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
The San Blas Islands of Panama is located north coast of the Isthmus of Panama and east of the Panama Canal. The islands are an archipelago with approximately 365 islands and cays. Only 49 of them are inhabited.
San Blas and its surrounding area is a haven for ecotourism because of its pristine environs. It’s a popular area for sailing, and it is known for its lack of hurricanes and for its beauty. Most popular locations in the Archipelago are Cayos Limones and Cayos Holandeses, the main capital El Porvenir, and the island village of Carti Sugtupu.
The San Blas Islands are the number #1 vacation destination in Panama. In 2011 the islands were renamed to Guna Yala, but it is still more popular by its old name. Its capital is El Porvenir. It is bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea, on the south by the Darién Province and Emberá-Wounaan, on the east by Colombia,
You have limited options to get to San Blas. You can either take a flight from Panama straight into the San Blas Islands, by helicopter or take a speedboat from Capurganá, or a sailing boat from Cartagena.
By helicopter is the most expensive but also safe and reliable way to access the corners of the archipelago.
Air Panama services Achutupu, Corazon de Jesus (Rio Diablo/Nargana), Mulatupo and Playon Chico.
The best way to get around in the San Blas area is by boat, you can visit different islands within the hour and enjoy the calm clear sea.
Scuba diving is not allowed in the waters around the San Blas Islands, you can only see the sea life by snorkelling.
A snorkeling adventure will show you hundreds of colors underwater of San Blas Islands.
You will find lots of sharks, stingrays, zebrafish, starfish, squid, flying fish, jellyfish, crabs, lobsters, dolphins all around.
You can find many eco-lodges from the local Guna people with perfect place to relax in a hammock, enjoy the sea breeze and the sound of the waves and birds.
Most of them are on uninhabited islands and feature plush sand beaches, hammocks, and offers rustic rooms built out of bamboo and board. There are a few hotels like the Coral Lodge, that offers a pool, bar & restaurant, amenities and AC rooms.
One of the most famous islands in San Blas is Dog Island also known as Isla Perro in Panama. The Island was created when the waters of the Chagres River were dammed by the Gatun Dam to create the Gatun lake.
Isla Pelicano is another small island with a great beach and clear turquoise water. There is not a better place to do snorkeling in San Blas than there. There are no mosquitoes here and the wind is warm and the beach is clean.
Panama declared the islands as a national marine park, the largest of Central America and a year later UNESCO declared Coiba national marine park a World Heritage Site. The national park is home to the second-largest coral reef in the eastern Pacific, at Bahía Damas, and colorful fish, sharks, dolphins, manta rays, tuna, turtles and other marine species.
The rainforest is home to at least 36 species of mammals, including the endemic Coiba howler monkey, 39 species of reptiles, including saltwater crocodiles, over 147 species of birds with around 19 endemic subspecies. Coiba an unparalleled destination for discovering new species as in some of the San Blas Islands, you can find animals that are unknown to science.
The native people living on the San Blas islands are the Kuna Indians. They are a wonderful example of how indigenous people continue to flourish and practice their age old customs surrounded by the modern world. The Kuna Indians are very friendly with the tourists.
Not many of Kuna speak any English – it helps if you know some basic Spanish. There are only 50.000 live on the San Blas Islands.
Featured image photo credit: Alexander Schimmeck / Flickr
Greenland is a massive island and autonomous Danish territory between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Much of its land surface is covered in ice.
Explore outdoor and nature activities, cultural experiences, hunting and fishing activities, coastal sailings and cruises in Greenland.
Green mountains with beautiful wildflowers, breathtaking fjords, precipitous cliffs, hot springs, crystal clear skies, and clean air are just a small part of what you can experience.
Let’s take a look at the top things to do in Greenland
The kayak is a cultural link between the earliest immigrants in Greenland, the common everyday experience by local kayakers and the modern rugged adventure expeditions.
The kayak is a transportation and hunting tool that originated in the Arctic region and then spread east towards Greenland.
