Sailing Blue Sky
Sailing Blue Sky
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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About
52 ft. Sailing yacht Blue Sky offers crewed sailing charters in the beautiful, pristine San Blas Islands off the coast of the Rep. of Panama. Meet the local friendly Guna Indians. Fun, English speaking, U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Capt., chef prepared meals, enjoy snorkeling tours, fishing, kayaks. 1 queen and 1 king stateroom, private bath available. Kids welcome! Optional waterfall hiking tour thru the rainforest offered by a local Guna Indian.
Guna Yala Region, Panama
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Escape565711
Ferney-Voltaire, France2 contributions
Jan 2023
Once I found out about the San Blas Islands I was determined to spend time there sailing! A friend and I decided to charter a boat and had the good chance to do so with Debbie and Breeze on Blue Sky for 4 days and nights. Their sailboat looked spacious and comfortable and that is exactly what we found. The king stateroom was a great size with a very comfortable bed and we loved being rocked to sleep at night. Not being spring chickens we found the 4x4 ride through the jungle a bit jolting as was the smacking of the water taxis out to the boat but both were part of the adventure and the scenery was lovely! The organization for the transportation was handled very well and although the port looked a bit chaotic, everyone seemed to know who went where with whom. We were warmly greeted by Debbie and Breeze upon arrival and were soon served a tasty lunch. All of our meals were plentiful and good with many fruits and vegetables. A favorite was an intricate salad served with a grilled fish filet. The first afternoon we took a wonderful nap and then were off to snorkel near the island where we were anchored. The undersea life is beautiful and there are so many different fish. We moved to a new snorkeling site each day so were able to sail which was highly enjoyable. Both of us were happy with all the downtime we had reading, playing games and just relaxing and watching the beautiful scenery and sea. When there weren’t clouds the night sky was exceptional. Both Breeze and Debbie are very knowledgeable about the area and the Kuna people and willingly share their information and experiences. The evenings were great – after a lovely meal Breeze would play his guitar and we all helped with singing and playing the other instruments. On two nights we played dominoes which was great fun. Our days on Blue Sky went very swiftly and it was soon time to make our way back to the mainland. We so much enjoyed this adventure and couldn’t have found a more pleasant couple than Breeze and Debbie to make it memorable.
Written February 13, 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.
Thyme D
4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Debbie and Breeze were fantastic hosts, they provided the perfect amount of entertainment and alone time. After escaping busy London I really enjoyed the slower pace of life, I was given an option of breakfasts every day followed by snorkelling at a nearby island. Lunch and dinner were cooked fresh daily by either Debbie or Breeze and they perfectly accommodated for my difficult dietary requirements! I felt so lucky to be dropped off at different islands to spend several hours completely alone with only the crashing waves to distract me from my book. My favourite time of day was sharing some wine with Debbie, watching the sunset and chatting about life. As a solo traveller I needed more attention than regular guests but that didn’t prove to be an issue. The evenings consisted of chatting, playing dominoes or having a singalong whilst Breeze played the guitar. I loved every second of my 4 days and feel completely refreshed!
Written August 20, 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.
cfbecker
Lafayette, LA9 contributions
Feb 2022
My husband and I just returned from San Blas where we spent a great week with Breeze and Debbie. The boat is so roomy, comfortable and well maintained. We have sailed in Panama before on a catamaran but the quarters are so tiny and it gets pretty crowded up top even though we were just 3 people.
Debbie and Breeze were so helpful in finding us he right places to tie up and snorkel, swim and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
The Guna Yala are so nice and getting to know them is a once in a lifetime experience. Fortunately Breeze speaks Guna Yala! If you like getting off the beaten path and peace and quiet this is the trip for you!
Debbie and Breeze were so helpful in finding us he right places to tie up and snorkel, swim and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
The Guna Yala are so nice and getting to know them is a once in a lifetime experience. Fortunately Breeze speaks Guna Yala! If you like getting off the beaten path and peace and quiet this is the trip for you!
Written April 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.
Road04338159303
Loveland, CO1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
My wife and I were aboard Blue Sky for 3 nights. What we saw of the San Blas archipelago was absolutely beautiful! The small islands and amazing snorkeling are wonderful. Unfortunately upon arrival on the Blue Sky, my wife and I had to introduce ourselves, no warm welcome aboard…. Breeze proceeded to tell us all the do not’s which is fine but he failed to give us expectations or ask us what we wanted to do for the next 3 days! Breeze and Debbie have lived on their boat in San Blas for the past 17 years and it is if they are in a time warp and the world has left them behind. There is a lot of deferred maintenance on the boat and it could use a deep cleaning. Breeze really tried to do his best but it was clearly obvious that his wife Debbie has serious memory issues. She was sweet but It was very difficult to carry on a conversation with her. One morning she made eggs three times and the last morning she made us French toast but only cooked it on one side; sad really. This made for some tense moments. These types of things of course caused friction between Debbie and Breeze and made us feel uncomfortable many times. I think the ship has sailed for Breeze and Debbie; it’s time for them to to sail into the sunset.
Written February 2, 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.
