San Blas Islands Tours
San Blas Day Tour - Visit Paradise Islands & the Natural Pools + Lunch + 1 Drink
4.5
San Blas Day Tour - Visit Paradise Islands & the Natural Pools + Lunch + 1 Drink
By Tao Travel 365 - Panama
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 3-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 14h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More
- Shared boat/lancha transportation all day
- Snorkel Equipment (snorkel and mask)
- San Blas Day Tour
- One beverage: Bottle of water, soda or beer
- Island Taxes (Entrance fee to each island)
- Lunch
What's not included- Guna Entrance Fee paid to border patrol ($22 for Internationals, $7 for Panamanian residents)
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Carti Parking and Boat Terminal, F23C+W2C, Warsobtugua, Guna Yala, PanamaThe tour starts in the port of Carti. Contact our office for exact driving directions and instructions. Plan to arrive no later than 8:30am. Only 4x4 vehicles are allowed entry into San Blas territory. All other cars and SUVs will not be allowed to enter the territory and you will lose your tour.
Pickup details- If booking with transportation from Panama City: IF YOU HAVE NOT PROVIDED YOUR WHATSAPP NUMBER AND PICK UP INFORMATION (HOTEL NAME & ROOM NUMBER) YOUR TOUR IS NOT CONFIRMED AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PICK YOU UP. On the day of your tour, please be ready to be picked up from your hotel between 5:00am and 5:45am, and wait in the lobby. Since we have shared transportation with up to 6 guests per car, our drivers choose the best route to pick up all guests in a timely manner. To avoid any delays we appreciate your cooperation in being on time. If you are not at your designated pick up point (and waiting in the lobby!), you will loose your tour without refund. Please note that the drivers only speak Spanish. The driver will try his best in contacting you via WhatsApp. Please understand that the driver cannot wait longer than 10 minutes before continuing to the next pick up destination, in order to provide timely service for all of the other guests. If driving on your own to San Blas: Please contact our office for exact driving directions and instructions. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ONLY 4X4 CARS ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE TERRITORY. We have many guests who arrive in a regular SUV (such as Hyundai Tucson or similar), but are not allowed to enter, because the SUV is not a 4x4 and is considered too small or not suitable for the treacherous roads.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Airport pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.- Tocumen Intl Airport, Panama City Panama
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 127626P28- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Most travellers can participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
- Departure time is between 5:00am and 5:45am from your Panama City lodging. If staying at Playa Bonita area, your departure time is between 5:00am and 5:15am.
- You are welcome to bring a cooler with your own drinks, potable water, snacks and beverages (fruit juice or alcohol). The driver will stop at a supermarket on the way to San Blas in order for you to purchase additional items.
- PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR ORIGINAL PASSPORT. PHOTOCOPIES OF PASSPORTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO ENTER THE GUNA TERRITORY AND THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS.
- Please be advised that San Blas is in the Guna territory, which is an autonomous, Indian zone. The services are very basic. The Gunas will be providing all touristic services, such as meal preparations, car and boat transportations, lodging, and tour guiding. We are proud to be working with this friendly tribe and with each booking we give back to the community, supporting their customs and their traditional way of life. We kindly ask you to respect this beautiful culture and their simple way of life, leaving your expectations behind and learning about their innocent culture.
- We recommend that you bring your personal hygiene items, such as towels, sunscreen, hats, mosquito repellent.
- In San Blas Islands there are no ATMs - please bring cash. You can buy additional drinks, snacks, souvenirs etc.
- “Tigo” is the cell phone company that has the best reception in San Blas.
- Infants need to sit on laps.
- PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR A 2.5 to 3 HOUR CAR JOURNEY EACH WAY OVER CURVY ROADS! THERE IS ALSO A 25-30 MINUTE BOAT RIDE TO YOUR FIRST ISLAND WHICH CAN GET QUITE BUMPY AND WET. We feel that the islands are worth the long drive, but some travelers have complained about the drive and the fast boat ride from and to the port. While we strive to provide our guests the best service and an unforgettable experience in San Blas, we are not responsible for road and ocean conditions, and we would like you to be aware of this fact :)
- IMPORTANT SAN BLAS DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ! While San Blas is a beautiful island archipelago with stunning beaches and clear waters, it also has its downsides, for which we would like to make you aware off. In San Blas only the Kuna population is allowed to work in the territory. The services and infrastructure are not what most of us are used to. Kunas are not very service oriented and can often seem shy or reserved. A stay in San Blas can be compared to a camping vacation that offers minimal comfort, services and amenities. We strongly advise those who have 5 star expectations to think twice before embarking on this adventure. We do have alternative tours in Panama with more high-end services. We really care about our reputation and we want our guests to enjoy their vacation with us. We attempt to be as transparent as possible in order to set guest expectations from the start. We do not own any of the islands and we pride ourselves in providing excellent service during your booking process and attempting to assist you during your San Blas vacation. However, please remember that we cannot guarantee the same excellent service during your stay in San Blas. Please read all the below information well! San Blas is very rustic without the amenities and standards you might be used to from home. Compared to places such as Tahiti and Maldives that are managed by international hotel chains, San Blas has remained autonomous without the influence of outsiders. When visiting San Blas, it should be viewed as a cultural experience where guests visit the paradise islands of the Kunas and respect their traditions and their primitive ways of living. No air condition - None of the islands offer A/C No Wifi - You can buy a prepaid SIM card (Tigo or Digicel), which may or may not have signal. No luxury facilities - Bathrooms may be dirty, sinks may get clogged What seems like trash and clutter around the local huts, are items and tools that Kunas re-use for their daily lives. Please respect the fact that different cultures have different education, perspectives and ways of living and do not expect the cleanliness you may be used to from your home country. All services will all be handled by the indigenous Kuna. While Tao Travel 365 strives to provide the best service possible and train the Kuna in customer management, some of the below services are often out of our control. Car transportation - the ride to San Blas takes 2.5 to 3 hours, with 1.5 hours over slow, curvy roads. For those with motion sickness, please prepare accordingly. The transportation is in a shared 4x4 SUV, with one seat up front, three seats in the middle row and 2 seats in the back row. Seats are assigned randomly. Those who require additional space in the car must purchase an extra seat. Pick up from your lodging is scheduled between 5:00am and 5:30am, but can sometimes be as late as 5:45am depending on the timeliness of other guests that we pick up. Out of respect for all others in the car we ask everyone to wait in the lobby of their building at 5:00am. If you are not at the designated meeting point, the driver will make an effort to locate you, but he cannot delay the transportation by more than 10 minutes. No refunds are awarded to guests who don’t show up on time. Boat transportation - depending on weather and ocean conditions, the 20-40 minute boat ride might be bumpy and wet with ocean spray. Island kitchen - meal are prepared fresh in the local kitchen and usually consist of fried or grilled fish with salad and patacones (fried plantains). Most Kunas DO NOT speak English. Trash is a worldwide problem and unfortunately San Blas has not been spared from the ever increasing issue. During certain tides and ocean and wind conditions plastic trash from throughout the Caribbean ocean accumulates on the beaches of San Blas. While the local Kuna are working hard to collect the constant flood of plastic trash washing up on their beaches, guests will nevertheless find evidence of plastic spread out on the island. Furthermore, Kunas tend to collect certain “trash” and re-use it for their purposes. During the wet months (April - December) or during windless days, all of San Blas experiences sandflies, which are little blood-sucking flies that leave itchy marks. Please ensure to bring insect repellent and prepare to return to Panama City with a few itchy memories. Weather: Panama is located in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which means that the weather is very unpredictable and is impossible to forecast with accuracy. The weather forecast will usually show rain and thunderstorms for most days of the year, when in reality there are oftentimes beautiful, sunny days in San Blas. Please do not rely on the weather forecast in Panama. Due to the tropical conditions in San Blas rain can occur at any time and we do not offer refunds for rainy days. Travel Emergencies: The San Blas islands are located in a very remote region of Panama. We ask all guests to be responsible for their own well being and to be aware that medical assistance can often not be provided right away. The closest medical facility in San Blas is very basic and can only provide assistance for minor issues. Guests with injuries such as broken bones that require more specialized treatment need to be transported to Panama City. Guests are responsible for all charges arising from a medical emergency, such as boat and car transportation and medical care. We suggest all guests to carry a Travel Insurance to cover emergency expenses. We kindly ask our guests to lower their expectation when visiting San Blas and to focus on the beautiful remote paradise that San Blas has remained despite the effects that modern society has caused to them. The Kunas are very gentle and kind people, but can also be somewhat shy at times. When approaching them with a smile and an open heart you will be guaranteed an innocent, happy smile in return. Arriving with the right mindset and expectation usually guarantees an unforgettable experience, where guests are able to focus on the beauties of the islands, beaches, ocean and the people, rather than on the limitations that we mentioned above.
