3-Day Boat Tour in San Blas with Pickup from Panama City

We had booked an English-speaking guide, but had only gotten a Spanish one and so didn't even understand half of what he wanted to teach us! Only on the second day then actually came to us on an island in English-speaking Gight and helped us at least for the second day

San blas is very nice. But very cheap and poor breakfast. But islands is like a paradise. Totally amazing

We were on the islands on a passage in Panama, where our final destination was Nassau - The Bahamas. I want to leave my positive assessment to the driver José Ramos, a professional fully suited to his work. And mostly people from Isla Pelicano. Fantastic people, who really care about the experience and well-being of their tourists. People who are there with open hearts to welcome you. You feel this difference and why I write this, at the moment that I go to know the other islands. Thank you to all Guna Yala of Isla Pelicano for simple and unforgettable moments. On the islands, keep in mind that beauty lies in the simplicity of things. Go with this expectation that your ride will be amazing. Super recommended.

Some good, some not great. Pick-up and drop-off in Panama City was well coordinated and communication via WhatsApp was responsive. The boats from the port and island hopping are water taxis, appear to be salvaged boats, painted with waterproofing with wooden benches for seating. Riders are packed shoulder to shoulder. Getting on and off the boat at stops can be difficult depending on the stop. The accommodation was rustic, no electricity and leaky roofs. We were lucky to get a concrete floor, some other travelers had sand floor huts. The food on Pelicano Island was not good and there are no amenities to speak of. The bathroom/shower situation was well below already lowered expectations. Second day we went Aroma Island, the amenities are better, the sleeping arrangements are worse, the food was really great. The views are stunning, the water is crystal clear with live coral reefs, the people on all the islands were friendly. I'm glad I went and saw, I would hesitate to recommend this to anyone who isn't an adventure seeker.

A mixed experience from a very exotic 3-day trip to San Blas. Would not have missed it - but will not do it again. The company manages practicalities well - transport shows up, whether it is a car between Panama City and the port, or boats for the daily events. They kept track of our group of seven people. However, the promised cabins with private bathrooms were so-so. You meet a lot of friendly people. Most cannot speak English, but communication works somehow. Snorkeling in San Blas is not very interesting, but some of the beaches are really nice. Visits to local communities with offered handcrafted souvenirs are interesting. However, what is most devastating about tourism on San Blas, is the way garbage is handled. Or not handled. It is not a mystery why you encounter beer cans and plastic bottles all over, whether you are walking the beaches or snorkeling. We observed the locals bringing out huge bags of garbage in the boats and returning without them. And the sad thing is that I am - as a tourist, eating all meals on single-service tableware and drinking beer cans - contributing directly to this littering.

As others have mentioned, this trip is a lot like primitive camping and there is a bit of chaos with this trip as different companies run the actual tours. There can sometimes be 4-5 different boats/operators at a pier at any one time, and knowing which boat you are supposed to be on at what time can be challenging. At one point, there was a snafu getting me to one of the destinations (Perro Chico). Thankfully, Panama San Blas Tours was very responsive via WhatsApp and sorted everything out for me very quickly! My suggestion is to make sure you know your agenda and don't be afraid to contact if things seem awry.

San Blas islands are the typical image you would think of when you hear "tropical island paradise". They are so gorgeous, and it was really relaxing to lay on the beach, or go swimming in the crystal-clear waters. Just be mindful of what your itinerary is, however, because when we arrived to the island where we would be staying for the second night, we were told we would just stay on the island until we get picked up to go back to Panama City the next day. Our itineraries, however, told us that we would be visiting two more islands that day. The receptionists had to call people to pick us up, so we were still able to visit all the places our itinerary said, but wouldn't have done so, if we hadn't asked about it. Also, on the last day, we were told that between 3-3:30, we would be picked up to go back to Panama City. We weren't picked up until 4, which was fine for me, but if someone has a bus/flight to catch, could be a bit stressful. My recommendation is to not book transport on the same day you go back to Panama City, in case you get picked up a bit later than expected. All in all though, lovely trip and perfect for recharging the batteries!

This tour is not for the traveler that wants to sit around and lounge and relax. Be ready to be on the go, to pack your bag and leave each island early for a full day of adventuring. You will be sleeping in really rustic accommodations - so just be prepared for that. Also be prepared to immerse yourself in the culture of the Guna Yala people - they live very similar to how they've lived for decades and it's an amazing cultural experience . Some of the islands that you'll visit will be very nice with clean bathrooms and information posted whereas other places will feel like you're waiting around to see what's gonna happen. You'll meet people who are with you for one boat ride but then part with you to head to another island for the evening and then you'll see them the next day. It's all part of the fun! Make sure to put your suitcases or bags on a table when you go to bed because you never know what's gonna happen overnight. We woke up on our last morning after a big storm hit our island to 6 inches of rain underneath our beds! It was mental, but we went with it, and after breakfast, the water was gone, the sun came out, and we enjoyed the rest of the day.

No cleaning/cleaning for 3 days, sanitary and uncleaned bath linen. no check-in before 4:30 pm accurate, small bathroom, impossible to open the shower door entirely because bumps into the sink. for 100 € per night if you can, avoid this establishment.

We have seen a lot. The first island was great, the food too. The overnight stay on the second island was a disaster. The food wasn't good, the "mattress" was in poor condition, and the people were unfriendly. Then they forgot to pick us up. And that even though I had spoken to the guide on the phone the evening before and we agreed on a meeting point. We then sat in the sun for 3 hours until locals from the island finally took us to the harbor in their boat. The organization can definitely be expanded. On site, the guide often only speaks Spanish, even though the majority of tourists can speak Spanish. Only after repeated requests will the information (if you're lucky) be repeated in English.