Krista K
Decatur, GA7 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
Of all the places I have been in this world, the San Blas are truly paradise and I would highly recommend them. We sailed with Breeze and Debbie in March 2015, for 4 days 4 nights. Overall the cabin was comfortable and the areas that we were taken to were nice (decent snorkeling, and nice beaches). We are very easy going people and are not picky about accommodations or service, but feel that we were not given what we were sold on for the Blue Sky.
We were slightly disappointed with the amount of movement that the boat made, on our one-way trip (we would have preferred to see more that one island a day). I am so happy that we did the one day trip with Lisa into the Kuna territory (mainland) as this was the highlight of our trip. The rest of the time, we felt like we were a needed nuisance for Breeze and Debbie to continue their lifestyle of living on their boat. We felt like we were in the way. We expected Breeze to take us out on the dingy to better snorkeling sites, but instead he just told us to go swimming off the back of the yacht. Additionally they were constantly bickering (as many old married couple do) but it was really awkward and added to the feeling that we were unwanted visitors.
We selected the King size cabin, but found it very unusual to have all of their things (clothes, books, treasured items) in our room. This is their home, and they will surely make sure that their items are untouched. I would compare it to staying with a family member who doesn't want you to touch anything, except you paid for the room. I my opinion the boat should either be their home or a business, and not both.
The food was OK, but we were only served seafood (a fish that we caught) one night, and the majority of the food was canned. Don't expect the lavish meals that they show on the website.
The deck of the boat was furnished with plastic patio furniture, and you were not allowed to sit in the chairs while the boat was in motion. I think that it would be in their best interest to invest some money in furniture that was not purchased at Wal Mart. With the set-up on the deck the boat would have been really uncomfortable with more than the my husband, me and the hosts. I would consider other options when travelling to San Blas.
We were slightly disappointed with the amount of movement that the boat made, on our one-way trip (we would have preferred to see more that one island a day). I am so happy that we did the one day trip with Lisa into the Kuna territory (mainland) as this was the highlight of our trip. The rest of the time, we felt like we were a needed nuisance for Breeze and Debbie to continue their lifestyle of living on their boat. We felt like we were in the way. We expected Breeze to take us out on the dingy to better snorkeling sites, but instead he just told us to go swimming off the back of the yacht. Additionally they were constantly bickering (as many old married couple do) but it was really awkward and added to the feeling that we were unwanted visitors.
We selected the King size cabin, but found it very unusual to have all of their things (clothes, books, treasured items) in our room. This is their home, and they will surely make sure that their items are untouched. I would compare it to staying with a family member who doesn't want you to touch anything, except you paid for the room. I my opinion the boat should either be their home or a business, and not both.
The food was OK, but we were only served seafood (a fish that we caught) one night, and the majority of the food was canned. Don't expect the lavish meals that they show on the website.
The deck of the boat was furnished with plastic patio furniture, and you were not allowed to sit in the chairs while the boat was in motion. I think that it would be in their best interest to invest some money in furniture that was not purchased at Wal Mart. With the set-up on the deck the boat would have been really uncomfortable with more than the my husband, me and the hosts. I would consider other options when travelling to San Blas.
Written September 11, 2015
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 review. We enjoyed having you both onboard and showing you the San Blas island from our sailing home.
Regarding your thoughts that boats should be either chartered or used to live aboard.
The San Blas islands are a remote area, there are no marinas, nor are there apartments to live ashore. The Guna Congresso does not want boats left unattended. There are occasionally strong squalls during the night and there needs to be a crew onboard to make sure boats don't drag their anchor and end up damaging the reefs.
One of the unique things about this area is virtually all the sailboats here are cruising boats from around the world, and all the boats are lived aboard. The crews must be extremely self sufficient and be able to make all repairs themselves in the middle of nowhere.
Our storage places are filled with necessary tools, spare parts for the motor, snorkel equipment for ourselves and guests. Yes we do have our clothes in the drawers. We offer an empty drawer for our guests to use. We do have a lot of plants and shells from our travels. We have a lending library where guests are welcome to help themselves to our books, they sometimes keep them and leave books in exchange. Our boat is a sailing B&B rather than an empty hotel room.
According to our official Ship's Log Book regarding your trip in March 2015 ...
Day 1. Due to unforeseen circumstances your arrival to our boat anchored off of Isla Salardup was at 3:30 pm. We let you know right away we would only charge 1/2 price for that day. After letting you settled in, Breeze took you to the beach to swim in a "natural pool", and bought beer for you from the Guna family living on the island. Dinner was grilled chicken breast over penne pasta with a blend of fresh sautéed vegetables.
Day 2. Lisa, the Guna guide for the waterfall trip picked you up at 8 am. The winds were very strong and the day before while sailing to Isla Salardup to meet up with you, we had torn one of our sails. As a cruising boat, we carry an industrial sewing machine onboard. As soon as you departed we worked quickly to get the torn sail down, repaired, and replaced before your arrival back to the boat. As soon as you returned, we sailed to Cambombia to anchor for the evening. On the way we caught a big snapper. Dinner was a blackened snapper taco buffet with fresh homemade salsa, lettuce, cheese, and black beans. Working in a small ship's galley I do use canned black beans.
