Cabanas Tubasenika
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About
#3 of 6 campgrounds in San Blas Islands
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HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
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Property amenities
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Beach
Location
Rio Sidra Panama
Getting there
Tocumen Intl Airport
60.8 km•
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Ustupo-Ogobsucum Airport
120.1 km•
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Detailed Reviews
We booked via sanblasexperience.com for 2 nights, for $300, which got us a private hut and included round trip 4x4 trip from our hostel in Panama City (3 hours each way), boat to the island (45 minutes each way), and 3 meals a day. The whole island is tiny, maybe 1-2 acres. But they managed to cram a lot of people into that tiny space.
The island is divided into three areas. The tip is a small white sand beach, then the rest is split into two separately run "hotels". Each of the two hotels includes ~15 small huts with sand floor, bamboo walls and thatched roof. The huts are small, but have a full bed and space for luggage. Half the huts face the ocean, and half are on the inside of the island. We stayed on the ocean side, and waking up every day to the water was very nice. Downside is that the huts are only maybe 15 feet apart, and they also sell the space between the huts for tent spaces, so it's pretty tight, and little privacy.
Note that there's no running water, so bring plenty to drink. Also be prepared for toilets with no seats, that you flush with a bucket of seawater.
The whole place is run by natives. We found them to be not the most helpful. Few if any spoke English, which is understandable, but even in Spanish, they were not eager to serve.
Note that the boat trip to the islands can be exciting. We had rough weather, and the boat was slamming up and down hard enough to hurt your butt. You basically had to choose between sitting in the front and getting the worst of the motion, or sitting in back and getting soaking wet.
The food included was sparse, and picky eaters might go hungry. breakfast was one or two eggs with white bread, and lunch and dinner gave you two options, which were only ever chicken and rice, fish and rice, or mixed seafood and rice. Definitely bring snacks to supplement what's offered.
Bring a snorkel.
The island is divided into three areas. The tip is a small white sand beach, then the rest is split into two separately run "hotels". Each of the two hotels includes ~15 small huts with sand floor, bamboo walls and thatched roof. The huts are small, but have a full bed and space for luggage. Half the huts face the ocean, and half are on the inside of the island. We stayed on the ocean side, and waking up every day to the water was very nice. Downside is that the huts are only maybe 15 feet apart, and they also sell the space between the huts for tent spaces, so it's pretty tight, and little privacy.
Note that there's no running water, so bring plenty to drink. Also be prepared for toilets with no seats, that you flush with a bucket of seawater.
The whole place is run by natives. We found them to be not the most helpful. Few if any spoke English, which is understandable, but even in Spanish, they were not eager to serve.
Note that the boat trip to the islands can be exciting. We had rough weather, and the boat was slamming up and down hard enough to hurt your butt. You basically had to choose between sitting in the front and getting the worst of the motion, or sitting in back and getting soaking wet.
The food included was sparse, and picky eaters might go hungry. breakfast was one or two eggs with white bread, and lunch and dinner gave you two options, which were only ever chicken and rice, fish and rice, or mixed seafood and rice. Definitely bring snacks to supplement what's offered.
Bring a snorkel.
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Date of stay: February 2015Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Try to get an ocean-side room, but not sure if it's possible to select in advance.
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.
Franklins is one of the cheapest places to stay. There are private cabins for $35 and dorms per $26 per person including the 3 meals. The island is really beautiful and very good for snorkeling. But it is reaaly difficult to sleep in ths cabins - the bed is unconfortable and really, really hot! Actually the bathroom facilities are pretty poor too.
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Date of stay: May 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Front od the sea cabins
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's paradise on earth!Stayed there for 4 nights in a wooden cabaña 3 meters from the sea. People are nice, meet some great people from all over the world, had campfires on the beach. The Guna people are very nice and sweet, the food is simple but delicious.One night we ordered lobster wich was amazing and cost only 20$ per piece. A must. Don't stay only one night.
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip 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.
