San Blas Islands are part of Panama and it is an archipelago with around 370 islands and small sandy islands part of coral reefs. Only 49 of them are inhabited and mostly by the local Kuna Indians.
It is easy to get to.
The San Blas Islands are located in the Northwest of Panama, which borders Colombia in the East and Costa Rica in the West. You can fly from Panama straight into the San Blas Islands or you can take a boat from either Cartagena or Capurganá.
The San Blas Islands are remote but don’t feel overwhelmed by getting here.
If you don’t want to cross the jungle or open waters of the Caribbean Sea you can use a plane to get to San Blas. You can book flights at Air Panama or Aeroperlas, but make sure you book in advance.
Discover the pristine and untouched archipelagos in the world
Most of these impressively pristine islands have few roads and even fewer people. Here you can discover many new species that are unknown to the science in some of those uninhabited islands. If you are searching for that desert island feel, San Blas is the perfect destination.
San Blas is also known to have some of the best spots for snorkeling in the Caribbean of Central America. Many of the islands are ringed by healthy coral reefs and gorgeous water. The coral reef attracts many stunning species. The best time to go snorkeling is from June to October because the water visibility is better and there are fewer currents.
Photo credit: Markus Leupold-Löwenthal / Wikipedia
The Kuna People
The real name of San Blas is Kuna Yala – Land of the Kuna. The Cuna are famous for their bright molas, a colorful textile art form made with the techniques of appliqué and reverse appliqué.
About 50.000 Kuna’s live on the 49 major islands of San Blas and are controlled by their own community leader called a Sahila.
The island is picture-perfect with lapping waves, swaying palm trees, and gentle breezes and no Wi-Fi or TVs. Evenings are leisurely, with everyone relaxing and enjoying the slow Caribbean pace.
San Blas is an indigenous territory located northeast of Panama. Discover the San Blas Islands and relax in a typical rustic bungalow over water, hosted by a native Guna family. The San Blas Islands are popular with eco-tourists due to their pristine natural state.
Featured image photo credit: Marc Veraart / Flickr
Raja Ampat is one of the richest in bio-marine life in the world, located in the center of the Coral Triangle. Enjoy the crystal-clear water by diving, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming or sailing. Raja Ampat is located on the island of New Guinea, the world’s second-largest island in Oceania. The island is divided between two countries: Papua New Guinea to the east, and Indonesia to the west.
What Should You Take?
Outside the main towns there are very few shops selling anything but snacks, and definitely no ATMs.
Having the right gear can make all the difference to your snorkeling trip. You don’t need to bring much for island hopping in Raja Ampat, but here are a couple of things we think are essential to pack.
Waterproof Bag | This water-resistant bag you can use to protect your electronics during water activities.
Snorkel Mask & Fins | If you plan on snorkeling snorkel mask is a must and helps you save energy, and dive easier.
Water Bottle | Raja Ampat is one incredibly beautiful place in the world, don’t litter plastic, use SteriPen.
GoPro | This adventure underwater camera is a must, especially snorkeling.
Sunscreen | Sun is way too strong on the equator and if you are spending all day in the water, so need a quality sunscreen. Please, make sure you use a reef-friendly biodegradable sunscreen for snorkeling.
The risk of contracting malaria isn’t high, but it’s a possibility, so wear light long-sleeved clothes in the evening and sleep under a mosquito net at night.
Many of the smaller islands don’t have shops so pick up things like toilet paper, snacks, and drinks before you leave Sorong.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is designed to help cover your expenses if something goes wrong on your trip. World Nomads Travel Insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers, and it is the most popular insurance as they cover travelers from over 150 countries around the world, offer great rates.
How to get to Raja Ampat
To get to Raja Ampat, you’ll first need to fly to the airport at Sorong. Garuda Indonesia and Sriwijaya airlines have daily flights from Jakarta to Sorongand from there you’ll have to fly to Raja Ampat.
You need a permit to visit Raja Ampat and you can purchase one at the Tourism Information Centre in Sorong or at designated spots in airports and ports.
You can also fly there from a few other cities in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Davao.
Wreck diving is one of the top activities on Raja Ampat. Other points of interest include Kabui Bay and its dramatic karsts of limestone, as well as Sawandarek, which features lovely coral and white sand beaches.
Experience the beauty of sailing, as the majority of connection between the islands, is by boat, you’ll need to feel comfortable with moving about the vessel. Smooth sailing depends on the weather, so itinerary changes may occur at the last minute if the weather becomes unfavorable.
There are two main ways to experience the area as a diver – on a liveaboard or with a resort.
Remember to pack sun protection, such as sunscreen and a hat, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.