Day 3. After enjoying pancakes made with fresh pineapples, we sailed to Nubesidup and anchored the boat close to the uninhabited island. Breeze took you in the dinghy to snorkel the amazing coral gardens pointing out the different tropical fish. He then took you to the beautiful beach for a little private time.
Later that day, we sailed to and anchored very close to a tiny island called Wasalardup. We checked to see if you would like to snorkel the very short distance to the island on your own, yes, you would. That after noon we asked if you would enjoy meeting some other cruisers and having a potluck dinner onboard our boat, yes, you would. We had a Italian buffet with the other boats bringing home made pizzas with crab meat and lobster toppings. I made home made minestrone soup with lots of fresh vegetables, and a salad. I did use canned tomato sauce for the soup's base. The evening continued with Breeze playing guitar music, and everyone joining in singing and playing other instruments as well. Your marrocca playing abilities are superb! You guys really kept the beat!
Day 4. We sailed to Isla Plumeria for a snorkel, then onto Nargana where we treated you for dinner at a waterfront Guna restaurant and a tour of the traditional village. We had hoped to have fresh lobsters for dinner, however due to the rough weather offshore, the Guna fisherman were unable to get any lobsters and the restaurant didn't have any either. That would make 6 islands, 1 waterfall trip, and 21 miles in 3 & 1/2 days.
Regarding the deck furniture, we have secured seating with cushions for up to 4 people on the huge aft deck, and for 2 people on the for deck for use when we are sailing in strong winds which was the case in your trip. For light winds or while at anchor, we have chairs with cushions for outdoor dining. They can be stacked together out of the way when we are handling sails, catching fish or lowering/raising the dinghy or kayaks into or from the water. Instead of a tiny cramped cockpit, we have a very large working deck. Guests are welcome to relax inside the saloon with very comfortable whicker chairs, and couch.
You are welcome back anytime, we always give returning guests 10% discount!
Written September 16, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jaap_Schlejen
Eindhoven, The Netherlands24 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
We had a lot of good Panama travel experiences during our trip last July, but sailing on the Blue Sky was the highlight of the vacation.
After the initial booking trouble with Yacht Latina, the stay on the Blue Sky was great, We enjoyed the boating, snorkeling, beaching, kayaking, fishing (tough luck !), eating and, of course, getting to know Debbie and Breeze.
The ship was perfect for us, with our 'full-size' hotel room, the queen room for the kids (who wants a boat with small cabins ?) and the cooking was great (amazing how Debbie was able to get these dinners out of our basic supermarket ingredients).
We strongly recommend this trip, if you want to sail San Blas on a safe and comfortable boat, run by an experienced and friendly crew, who know the local waters and population well.
After the initial booking trouble with Yacht Latina, the stay on the Blue Sky was great, We enjoyed the boating, snorkeling, beaching, kayaking, fishing (tough luck !), eating and, of course, getting to know Debbie and Breeze.
The ship was perfect for us, with our 'full-size' hotel room, the queen room for the kids (who wants a boat with small cabins ?) and the cooking was great (amazing how Debbie was able to get these dinners out of our basic supermarket ingredients).
We strongly recommend this trip, if you want to sail San Blas on a safe and comfortable boat, run by an experienced and friendly crew, who know the local waters and population well.
Written September 5, 2013
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 so much for your great review, and wonderful photos. The one of your son jumping off the side of the boat rates a 10.0 on our "Olympic Jumping" score card!
We really enjoyed your family of four being part of "our family" for four fun filled days!
Written September 9, 2013
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cat R
Cannes, France10 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
I had a lovely trip on Blue Sky. Food was good and our cabin was spacious. However, the owners constantly bickered between each other and made me feel uncomfortable a lot of the time.
Written August 20, 2017
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 "good" review. We're glad that you had a "lovely time", enjoyed the food and that you found your cabin to be spacious.
However, we not sure you were ever actually onboard our boat. There is a sailing company with a very similar name. We ofter get emails which were actually meant for them.
Our reason for thinking you were never on our boat is in the 10 years of chartering we have only twice had a single woman sail with us, and neither were from France.
We are curious when your sailing trip was.
We are assuming of course that you were a single woman as you said "I had a lovely" time rather than "we had a lovely time".
Just glad you had a lovely time!
Written August 22, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer W
Wilmington, NC20 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Before I start this review, let me tell you that my husband and I spent a year and a half backpacking the world back in 2010/2012. So not only have we experienced more than the average person, but we have pretty high expectations when it comes to trying to plan and take awesome, off the beaten path vacations.
With that being said this trip more than exceeded any expectations we had. There is no better way to see the San Blas Islands than with Debby and Breeze aboard Blue Sky.
We just returned from a six day seven night trip and it was one of the coolest experiences! Even before our trip began Debbie was super responsive to all of our emails and made sure that all of our questions were answered so we were clear on everything.
