For your second vacation to Panama, the San Blas Islands should not be missed. There are many San Blas Island hotels, lodging, hostels and accommodation you can book for your tropical island getaway. Located on Panama’s north east coast (Comarco de Kuna Yala), the beautiful San Blas Islands, controlled by the indigenous Kuna Indians since the 1950s, an undiscovered tourist mecca, are slowly becoming a highly desired tourist destination. There are a total of 378 islands in what is known as the San Blas Islands. The Kuna Indians live on 49 of these beautiful islands. The Islands are 20 - 40 minutes away by airplane from Panama City. The San Blas islands are a completely different experience from the hotels and resorts in Panama.
Although you won’t find much in the way of luxury San Blas accommodations, what is available would be classified as basic but you can find some wonderful lodges with cabanas over the water on some pretty magnificent beaches, equipped with private verandas and hammocks. If you choose to visit the San Blas Islands, you are in search of sun, relaxation, the outdoors and a tropical beach environment. The beaches here are like something out of Paradise. You can also visit the villages of tropical outdoors and you can meet the Kuna people to experience their culture and way of living. My best recommendation is to book your San Blas Island trip through a travel agency who is familiar with booking vacations in the San Blas Islands.
The Kuna Indians run the San Blas Islands, with their own language, customs and traditions. The economy of the islands is based on tourism, coconut sales and fishing. However, it is not yet a very commercially developed tourism industry. The islands are surrounded by reefs which offer wonderful snorkelling and diving experiences. A wonderful souvenir to buy here would be the mola, made by the Kuna women, made of multi-colored fabric, decorated with images of geometric designs, fish, birds and animals of the jungle. Best time to visit here is between April to June. Just like in Paradise, you will find white sand, unspoiled deserted beaches, coconut trees, mangroves and the jungle.
If you really must stay in a luxury accommodation, you could always find a hotel in Colon Province which is not far from the San Blas Islands. If you stay on the mainland, you could find hotels in El Porvenir and travel to the islands from there. Which islands should you visit? Try Kagantupu, Coco Blanco or Achutupu Island. If you wish to totally escape, aim your travel plans to the eastern part of Comarca de Kuna Yala, a less visited part of the San Blas Islands. How to get to the San Blas Islands? Take a Kuna merchant ship from Colon, or fly from Panama City – it’s only a 20 minute flight.
There are hostel accommodations available on the San Blas Islands (such as Nalunega and Wichubwala) which I will discuss later in this article, but on the Kuanidup Island you will find the Cabañas Kuanidup. A little more expensive than the hostels, the cabanas are somewhat primitive, you share showers and bathrooms with the other hotel guests. The cabanas are small, the beds are foam mattresses, but comfortable. There is no electricity and at night, you use kerosene lamps. The Cabañas Kuanidup, are situated on a small beach. Meals are included in the price you pay.
Kuna Niskua Lodge
The Kuna Niskua is owned by a Kuna Indian who has the advantage of knowning all the San Blas Islands. This is not a luxury San Blas accommodation, not easy to find on the Islands and is not located on a beach. There is solar powered electricity, the rooms are clean, and each room has its own bathroom. For meals, you will be able to eat lots of fresh seafood. The rates at the Kuna Niskua Lodge are affordable and include the price for local tours.
Dophin Lodge
The Dolphin Lodge can be classified as an eco-tourist lodging and one of the nicest San Blas Islands hotels. This is an all inclusive accommodation in San Blas. Travelling to the lodge is by way of flying into Mamitupo and then taking a boat. The tropical beach is superb. There is a restaurant here with an excellent menu for dining, plenty of fresh delicious seafood and a small bar to stop in for a drink. You get a private bathroom here and 24 hour electricity in the bigger suites. Some of the cabanas are on the beach and you can relax in the back on a hammock. The standard rooms get electricity for most of the day. You may end up having a cold shower sometimes. Besides relaxing on the beach, visiting other nearby beaches, swimming, hiking, snorkelling and kayaking, there is volleyball and the staff at the Dolphin Lodge can arrange a tour for you of the local village of the Kuna people.
Sapibenega Kuna Lodge
As with all San Blas accommodation most are basic and could be described as rustic. This is the experience you will expect when visiting the San Blas Islands. The San Blas Islands offer a eco tourism experience where you will be close to nature and the sea. Close to what I could call luxurious San Blas accommodation would have to be the Sapibenega Kuna Lodge which offers 24 hour availabity of electricity, private bathrooms with a shower and hardwood floors, composting toilets, hot water, some lovely cabanas over the water, and some on the beach, with queen and double beds. The Sapibenega Kuna Lodge has a restaurant, delightful for romantic dinners. Other “modern conveniences" include satellite phone, ceiling fan and your balcony is equipped with hammocks. The sunsets are glorious.
To get to this luxury hotel in San Blas, you would fly from Panama City, to Playon Chico which takes about 40 minutes and then a guide from Sapibenega Kuna Lodge will bring you by motor canoe to the lodge which takes about 8 minutes.
Coral Lodge
The Coral Lo
dge is also a luxury hotel in San Blas. In another completely isolated, unspoiled location, this eco tourist resort is on a white sand beach, with villas sitting over the water. The suites have Jacuzzis, a living room, a private verandah with hammocks. There are two restaurants and a bar called the Cayuco Café Bar. The Casona Bohio restaurant is for romantic dinners of Latin, Caribbean and Mediterranan cuisine. The beaches here are pristine and the coral reefs provide excellent snorkelling opportunities. Your hotel price is all inclusive and includes your room, meals, non alcoholic drinks, kayaking and snorkelling gear. This is definitely luxurious San Blas accommodation where you can truly escape and enjoy one of the most beautiful tropical places in the world.These hotels in San Blas Islands are reached by taking a flight from Panama City to whichever island you choose and then arranging with your lodge/hotel for transportation by boat. Vacationing in the San Blas Islands is definitely an escape to Paradise.
