+507-6807-2764 reservaciones@sanblasfrontera.com
(or thank you in English) for making your reservation with us! We will soon be welcoming you for a few days to the San Blas Islands and we want to make sure you are best prepared. In the following you will find info about:
Of course, you can also always reach out to us with any questions!
We are looking very much forward to your visit!
Your San Blas Frontera team
In order to prepare your trip, we need the following information from you (via email):
We now also offer secure online payment via payment link where you can choose your preferred method of payment and preferred currency (e.g. credit card, bank transfer, apple/google pay etc). Charges: 1.5% plus potential processing charges for your preferred payment method. Please ask us directly if you’d like to use this method!
We currently provide the following payment options:
If you let us know which option you prefer, we are happy to provide the corresponding instructions. For larger groups or certain bookings we might require a deposit payment via one of the options above before the tour.
For a full day out on the water and in the sun, please dress accordingly and bring the following:
Mandatory:
Recommended:
Additionally, for overnight stays & multi-day tours:
Wrap sensitive items and put them in a waterproof bag during the boat ride. Keep your passport and cash with you during the car ride for the passport check and entrance fee payment.
You can find a more detailed packing list here: https://www.sanblasfrontera.com/the-ultimate-packing-list-for-the-san-blas-islands/
How much luggage can you bring:
We advise you to bring only as little luggage as necessary on the trip because space in the cars and the boat is limited. We recommend a maximum of one luggage item plus a small carry-on. While suitcases are not impossible, they can be harder to handle, especially when navigating sandy terrain.
We don’t provide luggage storage facilities in Panama City or at the dock in Cartí, San Blas. Often, you can make arrangements with your hotel/hostel in Panama City to leave your luggage there.
If this is not possible, you can of course bring your luggage with you on the trip.
How much cash to bring:
There are no ATMs in San Blas and card payment is generally not possible, so please bring sufficient cash in USD before entering San Blas. If your trip has not yet been paid, remember to also bring the remaining tour payment in cash, as well as the local entrance and port fee of $22 USD per person.
On the islands you can purchase beverages, snacks, and souvenirs. A small bottle of water or a can of soda/beer is usually sold at $2-3 USD. Handmade mola artwork and souvenirs can range from just a few dollars to upwards of $50-75 USD, so plan accordingly. Besides these optional purchases, there are generally not many other possibilities to spend money in San Blas.
If you are considering extending your stay spontaneously while already in San Blas, make sure to bring additional cash, as payment options are very limited once on the islands.
We also recommend bringing small bills (1, 5, 10 USD), as change is often limited on the islands.
Drinking Water:
Tap water on the islands is not drinkable, and drinking water is not provided, so we strongly recommend bringing enough water with you from Panama City. A good guideline is around one gallon (4L) per person for a 2-3 day stay.
Drinks can be purchased on the main islands (usually where you stay and have your meals). However, during island-hopping tours, some islands do not offer any option to buy drinks. Where available, options are typically focused on (small bottles of ) water, sodas, and beer (cans).
Some guests also prefer using drinking water for brushing their teeth, as the tap water can be slightly salty.
On the way to San Blas, drivers usually stop at a gas station where you can buy water and other essentials. However, the stop might be skipped (e.g. if it’s too busy), and items may sometimes be sold out, so it’s best to come prepared.
Electricity / Charging Devices:
Electricity on the islands is limited and often only available during certain hours in the evening. While some cabins may have outlets, charging is commonly done in shared/common areas rather than inside the rooms themselves. We strongly recommend bringing a power bank and charging your devices whenever possible.
Keep in mind: between the full days in the sun, taking many photos/videos, and phones constantly searching for signal due to limited reception, batteries tend to drain much faster than usual. Please do not rely on being able to freely charge phones, cameras, drones, or laptops throughout the day.
Internet/Phone reception:
Most islands don’t have WiFi. If you’d like to stay connected, you can get a local SIM card & a data pass. The following providers have fairly ok network on the islands: Tigo, Más Movil. Alternatively, an eSIM.
Do we need to bring warm clothes?
We recommend bringing long pants and a light sweater for the evenings. While temperatures usually don’t drop below 20°C (68°F), it can feel a bit chilly, especially if it’s windy. A water- and windproof jacket is also very helpful for the boat rides. If you’re not used to strong air conditioning, a light sweater for the car ride is recommended as well. For footwear, flip-flops or sandals are sufficient — closed shoes are not needed.
Are there mosquitoes? Any special vaccinations needed?
As always, if you have specific medical concerns, we recommend checking with your healthcare provider before traveling.
