By air
Tocumen International (PTY), ~2.5 h by road to the coast, then boat
North America · Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
Palm islets of the Guna people on the Caribbean
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — dry and sunny
Don't miss
Cayos Holandeses
Chichime
Isla Perro
Things to do
Island-hopping by boat
Snorkelling
Swimming in shallow lagoons
Sailing between the cays
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Cotopaxi5897 · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, a torch
A quieter corner
Watching mola textiles being sewn on a Guna community island
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit San Blas Islands?
December to April — dry and sunny. What to pack: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, a torch.
How do I get to San Blas Islands?
Fly into Tocumen International (PTY), ~2.5 h by road to the coast, then boat.
What is there to do in San Blas Islands?
Island-hopping by boat, snorkelling, swimming in shallow lagoons, sailing between the cays. A quieter find: Watching mola textiles being sewn on a Guna community island.
What should I eat in San Blas Islands?
Freshly caught fish and lobster, coconut rice, fried plantains.
About San Blas Islands
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
The San Blas Islands are an archipelago off the Caribbean coast of north-eastern Panama, in the Guna Yala region governed by the Indigenous Guna people.
History
The Guna moved from the mainland to the islands over the past few centuries. In the early 20th century they asserted their right to self-rule, and their lands became the autonomous region of Guna Yala, which they govern through their own general congress and community leaders.
People
The Guna speak their own language as well as Spanish and live in close-knit island communities, where women sew the brightly layered textiles known as molas.
Known for
- Tiny palm-covered islands
- Guna culture and mola textiles
- Clear, shallow turquoise water
- Simple overnight stays in huts
Did you know?
The archipelago has more than 300 islands and cays, most of them uninhabited, while a few small islands are densely packed with Guna homes.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.