Isla Pelicano
Isla Pelicano
4.5
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Duration: More than 3 hours
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4 within 10 kms

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles58 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
9
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
2

RMDTraveller
Zurich, Switzerland468 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Friends
From 4-6 Jan 2019 I went on a trip to the San Blas Islands - to Isla Ina (where we stayed 2 nights/3 days).

We also made a boat trip to Isla Pelicano which was a nice treat and get away retreat.

We went with tour operator San Blas Dreams(.com) and paid 147$ for 2 nights incl. transport and 3 meals a day (very simple and monotonous but made with love).

At booking 32$ is paid by credit card. The 4x4 is paid 50$ cash upon arrival in the port or at the supermarket (before the long bumpy road to the port) and 22$ is paid for entering Guna Yula (Government tax).
32+50+22= 104$ and 45$ I paid at the cabins on the island so actually paid a bit more then the advertisement of 147$.

As always presenting the numbers:
-Price to get there from Isla Ina: Free
-Pelikan Island: 4.5**** most untouched/peace when you are a small group.

Important take your passport with you as you go to an autonomous region.

Overall Ina Island was crowded but I have been told not as crowded/overcrowded as Isla Franklin and Diablo.

Therefore going to Isla Pelicano for the day or some hours is a welcome treat.

See my review on San Blas for more details and how to get there.

-When the ocean is ruf you will get wet, bring a waterproof bag for your phone and camera and money.
-Bring money, there are no CC/AmEx/MC facilities.
-Bring plenty water
-Bring sun screen

There is no shop on Isla Pelicano

The island itself has beautiful palms and scenic views and the beach is white fine sand and a nice walk into the refreshing water which is cooling but not cold.

Also note we were in early January so there is still light rain from time to time and morning overcast!
You will burn also with overcast! ! !

There are no sleeping possibilities neither toilets.

The experience is unique and the views amazing, just be prepared for the trip there and back!
Written January 8, 2019
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.

Christina M
San Francisco, CA28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018
It was a childhood dream come true. I walked around the island in five minutes and snorkeled around it in 2 hours because of all the beautiful sights below the surface of the water. Beautiful weather, people and clean water!
Written August 28, 2018
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.

TheHinduFace
Hamburg, Germany145 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2016 • Friends
The sea life around is perfect, there is not a better place to do snorkeling in San Blas than there. I book a tour which had included a boat trip to this island. For very good price! I never imagine could be possible to be on this Paradise for cheap. I can give the people interesting to go the info of the tour company writing me by private. Amazing and beautiful San blas!
Written September 5, 2016
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.

Léon R
Annemasse, France23 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
First of all, the pictures are not from Isla Pelícano. Isla Pelícano is that island on which they played an episode of "Casa de Papel", it's slightly larger, hold more cabanas.
On Isla Pelicano, cabanas and bathrooms are clean but food is bad.
Don't go with any tour agency !! They will charge you a lot more, and they will have you checking out at 8am. If you really want to go to this island, ask around and you'll be able to contact a guide directly. Also, near by islands (ex: Ina) offers visit of Isla Pelícano as part of their boat tour.
Written January 31, 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.

GrapplingFreak
Punta Arenas, Chile206 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Friends
We stayed on a different island but visited Pelican I. during a day tour end of Aug. 2022.

The island is beautiful but relatively small and when we visited it was just over crowded - too many cabins on it. One could think the locals try to make the utmost money and squeeze out the tourists as much as possible. Wondering for how long this will continue? Sorry folks but with this attitude/strategy you will eventually harm your reputation. You are destroying your paradise. Is this what you want?

Stay away from this island and just come over for a short visit. Try to find another calmer more authentic location (which we also have not found yet… but we will not give up looking for it).
Written September 3, 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.

Allgoodthyngs
Shrewsbury, UK1,632 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017 • Couples
Currently sailing around the world and heading to Panama, we stopped at several of the San Blas Islands to enjoy island life with the Kuna Indians. However- maybe the islands have had their day and now become somewhat disingenuous .

We found the locals to only be interested in making money by selling endless Molas as quickly as possible to us. At times their attitude was somewhat belligerent and overly persistent. We gave away a large number of lines and a halyard and they promised us some fish for supper but never returned- sad!

Other than this the islands are basically sand spits growing coconut trees- i.e. coconut farming. We may have been unlucky with the islands we chose but we were disappointed and preferred other remote islands that we've had the joy of visiting.

For info- The San Blas islands are a group of islands in the archipelago de San Blas, located in the Northwest of Panama facing the Caribbean Sea. There are 378 islands within the archipelago and they are scattered around in an area of about 100 square miles. The majority of the 378 islands have no inhabitants, but on the larger ones you will find the native people known as the Kuna’s.
Written July 21, 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.

difelidi
Panama City, Panama1,034 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2016 • Family
We went with friends to the San Blas Islands for a day. Our second time.
For first-timers:
You need to arrange with a captain/crew upfront. Then leave at 6. It's only 70km from Panama City, but the last 30km take 1.5 hours; it's a rollercoaster through the mountains. Don't eat breakfast! You can only get into Guna Yala country with a 4x4 - and you need it. Guna Yala tax is 5$/resident or 25$/visitor, plus 5$ for the car. (Border does not open before 7!)
The harbour is called Niga Kantule. To park here costs again: 2$/person, 3$/car.
Then you need to find your captain (best to call him upfront). We paid 20$/person (last time it was 35$/person which included lunch on Cook Island). Arrange that the crew stays with you all day, just in case...
Our friend always uses the same captain and the same island: Isla Pelicano. It's a tiny island, no toilet (but the sea), with only little shade, but our friend brought umbrellas, table and chairs. We had snacks and water and drinks with us. For lunch our friend asked the captain who later brought Arroz con coc and langustas (Lobsters with Coconut rice) cooked by his mother - which was delicious!
Personnally, I think I prefer Isla Perro Grande, because there was more to do around the island, more to see, bigger shells, more fish, but Isla Pelicano was more tranquille. At least until the Island Hopping Party Boat arrived. Seemed to be the newest trend in San Blas. Fortunately, the drunk, loud, and running naked group left after an hour. Also here, be aware of sharp pieces of glass and can pieces hidden in the sand of the shallow water.
Bring snorkel gear, sun cream, water and drinks, probably some shade giving device as an umbrella or similar. As well as some food, or book a visit to Cook Island with your captain. And just relax. All day guests need to leave the islands by 4pm. You can book cabanas, which I had a look at, but they are really bad, in dark sheds, with spotty mattresses, or even tents. Ask your crew to bring you to the starfish sand bank before you go back to shore. That's the downside of a San Blas Day Trip - you need to drive back on the rollercoaster again! Stay in your lane! Sometimes locals drive in the opposite land - in a corner!
Written February 14, 2016
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.

MGO99
105 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2017 • Couples
There is so much rubbish on the island, it is disgusting. The reef is okay, but nothing more. Not really worse to go there.
Written January 9, 2018
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.

LuckyPty
Seoul, South Korea232 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2018
Beautiful island, perfect to a party!. Bring your own music and drinks. But is was wonderful. The beach is clean, there are no mosquitoes here and the wind is warm like the water.
Written January 2, 2018
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.

Veronica Hunter
Medford, NJ6,347 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2016 • Solo
San Blas, Pelican Island is tiny but big enough for a kiosk to sell goods to the tourists that visit.
Written April 28, 2016
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.

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