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Randall Goya reviewed The Real Panama Trs — 5 star
December 14 at 1:25pm ·
I fortunately found Sorhay in Casco Viejo and immediately booked a trip to the San Blas Islands. I was pleasantly surprised the next morning to have Sorhay greet me at the hotel at an early 5:30am pick up! Everything ran smoothly and the trip was definitely the high point of my Panama adventure. I enjoyed it so well, that she tailored a trip for me to Monkey Island and the Pipeline trail the following day. And last but not least, Sorhay provided my transportation to the airport upon my departure. I would highly recommend her and The Real Panama Tours to anyone and everyone!
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These are one of our most beautiful crystal clear water beaches in Panama and the world. For sure!!!
This tour begins at the crack of dawn. Yeap :-)
The Guna Yala Archipelago has more than 350 islands. Many of those islands are still virgin.
Our tour visits 3 islands of different sizes and shapes. Of course we go to the famous Perro Island were you can swim around the shipwreck. Our tour begins and ends with the true inhabitants of San Blas: the guna indigenous. My entire team is conformed by gunas because we want you to know them, to interact with them, to understand their way of living and to take you out of your comfort zone.
The value of this fantastic Daytour:
$155+ 10% taxes per person (low season) / $160 (high season)
$75 + 10% taxes kids 1-7
$100 + 10% taxes kids 8-10
Includes:
All taxes
Transportation
boat
Tour (3 island and natural swimming pool)
Lunch
From 5:20 am until 6:45 pm
*No hidden fees
The value of the cabins vary based on your preferences and amenities. We have camping, cabins with and without private bathroom, etc.
This tour begins at the crack of dawn. Yeap :-)
The Guna Yala Archipelago has more than 350 islands. Many of those islands are still virgin.
Our tour visits 3 islands of different sizes and shapes. Of course we go to the famous Perro Island were you can swim around the shipwreck. Our tour begins and ends with the true inhabitants of San Blas: the guna indigenous. My entire team is conformed by gunas because we want you to know them, to interact with them, to understand their way of living and to take you out of your comfort zone.
The value of this fantastic Daytour:
$155+ 10% taxes per person (low season) / $160 (high season)
$75 + 10% taxes kids 1-7
$100 + 10% taxes kids 8-10
Includes:
All taxes
Transportation
boat
Tour (3 island and natural swimming pool)
Lunch
From 5:20 am until 6:45 pm
*No hidden fees
The value of the cabins vary based on your preferences and amenities. We have camping, cabins with and without private bathroom, etc.
San Blas Cabins and Overnight Stays
Spending a Night at San Blas, may not be enough, Only 1 night in Paradise?
We ONLY offer private cabins,
Basic traditonal cabins share shower and bathroom.
Wood cabins are totally private and have their own toilet and bahroom.
Basic cabin
$199 + 10% taxes per person (low season) / $210 (high season)
$100 + 10% taxes kids 1-7
$150 + 10% taxes kids 8-10
Wood cabin
$260 + 10% taxes per person (low season) / $280 (high season)
$125 + 10% taxes kids 1-7
$175 + 10% taxeskids 8-10
For cabins on the water, pelase contact us.
Includes:
All taxes
Transportation from and to hotel
boat
Tour to 2 island and natural swimming pool
Day 1: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Breaksfast and Lunch
* We include bottle of water with each meal
Pick up time on Day 1: 5:20 am
Returning time on Day 2:
Option 1: at 8:00 am / arriving to Panama City at 12 noon
Option 2: at 3:30 pm / arriving to Panama City at 6:45 pm
*No hidden fees
Overnight stays are at the following islands:
Icodub: Mid size island. 10 cabins. Rustic and Wood Private cabins available. Some cabins have private shower and bathrooms. The beach is beautfdul.
Asserbayaladup: : Mid size island. Private Rustic cabins only. Shared bathrroom. The beach is beautidul.
Diablo: Mid size island. Private Rustic cabins only. Shared bathrroom. The beach is beautidul.
Waili: Private cabins on the water. Only 10 cabins. private shower and bathrooms. Seasonal island, Recommended December through March. During the rest of the year, due to no wind, may have sand flyes.
Tortuga: Tiny island, Gorgeaus. Only camping. Beautiful corals around. One of my favorites.
Kikirdub: Small island. Cabins are gorgeaus. No beach. The closest beach is at 10 minutes. Away from other toursity islands. Unique.
Small Dog Island: Small - Mid size island. Big house - Private rooms. Shared bathrroom. The beach is beautiful. It cost more than any other island.
All these islands are beautiful, well kept and clean
We ONLY offer private cabins,
Basic traditonal cabins share shower and bathroom.
