Panama’s San Blas Islands: Are they worth it? [2024]
Are Panama’s San Blas Islands truly worth the hype? With their white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters and swaying palm trees, Panama’s San Blas Islands are a slice of paradise in the Caribbean sea. But they’re not cheap to visit! If you’re travelling on a budget, you might be wondering: are the San Blas Islands worth it. Especially compared to the much lower costs of Panama’s mainland, and the rest of (mostly) budget-friendly Central America.
So, are the San Blas islands worth it? Does the experience justify the cost. Let’s delve into what makes the San Blas Islands a unique destination, how much a trip will set you back, and why the San Blas comes with a premium price tag compared to other tropical islands in Central America. We’ll also share our experience and verdict on the San Blas Islands: are they worth it?
WHY VISIT THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS?
The San Blas Islands, also known as the Guna Yala Islands, are located off the northeastern coast of Panama. Stretching along the Caribbean coastline, this archipelago is part of the semi-autonomous Guna Yala region. The islands are one of several comarcas Indígenas in Panama, land governed by Panama’s indigenous communities.
There are so many reasons travellers are drawn to the San Blas Islands. With their picture-perfect beaches, powdery white sands and crystalline turquoise waters, the islands are perfect to relax away from the crazy mainland of Central America. You won’t find resort-style accommodation, all-you-can-eat buffets, or happy hour cocktails on these Caribbean islands. But there’s a sense of calm that it’s difficult to find elsewhere in the region. You can sunbathe, swim, snorkel, paddleboard, or simply soak up the sun with no wifi, and no worries.
The San Blas Islands are also a great place to learn about Panama’s indigenous communities. Although the Guna are a private people, and you can’t really visit their villages, they’re more than happy to have a chat about their culture. From learning about traditional crafts like molas to sampling authentic Guna cuisine, visitors can gain insight into centuries-old traditions and ways of life.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS?
But a trip to the San Blas islands isn’t cheap. And you might be wondering if Panama’s San Blas Islands are really worth it?
When we started planning our trip to Panama, there were three things on our list. The famous Panama Canal, of course (here’s how you can visit it for free and save yourself $20 USD). The Lost and Found Jungle Hostel (possibly my favourite hostel in Central America). And the San Blas Islands (get your ultimate guide here!).
But the San Blas islands are expensive. Especially compared to Panama’s mainland. And definitely compared to the rest of budget-friendly Central America. Are the San Blas Islands worth it? Here’s a cost breakdown of our expenses for a 2-day, 1-night trip to Isla Diablo, based on a couple travelling together.
COST BREAKDOWN FOR 1 NIGHT ON ISLA DIABLO FOR 2 PEOPLE
- $230 USD for the tour, paid to the tour company and the Guna hosts. This covers your boat transport to the island, accommodation, meals, and any activities.
- $64 USD port fees and entry, paid directly to the Guna community
- $100 USD to driver (50 USD each way), paid directly to the driver
- $40 USD for drinks/snacks. We bought snacks at the supermarket in Panama City, and had a couple of drinks on the Island
TOTAL COST: $432 USD (for two people) for 2 days, 1 night on Isla Perro. That’s ($216 USD per person based on a couple sharing)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Shared transport to the port in a Jeep or similar
- Entry fees to the Guna territory
- Boat taxi transport to island of your choice
- 1 night in a rustic wooden cabin with shared bathroom facilities
- 4 meals (2x lunch, 1x breakfast, 1x dinner) with one soft drink per meal
- Small tours and trips as detailed in the itinerary (these happen in theory, more on that later)
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Tips (nice but not expected)
- Drinks and snacks outside of the main meals
- Snorkelling, paddleboarding, or kayaking equipment
- The cost to visit other islands (which may be included in your itinerary)
- Beach towels, equipment, etc.
WHY ARE THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS SO EXPENSIVE ?
#1 SAN BLAS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY REMOTE
Situated off the northeastern coast of Panama, near the Darién Gap, the San Blas Islands’ remoteness plays a significant role in their elevated cost. There’s no mass tourism, which is a great thing for the islands inhabitants and biodiversity. But it does mean that reaching these idyllic islands often involves private transport.
#2 THE ISLANDS ARE GOVERNED BY THE GUNA PEOPLE
The San Blas Islands are part of the semi-autonomous Guna Yala region, governed by the Guna people. This indigenous community contributes to the islands’ unique cultural preservation but also influences the cost of visiting.
Tourism is a main income for the Guna people. Costs such as port fees, entry fees, and the cost of an overnight stay are agreed upon by the whole community. This means that the price to visit is similar, no matter which company you book with or which island(s) you visit. And unfortunately for the budget traveller, the cost of visiting the San Blas Islands is pretty high!
That said, your money will be contributing to the economy of the indigenous Guna community. This allows them to continue to import the goods they can’t farm, fish, or forage.
#3 THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS AREN’T DEVELOPED
The San Blas islands are a paradise, with turquoise waters and perfect white sand. But they only stay a paradise because the Guna have chosen not to develop mass tourism. This means you get a really authentic experience. Simple cabins instead of huge resorts is what keeps the islands feeling so pristine.
While this is undoubtedly part of their allure, it also means that infrastructure and amenities are scarce, driving up the cost of accommodations and services. It costs a lot to keep things running here, and the cost of the trip is priced accordingly.
OUR EXPERIENCE: ARE THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS WORTH IT?
BOOKING OUR SAN BLAS TRIP: WHAT TO EXPECT
After two crazy weeks in Peru, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and trying to cram in every sight possible in the Sacred Valley, sitting on a tropical beach with nothing to do except relax sounded like our idea of heaven.