Since we were flying from Panama City to Corazon de Jesus to begin our trip, Debbie had arranged for a someone to pick us up from our hotel and drive us to the airport. He was waiting in the lobby of our hotel when we came down (at 4:45 AM) and he had bought all the groceries that Debby had asked him to buy for us to take with us to the boat. He helped out tremendously at the airport since he was able to translate the words we didn't understand and we got off on our flight without any issues. Once we landed, Breeze was waiting at the airstrip to greet us. We had a quick 5 minute ride to the sailboat, met Debbie, got settled into our room, and came out to find a hot breakfast waiting for us. Let me just say that the food we were served while on this trip was incredible. We ate better on the boat than we eat at home. Debbie is an amazing cook and everything seemed to be ready at the perfect time.
Our days were spent snorkeling the colorful reef, sunning on the bow of the boat, swimming on pristine beaches, exercising our photography skills with picturesque scenery, searching for unique seashells, socializing with the local Kuna people, and kayaking over crystal clear waters. It was unbelievable.
One of the days we were kayaking after lunch and a few hours later we returned to the boat unsure as when we needed to be back for dinner. Debbie and Breeze asked if we wanted them to toss us some beers so we could catch the sunset from a nearby island. That was an awesome idea and gesture! We graciously took the beers and paddled the short distance to the beach and had a nice sunset drink together. When we got back to the boat an amazing dinner was waiting for us!
They always asked if we were comfortable or needed anything and we felt very well taken care of the whole time. They were very knowledgable about the local Kuna people and the islands and they took us to some incredible spots and knew the perfect places to go snorkeling. Breeze even set me up with some bubble wrap and tape to help make sure I got all my sand dollars and sea biscuits home. Thanks to him, all my awesome finds made it home in one piece!!
At the end of our trip they had arranged for a launcha (boat taxi) to pick us up from the sailboat and take us back to mainland and made sure we were set up with an SUV to get us back to Panama City.
From the moment our driver picked us up from our hotel the first day to the moment our SUV driver dropped us back off at our hotel the last day, we didn't have a worry in the world. Everything was planned for us and it all went as smooth as possible. We did very little thinking or decision making (well, besides if we wanted to snorkel in crystal clear waters or read on glistening white sand on the beach) which was a great way to decompress for a week.
This trip was awesome and I'm ecstatic that we sailed with Debbie and Breeze. They've definitely got it together and this was an experience of a lifetime.
With that being said this trip more than exceeded any expectations we had. There is no better way to see the San Blas Islands than with Debby and Breeze aboard Blue Sky.
We just returned from a six day seven night trip and it was one of the coolest experiences! Even before our trip began Debbie was super responsive to all of our emails and made sure that all of our questions were answered so we were clear on everything.
Since we were flying from Panama City to Corazon de Jesus to begin our trip, Debbie had arranged for a someone to pick us up from our hotel and drive us to the airport. He was waiting in the lobby of our hotel when we came down (at 4:45 AM) and he had bought all the groceries that Debby had asked him to buy for us to take with us to the boat. He helped out tremendously at the airport since he was able to translate the words we didn't understand and we got off on our flight without any issues. Once we landed, Breeze was waiting at the airstrip to greet us. We had a quick 5 minute ride to the sailboat, met Debbie, got settled into our room, and came out to find a hot breakfast waiting for us. Let me just say that the food we were served while on this trip was incredible. We ate better on the boat than we eat at home. Debbie is an amazing cook and everything seemed to be ready at the perfect time.
Our days were spent snorkeling the colorful reef, sunning on the bow of the boat, swimming on pristine beaches, exercising our photography skills with picturesque scenery, searching for unique seashells, socializing with the local Kuna people, and kayaking over crystal clear waters. It was unbelievable.
One of the days we were kayaking after lunch and a few hours later we returned to the boat unsure as when we needed to be back for dinner. Debbie and Breeze asked if we wanted them to toss us some beers so we could catch the sunset from a nearby island. That was an awesome idea and gesture! We graciously took the beers and paddled the short distance to the beach and had a nice sunset drink together. When we got back to the boat an amazing dinner was waiting for us!
They always asked if we were comfortable or needed anything and we felt very well taken care of the whole time. They were very knowledgable about the local Kuna people and the islands and they took us to some incredible spots and knew the perfect places to go snorkeling. Breeze even set me up with some bubble wrap and tape to help make sure I got all my sand dollars and sea biscuits home. Thanks to him, all my awesome finds made it home in one piece!!
At the end of our trip they had arranged for a launcha (boat taxi) to pick us up from the sailboat and take us back to mainland and made sure we were set up with an SUV to get us back to Panama City.
From the moment our driver picked us up from our hotel the first day to the moment our SUV driver dropped us back off at our hotel the last day, we didn't have a worry in the world. Everything was planned for us and it all went as smooth as possible. We did very little thinking or decision making (well, besides if we wanted to snorkel in crystal clear waters or read on glistening white sand on the beach) which was a great way to decompress for a week.
This trip was awesome and I'm ecstatic that we sailed with Debbie and Breeze. They've definitely got it together and this was an experience of a lifetime.
Written July 14, 2015
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 both for such a wonderful review! We had a really great week showing you all the great snorkeling spots the San Blas has to offer!
The night all the glow worms were in the water was such a special treat, and then the next night with the Eagle Rays and turtle! I think it was simply Mother Nature putting on her best show for you!
