Mon 6th Oct 2008
- San Blas Islands Travel Guide & City Information
The San Blas islands are a bit of unspoilt paradise. The Cuna indians life on these hundreds of tiny islands just off the coast of Panama. They dress just as you would expect with the women wearing the family capital in the form of gold around their neck, in thier ears or in theri nose.
The problem with the islands is that it's hard getting to them. There are very expensive helicopter flights, which do not constitute a very good option. The other possibility is renting a boat or a passage on a boat in the harbour of Colon . This can be hard, but with a bit of luck you will be able to find a boat doing provisions for the islands. In principle it must be possible to reach the islands also by boat form Portobelo or Nombre de Dios , but I would not count on this too much.
It seems to be possible to book a sailing tour to the San Blas islands directly from Cartagena in Colombia. Check with Hotel Casa Viena in Cartagena for more info.
Accommodation and eating out on the islands is of the most basic and adventurous form. You will either sleep & eat on the boat that brought you there or just in one of the huts.
When you take pictures of the women on the islands they expect a tip. One dollar is a normal fee.