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Are you the kind of traveler who loves to relax on holidays go off the grid? Then the San Blas Islands are perfect for you!
Not only are the San Blas Islands a real-life slice of paradise, but they also offer you the chance to completely remove yourself from civilization. We’re talking about no internet, cell service, or credit card payments – nothing. If you’re looking for a real chance to unplug, then this group of tiny islands makes a perfect island-hopping adventure!
But unless you have your own boat, the only way to explore this remote area is by going on a tour. There are many different tour options out there, so to help you narrow down which tour is right for you, we’ve created this list of the 4 best San Blas tours!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite San Blas Islands Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our absolute FAVORITE tour of the San Blas Islands is this day tour from Panama City! It includes round-trip transport, plenty of fun activities to try while you’re there, as well as lots of free time to relax and explore.
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite San Blas Islands Tour
- The Best Tours of the San Blas Islands
- About the San Blas Islands
- What should you pack on a San Blas Islands trip?
- Are the San Blas Islands worth visiting?
- Where to Stay in Panama City, Panama
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
The Best Tours of the San Blas Islands
1. 2-day excursion to the San Blas Islands
- Duration: 2 days (1 night)
- Time: 5 am departure
- Highlights: Travel slower and really soak up the relaxing atmosphere of the San Blas Islands with overnight accommodation, and go island-hopping to famous natural landmarks
- Inclusions: Breakfast/lunch/dinner, your local and professional guides, snorkel equipment (pending availability), overnight accommodation
- Rating: 4.1 stars (check reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: No
- Price: Check price here!
A night in the San Blas Islands feels like stepping into another world, one where time moves slower, and the only thing on your to-do list is to relax! This two-day tour gives you the rare chance to see more of the archipelago than most travelers, with an overnight stay that lets you truly settle into island life.
We love that this experience takes you beyond the quick day trips and into the heart of San Blas. After a scenic jungle drive from Panama City, you’ll head to Isla Diablo, a lively yet laid-back island surrounded by turquoise water and powdery sand. It’s the perfect base for exploring nearby gems like the Isla Perro shipwreck, where snorkeling feels like swimming through a postcard.
All your meals are taken care of, and the oceanfront cabin comes with a private bathroom, a small but welcome luxury in this remote paradise. On the second day, you’ll go island-hopping again, stopping at the San Blas natural pool to wade through crystal-clear shallows and spot starfish glimmering beneath your feet. It’s peaceful, picture-perfect, and you’ll come away with tons of new memories!
Ideal if you crave a slower, more scenic escape, this overnight adventure blends relaxation with discovery in one of Panama’s most stunning settings.
Secure your spot on this popular 2-day island tour here!
2. San Blas Islands day tour from Panama City
- Duration: 1 day
- Time: 5 am departure
- Highlights: Travel from Panama City to the San Blas Islands, enjoy activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, spend free time exploring and snorkeling, relax under picture-perfect palm trees.
- Inclusions: Snorkel equipment, round-trip transport from your hotel, lunch, drinks and snacks, tours to local attractions.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check out 1,400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you’re pressed for time, then this all-inclusive day tour of the San Blas Islands from Panama City is the way to go!
You’ll get to snorkel, visit 3-4 of the prettiest islands, kayak or paddleboard, and enjoy a traditional lunch. One of the islands you’ll visit is Isla Perro, where you’ll get to participate in a game of volleyball with the locals and check out the shipwreck off the beach!
The drive from Panama to the San Blas Islands port takes around 3 hours one way, so there is a lot of travel time and the entire tour lasts around 14 hours, making for a long day. With that being said, we think it’s definitely worth it if you only have one free day on your itinerary – if you don’t believe us, just check out the HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews here!
Everything is taken care of for you, so this is a super convenient way to visit the San Blas Islands if you don’t have a lot of time to spare. It includes all breakfast, lunch, snacks, and round-trip transportation from Panama City. Just make sure to bring extra cash with you for the $25 USD port fee!