Two days trip to San Blas should be the highlight of our trip to Panama. We felt excited for getting to "epitome of paradise" and meeting the indigenous Kuna Yala people. Instead it become the biggest disappointment. It definitely haven't justified its price.
The whole San Blas trip was organized by Kuna Yala people and it included 4x4 transfer from Panama City and back, a boat trip to the island and a full board accommodation in the bamboo cottage. During the whole trip we were completely out of control of our time and dependent on our drivers and staff will. First we spent more than an hour for no apparent reason at one supermarket's parking just outside Panama City. A half an hour boat trip on merely rough see on the boat without any shade or protection was actually a funny adventure. We arrived to the island soaking wet but full of expectation of having great time there. The island is very small with two "resorts" of 15-20 airy bamboo cottages in each of them. The cottages are worn out and packed quite densely together with no much privacy. The doors are without locks. There is just a sandy floor and one or two beds inside with an old, destroyed mattresses. Back pain and sand in the mouth are guaranteed after a night spent on them. The nights were very windy in February. There is a small quiet beach on SW side of islet with a nice sunset views. Just besides it is a generator hut and toilets with showers. There is no running water in most of the toilets, you have to flush it with the bucket of water. There are also no sinks at all. The food was monotonous and often served cold. The price of drinks (beer, Cola, juice cans) is surprisingly affordable. Still all of it could be bearable, but the biggest disappointment were Kuna people. The staff, especially the Kuna ladies, were totally indifferent and unhelpful. We visited one of their islands and didn't feel welcome. The whole impression was like "leave your money and disappear". On the way back our boat should leave the islet at 8 AM. During the breakfast they told us we are going to leave at 7:30. Some guests were in rush to catch their flight from Panama City. The boat was late and finally arrived without life jackets to pick us up at 8:30. Then we left to the opposite direction to pick up life jackets from another island. Then it stopped at several other islands for unknown reasons. Our half an hour boat trip that should arrive to the shore at 8:00 was there finally at 10:15.
The whole San Blas trip was organized by Kuna Yala people and it included 4x4 transfer from Panama City and back, a boat trip to the island and a full board accommodation in the bamboo cottage. During the whole trip we were completely out of control of our time and dependent on our drivers and staff will. First we spent more than an hour for no apparent reason at one supermarket's parking just outside Panama City. A half an hour boat trip on merely rough see on the boat without any shade or protection was actually a funny adventure. We arrived to the island soaking wet but full of expectation of having great time there. The island is very small with two "resorts" of 15-20 airy bamboo cottages in each of them. The cottages are worn out and packed quite densely together with no much privacy. The doors are without locks. There is just a sandy floor and one or two beds inside with an old, destroyed mattresses. Back pain and sand in the mouth are guaranteed after a night spent on them. The nights were very windy in February. There is a small quiet beach on SW side of islet with a nice sunset views. Just besides it is a generator hut and toilets with showers. There is no running water in most of the toilets, you have to flush it with the bucket of water. There are also no sinks at all. The food was monotonous and often served cold. The price of drinks (beer, Cola, juice cans) is surprisingly affordable. Still all of it could be bearable, but the biggest disappointment were Kuna people. The staff, especially the Kuna ladies, were totally indifferent and unhelpful. We visited one of their islands and didn't feel welcome. The whole impression was like "leave your money and disappear". On the way back our boat should leave the islet at 8 AM. During the breakfast they told us we are going to leave at 7:30. Some guests were in rush to catch their flight from Panama City. The boat was late and finally arrived without life jackets to pick us up at 8:30. Then we left to the opposite direction to pick up life jackets from another island. Then it stopped at several other islands for unknown reasons. Our half an hour boat trip that should arrive to the shore at 8:00 was there finally at 10:15.
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Date of stay: February 2017Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
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.
"Try to get an ocean-side room, but not sure if it's possible to select in advance."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
₱5,520 - ₱11,040 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
PanamaGuna Yala RegionSan Blas Islands
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cabanas Tubasenika
What food & drink options are available at Cabanas Tubasenika?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.