Your parting gift of the LED headlamp is greatly appreciated and used daily. Glad your treasures made it home safely.
Please come back soon and visit us and the Gunas again! We do offer returning guests a 10% discount!
Written July 20, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Justin O
1 contribution
May 2014 • Couples
Our experiences mirror those of Rick C and his review from April 2015. Reading his review actually prompted me to write my own. But let me start off by saying absolutely please go to the San Blas Islands and meet the Guna people. That experience was incredible and really felt once-in-a-lifetime. The only reason our trip was tolerable was due to our breathtaking surroundings.
Our trip was in February 2014, and it is sad to see that Debbie and Breeze haven't changed the level of hospitality or guest experience since then. We are a young couple who spent the other half of our trip in Panama in a hostel. So we weren't looking for the Ritz but for "all-inclusive" we did expect an experience that was comfortable and authentic.
Reading prior their website and TripAdvisor reviews, we believed our four days on the Blue Sky would be the ultimate off the beaten path adventure. Snorkeling and fishing by day, lobster and fresh mackerel in the evening, followed rum and lively conversation under the stars. That's precisely the experience that Debbie and Breeze sell you on.
Our trip began with request that we pick up a "few" items for Debbie and Breeze in Panama City and transport them to the boat the following day. Once we reluctantly agreed, those "few" items turned into a shopping cart full of canned tuna, tortillas, pringles, oreos, watermelons, pineapples, vegetables and jugs of engine coolant. We did not realize at the time that we were picking up our lunches for the week (yes, canned tuna, pringles, and oreos). But our spirits were high so lugging two oversized boxes of food along with watermelons under each arm and jugs of coolant through a foreign city and wasting several hours of our vacation didn't phase us then.
The following day, after a beautiful drive through the mountains en route to the launch point for the San Blas Islands, we learned that there was no launcha boat reserved to take us or the other couple to Debbie and Breeze's boat (which was supposed to be included with the price of our stay). None of the attendants knew of Blue Sky, Debbie or Breeze, or had any idea where we were supposed to go. And we were never told where they were anchoring. So for over a panicked hour, we watched as other excited vacationers packed their gear, boarded the launchas, and jettisoned to tropical paradise. But for the grace of god, we were able to negotiate and pay cash to charter a launcha that was not in use to take us to the anchor point that Debbie and Breeze would most likely be. When we did finally arrive to the boat, Debbie and Breeze were unmoved. Nary a "I'm sorry" or "that's too bad" passed their lips. We later learned, when Breeze was having my fiance and I translate his text messages from the launcha operator that were in Spanish, that no launcha had ever been reserved for our group. Were we refunded the extra launcha expense? No.
Upon our arrival, our money (which had to be in cash) was collected right away. Not after our bags were put away or after we were settled in but literally the moment we stepped on the ship. The groceries we purchased were deducted from our owed total down to the penny (we were required to bring receipts to prove our expenses). The way we were treated the moment we stepped on the ship really defined the entire trip and experience. It became apparent that we were not guests aboard the Blue Sky;, we were just a necessary inconvenience to allow Debbie and Breeze to live off the grid in tropical paradise.
In the morning we were greeted by a pancake or an egg and a piece of fruit. For lunch: tuna salad, PB&J, or deli meat sandwiches, pringles, and oreos. For dinner, one night we had spaghetti (!?!), one night we had fish tacos, and the last night we had frozen lobster tails. If we did not have the foresight to bring our own snacks, we would have been hungry for most of the trip. The Guna people would come by in little boats every so often to sell fresh lobsters, fish, conch, fruits, and beer. Debbie and Breeze only purchased beer to stock the cash bar.
We were not allowed to fish. We were allowed to use the kayaks only once but the second time we asked, it was bemoaned that it was too difficult. The "sailing" aspect seems entirely for show and you are greeted by the grumble of a motor 99% of the time you are onboard. If you do want to visit an island or go snorkeling, you have to swim 100 yards in open water to shore. It was unfortunate because one of the other travelers was a poor swimmer but Breeze refused to transport her to shore on the dingy because of the hassle. She spent 90% of the trip sitting by herself on the boat.
After some pressuring from Debbie and Breeze, we agreed to do an excursion, again at an additional cost, to hike through one of the Guna Yala rainforests with a guide. At that point, we were thankful to just get off the boat. It ended up being one of the best experiences from the trip, and we are so glad that we did it. Word of caution: it is a strenuous hike that involves cliff jumping and climbing muddy rocks. As an adventurous twenty-something couple, it was right up our alley but most of our group were aged 50+ and a number were bruised and skinned up before we finished. Debbie packed us a gourmet lunch of PB&J, pringles, and oreos.
All in all, I would recommend strongly looking elsewhere for your San Blas chartered vacation. The hosts were apathetic and seemed inconvenienced by our stay. We heard about an Australian couple who owned a charter that provided their guests that exact type of experience we thought we were getting. San Blas was incredible; this charter fell far short.
Other strange odds and ends:
During the excursion, we purchased purchased some keepsakes from the locals. When we returned to the ship, Debbie asked to see our wares and then confiscated them in an attempt to use them to barter for a flag that Debbie and Breeze needed. We did not understand what was happening at the time but after some chiding by Breeze, Debbie returned the items we purchased. I still do not fully understand how, as guests of the ship, we got wrapped up in that transaction.