- The use of drones is prohibited in San Blas. Heavy fines are imposed on those who disobey the law.
- AGAIN!!! Please be prepared for a 2.5 hour car journey each way (1 hour on a highway and about 1.5 hours through the mountains over curvy roads! Please do not leave bad reviews because of the road. We try to warn you ahead of time ;)
- The road to San Blas is very curvy. If you are sensitive to motion sickness, please prepare accordingly by bringing appropriate medication.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 127626P28
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Sherpa682193657660 contributionsBeautiful sites, but poor executionThe scenery was great, but the tour itself was poor overall. The tour guide was hard to understand and didn't speak very good English. The activities described in the advertisement happened, but in a completely different order. What was most disappointing is that we did not get lunch until 3 pm. And then right after lunch was the only opportunity for snorkeling (which should have occurred before lunch which was supposed to be at noon.). The Zapatilla Cay we stopped at had beautiful white sand and crystal clear water. We were supposed to be there 2 hours, but the police stopped by and asked everyone to leave the cay about an hour and 15 minutes into our visit there. We were given no reason why.Written 6 November 2024
- 457imah0 contributionsDon’t miss this experienceThis was the best tour I have had in year. Daniel our guide was fantastic and so knowledgble. We hiked all of India Dormida and saw Anton Valley highlights. Dont miss this experienceWritten 19 September 2024
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsDont miss it!We 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 19 September 2024
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsBeautiful India Dormida and amazing guideThis is a full day tour, be ready to spend a beautiful day outside of Panama City hiking the beautiful India Dormida! It is full reccomended. Ali was an excellent guide!Written 19 September 2024
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsAmazing tour!Amazing tour at an affordable price! Pick up was on time, good guide/boat driver and Bioluminescence experience was awesome! Totally recommended Tao Travel 365!Written 19 September 2024
- N4606JNstephanies0 contributionsYou'll love it!If you want to get up close to at least 3 different kinds of beautiful monkeys, this is your tour! We also got to watch sloths and have a lovely boat ride on the Chagres River.Written 1 September 2024
- Rizzle8Cinco0 contributionsAmazing!This truly was a unique experience! From boating along the river to hiking in the jungle to swimming at the beautiful waterfall. At the end meeting/eating and dancing with the beautiful embera tribe. Amazing day!Written 20 August 2024
- Rizzle8Cinco0 contributionsGamboa adventureAn amazing beautiful sanctuary! Great place to connect with nature! The gandola ride to the top was very relaxing..just you and nature with a great view at the top over seeing the canal. It was great to see the sloths at the sanctuary (spoiled little fur balls ❤️) and all the other animals (butterflies, rain frogs). Had an amazing time overall. There is also ziplining but you need to book in advance.Written 20 August 2024
- Catalinatravel1250 contributionsThanks for this unique experience!!!We had an amazing experience during our two days in San Blas. My wife and I loved the big sandy beach and the snorkel shipwreck so close by. Food was tasty and fresh. The beach cabin is comfortable and close to the ocean, which is a soothing sound falling asleep at night. The Kunas so sweet and friendly. We will come back again for sure. Thanks for this unique experience!!!!Written 28 July 2024
- shonaj7010 contributionsMonkeys. Butterflies, Sloths, NatureSuper interesting and relaxing trip with unstressful boat ride, monkeys, butterflies, and sloths. Our guide was knowledgeable and very nice.Written 5 July 2024