Book your San Blas Islands Day trip here with flexible payment options!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. 3-day/2 night San Blas islands tour
- Duration: 3 days (2 nights)
- Time: 5 am departure
- Highlights: See the most iconic spots on the San Blas Islands at a relaxed pace, includes 2 nights of accommodation, swim in natural pools tucked away from the world
- Inclusions: Your professional guide, 2 dinners/2 breakfasts/2 lunches, tours to Cayos Limones and Cayos Holandeses, round-trip transport (if selected), your accommodation
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check glowing reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: No
- Price: Check price here!
There’s relaxed island living, and then there’s San Blas island living. This three-day, two-night adventure gives you time to really sink into paradise, no rushing, no crowds, just turquoise water, hammocks over the ocean, and the sound of waves lapping at your doorstep. You’ll hop between some of the most beautiful spots in the archipelago, swim in crystal-clear natural pools, and watch sunsets that look like they’ve been painted just for you.
What we like most about this tour is how it feels genuinely local and easygoing. Your first stop is Isla Yansailadup, where life moves at island speed. The water is shallow and calm, perfect for lazy swims or floating the afternoon away. Then comes a real treat, a boat ride out to Cayos Holandeses, a remote cluster of islands that few travelers ever see. It’s a bit of a bumpy ride, but when you arrive and see that unbelievable blend of white sand and neon-blue water, you’ll know it was worth every splash.
Between island-hopping, snorkeling, and a few well-earned naps in the shade, all your meals are taken care of, and the freshly cooked local dishes taste even better after a swim. Your final day includes a visit to Cayos Limones and a stop at the San Blas natural pool, where you can wade through waist-deep clear water and spot starfish glinting below.
If you’re dreaming of a few days completely off the grid, just sun, sea, and the sound of lapping waves, this is your kind of getaway.
Check out the different available options and reserve your spot here!
Related read: Another amazing experience we loved was scuba diving in Bocas del Toro, Panama!
4. 4-night getaway to the San Blas Islands
- Duration: 4 days (3 nights)
- Time: 5:20 am departure
- Highlights: Have the ultimate San Blas getaway with swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and more, round-trip transportation is included, enjoy expert guidance on tours, and go island hopping with all transfers included
- Inclusions: Your professional guide and driver, meals on each day, round-trip transportation, 3 nights of accommodation, snorkeling equipment
- Rating: 4.3 stars (check glowing reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Ready to slow down and soak up island life for a few days? This four-day San Blas getaway gives you the best mix of adventure and relaxation, crystal-clear water, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, and that dreamy sense of being completely off the grid. You’ll hop between islands, swim in natural pools, snorkel vibrant reefs, and even try kayaking or beach games if you feel like keeping active.
What we like most is that each day brings something new. You’ll spend your first night on Pelican Island, where you can meet local artisans and learn how to make your own mola or palm craft, such a fun way to connect with Guna culture!
Then it’s off to Aroma Island, a quieter spot that’s perfect for hammock naps, yoga on the beach, or a seafood feast made right by the water. The next day takes you to Perro Chico, home to one of our favorite snorkeling spots, a sunken ship just offshore surrounded by schools of colorful fish.
Between islands, the boat rides are short and scenic, giving you time to take in the views and spot new shades of blue at every turn. Meals are included throughout (the seafood is a highlight!), and by the final morning, you’ll be feeling like part of island life yourself.
If you’re dreaming of days filled with sunshine, salty air, and zero stress, this island-hopping escape is pure bliss.
Check availability and start your ultimate San Blas adventure here!
About the San Blas Islands
The San Blas Islands in Panama are part of the Guna Yala Indigenous territory, so technically, they’re kind of a country within a country. The archipelago consists of 365 islands and cays (one for every day of the year!) and of those, 49 are inhabited.
The archipelago is off the Caribbean coast of Panama, roughly 145 kilometers (90 miles) away from Panama City, which is where most people travel from.
The Guna (AKA Kuna) people are famous for crafting molas, which are bright, patterned, hand-made textiles. On your visit to the San Blas Islands, you’ll see Guna people going about their daily lives and you’ll get to experience some of the amazing local culture here.
The islands are known for their delicious seafood, diverse marine life (especially starfish), jungles, and of course, gorgeous beaches. The San Blas Gulf is home to the third-largest coral reef in the world. It’s also one of the most untouched reefs in the world, which is really amazing to see.
