San Blas Islands Tour - Visit Paradise Islands + Lunch + Drink
4.3
San Blas Islands Tour - Visit Paradise Islands + Lunch + Drink
By Tao Travel 365 - Panama
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About
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 0-99, max of 15 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)
- One beverage: Bottle of water, soda or beer
- All Island Taxes (entrance to each island)
- Choice of fresh fish, fresh mixed seafood, or chicken. Vegetarian Option available.
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. 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: 127626P26- 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. WITHOUT IT, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE KUNA 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
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
- 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 15 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: 127626P26
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Excursion7097940 contributionsFun day with AmirWe had a perfect weather day for island hopping, snorkeling and beach time. This was our second time with Amir and he was great. We also enjoyed a tasty lunch. I would recommend this tour as part of a Bocas stay.Written 21 March 2025
- Jill S0 contributionsIsland hoppingWe had a great time touring islands, snorkeling, seeing starfish, dolphins and sloths! Our guide Aris was very knowledgeable and friendly!Written 19 March 2025
- deb22730 contributionsTerrible tour given bad weatherIt rained from the start. Rained and wind blew the whole time. We were all freezing and soaked (never actually snorkelled or were in the water) and were gone 5 hours) never asked from the beginning if we would like to reschedule or return to dock. Gone 5 hours as tour leader finally took a vote as to who wanted to return back. 100% agreed. In good weather this would have been a great trip but we should have been given the option to reschedule given the miserable weather. It was miserable.Written 19 March 2025
- Henry G0 contributionsExtraordinary island hopping tourAmir drove the boat and was our guide. He did an excellent job showing us many starfish and dolphins, some birds, and a sloth in a mangrove swamp. I am 65-years-old, overweight and with a bad knee. With Amir's assistance I was able to get on and off the boat each time. I did skip the snorkeling, and I was glad I did. Someone younger than I struggled with the ladder back onto the boat. Even without the snorkeling I really got my money's worth. And my fellow tour members said they enjoyed the snorkeling that I missed doing.Written 18 March 2025
- Denverrun0 contributionsOrganized transportation versus tourThis felt more like organized transportation with lunch versus an actual tour. We were 6 people in a private tour with hotel pickup in Panama City to San Blas with lunch for just over $1100. The driver arrived about 10 min late to get us from our hotel at 5:25; the adult that needed to sit in a middle seat was uncomfortable for the total of 7 hours of driving. For such a long trip, a bigger/more comfortable vehicle would have been better. The driver’s English was limited and answered some questions but didn’t say too much. He didn’t offer anyone to alter the temperature or music (he sang g along a lot) provide water. Bring your own water and snacks or buy at the stop. He transferred us to a different company for the boat section. They were nice but also didn’t provide much information and just drove us to the three spots and asked what time we wanted lunch. This was a long day and lot of driving. I’m glad we went but this didn’t feel like a great value given how much of the day people were uncomfortable. The islands are gorgeous but have pretty primitive infrastructure. It got 3 stars due to the price, meh service and car ride.Written 17 March 2025
- O6593XLvictorl0 contributionsReview update about a great day tourGreat day tour, I already posted about this. I just wanted to add another photo to show what a great time the Embrera Village people treated us to.Written 14 March 2025
- pagys_130 contributionsAna’s Amazing tourAna led a very interesting tour to the waterfalls of the Chaga River and to the Embera Village. She was very knowledgeable about the tour, flexible with us, and fun to be with! We highly recommend this tour with Ana.Written 14 March 2025
- Anjail J0 contributionsHeavenThis trip was like experiencing a small piece of heaven. Our driver Jonny was super chill. Just a FYI if you experience motion sickness, please take something prior to the ride through the Guna Yala territory. The rode is very winding and hilly. My friend got sick from the ride. Once we arrived at San Blas island it was absolutely amazing. The views were breathtaking. The natural pool was amazing. Hands down one of the best highlights of our stay in Panama 🇵🇦.Written 8 March 2025
- Nomad597125209310 contributionsSan Blas Bliss!Our day trip to San Blas was amazing! The day is long but so worth the beautiful beaches and placid Caribbean sea that you get to spend time in! Highly recommend! Our driver Javier picked us up on time and drove very well- even on the curvy roads in the San Blas territory! He also showed us wild life found on our way ( Toucans, Owls, Monkeys etc) The Guna guide Richard and the boat crew was also great…they made the travel between the islands seamless. We had enough time on the 3 islands and natural pool! There was good snorkeling too!! All and all a day well spent!Written 7 March 2025
- V2343ATkonstantink0 contributionsFantastic! 5/5The tour was perfect. The meeting point was the 3R Mall. You can reach the pier to the right of the entrance. We were able to observe dolphins, see sloths, and even a caiman in the mangroves. While snorkeling, we saw all kinds of fish and corals! We discovered numerous starfish on the return trip. The lunch break came at just the right time. Water and beer were also offered during the rides. Diving masks and snorkels were provided if you didn't have your own. The visit to Zapatilla Island is incredibly beautiful. The captain brought us safely and reliably from station to station. Absolute recommendation.Written 6 March 2025
