclaimer.
The shower water is either harvested directly from the island well, which may contain some salt, or it is imported from a river from the mainland. Either way, we advise our guests about this fact in our San Blas disclaimer and even suggest certain hygiene products.
Again we are very sorry about your unfortunate experience. It is our aim to provide great service to all of our guests.
We take your feedback very seriously and we will follow up with talk the responsible people involved during your stay. Rest assured as a company we keep learning and improving. We also keep educating the Kunas, teaching them about customer service and about accommodation standards.
We hope you were able to enjoy the remainder of your Panama vacation.
Written November 11, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jason N
New York City, NY34 contributions
If you are looking for paradise on a budget this is it! My wife and i visited the Maldives earlier this year and spent over $15,000 on that trip. However, we found pictures of San Blas online and were amazed when we realized it's not as widely spoken of as The Maldives.
We ended up taking a multi-country trip with our first stop in Panama city. We booked a 3 day 2 night trip to San Blas for around $650 for two.
The reservation includes pick up from your hotel at 5am. You will likely be in a 4x4 with a total of 7 people. 2 hours later you will make a stop at one of the largest supermarkets ever. Then, you will make your way into the bumpiest 1.5 hr drive of your life. This 1.5 hour drive will lead you to the port where all of the boats are dock. Be prepared, because once you get there, you will be rushed to and loaded onto a boat with all of your things—no time for a restroom break.
Then, it will take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to get to your island (we stayed at Walidub island).
The entire length of the trip (from pick up to drop off) took about 5 hours.
Once on the island, you will be met by the Kuna Yala employees/natives that take care of the island and the guests within it.
Now, to the island experience:
If you are going here thinking you will be in luxurious accommodations, you will be sorely disappointed. The cabanas on the island are like cabins you would find at a Campground. The beds did not all have sheets, the electricity only runs from 6p to 6a, the water from the faucet and shower smell like feces, the toilet will not flush properly (yes, your poop will just float in the toilet bowl), you will get stung by a gazillion mosquitoes, the walls are paper thin, it may be extremely windy at night and you might have a hard time sleeping, it will either be too cold or too hot at night and the wall fans don't all work, and you might not be provided with a detailed itinerary of your stay.
But, with all of that said, if you keep all of that in mind, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Kuna people are always happy and very accommodating.
Expect to be fed 3 times a day. The food is great, but don't expect a Michelin Star restaurant.
The price of your stay also includes an island hopping tour with a free lunch!
My wife and I honestly couldn't believe we only paid $650 for a pickup, drop off (they will even drop you off at a different location if you need them to), 3 meals per day, an island hopping tour, and free lunch on our tour!
If you are not someone who is nitpicky about every tiny detail when you travel, then I highly recommend this tour!
We ended up taking a multi-country trip with our first stop in Panama city. We booked a 3 day 2 night trip to San Blas for around $650 for two.
The reservation includes pick up from your hotel at 5am. You will likely be in a 4x4 with a total of 7 people. 2 hours later you will make a stop at one of the largest supermarkets ever. Then, you will make your way into the bumpiest 1.5 hr drive of your life. This 1.5 hour drive will lead you to the port where all of the boats are dock. Be prepared, because once you get there, you will be rushed to and loaded onto a boat with all of your things—no time for a restroom break.
Then, it will take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to get to your island (we stayed at Walidub island).
The entire length of the trip (from pick up to drop off) took about 5 hours.
Once on the island, you will be met by the Kuna Yala employees/natives that take care of the island and the guests within it.
Now, to the island experience:
If you are going here thinking you will be in luxurious accommodations, you will be sorely disappointed. The cabanas on the island are like cabins you would find at a Campground. The beds did not all have sheets, the electricity only runs from 6p to 6a, the water from the faucet and shower smell like feces, the toilet will not flush properly (yes, your poop will just float in the toilet bowl), you will get stung by a gazillion mosquitoes, the walls are paper thin, it may be extremely windy at night and you might have a hard time sleeping, it will either be too cold or too hot at night and the wall fans don't all work, and you might not be provided with a detailed itinerary of your stay.
But, with all of that said, if you keep all of that in mind, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Kuna people are always happy and very accommodating.
Expect to be fed 3 times a day. The food is great, but don't expect a Michelin Star restaurant.
The price of your stay also includes an island hopping tour with a free lunch!
My wife and I honestly couldn't believe we only paid $650 for a pickup, drop off (they will even drop you off at a different location if you need them to), 3 meals per day, an island hopping tour, and free lunch on our tour!
If you are not someone who is nitpicky about every tiny detail when you travel, then I highly recommend this tour!
Written November 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jason, we are happy that you and your wife enjoyed your stay with us despite the basic lodging facilities. We are sending out a San Blas disclaimer to everyone, mentioning your above mentioned details about the facilities, hoping to lower guest expectations. We believe that if guests are well aware of what to expect, everyone will have the time of their life in beautiful San Blas Paradise.
Thank you again for your detailed feedback, which we hope others will read to prepare themselves properly for their stay in San Blas.
We hope to hear back from you again soon :)
Written November 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi,
do you do longer trips? We are looking for at least 8 days of kayaking, staying in camps or cabins.
Thanks,
Boris.
Written November 15, 2021
Hola! Q Islas y excursiones incluye?
Written October 29, 2021
Hola! Q Islas y excursiones incluye?
Written October 29, 2021
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