Best Time to Visit the Raja Ampat Islands
Raja Ampat is close to the equator and the temperatures don’t vary much and range from around 25-32° with an average humidity 83%. The best months are from October to December. You may want to avoid June – September, the summer months – when there are more heavy rains and storms.
Raja Ampat really is an incredible part of the world and is definitely worth visiting, but preparing for the trip is always important.
Make sure to double-check that you have all relevant legal documents before you go on your journey – passport, visa, proof of a return ticket, insurance policies, dive certifications.
Australia is home to not one, but two stunning coral reef systems – Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef. Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services for tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. Barrier reefs are separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep channel or lagoon. A fringing reef also called a shore reef.
Scientists have only just begun to understand how reefs can contribute to medicine, already coral reef organisms are being used in treatments for diseases like cancer and HIV.
The zooxanthellae algae which live symbiotically inside the coral polyp give the corals their amazing colors.
In recent years scientists have discovered cold-water coral reefs off the coast of Norway and deep underwater in the Mediterranean Sea.
Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef. The reef contains over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays and hundreds of tropical islands with some of the world’s most beautiful golden beaches. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the only living thing on earth visible from space.
Activities at Great Barrier Reef:
Explore the Daintree Rainforest – Daintree Rainforest located north of Cairns and Port Douglas provides visitors to the region with a chance to explore a unique tropical area.
Hot Air Ballooning – experience the beauty of North Queensland by taking an exhilarating Hot Air Balloon trip over the Atherton Tablelands with spectacular views to the ocean.
Island Day Trips – explore the reef and rainforest on Green Island Reef island, discover the uninhabited Frankland Island or visit any of the other islands.
Low Isles Sailing Cruise – A variety of vessels are on offer including the Santa Maria, Coral Princess and Coral Sea Dreaming
Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Flight – Enjoy amazing aerial views flying over the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands.
Visit Whitehaven Beach – Located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach is one of the world’s most unspoiled and beautiful beaches.
White Water Rafting – Looking for something new and adventurous and see parts of this region that you might normally not be able to see – try white water rafting in tropical Queensland.
The problem with the Great Barrier Reef is that it could be pretty expensive if you’re traveling on a budget.
You must go on a boat tour to get out to the reef, which most people will only make it out one time during their trip. If the weather or water conditions aren’t great for going out then you are missing the time of your trip. The conditions often aren’t very good, for example for snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and less visibility.
But for people who want to explore coral reefs there is another, better option – the Ningaloo Reef.
Ningaloo is home to the world’s largest fringing reef and it is located just a few feet away from the northwest coastal region of Western Australia. This makes the Ningaloo Reef Australia’s easiest access coral reef experience. It is famous for its whale sharks which feed there from March to June and the reef, which is also rich in coral and other marine life. During the winter months, the reef is part of the migratory routes for dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and humpback whales.
The World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef is one of the longest fringing coral reefs in the world with almost 300 kilometers of unspoiled underwater paradise.
In 1987, the Ningaloo Reef has declared a marine park in order to protect the unique environment and its inhabitants and in 2011, the Ningaloo Reef and Ningaloo Coast received UNESCO World Heritage listing. This Reef is one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on the planet with more than 250 species of coral and over 500 species of fish.
Ningaloo’s hub town of Exmouth is a 1250-kilometer (777-mile) drive north of Perth or you can fly to Learmonth Airport and then rent a car. Alternative you can use Integrity Coach Lines which also travels from Perth to Exmouth.
Rare sea turtle species such as the loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles hatch here in late January and February.
You can swim with Whale Sharks, snorkel and dive the reefs, or just wander along the shoreline exploring the crystal clear waters for an appreciation and close up view of the aquatic world and nature at its premium.
Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, the diving and snorkeling sites of the Ningaloo are right along the coast and the Navy Pier, near the town of Exmouth, is considered one of the best shore dives in the world.
Activities at Ningaloo Reef:
There are many ways you can experience the Ningaloo Reef from above or below the waterline.
Whale shark swim – Swim with the enormous whale sharks who arrive between March and July. These massive creatures are not harmful to people. They are the world’s largest fish with spans up to 40 feet long.
Whale watching or humpback whale swim tours Between June and November, watch humpback whales or join them for a swim.
Watch sea turtle – Between January and February, watch sea turtle species hatch on guided, eco-interactive trails.
Scuba diving trips, snorkelling tours – Grab your snorkel and swim through coral lagoons and gardens in a calm and protected coral bay.
Explore sand dunes and outback wilderness as well as the reef.
Coral reefs around the world are under increasing stress due to a combination of local and global factors.
Coral reefs are highly sensitive to environmental change. Multiple stressors, in isolation or in combination, may lead to dramatic deterioration that can result in loss of reefs.
