See full version: Most beautiful beaches in San Blas
Island Banedub is marked with a skull of a cow head near the beach, but don’t let this sight scare you away! Island Banedub has some cabins and a small bar with a campfire. The beach lies to the south and is out of the current so you can bathe in calm waters. At night you will see illuminating jellyfish and squid swimming around and this sight is truly magical! here
We will sum up the top 5 best beaches in San Blas reachable for tourist by day-trips local transportations by the native Kuna. more
If you are looking for a island vacation where you can go to the beach every day and never get bored then San Blas is one of the best tropical places to go. Because San Blas has over 300 islands there are many beaches worth visiting and all of them have crystal clear blue water. Some of them are rocky but don’t worry if you move the boat 100 meter you will hit another island.
Isla Robeson or in English Isla Robinson Crusoe is pretty famous as you probably know the name! This island is another beautiful tropical place with white beaches and warm clear water. The place you dream about at night. Not much to do there then hang out on the beach. [links]
The beaches on Chichimei are probably the most deserted in San Blas and the most easy to reach for travelers without a boat. Chichimei is also a well know backpackers hangout that lacks electricity or flowing water. But this relatively big island, walking around takes up to 15 min, has long white sand beaches with crystal clear water all around. They have a volleyball field with volleyball that you can use all day for free. You can stay here in cabin full of hammocks, back to basic with the facilities. Chichimei is a must go for visitors of San Blas. here
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Isla Diablo is one of the most frequented islands in the San Blas archipelago. This tiny island (300 meters-large at most) located in quiet Caribbean Sea is bordered by a beautiful coral reef. Wear your snorkel gear on and enter the water from the beach to explore the underwater wonders of this site, including hundreds of colorful fish and gorgeous sea stars.
Some coral beds are well preserved. On the right, a barrel sponge. more
Wear your equipment and enter the water from the island’s main beach, next to the volleyball field.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.
This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page. [links]
The reef teems with life, and you will encounter numerous species of colorful fish during your exploration: schools of dozens of Atlantic blue tangs, gorgeous stoplight parrotfish, trumpetfish, colorful Spanish hogfish, grunts hiding underneath corals… Yellow and orange cushion starfish can also sometimes be spotted on sandy areas located beyond the reef. here
Shallow waters as far as the eye can see
8-9am: Breakfast time. A typical breakfast included eggs with some bread and butter. This is a special meal prepared for tourists as the Guna eat a full meal of rice and meat for breakfast! After breakfast, we had time to wander around the island, take a dip, tan, snorkel or lounge around in a hammock.
9pm: The electricity was shut off and only the campfire and moonlight were left to light our way. Most people only stuck around for a while longer, before slowing getting ready for bed, and enjoying the serenity the ocean breeze and waves had to offer.
30 minutes later we pulled up to the shore of our home island, Isla Aroma. A tiny island, no bigger than about 100 meters squared, greeted us. Depending on the island and personal preference, you can choose whether to stay in the cabanas, bring your own tent and camp, or sleep in their rustic accommodations. We chose the most rustic option, living in a sea side hut a mere 10 meters from the water. Our accommodations consisted of a single giant hut made of palm tree logs lined with dried palm leaves, all tied together. Inside, the hut was filled with beds made from more palm tree branches, placed directly on the sand. The beds are specially made for the tourists, as the Guna prefer to sleep in hammocks, either under the stars or in their own huts. A thin wooden door was placed at the entrance, which is only closed when there is a storm. The bathrooms and shower were located on the other side of the island, about 50 meters away, and were shared by the tourists. [links]
Noon: Lunch is served! Generally, lunch was served buffet style, where we could choose what we wanted to eat. Rice and beans, plantains, fresh fish and salad were a staple. Depending on the day, chicken was also offered. And for dessert, fresh island fruit! [links]
If you like to book things yourself rather than taking a tour, you can book accommodations in the Guna Yala Islands and figure out transportation on your own. If you need additional guidance, you can ask your accommodations to provide the details you need to arrive safely to the island.
Another simple way to visit is through a San Blas Island tour. Tours provide you the advantage of having your roundtrip transportation, accommodation, meals, and activities mostly planned out for you. You won’t have to navigate the islands on your own. This is particularly helpful if your Spanish is limited! Just be forewarned, that tourism is still very early on in the San Blas Islands, so tours are still fairly few and far between!
Some of the more famous or recognized islands are: [links]
There are a lot of different boating providers, so make sure to do your research before settling on one. There are many nightmare stories out there about them! I have heard great things about San Blas Adventures, but ask around hostels in Cartagena and Panama City to get the latest information on how the trips are going and find a tour provider you trust. more
Location: Rio Sidra, San Blas , Panama
*Top spot* Big Orange Island (Narasgandub Dummad) is famous for their overwater cabins that take your San Blas experience to the next level. The small private island harbors only six cabins that are available for renting. This means you will have a private beach/island experience that can only result in a perfect vacation. The cabins are large and equipped with a nice comfortable bed, ceiling fans, solar powered electricity, private bathrooms, mosquito nets and a stunning 360 degrees balcony. If you don’t want so sleep in a bed you always got the hammocks on the terrace of your lodge. For food you just visit the small restaurant on the island where the Kuna prepare the fish of the day and serve you breakfast, lunch and diner. Lobster can be ordered on your request. Big Orange Island (Narasgandub Dummad) lodges are not cheap but you will get a stunning place to stay that is worth the money.
– Double Beds
– Private Bathrooms ( Private)
– Balcony with a view of the Mountains and Islands [links]
The rooms in Cabañas Narasgandup (Naranjo Chico) are cosy because they are located on the beach between the palm trees. You will have an own lodge to stay with beach view and fresh coconut everywhere. The waters around Naranjo Chico (the island) are calm and clear so you can snorkel or swim them. Don’t expect too much luxury in this place but it is one of the places where they serve you breakfast and diner in the San Blas. more