Booking was easy. You can’t visit the San Blas Islands on your own. But most hostels and hotels in Panama City can recommen an operator or book this for you. All we had to do was go online, pick a trip, and pay a $60 USD deposit ($30 USD each) We chose Isla Diablo, because we didn’t do much research and it was the cheapest option!
GETTING TO SAN BLAS: WHAT TO EXPECT
Maybe it was just the tour operator we went with, but the logistics of getting six tourists to the San Blas Islands felt more chaotic than it had to be. We were told it would be a 5am pickup, so we got up early… and then waited for an hour. Welcome to Panama, you’re on LatAm time now (in Latin America, nothing runs to schedule!)
Once the driver arrived, the six of us squeezed in. Clearly, a few of the people hadn’t got the memo about leaving large luggage items at the accommodation in Panama City – it was tight! We paid the driver $50 USD per person, with the promise of being picked up again the next day, and off we went!
On the way, we stopped at two checkpoints. One to enter the Guna Territory ($8 USD per person) and another to pay the port fee ($24 USD per person). Once we arrived at the port, we were given a wristband and shepherded into one of a handful of wooden shelters. Eventually, a boat showed up, we paid another $170 USD between us (the rest of the cost), and were taken to our island for our overnight stay
It felt like we were constantly having to shell out cash. Rather than paying one person for the entire trip, you hand a chunk of cash to the driver. Then a bit more to enter the Guna territory and another few bills at the port. Then, you hand the final wad of cash to the Guna hosts.
Visiting the San Blas Islands feels expensive compared to the rest of Panama, which is already expensive compared to a lot of Latin American countries (Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are much cheaper). And of course, no one had change. It left a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. We weren’t really sure if the San Blas Islands were worth it.
THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS: WHAT TO EXPECT
The sour taste melted away once we arrived. The San Blas Islands were a paradise! Suddenly the early morning, bumpy roads, travel sickness, and the sheer amount of money we had to shell out to get here felt worth it!
The accommodation was rustic and the meals were simple, traditional fare: rice, fish, and plantain. The bathroom facilities had a funky smell. It definitely was not worth the amount we paid.
But the island itself more than made up for it. The beach was perfect, the ocean blue and clear, and there was nothing to do except relax. Bliss! A couple of hours after lunch, we set off on our first of three trips to the natural pool and starfish cay. We swam, we sunbathed, we drank Pina Colada and ate fresh coconuts. That first day was perfect.
And then came the second day. A huge thunderstorm rolled in just after breakfast, casting a shadow over our sunny tropical escape. Large droplets of rain fell from the sky all morning and our host cancelled all the trips that we’d already paid for. Instead, he took us to another island, that was so close to Isla Diablo that we could have swum there ourselves. Then, we had to pay again, only to sit inside the restaurant of another island and pray for the rain to let up so we could go on our planned excursions.
Spoiler alert – it didn’t. It rained until it was time to go back to Panama City. We’d paid for late checkout, so we were pretty annoyed about the whole thing! Luckily rain doesn’t affect swimming and snorkelling, so we hung out in the ocean and made the best of it. Obviously the Guna can’t control the weather, but it would have been nice to have had some communication throughout the whole thing
THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS: WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
WHAT'S HOT?
- The islands. They’re beautiful and untouched. There’s something amazing about being on a tropical island without the mass tourism you see elsewhere in the caribbean
- The sea. It’s beautiful, blue, and so warm. If you have your own snorkel, you’ll get even more out of your swimming!
- It’s ethical and eco-friendly tourism. The Guna are 100% in control of their territory and they set the rules. But most of the money is paid directly to your host, in cash. This supports the Guna economy, which is centred around tourism, coconut exports, and the selling of artisan crafts.
- It’s low-impact tourism. The rustic accommodations in San Blas are automatically ‘eco friendly’, with no A/C or electricity. As resources are limited, the Guna practice living in a way that reduces waste and conserves water and power.
WHAT'S NOT?
- The accommodation feels overpriced. We expected it to be rustic, and we were fine with that. But the amount that we paid for the trip felt like a lot, compared to similar experiences in Panama and Central America.
- The shower facilities. They were really smelly! And the rainwater that’s collected on the roof is mixed with salt water to make it go further. Again, I understand that there’s a shortage of fresh water here – there are no rivers on the islands after all! But you will feel sticky and salty until you get back to Panama City. Mix that with sunburn and it’s not a fun combination.
- The communication. This was the main drawback for us. We literally didn’t know what was going on, at any time during our overnight trip. We didn’t know how long we’d be waiting at the docks, who to pay, and how much to pay them. Once we got to the island, the communication about when we’d be setting off for the planned excursions was non-existent. It really stressed me out.
SO, ARE THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS WORTH IT?
For those seeking a tropical paradise untouched by mass tourism, the San Blas Islands offer an escape to a world where time seems to stand still. The rhythms of nature and the traditions of the indigenous Guna people create a captivating tapestry of sights, sounds, and experiences.
Visiting the San Blas Islands is also ethical tourism at its finest. The San Blas/Guna Yala Islands are an autonomous province, and your tourism is regulated by the indigenous Guna people who own and protect the land. Your visit will directly benefit the Guna community and support their economy, which runs on tourism, coconut exports, and the sale of handicrafts.
That said, we can’t deny that the San Blas Islands are expensive for what you get. The $216 USD for a 1-night stay feels like a lot of money compared to the rest of Central America. In Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala you could have fun for a week on that sort of budget!
So, if you’ve got the cash to splash, we think that the San Blas Islands are a beautiful place to spend it. But if you don’t… save your pennies. You can get that pristine-island-experience for a much lower price elsewhere in Central America.
Looking for cheaper tropical island getaways in the region? You might like:
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Alice
Alice is a UK travel blogger who advocates sustainable travel and being more eco-conscious on a budget. She loves coffee, her houseplants and summiting mountains.
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