Contacted Mateo from San Blas Experience. A canadian married with a nice local Kuna women. They have tons of different trip organised. If you want to get away of everything... no place like it. Make sure you know what you get into. some may be hostel but i went the whole Kuna experience in a bamboo hut. A+++

There's no words to describe how gorgeous and amazing this private island tour was on this Indian reservation! You just have to be there to see all its beauty!

I ended a sola backpacking trip through Costa Rica and Panama with a stay on Iguana Island. The best part of this stay was not the beauty of the islands, the thrill that comes with catching a winding early morning SUV lift into Guna territory or the relaxation that comes with island hopping, beach bumming and wading out to Iguana's lobster trap to hand select which lobster you want for lunch (note: this is well worth the extra charge as Panamanian lobsters are meaty--antennae, tail, legs--lobster meat everywhere!).

For me, the best part of this excursion was seeing firsthand how an indigenous group has not only maintained autonomy, but is thriving, for the San Blas islands are considered the territory of the Guna. I bypassed Bocas to go to San Blas expressly because the island jaunts are organized by and for the Guna nation. As a citizen of the States, where our own indigenous nations are marginalized, it was both educational and inspiring to see that Panama honors the autonomy (and customs) of the Guna. There are Guna representatives in the government, Guna officials in state departments, Gunas in the cities and in the San Blas islands. As a Guna man working for the ministry of finance told me one morning, it's not a mistake that the Guna has autonomy and "derechos" (rights); they were one of the first groups to interact with Europeans when the Panama Canal was built and as such, were able to access educational and networking opportunities that led to the Guna becoming the most educated indigenous group in Panama, also lending to their ability to advocate for themselves. The sense of Guna pride in their identity is palpable. If Panama can honor its indigenous nations, so can the States!

My two cents: yes, do enjoy the blue waters, the cheerful camaraderie (everyone on the the touristic islands are undeniably out to have a good time) and the party party vibe. However, if you've got some conversational Spanish going on, take some time to talk with the Guna outside of a village tour. You can walk around Iguana Island in about a thousand steps and when you've had your fill of eating, drinking, swimming and tanning, let a Guna tell you about his or her way of life (their political set up is fascinating and the Guna language is odd but fascinating to my Romance language'd ears) and give the Guna props for advocating for their own nationhood.