Travel organizer tips
How to get to San Blas?
By Air:
Air Panama runs a daily flight from "Panama City-Albrook (PAC)" to "Corazón de Jesús-Guna Yala (CZJ)". It's a 45 minute flight, departing at 06:00am (check in 05:00am). On your way back to Panama City you will depart Corazón de Jesús at 06:35am. Round-trip rate: 136$.
You can also fly from "Panama City-Albrook (PAC)" at 06:00am (check in 05:00am) to "El Porvenir-Guna Yala (PVE) 06:25am. Back to Panama City you will depart from El Porvenir at 06:35am. Round-trip rate: 136$
By 4x4 truck + boat taxi:
We can organize ground transportation for you with a 4x4 special taxi. Pick up time at 5:30am at your hotel in Panama City. It's a two-and-a-half hours drive in a shared 7-seat truck, last section of the trip, driving through the Kuna Yala rainforest on a paved road. The car will drop you at the dock in Cartí Sugdup, where a motor boat (panga) will take you to our sailboat anchorage at Lemon Cays, in an approx. 25 minutes ride. Bring a light rain
jacket to wear on the motor boat on windy days, to avoid getting wet, as well as plastic bags to protect your luggage.
You can also book a private 4x4 special taxi only for you and your family or group and set a more convenient pick up time.
Rates:
- Shared 4x4 taxi: 25$ per person one-way
- Boat taxi: 20$ per person one-way
- Private 4x4 taxi:150$ one-way drive
Transportation to be paid cash directly to the drivers.
Visit Panama City
Panama City is a modern city, with a beautiful skyline overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You can watch the sunset sipping a poolside gin and tonic in one of the many rooftops in the center (recommended: Trump Tower). We also suggest a walk through the narrow streets of Casco Viejo (old town) where to stop for dinner or an aperitif (try the "Rana Dorada" pub for example)
Tips for choosing the flight
I recommend choosing a one-way flight that allows you to arrive in Panama City at least the day before the boarding date, the city is splendid and certainly worth a visit. The day of embarkation will in fact depart from the Eurostars Hotel Panama City 5 * at dawn (5-6: 00 in the morning) to reach the boat that will wait for you indicatively in the bay of Cambombia or neighboring
For the return, disembarkation is scheduled around 7-8: 00 am and the journey back to Panama City takes a few hours, so we will recommend a convenient Hostel where you can relax and refresh, have lunch in the city and go to the airport in complete peace. to take the flight I suggest to take in the late afternoon or after dinner.
Food provisioning
The archipelago does not offer supermarkets and shops except for small and basic supplies in the town of Nargana. On board you will find a basic galley complete with alcoholic beverages (beer / wine / rum) and not, during navigation you will have the opportunity to buy fresh fish, vegetables and lobsters from the Kuna. We recommend that you pre-purchase any extra needs in Panama (meats, cheeses, soy milk, celiac foods, wine / spirits). We remain available before departure for all information regarding the galley.
In San Blas there are no pharmacies, we advise you to bring a small basic pharmacy and the necessary one according to your needs.
Land transfer
The 4x4 transfer takes about 3 hours. The off-road vehicle will cross the Kuna reserve to reach Cartì where you will have to change vehicles and get on the motor launch that will take you directly to the boat. The lance trip takes about 1 hour and especially on the outward journey it can be quite wet due to the headwind. We recommend covering and protecting the bags with plastic or bags. The launch will lead us directly on board the boat usually anchored in a bay near Narganà.
The return to Panama is identical to the first leg and is coordinated by me and the skipper directly during the cruise.
Transfer costs are excluded from the travel fee, they are paid on the spot, in cash and in local currency (tot. A / R about 160 USD per person)
