Best Adventurous Things to Do in San Blas Islands
THE BEST Adventurous Things to Do in San Blas Islands
Best Adventurous Things to Do in San Blas Islands
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Travelers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travelers across the globe.
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What travelers are saying
- wayne r4 contributionsWe had an incredible 3 days with captain Elena and her incredible cook/hostess Anzhelica! Fresh seafood is amazing, the boat is stocked with water toys, snorkeling equipment and 2 paddleboards. The water is crystal clear around the island reefs. Elena knows all of the good spots and made sure that we had a fantastic time.Written October 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Vi n2 contributionsOne week in Panama, including 5 days in the San Blas islands. Here's my unfiltered review: it's a bit of an adventure, but absolutely worth it.
I chose to go during the off-season, partly because it was cheaper, and also because it coincided with my son's school holidays. A trip just for the two of us.
We arrived the day before in Panama City and booked a room at "Mamallena". It's a great option for budget travelers: clean and just a 10-minute walk from the waterfront,it was nice but it's pretty basic. If you have a bit more to spend, I’d recommend staying in the old town – it has way more charm.
For the transfer to San Blas, we followed the advice of our booker and chose Lam Tour. The night before, I got a WhatsApp message confirming the taxi would arrive at 5:15 AM. Right on the dot, a lifted 4x4 pulled up. It was comfortable, and there were six of us in the car. The ride took about 4 hours, with non-stop rain, making me second-guess whether summer was the best choice for a vacation... The roads were in good condition but full of twists and turns, so watch out for motion sickness! If you can, try to grab a front seat. After that, we hopped on a "lancha" for a 1.5-hour boat ride. As we got closer, the sky started to clear, as if the clouds were clinging to the mainland.
We finally arrived at the catamaran El Gitano del Mar, which we had booked directly through catamaransanblas.com because they are the owner . Write better:
We got around 15% better deal by booking through their site instead of using boat platforms
The boat looked just like the photos, and we were welcomed with fresh fruit and juice. As soon as we dropped our bags, the captain took us to a tiny, absolutely stunning island – straight out of a postcard. The perfect place to feel like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe.
Every day, we explored new islands. It was the perfect opportunity to try paddleboarding (way harder than it looks!). The islands are incredibly beautiful – small patches of white sand with palm trees and huts made of palm leaves. During the off-season, we had the islands to ourselves, which was an amazing feeling. It’s surreal to think that we were probably among the happiest people in the world at that moment, enjoying such peace and beauty. Real privilege.
The weather was mostly cloudy during our 5 days, with a few scattered showers, but honestly, that was a relief – the sun is strong, even through the clouds. The crew was wonderful: warm and friendly, but also discreet, creating a relaxed atmosphere. We enjoyed giant crabs, lobsters, fresh fruit – all natural and delicious. It was no air conditioning, but during the day it’s not at all an issue since we were mostly outside, taking a dip in the water every couple of hours. However, at night the cabin did get pretty warm. Thankfully, they provided a big portable fan that you can clip anywhere in the cabin, and it made all the difference. Without it, sleeping would have been difficult, but with it, the comfort level was completely transformed.
Honestly, if I could have, I would have stayed two extra days. The calm and beauty of the place are just irresistible.
My son was really happy and even got to steer the boat, and the crew took the time to teach him paddleboarding, chess, and swam with him from island to island (with a float). He came back with a head full of memories, and for that alone, the trip was priceless.Written August 21, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Roger C2 contributionsWe had a great time! The captain and the crew are fantastic. The Gina people are very friendly. The food was delicious and fresh. We had lobsters, fish and crab straight out from the water by the fishermen. The snorkeling was Amazing. It was truly a fantastic experience. This place is PARADISE! I will definitely be coming back as soon as possible. Thank you JP & Helena!Written August 21, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- David W2 contributionsWe had a fantastic family trip on Haya: Mum,Dad, 15 & 13-yr olds. The crew (Louis & Andreas) could not have been more helpful. Excellent sailors, amazing meals for breakfast, lunch & dinner with fish, octopus, cambombia & lobster bought that day! Andreas’ music was also great! Snorkelling & SUP kit all excellent. San Blas really is paradise with beautiful seas, islands, beaches; and very friendly people.
The only downside were the thunder & lighting storms: but it was rainy season. They were spectacular but a bit scary for those not used to it!
We did a 3 night charter, would love to have had longer. A trip we will remember for ever!Written August 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