Related read: When making your travel itinerary, consider adding a couple of the top cities in Latin America to the list!
What should you pack on a San Blas Islands trip?
When you’re visiting the San Blas Islands, your philosophy should be: if you want it, you bring it.
First things first, you’ll need to bring your passport, because you’ll need to present this as you enter the Guna Yala territory. No passport, no entry. You’ll also need to bring US dollars because there are no credit cards or ATMs on the San Blas Islands. Bring plenty of small denominations – you really can’t ask for change from a $100 bill out here.
Most tours include your food, but you’ll usually still need the $22 USD entry fee to the Guna Yala territory, as well as cash to buy coconuts from the locals, beautiful handmade molas, and drinks. If you want to take photos with the Guna people, they’ll usually charge a dollar per picture, too.
You’ll spend a lot of your time in the water on the San Blas Islands, so make sure to bring swimwear,a towel, a hat, and biodegradable sunscreen. Also, bring along mosquito repellent, any medication you may need (including seasickness meds), as well as all of your necessary toiletries with you because getting hold of them once you’re there is going to be pretty darn difficult. You don’t want to get to San Blas and realize you forgot your toothbrush!
Bring light clothing, such as shorts and cotton t-shirts. You should also pack a light rain jacket in case of a downpour and for wearing on boat trips, as you may get splashed. An extra battery pack is also a good idea if you have one!
Usually, group meals are served at a set time, so you might want to bring a few snacks with you to tide you over in between, like cereal bars, chips, or cookies. Our driver on our tour actually made a stop at the store on the way to the port so we could all stock up on snacks and beer!
Are the San Blas Islands worth visiting?
Yes!
The San Blas Islands are absolutely gorgeous – we’re talking, beach screensaver-worthy scenery. We’d go as far as to say that they’re among the most beautiful islands in the world.
Not only this, but they’re culturally rich and allow you to totally disconnect from the modern world. A trip to the San Blas Islands is an amazing adventure and a total must when visiting Panama. You won’t regret it!
Learn more about our favorite San Blas Islands tour here!
Where to Stay in Panama City, Panama
To take in a tour (or three!), you’ll definitely want to stay a few nights in Panama City. It’s a big city though with lots of choices for places to stay. We’ve narrowed it down to our top picks for every budget so you can put up your feet after a day of exploring in some comfy accommodations!
Bodhi Panama City – $
Located in the trendy and fun neighborhood of Marbella, Bodhi Panama City is my hostel of choice! It’s set in a beautiful building (with an outdoor pool!) and there are both private rooms and bunks. The bunks have privacy curtains and lockers underneath and the kitchen is big which is great for cooking meals.
You can grab a bunk here for around $16 USD or there are private rooms starting around $30 USD. You can also easily book on either Hostelworld.com or Booking.com to find the best deals!
Magnolia Inn – $$
If you’re in the medium budget range then the Magnolia Inn is the best option available within Casco Viejo. The hotel has really good reviews and the location is perfect. Not to mention, the building is a restored French-style manor that’s a great example of stunning colonial architecture!
Private rooms start under $100 USD per night or there are bunks in dorm rooms for as cheap as $19 USD. Check availability and book on Booking.com.
American Trade Hotel – $$$
American Trade Hotel is the most famous and luxurious hotel in Panama City. This hotel has housed many famous people over the years but unfortunately for me, I only saw the hotel from the outside. Rooms here start around $250 USD per night but are HUGE and very luxurious! You can feel like a VIP by booking your own stay online here.
Need help getting to Panama City? You can either fly into the large international airport, cross the border by land from Costa Rica, or you can even get to Panama from Cartagena, Colombia for cheap!
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Thanks for reading!
The San Blas Islands are one of those unforgettable destinations! I mean the natural beauty of the area is stunning and it’s so good to really unplug for a while on your vacation. I highly recommend visiting this little piece of paradise for a few days!
If you’re planning a trip soon, check out our travel advice blogs or look through our blogs on Central America. We have lots of tips to share so you can have an amazing vacation. If you have any questions about San Blas, leave us a comment below!
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