For dinner, a battery powered candle was placed on the table for ambiance. Every night, Breeze went through this routine in front of the guests of taking the fake candle, turning around, "lighting" it with a lighter (while apparently flicking the on switch), and placing it back on the table. The first night it seemed like a strange joke. The second night he went through the same routine, deadpanned, without the slightest smirk, and placed the "lit" candle on the table. The third night, when he and Debbie were in the galley, we turned off the candle and jokingly told him that the wind blew the candle out. Though we were clearly now in on the joke (with muffled laughs fueled by Balboa and rum), he apologized and THEN went through the whole routine again, clicking the lighter several times to produce a suitable flame, with the same seriousness as the other two nights and returned to the galley. Bizarre.
Our trip was in February 2014, and it is sad to see that Debbie and Breeze haven't changed the level of hospitality or guest experience since then. We are a young couple who spent the other half of our trip in Panama in a hostel. So we weren't looking for the Ritz but for "all-inclusive" we did expect an experience that was comfortable and authentic.
Reading prior their website and TripAdvisor reviews, we believed our four days on the Blue Sky would be the ultimate off the beaten path adventure. Snorkeling and fishing by day, lobster and fresh mackerel in the evening, followed rum and lively conversation under the stars. That's precisely the experience that Debbie and Breeze sell you on.
Our trip began with request that we pick up a "few" items for Debbie and Breeze in Panama City and transport them to the boat the following day. Once we reluctantly agreed, those "few" items turned into a shopping cart full of canned tuna, tortillas, pringles, oreos, watermelons, pineapples, vegetables and jugs of engine coolant. We did not realize at the time that we were picking up our lunches for the week (yes, canned tuna, pringles, and oreos). But our spirits were high so lugging two oversized boxes of food along with watermelons under each arm and jugs of coolant through a foreign city and wasting several hours of our vacation didn't phase us then.
The following day, after a beautiful drive through the mountains en route to the launch point for the San Blas Islands, we learned that there was no launcha boat reserved to take us or the other couple to Debbie and Breeze's boat (which was supposed to be included with the price of our stay). None of the attendants knew of Blue Sky, Debbie or Breeze, or had any idea where we were supposed to go. And we were never told where they were anchoring. So for over a panicked hour, we watched as other excited vacationers packed their gear, boarded the launchas, and jettisoned to tropical paradise. But for the grace of god, we were able to negotiate and pay cash to charter a launcha that was not in use to take us to the anchor point that Debbie and Breeze would most likely be. When we did finally arrive to the boat, Debbie and Breeze were unmoved. Nary a "I'm sorry" or "that's too bad" passed their lips. We later learned, when Breeze was having my fiance and I translate his text messages from the launcha operator that were in Spanish, that no launcha had ever been reserved for our group. Were we refunded the extra launcha expense? No.
Upon our arrival, our money (which had to be in cash) was collected right away. Not after our bags were put away or after we were settled in but literally the moment we stepped on the ship. The groceries we purchased were deducted from our owed total down to the penny (we were required to bring receipts to prove our expenses). The way we were treated the moment we stepped on the ship really defined the entire trip and experience. It became apparent that we were not guests aboard the Blue Sky;, we were just a necessary inconvenience to allow Debbie and Breeze to live off the grid in tropical paradise.
In the morning we were greeted by a pancake or an egg and a piece of fruit. For lunch: tuna salad, PB&J, or deli meat sandwiches, pringles, and oreos. For dinner, one night we had spaghetti (!?!), one night we had fish tacos, and the last night we had frozen lobster tails. If we did not have the foresight to bring our own snacks, we would have been hungry for most of the trip. The Guna people would come by in little boats every so often to sell fresh lobsters, fish, conch, fruits, and beer. Debbie and Breeze only purchased beer to stock the cash bar.
We were not allowed to fish. We were allowed to use the kayaks only once but the second time we asked, it was bemoaned that it was too difficult. The "sailing" aspect seems entirely for show and you are greeted by the grumble of a motor 99% of the time you are onboard. If you do want to visit an island or go snorkeling, you have to swim 100 yards in open water to shore. It was unfortunate because one of the other travelers was a poor swimmer but Breeze refused to transport her to shore on the dingy because of the hassle. She spent 90% of the trip sitting by herself on the boat.
After some pressuring from Debbie and Breeze, we agreed to do an excursion, again at an additional cost, to hike through one of the Guna Yala rainforests with a guide. At that point, we were thankful to just get off the boat. It ended up being one of the best experiences from the trip, and we are so glad that we did it. Word of caution: it is a strenuous hike that involves cliff jumping and climbing muddy rocks. As an adventurous twenty-something couple, it was right up our alley but most of our group were aged 50+ and a number were bruised and skinned up before we finished. Debbie packed us a gourmet lunch of PB&J, pringles, and oreos.
All in all, I would recommend strongly looking elsewhere for your San Blas chartered vacation. The hosts were apathetic and seemed inconvenienced by our stay. We heard about an Australian couple who owned a charter that provided their guests that exact type of experience we thought we were getting. San Blas was incredible; this charter fell far short.