- DBstravelbuddy0 contributionsA don't miss experienceWonderful tour! So much more to see and experience than I expected. Our guide was kind, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Saw many different animals, canal, parts of the city. I would highly recommend this tour!Written 19 June 2024
- W7923AQjoshuaf0 contributionsThis is a camping experience.This is a camping trip. I cannot stress this enough. The day time is definitely relaxed and the island is a beautiful island. But at night, you sleep in a “cabin” without an enclosed roof. This will come with bugs, heat, dirty sheets, no electricity, you name it. I would suggest a one day stay. The night being so difficult may impact your overall stay in Panama. Maybe if you’re more prepared to camp, you may enjoy it more. Also the ride there isn’t as bad as people say.Written 5 June 2024
- PaddyHH720 contributionsExcellent tour ocean-to-ocean and back!We throughly enjoyed our tour to Fort San Lorenzo. Our excellent guide Oscar was insightful and entertaining throughout our drive to Cristobal. The visits at the fort and the Neopanama canal locks at Gatun were informative and never rushed or overwhelming making time just fly by. We had a fantastic time!Written 20 May 2024
- Randy J0 contributionsPanama vacationBeaches were beautiful and the food was amazing. The car ride was long but our driver made sure to stop and keep us comfortable.Written 18 May 2024
- I4624OFjoshuad0 contributionsNice trip/excursiongreat tour. Hike to falls was nice. Not a good trip for anyone with any sort of struggles in walking and footing. Sweet families at the village. Not pushy to buy stuff. great history lessons. Great guide was assigned to us as well. Door to door travel was fantastic.Written 15 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members 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.
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keyvas
Baltimore, MD5 contributions
Apr 2023
The drive through the mountains wasn’t as bad as other reviews suggested but I guess everyone is different. Once we reached the port I had to use the bathroom and luckily I had some change because the guy charged .50 cents. The first island we visited was really nice and had a nice snorkeling spot by a “shipwrecked” boat. I definitely recommend.
Written 10 April 2023
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're glad you enjoyed your drive and that you found the island to be a great spot for snorkeling. Thank you for your recommendation!
Written 11 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carter
Waukesha, WI16 contributions
Jul 2023
It’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 5 July 2023
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.
Thanks for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time on the San Blas Islands. Our drivers and staff are committed to providing top-notch service, ensuring that everyone has an unforgettable experience. We couldn't agree more, San Blas is a must-do!
Written 9 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sara3636
Huancayo, Peru2 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
This is such a great experience from Panama City! No need to worry about driving or pick ups. The team takes you door to ocean door! Great communication, delicious lunch, incredible cultural tour of the local community, would do it again!
Written 4 May 2022
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.
Barbara H
1 contribution
Dec 2019
Akthough pick up was promptly at 5.15 am the trip was very worthwhile and relatively inexpensive. The road trip careening around major potholes was an experience.
Written 2 January 2020
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.
marcecili
Aracaju, SE4 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
The car driver was punctual, he was at the hotel at the scheduled time, at 5am tomorrow. With the driver, there were 6 people (3 Brazilians, 2 Canadians and 1 Panamanian) in a 4x4 truck.
The breakfast stop is in a place where all the cars going to the San Blas Islands meet, without much structure to receive so many people, our driver said that there are on average 80 trucks taking people daily for this tour.
