Boat to paradise, the San Blas Islands

We spent four days in the San Blas Islands, although after the first few hours it felt like we’d been away from civilisation for several months. After an arduous morning of relaxing on Coco Blanco caye where we were staying, we’d hop in a boat and sail towards another island somewhere in the distance where we would be left for the afternoon.

Each day we’d thread our way past inhabited and uninhabited islands, skirting around coral reefs and passing dugout canoes paddled by local Kuna people. The physical beauty of the islands is extraordinary, they are picture-postcard perfect dots of sand in the ocean, yet the Kuna tend to inhabit only a few islands and these can be densely populated creating a stark contrast with the uninhabited islands.

There are reefs throughout the islands and a few sunken boats offering good snorkelling, particularly near the Isla del Perro. Other than that the only things to do are eat fresh fish and acquaint yourself with Panamanian rum. I could have stayed in the San Blas Islands for a long time, I hope these photos explain why…

Large Kuna settlement, San Blas Islands, Panama
Large Kuna settlement, San Blas Islands, Panama
Large Kuna settlement, San Blas Islands, Panama
Large Kuna settlement, San Blas Islands, Panama
Large Kuna settlement, San Blas Islands, Panama
Large Kuna settlement, San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
Kuna canoe, San Blas Islands, Panama
Kuna canoe, San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
Starfish, San Blas Islands, Panama
Starfish, San Blas Islands, Panama
Fishing boat, San Blas Islands, Panama
Fishing boat, San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
Kuna canoe with sail, San Blas Islands, Panama
Kuna canoe with sail, San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
Kuna canoe, San Blas Islands, Panama
Kuna canoe, San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama

9 thoughts on “Boat to paradise, the San Blas Islands

  1. We love this place as well ! Thanks for sharing these nice pics here..

  2. We love this place as well !.. Thanks for sharing these pics here… I hope more and more people will visit these islands in the future…

  3. What happens during a storm?

    1. They say storms are rare, but I guess people rebuild very quickly given the materials. Rising sea levels are more of a worry for most people.

        1. So true. Wish we’d had the opportunity to sail around the islands. Envious to see people parking their boats and coming ashore.

  4. Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.

  5. These island photos are unbelievable! Amazing!

    1. Thanks you. They are an incredible place to visit.

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