Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 90% of travelers
90% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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₱8,960
per adult
San Blas Islands Tours
THE 10 BEST San Blas Islands Tours & Excursions
San Blas Islands Tours
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- Our Featured sort order ranks tours, activities, and experiences by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, your individual user browsing history and preferences while using Tripadvisor, the frequency of user clicks generally, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.
On the Water
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 90% of travelers
90% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
₱4,751
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
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from
₱8,359
₱7,523
per adult
Multi-day Tours
3+ days
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₱33,614
per adult
Overnight Tours
2 days
Free cancellation
Free Cancellation up to 7 days in advance
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₱10,524
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
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₱7,817
per adult
Sailing
12–14 hours
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Recommended by 90% of travelers
90% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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₱14,432
per adult
Multi-day Tours
3 days
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₱23,993
per adult
Day Trips
10–11 hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱10,524
₱9,471
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 92% of travelers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
₱8,599
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱27,361
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱4,991
per adult
4WD Tours
12–14 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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₱9,020
per adult
Full-day Tours
12–14 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 90% of travelers
90% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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₱9,020
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
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₱8,118
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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₱10,163
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱8,839
per adult
4WD Tours
3 days
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 93% of travelers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
₱42,093
per adult
4WD Tours
2 days
Free cancellation
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from
₱15,635
per adult
Private and Luxury
3 days
Free cancellation
Free Cancellation up to 7 days in advance
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₱17,078
per adult
Multi-day Tours
3 days
Free cancellation
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₱35,418
per adult
4WD Tours
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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₱6,555
per adult
Multi-day Tours
3 days
Free cancellation
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from
₱14,973
per adult
On the Water
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱8,418
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱5,954
per adult
4WD Tours
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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from
₱9,922
per adult
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travelers are saying
- Jessica M34 contributionsGorgeous views and beaches. Worth the car ride to see the turquoise waters and island palms trees. Stayed in the city so a change of scenery is refreshing!Written December 10, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- CarterWaukesha, WI16 contributionsIt’s impossible to truly convey how similar the San Blas Islands are to paradise – 1000% a must-do. Don’t let anything deter you from this experience, the drivers are great, the people are amazing at hospitality, and anyone would love it! The ability to experience the picturesque island with crystal blue water and super white sand alongside the quite impressive indigenous community is truly priceless and a top experience in Panama. On the islands, you feel a part of their uber-friendly community and the tour operators ensure everyone has the best time throughout the day! Don’t skip San Blas!Written July 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Joyce B1 contributionPreviously, I reviewed this with only one star because the tour operator canceled and I thought I had not been refunded promptly, I had in fact been refunded, but it did not show up immediately on my credit card statement. They did in fact rectify the situation very quickly and I appreciate that!Written November 22, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- A6927SUkatiebLondon, UK152 contributionsI went March for 3 nights. If you are up for basics, on sandy desert islands, away from home comforts this is absolute heaven. Eg this is not a hotel. It is basic shelters on a beautiful desert island. There is a new road just complete (March 2024) from Panama City so it’s not bumpy like the last reviews say….but it is very windy. Have faith in the process. You will never know what is happening or where you will go - it will not be islands as listed on the itinerary but you won’t be disappointed… so…. relax, get to your most chilled place and know that someone will bring a boat round and shout your name at some point and all will be well. We went to 3 islands a day and slept on a different one each night. One had no power, one you poured water down the toilet to flush but that was more that I expected. Some had power and flushing toilets. Peaceful heaven… day trippers come onto the island for 2/3 hours then leave it just to your group. I would not recommend this for day trippers- it is too far a journey.. stay at least a night, 2 if you can and 3 was great. If you need detailed plans day to day this ain’t for you. If you can let go and go with the flow I have never been anywhere more beautiful. You are safe. Tou will be fed chiecken and rice/ fish and rice/ breakfast eggs…You will have food but bring own water and a few snacks from the gas stop on the way. Most places you can buy water and beer and Coca Cola. And even cocktails at some. At this time of year you only need swimsuit shorts and something to cover up from the sun. It is hot at night so do not need anything warm at this time of year. Some swimming shoes useful for snorkelling around sunken wrecks or one of the rocky islands. Because you are largely in the water and travelling by the local boats you will be wet all the time so just wear your swimsuit and a clever up. . You don’t need anything here. It will only be sandy and wet.. Leave your suitcases at your hotel. Most have free storage is you ask. You have to climb in and out of the boats often from the shore/ the water … if you ask loud enough before you set off they will put a ladder in boat which really helps but we didn’t get that til day 3. But we all helped eachother in and out. No mosquitoes on islands. Bring power bank cos you’ll want to take a lot of photos. You’ll see clear water and amazing underwater wildlife. If there was some information that would have made things better but we learnt there is none and you’ll only find out what is happening when something is happening but it works!!! Bring waterproof phone case and bring Colombian pesos you may want drinks, or to buy things from local tribes. Probably the best thing I have ever done.Written March 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Daisygirl4624Apex, NC24 contributionsIt's with mixed emotions that I write this review. On the one hand, the island was beautiful and peaceful and very relaxing. On the other, I found the disorganization of the operators to be stressful. If you're the type of person who feels the need to be kept in the loop, this is not the trip for you.
