San Blas Islands Resorts, Hostels, Hotels and Home Stays
I have already told you about one of the most beautiful places in Panama, a series of islands called the San Blas Islands and some of the beach hotels in this wonderful place that should be a holiday destination for you if you are trying to either escape the winter blahs or society in general. I was going to follow up here with more hotels and accommodations in the San Blas Islands because this group of 378 islands is really fantastic for a tropical island escape. Think of: desert island in the tropics.If it’s your first time visiting Panama, you can include a visit to the San Blas Islands as well as staying in Panama City to really get an all round experience of the country. There are several companies online that offer such packages, such as a company known as Latin Destinations. This company offers six such packages ranging in price from $1,190 to $2,000 US. Their various packages include the following:
• Caribbean Flavour of Panama
• Native Cultures of Panama
• San Blas Islands – Panama Rainforest
• Jungle, Islands and Beaches of Panama
• Panama Culture and Beach
• The Best of Panama
These vacation packages include your round trip international flights, all airport transfers, daily breakfasts, hotels and hotel taxes. I’ve probably managed to pique your curiosity by now because if you read my last article on San Blas Islands hotels, you might be thinking they could possibly be your next holiday destination, your honeymoon destination or an actual escape from the stress that modern day living has been giving you lately.
The Caribbean Flavour of Panama offers you two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort (explore the rainforest at this resort), 2 nights in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, 2 nights in the San Blas Islands with full board and tour and three nights in Panama City for a total of 9 days vacation. There are differe nt choices of hotels for you to stay in and you can vary the number of nights in each place.
The Native Cultures of Panama package is a great introduction to the native cultures of Panama including the Kuna Indians, the indigenous people of Panama. Your 10 day vacation includes four nights where you can choose from 14 different hotels in Panama City, two nights in Chiriqui - Boqueta, two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, a two night trip to San Blas Islands including tours, and breakfasts at all the hotels.
Another interesting package you might consider would be their Jungle, Islands and Beaches of Panama for nine or more nights including: four nights in Panama City, two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, three nights in Playa Blanca, and two nights in the San Blas Islands with your accommodation, food and tours included.
Another package offered by the Latin Destinations Company is their Panama Culture and Beach package. This vacation package to Panama will cost you $1,189 US for an eight night stay and includes two nights in the San Blas Islands, food, lodging and tours, three nights in Panama City and three nights in Playa Bonita.
The other package they offer to Panama is called The Best of Panama. This is a 13 night package with three nights in Playa Blanca, three nights in Bocas del Toro, two nights in Panama City, two nights in the San Blas Islands and three nights in Playa Bonita. The price for this package which includes breakfast at all the hotels is $1,969 US. This is a great deal!
The benefits of these packages include the possibility of experiencing much more than you could if you just booked an all inclusive package at one of the beach hotels in Panama. You’ve got the combination of great price and value here. Better still, is the fact you can choose from a selection of hotels in Panama City, Chiriqui – Boquete and Bocas del Toro and you can choose how many nights you want to stay in each place. In other words, these packages are totally customizable.
Like I have said in my previous posting, if you want to go and visit the San Blas Islands, book through a travel agent that specializes in tourism to the San Blas islands and Panama. They can arrange your vacations and show you tour packages you might be interested in.
I also promised that I would give your some more hotel information about other beach hotels in San Blas Islands Panama. You must remember that you will not find the same standards as some luxury hotel in North America or Europe. If you want a “Best Western”, you are headed to the wrong place. You won’t find a McDonalds here either. Try one of the other beach hotels in Panama such as Playa Bonita Resort, Playa Blanca or the Decameron Resort if you are not ready for a tropical island escape.
These islands are gove rned by the Kuna Indians. They own these accommodations which are completely eco tourism at its best. Some of the hotels, lodgings and accommodations do not have 24 hour electricity and hot running water available. However, they are a beautiful escape to a tropical island and you will experience nature, beautiful unspoiled beaches, eat delicious fresh sea food and live “close to nature”. You will have your own bathroom and some of these beach hotels in San Blas Panama are lovely, rustic, primitive and you’ll get the best sunsets of your life. There is snorkelling, sw imming, fishing, sun sets over the Caribbean like you’ve never experienced, your own hammock, meeting the Kuna people and discovering their culture and way of life. This is eco tourism at its best. Completely, literally, unspoiled.
Dad Ibe Lodge
The Dad Ibe Lodge has three cabins for its guests, no air conditioning, marvellous views from your verandah which sits over the sea, a private bathroom, and hammocks. Stress? What stress can you possibly remember as you lie in your own hammock facing the sea, one eye barely open during siesta time ? Y o u don’t need air conditioning because you have the soft, cool wind blowing in from the sea. At this lodge in San Blas, you can go fishing with the Kuna, snorkelling and visit the Mangroves. The menu includes fresh sea food such as king crab, lobster, fresh fish, local food and drinks. Prices for th e cabins range in price from $128 for one person to a high of $341 US for a triple, not including ta xe s and include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also included in the price are transportation to and from the island from the Achutupo Airstrip, tours to a Kuna village, tours to the Kuna Yala Rainforest and river, and trips to Ogobwili Island for swimming and snorkelling.
Yandup Island Lodge
For about $80 to $90 US for a double (low season – high season), you can stay at Yandup Island Lodge. They have eight Kuna style cabins, five of them over the water and two on the beach. The cabins over the water have private bathrooms. The beach front cabins have outside bathrooms. Your fresh seafood meals will depend on the catch of the day. The owners of the hotel provide you with tours to a Kuna village, snorkelling or whatever you would like. There is great snorkelling on the island or the owners will take you to other islands. There is no hot water and the electricity from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Other places to stay in San Blas Islands
Accommodations in the San Blas Islands can cost anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars a night. For this price you will get your meals, transportation to the islands and excursion tours. You can find backpacking hostels and home stays, such as Robinson’s, Eulogio’s Place, Franklin ’s or Nixia’s on the islands as well, depending on your budget needs.
The deserted white sand beaches, the great snorkelling and swimming, the tropical flora and fauna, the mangroves and the culture of the Kuna people await you in the San Blas Islands. What are you waiting for? Start planning your tropical paradise escape now. These are just some of the wonderful things that await you when you search for beach hotels in Panama and find yourself headed to one of the San Blas Islands instead.