Other strange odds and ends:
During the excursion, we purchased purchased some keepsakes from the locals. When we returned to the ship, Debbie asked to see our wares and then confiscated them in an attempt to use them to barter for a flag that Debbie and Breeze needed. We did not understand what was happening at the time but after some chiding by Breeze, Debbie returned the items we purchased. I still do not fully understand how, as guests of the ship, we got wrapped up in that transaction.
For dinner, a battery powered candle was placed on the table for ambiance. Every night, Breeze went through this routine in front of the guests of taking the fake candle, turning around, "lighting" it with a lighter (while apparently flicking the on switch), and placing it back on the table. The first night it seemed like a strange joke. The second night he went through the same routine, deadpanned, without the slightest smirk, and placed the "lit" candle on the table. The third night, when he and Debbie were in the galley, we turned off the candle and jokingly told him that the wind blew the candle out. Though we were clearly now in on the joke (with muffled laughs fueled by Balboa and rum), he apologized and THEN went through the whole routine again, clicking the lighter several times to produce a suitable flame, with the same seriousness as the other two nights and returned to the galley. Bizarre.
Written April 30, 2015
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 taking the time to write a review. We appreciate constructive criticism and work hard to make improvements as we can. Obviously, we would be much happier if none was needed as we strive to maintain our seal of excellence.
Firstly, let me sincerely apologize for the lack of a launcha reservation. We do offer coordination of travel and this should never happen to any of our guests. This had never happened before and we do take full responsibility for the launcha reservation error.
We were unaware at the time that there was a problem. We initially thought your launcha boat was delayed due to stopping to take on fuel at an island near the Carti coast.
As to payment or lack of reimbursement for the launcha, that cost is yours and was clearly outlined in an email to you on 10/11/13.
We have made some changes since your trip in February 2014 based on feedback and your comments. They are as follows:
*Shopping:* We have now engaged a professional shopper to obtain the items we need. Arrangements will be made for delivery to guest's hotel or airport. They will continue to travel with our guests.
*Transportation:* We will include in our initial email regarding transportation to the guests a line that states “Please contact us immediately should you have any transportation issues.”
*Lunches:* In the past year, we have added new items to our lunch menus including more homemade soups such as conch chowder (when in season) and quesidillas. We do try to keep lunch fairly simple to allow us to spend more time with the guests doing snorkeling trips and visiting different islands.
For guests that will be taking the optional waterfall/hike excursion, we will contact guests directly well before their trip to see what type of foods they normally like to take on a 1/2 day hike.
We are sorry you felt we were rude in taking care of the “check in” process upon arrival. We could have been more understanding of the launcha error and let everyone settle in first. It is common to “check in” prior to any stay. We were anxious to show you around the boat, offer safety instructions, stow the provisions and get underway so everyone could enjoy their trip.
We have received numerous compliments on the meals and try to cater to individual needs. We are surprised you did not enjoy the banana pancakes, chicken cacciatore, fish taco buffet or fresh lobster. Please note, Caribbean lobsters do not have claws, there fore we only serve the tails.
We do suggest guests bring snacks or sweets as they are not available in the San Blas. Three full meals, coffee, chilled purified water, and tea are included in the price as outlined in the initial correspondence. We are now offering a choice of juice, soda or beer at meal times and at happy hour. Guests are welcome to bring their favorite bottle of wine or liquor.
We support the Gunas Indians as much as possible by purchasing seafood from the fisherman *when in season, promoting the waterfall/hike excursion, and the purchasing of molas and keepsakes. As to the collection of your keepsakes, it is difficult to recall the exact transaction as it was over a year ago. It is quite common for us to show the Guna women who make the molas that our guests have already purchased some and do not need additional ones.
We would like to offer you a return trip at 10% discount or an upgrade to the king suite. We would welcome the opportunity to improve upon your experience.
Written June 7, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rick C
San Jose, Costa Rica1 contribution
Apr 2015 • Couples
The good news is the boat was clean the bed comfortable and the snorkeling excellent. The bad news is our host were at best LAZY. Starting off we motored for an hour on a "sailboat" then the motor went down due to a dirty fuel filter? Not maintained. An hour later we dropped anchor and the captain announced "the pool is open". then he disappeared. We had to swim 500 yards to a nearby reef without fins as they were never offered? We waved and whistled for the captain to pick us up in the dingy to no avail. We swam back took about 30 minutes against the current??? We caught a king mackerel on the way out that was dinner. We transported about 50 lbs of groceries out to the boat for them but the only part of which we ever saw were tortillas. There was no liquor on the boat for cocktails luckily we brought out own. Beer, soda, juice were charged extra??? Only beverage offered was water? No "Happy Hour" ? Next day same old fish for lunch and dinner? This despite the local Kunas offering Conch for $1.00. I found a Conch for free but they didn't want to cook it? Next day sailed for 2 hours, anchored, "the pool is open" Swam to a deserted island, this time asked and received fins and it was closer. No guide service, no offer to take us tp a nearby island with a bar. While the cook (debbie) drank wine every night it was never offered to us. Next day, and this really pissed me off, we had pancakes for breakfast while the captain had pancakes and eggs. We brought the eggs. Never had coffee in the morning until the captain awoke at 8/8:30 as we were not allowed in the galley to make it? We usually awoke around 6. To make it short and consice these people were lazy and rude. If you go bring your own beverages as soda, beer, juice are each $1.50. You will be asked to shop for these items and then transport them and then be charged for them. Don't forget to bring your own towels and soap as well. Don't expect to see remote islands as we always anchored with the fleet. Our return transport, arranged by the "host" had us waiting on the garbage strewn beach for 2 hours while the SUV driver made his stops? Meanwhile, there was a public taxi service that could have had us in Panama City 2 hours earlier. All in all I would avoid these people and book with someone with someone who enjoys their work.