Don’t forget to bring your passport – going to the San Blas Islands is practically like visiting another country and there are passport controls by the police at the entrance to the Comarca Kuna Yala
The San Blas Islands enjoy a tropical Caribbean climate with warm temperatures year-round and are worth visiting in every season. Temperatures are generally stable throughout the year, usually ranging between 25°C and 31°C (77°F to 88°F).
A quick note regarding weather apps and forecasts: please don’t be discouraged if the forecast looks bad before your trip. Weather apps are particularly unreliable for San Blas and often show the worst-case scenario – especially during the rainy season, where they may display rain and thunderstorms every day ahead.
This happens because forecasts cover a very large region, including the mainland mountains and areas stretching hundreds of kilometers toward Colombia. As a result, there is almost always rain somewhere within that region. In reality, weather on the islands is often much better than predicted, with plenty of sunshine and only occasional short tropical showers (rainy season).
Weather apps are particularly unreliable for San Blas and often show the worst-case scenario – especially during the rainy season
Generally speaking:
Dry Season (December to March/April):
Lower humidity, little rainfall, plenty of sunshine, blue skies, and stronger trade winds. This is the most popular time to visit San Blas. Seas can occasionally be rougher due to wind, which may impact snorkeling visibility.
Transition Months (May, June & November):
A mix of sunny weather with occasional short showers, often in the afternoon. Weather becomes slightly more unpredictable but remains very pleasant overall.
Rainy Season (July to October):
More frequent tropical showers and occasional thunderstorms (mostly at night/mornings, usually in short bursts lasting 30-60 minutes and often followed by sunshine again. Seas are generally calmer, snorkeling visibility is often excellent, and there are fewer visitors on the islands.
Even during the rainy season, it is very unusual for it to rain continuously all day. Most rainfall comes as short tropical downpours, while temperatures remain warm and beach conditions are still enjoyable. Panamanians themselves visit the beaches year-round.
We take weather and sea conditions very seriously and continuously assess the situation together with local authorities and the maritime office. Safety is always our highest priority. In the rare event of unsafe sea conditions or storms, itineraries may need to be adjusted, routes changed to more protected areas, or tours postponed/cancelled if required by the authorities.
Interested in learning about our unique Kuna culture? Visit the Museo de la Mola in Panama City, which displays over 200 mola pieces and gives exciting insights into its meaning for our culture, our spiritual world, rituals and cosmo vision.
Free entrance, open Tuesday to Sunday! (Mondays closed)
Transport from Panama City to the San Blas Islands and back is organised by us and included in your package. It is a ca. 2.5h car ride out of Panama City and through the San Blas hills to the dock in Cartí, where you’ll switch into the boat for your tour/stay.
Pickup in Panama City: 5-5:30am at your hotel.
Where can you be picked up from? Any hotel in Panama City. Recommended areas: Casco Viejo, Cinta Costera & Caledonia, Punta Paitilla, Obarrio, San Francisco. Extra charges (+1h earlier pick-up) apply for Playa Bonita/Veracruz as well as Gamboa Rainforest Reserve/Summit Rainforest Resort.
Important:
Other helpful info:
Undoubtedly stunningly beautiful and home to a fascinating indigenous culture, the San Blas Islands deserve their place as one of the top places to visit. But, a growing number of tourists and a lack of waste management infrastructure threaten this fragile ecosystem. As a company, we are working on eco-friendly solutions to protect our home and minimize the environmental, cultural and economic impact. As a visitor, there are a few ways how you can also support in these efforts:
Packaging: We kindly ask you to minimize the amount of packaging that you bring to the island and, once you return to Panama City, take it back with you. San Blas does not have a functioning waste or recycling system for packaging and you can help by returning packaging with you and properly disposing of it in the city. If you purchase drinks on the island, we recommend to purchase cans since those are the only things actively collected and recycled.
Respecting nature: Do not touch the starfish or take them out of the water. Starfish are very delicate and touching them can do severe damage. Also, please do not stand on or touch corals – evens slight touches can cause irreversible damage.
Open mind: These beautiful islands are home to a unique indigenous culture with a way of life that is different from most and one whose standards may be different than your own. Bring an open mind and appreciate different lifestyles and you will have a wonderful time in this paradise.
Local Art: On some islands, you can buy Mola handcraft. This is very intrinsic work and prices range between $15-25/35/50+ USD, depending on size and details. Kuna women often work up to 3 months on just one of these pieces. You can use these back home for pillows (especially the ones with animals make lovely gifts for small children), frame it and put up on the wall,… Selling Mola is often times the only source of income for many of the locals who otherwise are fully self-sustaining so your contribution will directly benefit the local community.
Feel free to contact us at any time in case you should have further questions. We are looking forward to welcoming you in Kuna Yala (San Blas) soon!