San Blas Islands/Kuna Ayala
The San Blas islands have been the subject of numerous National Geographic articles over the years. Indeed your experience will be “right out of the pages of National Geographic.” They offer two unbeatable attractions: Caribbean islands of stunning pristine beauty and an opportunity to visit the Kuna Indians, a living Indian culture with a fascinating culture and way of life.
Also known as Kuna Ayala, the San Blas islands are Caribbean beauty at its best. The archipealgo has 365 islands, nearly all picturesque and palm tree covered, uninhabited and set in indescribably beautiful aqua waters.
The San Blas are also the place to go if you truly want to "get away from it all" surrounded by nature.
If you stay in a traditional Kuna eco-lodge like Sapibenega, the setting and accomodations are natural. You'll see little concrete, glass or steel. You will interact with a beautiful ancient people, mostly unspoiled by modern life.
Coral Lodge , featured in Conde Nast's Hot Hotel list, on the coast near San Blas, is the upscale lodging option with handsomely appointed individual water villas each with a jacuzzi, gorgeous views and excellent cuisine. It was rated by Conde Nast as having the "best view from the tub".
They were also were selected as one of the top two "best cruising destinations in the world" by Cruising World and Le Monde Voyage magazines.
How To Get There
Air Panama and Aeroperlas have several daily flights from Panama City's Albrook Airport to the different islands. Round trip tickets from Panama City are around $60. Coral Lodge can be reached by road and a lodge boat.
Where To Stay
Island accommodations consist of simple, yet comfortable native style cabins with roofs and walls of thatched palm trees "all natural" lodgings that blend in perfectly with the tropical scenery. It’s a real pleasure not to see any cement for a few days.
Two excellent all-inclusive San Blas destinations are Sapibenega Kuna Lodge the new Coral Lodge on the coast near San Blas.
If you are not staying at an all inclusive hotel, we recommend you visit San Blas with a tour operator who will arrange lodgings, tours etc.
What To Do
Kuna Indian Village Tours
A visit to these Indian villages includes strolling on a small island where hundreds of happy smiling children run around, glimpsing their homes which are mostly made of bamboo and thatched roofs and where everyone sleeps in a hammock. ( Couples share hammocks!) shopping the famous mola embroideries (colorful reverse applique embroidery featuring tropical designs) directly from the Indian artisans, photo opportunities of the Kuna women in their colorful regalia and a talk about about their unique way of life and their longtime successful battle to be an autonomous people. You may visit their tribal meeting house, andherbal medicinal gardens.
Sapibenega Lodge offers additional tours to the Kuna mainland where to their traditional burial grounds and also a mainland jungle tour to a waterfall.
Beaching it
In the San Blas there are dozens of beautiful islands with nary a soul in sight. All lodges will take you by boat to one where you may well have the whole island to yourself. Beaching on private beautiful "private islands" is one of the main San Blas attractions.
Snorkeling
Ask about the best snorkeling spots near your lodge. Some spots mya be a few feet from your cabin. If your lodge is in the Porvenir area, we recommend a trip to Dog Island where there is an old sunken ship that is now a colorful coral garden- we counted 27 types of tropical fish.
Diving
Diving s prohibited in the San Blas Indian Reservation but Coral Lodge www.corallodge.com on the nearby coast has a diving shop and offers diving tours of the surrounding area.
Rainforest Tours
You can can tour dense rainforests on the nearby mainland part of the Kuna territory: Waterfalls, wildlife and dense tropical fauna.
Sea Kayaking Adventures
The San Blas archipelago is ideal for kayaking due to the calm seas and endless islands to visit. Coral Lodge has kayak tours for guests. Aventuras Panama offers a 5 day kayaking and snorkeling adventure tour of the San Blas.
Sailing
One very popular option is to experience the San Blas islands on a yacht cruise vacation with San Blas Sailing.
San Blas Sailing