Written April 27, 2015
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 taking the time to write a review. We enjoyed having the two
of you onboard and hearing your stories of being a commercial fisherman in
Hawaii.
We strive to make every trip a memorable experience for our guest, which in
turn, becomes an enjoyable trip for ourselves. We are disappointed to hear
of the multiple complaints and miscommunications. We have adopted your
suggestion of a “Happy Hour” and now include a glass of wine or beer before
or with dinner. The initial email clearly states that we provide three
full meals, water, coffee and tea.
We are sorry that you had an issue with the SUV driver. We do try to
recommend the better, more dependable drivers and will be more than happy
to make arrangements with them for your transportation. Unfortunately, we
are unaware of a problem unless you contact us. In order to help alleviate
this issue, we are now including instructions in the transportation email
to “Please contact us immediately should you have any transportation
issues.” We will also include your suggestion of simply grabbing the next
available launcha.
We have also continued with your great idea to save fish scraps to feed the
many tropical fish swimming about while we are snorkeling.
Miscommunications: *Groceries:* The groceries had been shopped for and
purchased by the manager of the B&B that we booked for you. We paid the
B&B manager for the food, and her services to do the shopping and transport
the groceries in her car to the Allbrook airport so she could personally
put them on the flight. *Sailing:* We are a motor sail and there are many
occasions when motoring is preferred. In this particular case, the seas
were sloppy and there was not enough wind to sail our 42,000 lb. boat. *“The
Pool is Open”*: It was our intention to join you and serve as guides after
we finished cleaning the fish that was caught and cleaning the gallery
after lunch. I am sorry this was not more clearly relayed to you.
Coffee is a problem and we are working on a way to resolve it. Prior to
making coffee, the generator must be started. There is limited battery
power and it is insufficient to run the coffee maker. We have used a
general consensus rule of not waking guests to the hum of the generator
prior to 8 am.
The Kuna Indians and the Panamanian government have fishing/lobster/conch
seasons, limits and restrictions similar to those in the US and other
countries. We Do Not purchase out of season seafood from the Kuna. We Do
Not encourage collection or fishing of those items during off season. We
Do support the Kuna through purchases of seafood during the appropriate
season. We Do encourage excursions and purchasing of molas and keepsakes.
We enjoyed the evening jam sessions with you. Best wishes in your travels.
You are always welcome in our floating home.
Written May 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi,
We would like to do a trip for 3 days to San Blas from Carti.
How does your program look like and what are the prices?
Yours,
Marcel
Written February 12, 2019
Hello!, i just send an email to you!. Hope to hear from you!.
Thanks so much,
Raimundo
Written January 8, 2019
What is the typical cost per night per couple?
Written September 25, 2018
170-195 US plus port fees and transportation to and from approx 125.p/p
Written January 15, 2019
Hi! I'm interested in your tours, but the website is not working. Where can I find more info about your tours and costs?
Written August 14, 2018
Debbie and Breeze
Hola
Interested in a 3 night charter for me and my two children in October. Would like to contact directly through your website, but when I click to do so it takes me to a screen that is password protected. Is there another way to reach you? Email, whatsapp?
Written August 10, 2018
Hi Richard, please retry our website. It no longer needs a password. It is open to the public.
Written June 4, 2019
Hola! estoy planificando mi viaje a Panamà con mi esposa y me atrajo este tour. Favor, aclararme la duraciòn del paseo y el costo. Gracias!!!
Written July 10, 2018
vlopez8
Los Angeles, California
Hi! How can I contact you directly for information. Thank you!
Written April 5, 2018
You can contact us directly thru our website.
Written April 6, 2018
Do you meet the requirements for operating in both Panama and Guna Yala?
Written March 12, 2018
Hello,
your boat sounds amazing. Do you travel from panama to Columbia? How much per person, we have 4 people in our party and would be looking near the end of September 2018. Thanks
Written January 8, 2018
Hi Megan,
All of our sailing trips are within the San Blas Island archipelago. We do not do offshore trips to/from Colombia.
Cheers,
Debbie & Breeze
Written January 8, 2018
Hi , we are planning a trip betwen Dec 27-Jan 2. What options do you have to sail and stay around San Blas Islands?
Thank you!
Written December 4, 2017
Thank you for your inquiry, however we are booked thru Dec. 2017. Our first availablity would be mid Jan. 2018.
Written December 5, 2017
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