San Blas Beach Day from Panama City: Inclusive of Lunch and Snorkelling
4.5
17 Ratings
Escape to San Blas Beach from Panama City for a day of relaxation, snorkeling, and delicious food. Enjoy the pristine waters, white sand, and abundant marine life. Book now!
Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • San Blas Islands - San Blas is one of the last pristine island archipelagos in this world with the indigenous Guna Yala population that to this day still lives in a very simple and happy way. We are the highest-rated San Blas Day Tour in Panama, offering a San Blas adventure that will allow our guests a glimpse of paradise, spending a day on the beach. We designed this trip for those who want to spend a relaxed day on a paradise beach, enjoying the sun, breeze and warm ocean waters.

The day starts early with our driver picking you up between 5:00am - 5:45am (shared 4X4 transportation with up to 6 travelers) arriving in Port of San Blas by 9:00am.

9:15am: After a 30 minute boat ride you will arrive at your island for the day, where you can enjoy the beaches or explore the little village, meeting some of the native Gunas. We will also provide you with complimentary snorkel and mask for the day.

12:30 - 2:00pm: Lunchtime - enjoy a freshly prepared, tasty lunch with a selection of fish, mixed seafood, or chicken accompanied by coconut rice and salad.

2:00pm - 3:30pm: Keep enjoying the beach at your leisure

4:00pm: Return to Panama City with arrival at your lodging by 7:00pm

What's Included
  • Island Entrance Fees Covered
  • Lunch Included
  • Air-Conditioned Vehicles
  • Snorkel Gear Provided
  • Complimentary Beverage
  • All-Day Boat Transportation
  • Roundtrip Car Transfers
What's Not Included
  • Guna Entrance Fee paid to border patrol ($22 for Internationals, $7 for Panamanian residents)
Additional Information

Imagine a place which genuinely looks like a Robinson Crusoe hideaway. The sand is white and fine, the sea feels warm like bathwater, coconut palms will provide welcome shade and the snorkeling is excellent. Swim in pristine, crystal clear waters, observing sea stars and colorful fish from the surface or snorkel on nearby reefs to get up close with the underwater world.

Spend a perfect beach day in San Blas! We have you covered!

• Timely pick-up from your Panama City lodging
• Comfortable 4x4 cars with friendly drivers
• Full insurance for cars, boats and guests
• All our boats have sun protection with big awnings
• We include a quality lunch and one drink of your choice (Each meal is prepared in a CLEAN kitchen with FRESH ingredients)
• We include mask & snorkel
• Excellent 24/7 customer service and offsite assistance if needed.

The usage of drones has been made illegal in the islands of San Blas. Heavy fines have been imposed on those who ignore the law. Please don’t do it!

