Panama's Caribbean San Blas Islands

I spent a few months in Panama, and by far my greatest adventure was to the San Blas Islands.  I took two planes and a boat to get there, but the weekend I spent there was most definitely worth the trip to arrive.

The first plane was a standard plane from a standard airport.  The second was a little more worrisome.  It was very small, very loud, and I wasn’t quite sure we would make it there. But we did, with no problems whatsoever.  One of my favorite parts of the trip was the boat ride from the final airport to the main island. Each boat carried about 6 people, two guides and 4 tourists. We traveled over the open water for about an hour, and then finally arrived at the island. The islands are inhabited by the indigenous people, so we needed a translator for much of the traveling part of the trip. Most of the people who work with the tourists know some Spanish, some English, or a little of both.  I did meet several people with whom I needed to speak in English because they didn’t know any Spanish at all, only the native language and a little English.

The hotel at which I stayed was absolutely my number favorite hotel of all time.  The word “rustic” is certainly an understatement, but it very much fit the islands and the atmosphere.  The walls, floor, and roof were all made of wooden sticks.  They appeared to be completely natural, and held together with strips of bark.  It was very solid so there must have been some hidden man-made construction.  I could see through the walls if I tried, so maybe this isn’t the best destination for honeymooners, but the ambience was terrific.  I could see through the floor as well, right to the water beneath us.  The hotel is built right over the water, only the edge of main entrance approaches the land. The soothing sound of the water was very relaxing and enjoyable. The bathroom was constructed in the same manner.  The “shower” consisted of two barrels of water, a plastic gallon bottle with the top half cut off, a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap that we all shared.  At first it was hard to accept, but by the end of the weekend I had no problem with the makeshift shower.  I even enjoyed the simplicity. The hotel provided us with fresh-cooked meals every night.  We had a choice of things like fish, octopus, and chicken for the less adventurous among us. This hotel was a unique experience for me.  I suppose it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was certainly serene and calming.

We spent our days at some of the other islands.  We took little wooden boats from island to island and explored the beauty of Panama’s San Blas Islands.  They provided us with snorkel gear (which is not top-notch, so if you have your own you should bring it) and we were free to go where we pleased.  There was a sunken ship with no shortage of exotic fish. The islands themselves were worthy of exploration.  There were popular areas where everyone was sunbathing, and there were secluded areas for those who prefer quiet privacy. We even went to an island with a gift shop.  This was quite unexpected for me, but they did a good job of incorporating the shop into the atmosphere. They sold chilled coconuts to drink from, hand-made crafts, and other similar things that would serve as a fitting souvenir.  

The San Blas Islands, with their beautiful Caribbean palm trees, crystal clear water, clean white beaches, abundant snorkeling opportunities, friendly people, and exotic food, make for a fantastic vacation. If you’re ever in the vicinity, I would highly recommend a detour to visit these most remarkable islands.