Ever wondered what Robinson Crusoe must have felt like living on a deserted island all by himself? A vacation on one of the islands of the San Blas archipelago will put all your questions to rest, as you get the chance to experience the life of a castaway.
San Blas stretches along the Caribbean coast of Panama, just a 20-minute flight away from Panama City. There are 370 islands in the archipelago, 49 of which are inhabited by Kuna Indians. These descendants of the once feared Carib Indians gained their independence in 1950 and have been running all the islands as an independent province ever since. They have managed to conserve most of their ancient customs and traditions and haven’t yet become a victim of traditional tourism development.
San Blas is definitely not your typical exclusive destination. You will have a hard time finding a four or five star hotel, with people ready to cater to your every need. In fact the food and facilities are pretty much as basic as they get. Instead of air conditioning you get to enjoy the natural cool breeze, and the big, fluffy bed is replaced by a simple hammock. But the beautiful scenery and the hospitality of the Kuna people will make you forget all about civilization and its benefits.
For snorkeling and diving enthusiasts San Blas will feel like heaven, as it is surrounded by some of the oldest, most beautiful reefs in the world. Some say the beauty of the underwater sights around San Blas is unmatched, so be sure to write this down on your priorities list.
The most popular islands in the archipelago are Achutupu, Kagantupu and Coco Blanco but there are flights to several other islands from Panama City. Here you can experience the lifestyle of the Kuna people, who are more than happy to share their stories and legends with you. But, everything has a price in the world today, so don’t be surprised when, after agreeing to take a picture with you, a local asks you for compensation. It’s usually no more than 20 or 30 cents, so most people are more than happy to pay up for such a souvenir. Also, seeing the Kuna men going fishing in their canoes and climbing up coconut trees, as they have for centuries, will have you thinking you’ve traveled centuries back in time.
If you’re just looking to get away from it all, take a ride on one of the Kuna merchant ships in Colon, and it will take you to the deserted island of your choice, where you can spend your vacation pretending to be Robinson Crusoe. Some of them are privately owned and the owner will come to check up on you once in a while, but it doesn’t hurt to take some drinking water and snacks with you.
Popularity: 1% [?]
HotelClub Travel Blog is where the weird, the wacky and the wonderful world of travel comes together. You will find posts on green/environmentally friendly travel ideas, interesting and obscure destinations and hotels as well as posts about the cultural side of travel. We also feature 
Loading ...
Preparations for San Blas-
This might be a good time to prepare in case you get seasick. Natural remedies include Seabands (look for them online) and ginger (candy, cookies,etc). You can also get over-the-counter seasickness drugs or even prescription patches (must be applied a day or two before you go). Also, sunscreen and hats! And appropriate clothes for any stops you might make.
Not to be a downer, but it’s important to remember that many of the remote beaches outside the US don’t have lifeguards. If you are caught in a riptide, you might not have help. And there isn’t Life Flight. So it’s good to be careful!
Preparations for San Blas-
This might be a good time to prepare in case you get seasick. Natural remedies include Seabands (look for them online) and ginger (candy, cookies,etc). You can also get over-the-counter seasickness drugs or even prescription patches (must be applied a day or two before you go). Also, sunscreen and hats! And appropriate clothes for any stops you might make.
Not to be a downer, but it’s important to remember that many of the remote beaches outside the US don’t have lifeguards. If you are caught in a riptide, you might not have help. And there isn’t Life Flight. So it’s good to be careful!