Very low comfort, food average, lots of rubbish on the island and the people are also average friendly. They could do so much with the island, but they all hang around and are quite lazy. The fresh water stinks and the toilets are really dirty. No electricity in the room, although there are light switches, none of them works. Our door was broken, so we had to manually lift the door against the entry in order to close it for the night. It really could be a paradise here but the people are not really cleany. I would not recommend to stay longer than one night, as there are probably much better islands than this. Breakfast is two slides of toast with one slice of packed cheese and one slice of a salami with a fried egg. Food is ok but nothing special. Beer 2$ also ok. These people do not really know what tourists need, but still making so much money with the tourists. I am wondering where all this money goes to as they do not invest anything into the cabins or comfort. It’s a really pity these people do not take care of such a nice paradise in the ocean
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
As beautiful as San Blas is, this was our 6th time visiting a different Island. We took family for the first time and were VERY disappointed. Cabins over the water were dirty and toilets did not work. Shower curtain was holding on by a thread and very dirty. We walked around the Island and saw nothing but piles of garbage washed ashore and not cleaned up. There were only a few trees on the Island so very little shade. Cabins over the water did not have ladders to/from the water so we could not swim off our cabin. Island is surrounded by seaweed and rocks so many areas are not swimable. Price very high for lack of amenities.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Pick another island !
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.
My husband and I were supposed to stay there for 3 nights but decided to leave early because it was so uncomfortable. We found a lot of trash and dead fish snorkeling. The cabins have sand flies that bit us over 100 times when we were sleeping. Our fan and light didn’t work. There was no running water the 3 days we were there.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
Spent 3 nights on Wailidup Island in the over the water cabins. Only way to go. Although we didn’t have hot water and the fans didn’t work, the great staff, cheap, cold beer, good food and the unbelievably blue water and white sand beach made up for the minor issues. Bring good bug spray. While my friends didn’t suffer, I managed to provide for whole colonies of no see ums. Loved the staff.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
Me and my husband had the pleasure to stay 2 nights and 3 days in the Wailidup Cabins. I have no words to thank all the guys for their services and making these honeymoon days for us even more excited. They were attentive, funny & friendly.
On the second and third day they took us to other islands around and we got to know more about the Kuna Yala community, listen to some stories, learn about the island names, drink Pina Coladas, have boat trips drinking cold beer, buy some handmade arts, snorkel at a natural pool to see starfishes…(we were VIP treated) Also a big thanks for the cooker. The food tasted good and always had the options to choose in the lunch and dinner time. Ex: coconut rice, patacones, fries, salad, fish, lobster, octopus, chicken… Blanco, thank you for the fire torch dinner 😊 Yes, the cabins are simple, as every part of San Blas. But what else do you need when you are surrounded for such nature beauty? I mean, I don’t understand why people “complain” about that. You have there white sand, crystal & warm sea water, palm trees, birds, fishes, sunsets… Our cabin had one couple and one single bed, two working fans and a bathroom (no towels available, bring yours). Electricity works from 6pm to 6 am. So if you are seeking for a fancy/luxus vacation place you should review your goal for the trip. The island was not crowded, but probably because we were there in November. So if you travel in the peak season, expect to have more people around.
Don’t work if you feel lost about the pickups off and to the boats /car drivers. They guys there communicate with each other (also from other islands) and have everything under control.
Mr. Blanco, David, Rick, Yojan, Luchin and Yonathan thank you again for everything. Take care and we hope to see you again!
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Date of stay: November 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Listen, if you're looking for a luxury hotel, this is not it. The cabins are primitive, there is no air conditioning, and the beds are not super comfy. There is no hot water, electricity for a few hours at night only, and no real amenities. But if you are looking for a secluded getaway that's off the grid, and really an experience that you won't have anywhere else, then this is for you! It is amazingly beautiful here and incredibly peaceful. As long as you keep your accommodation expectations in check, you'll have a great time! Our first night on the island, we were the only guests there. The staff was continuously courteous and respectful to us and did their best to communicate with us and meet our needs. This is an adventure, and one that you won't regret having!
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Date of stay: June 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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Arriving around 9:30 a.m. on our island, we had an excellent welcome. Meals are at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Choice between fish, chicken or octopus rice . We didn't have any mosquitoes. There was a mosquito net above the bed. The black birds came into the hut and ate our Oreos! The next day we visited 2 more islands with the natural swimming pool. It is magic! Return at 3 p.m. I recommend one night there.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
I and two friends went to visit Cabanas Wailidup and came away after a horrendous experience. The journey out there was beautiful and we called at a couple of places enroute and saw how indigenous people live and work. On arrival at Wailidup, it initially looks ok until you start to explore the island. It is a S@@thole. I won't take my worst enemy there.
The accommodation is sub standard with bugs in the primitive bedding, a bathroom that was disgusting and cabins that needed a good deep clean. The hosts must love seeing the reaction from gullable tourists who think they're coming to a luxury island!
My friends tried to move to the "posher" cabins which are shown along the shore and on all the internet sites to no avail. The food was terrible and the few staff were drunk and fighting at night. The garbage on the beaches make it so bad that you can't actually go into the water. No effort is being made by staff to keep on top of this as the pictures show.
I would never go and visit this place. They should be closed down by Panamanian authorities,
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Date of stay: November 2017
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Don't go here at your peril!
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.
Do not go to this island! Hundreds of bug bites after one night. You could experience survival in way nicer way however people on this island are just sooo lazy. Rubbish are absolutely everywhere. Also as we had to cancel our 4 days trip due to many bites and being advised to take antibiotics from pharmacy they didn't refunded any money (paid $600!) On top of that they damaged our luggage while taking it to port, yet don't seem to be bother at all. For 100% do not use san_blas_go (IG screenshot attached). Clear scammers. You would expect much more from places like this.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
We stayed at the Cabanas Wailidup Over-the Water cabins for 2 nights in early April 2019. The beach is white sand, warm crystal clear water and we could watch ribbon fish and sting rays float by our back porch. Half the beach is clean, but the other half has drift wood and crap accumulated along the shore.
The food was locally caught and was okay, however there was no beverage provided with any meals, unless you wanted coffee for breakfast. Water, soda or beer was extra. Since you cannot drink the water on San Blas you need to bring your own, or pay $2 for a 16 oz bottle at the lodge.
Now to the bungalows. They were very primitive. Two bed with sheets only and a flat pillow. Nothing else in the room, but a shelf. The bathrooms had a shower with a pipe sticking out of the wall without a showerhead and no hot water. There was a sink, however it did not have any water and no mirror. No towels when we arrived, however 2 threadbare ones were provided when we asked for them. The garbage in the bathroom was overflowing with used toilet paper, as they do not want you to flush paper down the toilets. No soap, shampoo or toiletries of any kind.There is solar power, but doesn't work most of the time and flickers when it does. Bring a flashlight. Wiring was held together with black electrical tape and not very safe looking.
We saw online that we should bring snacks as none available on the island. The first day the birds, which can come into your room through the opening between the walls and the roof, pecked a hole into our sealed nuts, ate them and then crapped on our beds. We cleaned them the best we could with antibacterial wipes we had thankfully brought with us.
We did have a great time as the beer was cheap ($2 a can) and the we were with good friends and could laugh off all the inconveniences weve grown so accustomed to.
Like I said, San Blas is a beautiful place and we are glad we saw it. I would recommend going there, but not staying at the Wailidup unless you are up for an adventure.
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Date of stay: April 2019
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
There are more places to choose from in the San Blas Islands area.
LOCATION
PanamaGuna Yala RegionSan Blas Islands
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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