It provides a truly authentic experience, great views and a fun outdoor activity.
Let the wilderness seeker and nature lover inside you find happiness in this stretch of fresh air and wide landscape. of fresh air will energize you.
If you are looking to spend some days in completely untouched wilderness, then this invigorating experience tops the list in the things to do in Greenland in summer.
This hiking trail which is about 160 km long connects the Kangerlussuaq settlement with the village of Sisimiut. It takes about 8 to 10 days to cover the entire route and you get to cross through narrow valleys, tundra, pass over low lying hills and walk along large lakes. This will be one of the greatest hiking experience you’ll have with spending the night under the stars in a tent.
Greenland’s most visited area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. You can experience an amazing berg-strewn view of the coast in Disko Bay, where icebergs break off from the glaciers and float out into the coastal waters.
The place is accessible by planes, helicopters and ferries and the best way is to plan a combination of all three.
Don’t forget to check the collection of Greenland landscapes in the Emanuel A Petersen Art Museum in Ilulissat.
Experience an up-close encounter with whales is a top thing to do for visitors in Greenland. June and July are usually the best months for cruising among icebergs and whale watching along the breathtaking coastline.
Most tours depart from Qeqertarsuaq, Nuuk, and Aasiaat and are offered by operators like Disko Line and Greenland Adventures. You can experience encounters with humpback, minke, and fin whales, but occasionally also blue whales, killer whales, narwhals, beluga whales, sperm whales, and pilot whales.
Whether this is your first or tenth whale watching tour, seeing such a magnificent creature can be always overwhelming.
Water temperatures in Greenland usually range from 30 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit, so reliable cold-water equipment and a good drysuit are essential to dive here.
Here you can experience the most amazing underwater dive under the guidance of PADI OWA certified divers. You get to see lumpsuckers, catfish, sea cucumbers and a jungle of seaweed and of course different species of whales! You can see an iceberg from up close and explore the shipwrecks.
You can take a short afternoon cruise among the icebergs to a glacier or a multi-day cruise to see more of Greenland’s wonders. Boats are necessary to get into the bays and fjords and look at most parts of Greenland. Most of these icebergs are visible only from the sea. Boats are such an important part of Greenland’s life for the locals or for tourists for sea excursions.
In addition to the icebergs and glaciers, you may see waterfalls and wildlife.
Sarfaq Ittuk operates ferries that are the local transport, so unlike the cruises, these ferries give you a chance to meet with Greenlanders.
Tourists can go snowmobiling or skiing in Greenland, experience the old tradition of traveling – dog sledding. This is one of the many activities you can enjoy during the colder months and braving off the extreme weather conditions.
Dogs are man’s best friends for a reason. Sled dogs have a special abilities and know where ice is too thin in an area and avoid it.
Uunartoq Hot Springs
Uunartoq island is located in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Here you’ll the only hot springs in Greenland that are warm enough to bathe in. Water temperatures is between 37C-38C (98F and 100F) degrees all year long. The island lies halfway between Qaqortoq and Nanortalik and you can get there by boat from any of those two villages.
Ski touring in Greenland is an active backcountry experience dominated by silence, grandeur, and first runs from peak to beach. All over Greenland in the snow-covered mountains, you can go for skiing trips.
The best and most accessible ski touring locations in Greenland are in Maniitsoq – especially around the Eternity Fjord and the Apussuit Glacier – closely followed by backcountry areas in Sisimiut, Nuuk, and Tasiilaq.
This is a unique experience, where you travel from the tip of the icecap to the coast your own legs, ski gear, and a good guide. This is a clear winner in the things to do in Greenland in winter.
Greenland is one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights.
From early autumn the night sky is regularly illuminated by the northern lights’ green glow. This natural phenomenon always causes excitement and wonder to people who have never seen it before. You can see it anywhere in Greenland when the sky is dark and clear.
Want to learn more about Greenland? Check our other posts.