First, we were picked up at our hotel at 5:15 by a man driving an SUV a little smaller than a Toyota 4Runner and there were already 4 other people in the car. With three of us in the middle row and everyone's bags, it was pretty cramped. And the driver DIDN'T TELL US ANYTHING. We had no idea if he was taking us to a larger bus with more people or all the way to the port to catch the boat. Nor did he tell us anything about how long it would take or what time we'd be stopping for snacks or anything about the region we would be visiting. Literally, nothing. Turns out he did take us all the way to the port and please believe me when I tell you that trip is NO JOKE (especially being cramped in the middle row between 2 other people). The first part isn't too bad and I wondered why people complained about the road being so curvy. But I soon learned after stopping for snacks (side note: I highly recommend either bringing or buying a cooler at the convenience store where they stop and loading it with drinks and/or snacks because any drinks you want to buy on the island including water are $2 each).
It's the part of the trip AFTER the store that would have been unbearable if I hadn't taken prescription strength motion sickness medicine. The road is paved, but it's VERY NARROW and HILLY and CURVY....and it seems to go on FOREVER. Just when you think you are getting close to the end, you aren't. And I understand that the tour operators can't do anything about the road, but to not have any information from the driver and being cramped in an SUV was just not the least bit fun, much less relaxing. No one talked or got to know each other, we were just subjected to listen to the awful music our driver chose to listen to for the entire 3+ hours in the car.
Eventually we arrived at a rudimentary port and everyone got out of the car except for us. The only info we got out of the driver was that we had to go to another "port". Luckily, it was only a few minutes down the road. Once there, we moved to a shaded seating area where several other people were waiting.
Again, there was NO communication from the tour operators. It would have been nice to have someone explain the procedure so we would know what to expect, but everyone just sat around wondering what time we would be departing and how long it would take and where we were (like some history or information on the region). One man was going from group to group asking for names, essentially checking to see if everyone who had booked had made it there. We waited for about 20 minutes before being directed to a boat with about 18 other tourists on it and 3 "guides". The boat trip was about 40 minutes and wasn't bad at all.
Once at the island, one of the "guides" who had been on the boat directed everyone to a seating area and asked for passports and money (if you had not already paid for the trip. If you had already paid, you had to show the payment confirmation). It took about 30 minutes for them to get to us and ultimately take us to the room we would be staying in. AGAIN, note that there is no welcome to the island with any explanation of where things were or what was available to us. For me, it would have made all the difference to have heard even a short 5 min spiel along the lines of "we are so glad you are all here. This island has been in our family for X number of years. You can find the bathrooms over there. We have kayaks for rent and at mealtime, simply sit down at one of these tables and we will bring your food out to you. After lunch today we will be taking a trip to island _______ where you can snorkle or relax in a hammock or swim".
There are 4 private huts on this island and one larger building with 8 individual rooms, which is where our room was. The walls of the rooms do not go all the way to the ceiling, meaning you can hear other people talking (and snoring!) in the other rooms. I expected our room to be very basic, but the only thing in it was a bed and a hook on the wall. There was no table or even a shelf so your only two options to place anything are on the bed or the sandy wooden floor.
We were served lunch (which I thought was delicious!) and then taken on a couple of excursions. The first one being a sand bar where you could snorkel or just swim and the second being another larger island where there was a sunken ship just off shore. This island has a small bar where you can buy tropical drinks. We were there for about an hour before returning to our island. The afternoon is open to do whatever you want which I found to be very relaxing, but if you have a hard time just napping or reading or playing solitaire or building a sandcastle, you might become bored pretty quickly. We went to bed right after dinner and left right after breakfast the next morning to head back to Panama City. Same thing on the trip back...cramped in the middle row with 2 other people and the ride seemed even longer that time.