The drivers enter the area that should be reserved for employees, they prepare their dishes themselves, open the shelves of the food cabinets, demonstrating great intimacy with everyone.
The meat empanada had so much oil that it dripped onto the plate, making it impossible to eat, so we asked for it to be exchanged for a cheese empanada, a request that was immediately made by one of the drivers who was there.
We took the opportunity to buy beer, water and snacks that we consumed later on the islands.
After stopping, we continued our journey along a road full of winding and dangerous curves. It's a good idea to take medicine for motion sickness. The road is being paved, which is much better.
When entering indigenous territories, there is a "police" barrier where the Indians ask for our passports and US 22.00 (dollars).
The landscape of the robust forest is beautiful. From leaving the hotel to where we stopped and continuing the boat trip, it takes 3 hours.
In the port there are dozens of canoes, it is in this place where you are asked what we want for lunch that will be served on one of the islands.
We continue our journey, in front of the boat there are 2 Indians who show the way so that the Indian who is behind, guiding the boat, does not hit the reefs.
There are many islands, some small, others larger, but on all of them you can see at least one hut, showing that there are owners in the territory.
The Caribbean Sea is beautiful, with warm and crystal clear waters, with snorkeling you can see fish, starfish and reefs.
The fried fish I chose for lunch was good, plentiful, they served it with plantains, prepared like chips and a green salad.
It was a cool trip with stops at the islands and a natural pool, lots of sun and the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world. I recommend.
The breakfast stop is in a place where all the cars going to the San Blas Islands meet, without much structure to receive so many people, our driver said that there are on average 80 trucks taking people daily for this tour.
The drivers enter the area that should be reserved for employees, they prepare their dishes themselves, open the shelves of the food cabinets, demonstrating great intimacy with everyone.
The meat empanada had so much oil that it dripped onto the plate, making it impossible to eat, so we asked for it to be exchanged for a cheese empanada, a request that was immediately made by one of the drivers who was there.
We took the opportunity to buy beer, water and snacks that we consumed later on the islands.
After stopping, we continued our journey along a road full of winding and dangerous curves. It's a good idea to take medicine for motion sickness. The road is being paved, which is much better.
When entering indigenous territories, there is a "police" barrier where the Indians ask for our passports and US 22.00 (dollars).
The landscape of the robust forest is beautiful. From leaving the hotel to where we stopped and continuing the boat trip, it takes 3 hours.
In the port there are dozens of canoes, it is in this place where you are asked what we want for lunch that will be served on one of the islands.
We continue our journey, in front of the boat there are 2 Indians who show the way so that the Indian who is behind, guiding the boat, does not hit the reefs.
There are many islands, some small, others larger, but on all of them you can see at least one hut, showing that there are owners in the territory.
The Caribbean Sea is beautiful, with warm and crystal clear waters, with snorkeling you can see fish, starfish and reefs.
The fried fish I chose for lunch was good, plentiful, they served it with plantains, prepared like chips and a green salad.
It was a cool trip with stops at the islands and a natural pool, lots of sun and the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world. I recommend.
Written 14 September 2023
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.
Agradecemos seus comentários detalhados! Ficamos satisfeitos em saber que você desfrutou da viagem e da oportunidade de conhecer pessoas de todo o mundo. Agradecemos a recomendação!
Written 9 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hector S
Madrid, Spain
Hola, de regreso, podrĂan dejarme en el aeropuerto de Tocumen, tengo mi vuelo a las 9:40pm
Written 13 April 2022
Llego a Panamá en el cuelo de las 4:39 am, que pasa si el vuelo se retrasa y no puedo llegar al tour? me devulven lo pagado al tratarse de una situación de fuerza mayor que no puedo controlar?
Gracias
Written 12 March 2022
il est indiqué La prise en charge est offerte. mais aussi transport aller retour non inclus - je ne comprends pas bien ? le trajet San blas Panama city est-il compris ?
Written 2 October 2021
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