  • 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 .
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
  • 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.
  • In San Blas Islands there are no ATMs - please bring cash. You can buy additional drinks, snacks, souvenirs etc.
  • Infants need to sit on laps.
  • PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR ORGINAL PASSPORT. WITHOUT IT, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE GUNA TERRITORY AND THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS.
  • We recommend that you bring your personal hygiene items, such as towels, sunscreen, hats, mosquito repellent.
  • 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.
  • “Tigo” is the cell phone company that has the best reception in San Blas.
  • The usage of drones has been made illegal in the islands of San Blas. Heavy fines have been imposed on those who ignore the law. Please don’t do it!
  • 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 :)
  • 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 live with the Kunas and respect their traditions and their primitive ways of living. No air condition - None of the islands offer A/C, some cabins don’t have fans either. 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, sheets may be old Electricity is only available between 6:00pm and 6:00am. Cabins don’t have outlets. Electric devices can be charged in the restaurant. Water is a precious commodity in San Blas. It is either brought in by boat or pumped from the island well, which may have a significant salt content. Oftentimes pumps can malfunction and cause water outages. Beds and mattresses can be uncomfortable and sheets are old and worn. 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 you will spend your time living alongside the Kunas who have different traditions and values. All services will all be handled by the indigenous Kuna. While we strive 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. Luggage is stored in the front of the boat and covered with tarps. Island cabin management - cabins are very rustic and facilities, such as showers and bathrooms are often “home-made” with PVC pipes. Some guests have complained that sheets are old. Please bring your own if you require fresh smelling sheets. Island kitchen - meal plans are repetitive and food might taste bland, without the use of spices. Additional food, drinks and snacks can be purchased on the way to San Blas. The driver will stop at a grocery store. Most Kunas DO NOT speak English. Please attempt to resolve any cabin related issues and requests directly with the island management. 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. For instance, a collection of empty gas canisters has been re-used to create a Christmas tree. 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. Some islands, such as Isla Wailidup tend to have more than others. 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. Guests who stay in cabins and would like to return earlier than their scheduled departure date must notify our reservation team one day before by 5:00pm via WhatsApp found on your ticket, in order for us to arrange your return transfer. No refunds apply for early departures. Due to the complexity of the logistics involved with each reservation in San Blas (arranging cars, boats, tours, cabins and meals), we kindly ask our guests to adhere to the itinerary schedule sent to them in advance of their trip to San Blas. For any changes in schedule, you must first contact our office at least one day before by 5:00pm and we will attempt to accommodate your request. 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. For more information, please check your ticket for the travel insurance link. 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 road to San Blas is very curvy. If you are sensitive to motion sickness, please prepare accordingly by bringing appropriate medication.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(17 Ratings)
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1 star
James_m
Apr 21, 2024
Caribbean adventure - The day started off early getting up at 4am, after grabbing a quick coffee we headed down the Cerro Azul mountains and headed to the airport for our 5:30 pickup. Our driver Javier picked us up and we joined the other 4 members of our tour group. The vehicle was a Toyota Fortuna, 2 in the back, three in the middle and 1 in the front as well as our driver. The middle seat with three passengers was super tight (think sardine can tight). We then headed to a super market to get more coffee and snacks for the day, arriving at 6am and heading out at 6:30am. The road to San Blas is as paved in 2023, so no potholes. The only down side is that the road has a lot of twists and turns, so it is understandable that many people get car sick. It is also worth noting the delay at the checkpoint before entering the Nargana area. We arrived at the port at 9:30 which means the trip from Panama to San Blas was a total of 4 hours and not the 3 as advertised. We eventually left the port at 10am and headed off to Isla Perro (little dog island). After a 45 minute boat ride we got to our destination. The boat ride was intense as the ocean was choppy and it would be super easy to suffer serious back injury the way the boat would hit the water as it crested the swells. The island was fantastic to be on. There was a little bit of trash lying around, but nowhere near the volumes that other reviews indicated. I found the staff friendly and willing to do their best to help. Language is definitely a barrier, I suggest taking the time to learn some basic Spanish to ensure you can have some basic communication, at the very least, learn to greet and say thank you. Lunch is served on a time slot basis, i found lunch to be pleasant, if a little bland, nothing a little salt cannot fix. The ablutions are a little rustic, but are no worse than your average public ablution found elsewhere. The beach was spotless and we where lucky that there where no sand flies while we where there. The water was beautifully clear and lovely to swim in. The selection of sea life around the ship wreck were fun to see, not the best in the world, but enough of a variety to make it a pleasant snorkeling experience. I suggest you go to the other side of the island as well, this seems to be ignored for the most part, but has a lovely selection of living coral. My tour package advertised that it would include snorkeling gear, I was not offered any gear, and our tour guide disappeared once we were dropped off. Luckily I had packed my own gear, but be aware and check with the operators if this was an oversight on their part, or just a change of what is actually offered. The sun here is brutal, I strongly suggest that you are diligent with the use of sunblock, it is super hot on the island and you will burn yourself badly if you don’t take precautions (don’t forget your back and the back of your legs), aloe Vera gel or after-sun should definitely be in your packing list for this vacation. We left the island at 3pm and arrived back in Panama at 6:30pm. Must bring: passport (and visa money in a ziplock bag), sunblock, hat, snacks, water (a cooler box if you have access to one), towel and your own snorkeling mask (for me it is a hygiene thing) Optional to bring: an umbrella and water booties (coral will sting you if you step on it) Overall I am happy to recommend this trip.
Review provided by Viator
264taniam
May 12, 2023
Beautiful crystal clear beaches - This tour is a long day and the drive is rough at some points, but it is worth it, especially the pool in the middle of the ocean. The beaches are absolutely beautiful and our driver, Joel, did an amazing job navigating the roads. Make sure you read the information on what to expect before going and bring cash for snacks and souvenirs. I probably won't recommend this tour for families with young kids. My only comments are that the food didn't seem as fresh as I thought it would be and I would have enjoyed it more if they would have dropped off the big group at the beach first and then made the deliveries to the other islands.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O3203qmbigb
May 11, 2023
Ya Gotta Go - The tour guide was nice, but not very informative. The islands and water were Amazing, Beautiful & Relaxing. I went on Wednesday so the islands weren't crowded and I found a hammock and just relaxed after playing in the water.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard_b
Oct 12, 2022
Outstanding - Adrian the driver was awesome 👌. Service was outstanding even took the time to stop and take pictures of the beautiful view.
Review provided by Viator
Catina_a
Aug 25, 2022
Definitely coming back - This was definitely worth the ride. The locals on the island are very friendly. Our day started at 5am from Playa Bonita Resort. We shared transportation so we had 2 more stops in the city. After we had everyone we drove an hour before stopping at a very nice supermarket where we grabbed snacks, beach towels, big spray, and items for the beach. It was a great ride through the mountains. Yes the ride is bumpy but our driver maneuvered around all of the potholes which made the ride pleasant. The island was beautiful!! The water is everything the pictures show and my lobster meal was amazing and very filling. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Rubenf310
Aug 3, 2023
Get to know some very beautiful islands in the Panamanian Caribbean. - Very good experience, beautiful transparent and warm waters, with fine white sand. Beautiful natural pools with starfish and others with sharks. The only thing to highlight as bad is the road that is in repair and with many ups and downs, in addition the entry and exit of the boats to the docks is very inconvenient, since there is little space between the boat and the dock with few ideas for get the passengers off. Lunches on the islands are quite basic but sufficient.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariajose_f
Dec 7, 2022
Great experience, but it... - Great experience, but it was annoying that we had to stop and pick up people at different islands instead of going straight to our destination. Lunch was good A little more organization with transportation would be once
Review provided by Viator
Julien_m
Nov 28, 2022
Great experience! I would... - Great experience! I would recommend to go for more time to avoid deeling being pressures under time.
Review provided by Viator
Monique_m
May 10, 2022
Diamond in the rough - The islands itself are beautiful but the ride to reach it and back, not so much. I would recommend anyone to try this tour at least once as the experience is unforgettable and worth it. We visited about 4 islands and the natural pool areas were my favorite. I was able to see a starfish! The island natives are very friendly as well as the tour guide and boat staff. I believe the tour guide’s name is Rogelio. Joel the driver to and from the hotels was great too.
Review provided by Viator
Charpet194
May 15, 2023
Met nice couple and liked boat ride and calm waters to bathe - The vehicle was too tight for 6 persons not including the driver. I am a nearly 74 year old woman and had to sit on armrest type seat in middle of middle row. Would also have liked to have stopped to take photos of amazing landscape rather than all the time at the Gasolinera food stop. The guides work really hard to serve the tourists though and were always upbeat and friendly!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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