All in all, I certainly didn't hate it but I can honestly say I wouldn't do it again. And I struggle to recommend this particular tour. Maybe some of the others are better at communication and execution, but this one is definitely lacking in both.Written April 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Rebeca S3 contributionsWe 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, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Tiziana J1 contributionWe spend a beautiful day in San Blas.
On the islands we met some Kunas, local people, selling some handcrafts and molas. Lunch was freshly made with local ingredients. Although a long day, but very happy we took the tour.Written September 14, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Allan DGuelph, Canada79 contributionsWhat a lovely day. Early start and arrive islands at about 8:00. Tour of the main village which was celebrating 99 year of independence. Guide was excellent. I not boat to visit several lovely islands. Snorkeling was great. Enjoyed good fish lunch. More islands and warm water for swimming. Lost my glasses and the guide went back to find them. Now in our little cabin and had a nap. Paradise.Written March 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Rajesh V1 contributionWe had a great time visiting San Blas islands. Our group was picked up promptly and we had an English speaking guide travelled with us all day from pick up at hotel to drop off late in the evening. Our guide Aura was very informative and helpful. She made sure that our group has been taken care well for the entire trip. We highly recommend using their service.Written November 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- TomWarren, PA4 contributionsGreat adventure. Beautiful islands, sand, palm trees, and crystal clear water. The snorkeling was very good, with big beautiful fan corals and schools of vivid blue fish at the first island out at the reef edge. Magical. No bugs while we were there. The roads and facilities were rustic as advertised. The traffic was crazy, so we were glad we did not drive ourselves. The lunch was bigger and better than expected, very filling. One thing that would make it better would be to provide swim fins to those who want them to go deeper, and the tidal currents were pretty strong to swim against at times without them. But overall the tour was a high point of our trip!Written August 11, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- lardogToronto, Canada44 contributionsGreat experience from the word go.
Be aware it takes time to get there from Panama City. Took 4 hours from 5:00AM hotel pick-up before your toes hit island sands. 3 1/4 to get to the Marina. However, the SUV we travelled in was newish and clean. The driver only had rudimentary English skills, which made for limited discussion during a long trip. But he was pleasant and accommodating. The last hour's drive is in the mountains before you hit the sea. Twisty-turny, uppy-downy you go. If you have a modicum of being subject to car sickness, take a Gravol. If you are on a tour where you might get stuck in the back seats of an old Honda CRV, take several. Frankly, i think a lot has to do with the temperment of the driver. This private tour vehicle and its driver were terrific. I watched and he seldom went over 40kph in the mountains and he wasn't offended or challenged by several other vehicles taking risks to pass him. He calmly drove on, for which i was appreciative. We have taken six tours this trip and note that every single tour guide and driver are male. Brings to mind that a high school boy's locker room, after the game, with various air-clouded AXE body spray assaults confronting you, the impact has nothing on some of these guys. If you have scent sensitivity, i would suggest requesting a scent free driver. I had to ride with the window open all the way. The islands were wonderful but you have to be aware that while the boat and guides are private to you, the places you go are not. One aspect of this excursion that was unique to the private tour was the guides stopped say a hundred meters or so off one of the islands, dropped the anchor, and we snorkeled with them looking at sting rays, etc. Apparently i saw a shark, as proven by the video the guide took during our swim, but i didn't realize i saw it. Ha. The shark was the same colour as the coral. Terrific tour, worth every penny. enjoy.Written April 3, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Yuridelis D1 contributionAmazing! Love the people I ended up with, had a great time. Both tour guides were great! (The driver, Adrian and then the Guna Yala guide). The beaches, Caribbean Sea is beautiful! 100% would do it again 🫶🏽😁Written September 15, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Techie T1 contributionMy visit to Pelican Island was unforgettable! I had an incredible day exploring the stunning scenery and enjoying some relaxing time on the beach. The highlight of my trip was definitely kayaking around the island – the crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life made the experience truly magical. This is a must-travel destination for anyone seeking adventure and natural beauty. Everything was so well-organized, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Five stars all the way!Written October 8, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Carolina B0 contributionsVery organized and friendly. The food was simple/basic but overall fun experience all
day at the islands. I would like to come back next yearWritten November 17, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