- GrandTour2589020 contributionsThis trip was, at best, a disappointment.First, the tour guide, Manuel, was friendly and spoke English to me when we were alone. Once we had the rest of the group, Manuel switched to Spanish, knowing I didn't speak the language. All six of the other people were native English speakers and Manuel only spoke English when I asked him to. I contacted the tour operator in advance to check in on whether I would get help getting on and off the boat (I am large) and was assured there would be staff there to help me. Nobody was there, and I got injured. Other than that, the boat trip was good. The driver knew where to go and how to attract monkeys. However, the sloth sanctuary consisted of four sloths sleeping in their beds and a little talk about them. The frog exhibit consisted of seven-ten little teeny frogs, barely visible, in a big enclosure. The orchid exhibit was a mess. The butterfly room had only a dozen butterflies or so but was otherwise beautiful. I was really looking forward to this trip. It was the last hurrah at the end of a vacation, and expensive, and I really wanted to learn more about local flora and fauna. The trip was a disaster for me. I wrote to Tao 365 and got a cursory letter back and an offer of $15. I asked for -- and deserve -- a full refund. I was not given the tour I was promised and paid for.Written 24 February 2025
- Catherine D0 contributionsAmazing tripFantastic tour. Really enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend. Our guide was great and did his best to show us things. Zapatillo is beautifulWritten 20 February 2025
- Catalinatravel1250 contributionsExcellent tour!Excellent value for your money! San Blas islands is definitely worth visiting even for just a day trip although now that we have done a day trip, we would like to come back to stay for a couple nights on one of the islands.Written 11 February 2025
- rebecasX5326HT0 contributionsBeautiful new island and not crowdedSimply paradise in a new island, thank you Guna Yala family! We will be back! It is a long day but is it very worth to visit all San Blas archipielago.Written 9 February 2025
- O1727KRsarahs0 contributionsBrand new Island! Reccomended!This was the best day of my Panamá Trip! Visiting 2 Islands and the natural pool was excellent as we could enjoy every spot and not running from 1 to another. Also there are FEW GUESTS ONLY!! This is a brand new Island and you will simply enjoy! Worth at all!Written 9 February 2025
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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4.3
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Martin L
8 contributions
Jan 2022
Amazing experience! We decided to book with Tao Travel 365 as they have the best reputation in Panama for providing great service. And we are glad that we did. We had a last minute change of plans as my friend did not feel well and Tao Travel made it possible to re-schedule. We contacted them after hours and within seconds someone was online to help us. We ended up taking the San Blas tour a few days later and had an amazing day from start to finish. Adrian, the driver was so sweet, telling us about his Kuna grand mother and her traditions and Panama history. The weather in San Blas was perfect, bathing in the warm ocean. The only regret we have is that we did not book a longer stay in San Blas. We will definitely be back soon :)
Written 25 January 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.
Edgardo Z
Buenos Aires, Argentina2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
The excursion is just one, although different options appear on Tripadvisor, there are 3 paradise islands. You must bring your own snorkel if you want to practice, few are provided by the excursion managed by the native community
Written 9 December 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.
Gracias por tus comentarios. Nos alegra que haya disfrutado de tu pasadía en San Blas. Hablaremos con los guías para asegurarnos de que cada huésped tenga un snorkel. Gracias de nuevo por hacérnoslo saber. Esperamos que disfrute el resto de tu tiempo en Panamá.
Written 15 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MARLI M
Palhoca, SC1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Wonderful tour, everything was very organized, both by car and boat. It was really worth it, I want to go back again.
Written 18 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.
Obrigado pela sua avaliação! Ficamos felizes que você tenha gostado da organização do passeio. Esperamos te ver novamente em breve!
Written 9 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura
Yorktown, VA3 contributions
The road to get there is definitely rough! Be prepared and definitely take your Dramamine if needed! The description states that snorkeling is included but the only people who had snorkel gear were the tour guides. That was quite disappointing! The islands were beautiful!! The water was crystal clear. The people were nice. We enjoyed watching a pretty intense volleyball game at one of the islands. Grab a hammock if you can and relax!
Written 25 September 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.
Dear Laura, we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your trip to San Blas with us. For your information we DO include snorkel gear, which is offered to all guests. The captain mentions at the beginning of the tour that snorkel gear is available for everyone. Those who wish to snorkel only have to ask the guides for the equipment and they will be provided with snorkel and mask. If there was a confusion, we do apologize and we hope you will visit us again soon.
Written 27 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I get off my flight at 10:00 a.m. so the earliest I could leave is 11:00 is there someone who could pick me up from the airport at that time to start the tour?
Written 29 June 2021
Si uno no quiere que lo recojan en el hotel donde es el punto encuentro y a que horas, no veo muy claro sobre el transporte y cual seria el transporte que lo llevaria que clase de carro y si tiene algun costo fuera del que estan cobrando aqui,
Written 15 January 2020
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.