Wood cabins are totally private and have their own toilet and bahroom.
Basic cabin
$199 + 10% taxes per person (low season) / $210 (high season)
$100 + 10% taxes kids 1-7
$150 + 10% taxes kids 8-10
Wood cabin
$260 + 10% taxes per person (low season) / $280 (high season)
$125 + 10% taxes kids 1-7
$175 + 10% taxeskids 8-10
For cabins on the water, pelase contact us.
Includes:
All taxes
Transportation from and to hotel
boat
Tour to 2 island and natural swimming pool
Day 1: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Breaksfast and Lunch
* We include bottle of water with each meal
Pick up time on Day 1: 5:20 am
Returning time on Day 2:
Option 1: at 8:00 am / arriving to Panama City at 12 noon
Option 2: at 3:30 pm / arriving to Panama City at 6:45 pm
*No hidden fees
Overnight stays are at the following islands:
Icodub: Mid size island. 10 cabins. Rustic and Wood Private cabins available. Some cabins have private shower and bathrooms. The beach is beautfdul.
Asserbayaladup: : Mid size island. Private Rustic cabins only. Shared bathrroom. The beach is beautidul.
Diablo: Mid size island. Private Rustic cabins only. Shared bathrroom. The beach is beautidul.
Waili: Private cabins on the water. Only 10 cabins. private shower and bathrooms. Seasonal island, Recommended December through March. During the rest of the year, due to no wind, may have sand flyes.
Tortuga: Tiny island, Gorgeaus. Only camping. Beautiful corals around. One of my favorites.
Kikirdub: Small island. Cabins are gorgeaus. No beach. The closest beach is at 10 minutes. Away from other toursity islands. Unique.
Small Dog Island: Small - Mid size island. Big house - Private rooms. Shared bathrroom. The beach is beautiful. It cost more than any other island.
All these islands are beautiful, well kept and clean
FAQ's about San Blas and the weather there
I know you have a looooot of questions about San Blas.
Quite honestly I don't understand why so many concerns because you are not taking a space ship and you'll be here, right here, in paradise.
San Blas or Guna Yala is not in Jupiter or Mars. It is right here.
San Blas is simply an autonomous indigenous reservation, with their own rules. It belongs to Panama, however, they have different customs and traditions and a General Congress that makes the important decisions.
The indigenous are normal people.
There are a few things we believe are really important you consider:
- You should not expect the indigenous to speak english. The gunas speak spanish and their own language: Guna. This is Panama. We speak spanish.
- No buses go to San Blas. Only private transportation is available to go there
- Only drivers with special permit from the General Congress are allowed to enter
- The road is good
- Daytours depart at 5:20 am and return at 6:45 pm approx.
- Everyone must show original passports. This is mandatory
- Yatchs have been banned from doing tours at the islands
- Even kids must pay to go to San Blas because they will have their own seats
Question 1
How is the weather in San Blas?
No one knows. I understand you want me to say is going to be sunny and beautiful but the true answer is: In Panama in general, the weather is UNPREDICTABLE.
Either will be sunny or rainy. That's it. For sure it is not going to snow.
No one, absolutely no one will be able to tell you what you want to hear which is: it is going to be a perfect sunny day.
The advise is to enjoy the day as it comes and please, dont stress me or yourself looking at the forecast. Please! I am not a meteorologist.
Question 2
How far is San Blas and how long does it takes?
It is 2.5 hours away from Panama City, including a short stop at supermarket.
All the tours start at 5:20 am and you should be back by 6:45 pm.
Question 3
How much time do we spend at each island?
Approximately 1 hr and 45 minutes on each island.
You visit 3 islands including the Famous Perro Chico (Small Dog).
The other islands would be chosen by my team based on the weather and the sea conditions
Normally the other islands are one of the following: Icodub, Aroma, Devil's island, Big dog or Waili.
You will have 20-30 minutes at the Natural Swimming Pool with starfish.
Question 4
Do we have interaction with indigenous?
The Real Panama Trs Team at San Blas is 100% indigenous and has been trained to meet the foreign visitors standards.
From the moment you are picked up, you are in direct contact with gunas.
At some islands you will have the guna ladies working on their famous molas.
Our crew is guna. The gunas speak spanish and their own language: Guna. Their english is limited.
They speak basic english. They understand basic commands. Remember that you are visiting their territory, therefore, they don't have to speak your language, they have their own dialect. We should be polite and try to communicate with them because that is part of the experience. How? smile and sign language.
Since it is a structure tour, basically island hopping with lunch included and everything pre arrange, you will be ok.
The Real Panama team in San Blas knows exactly what they are doing.
I organize your tour and follow up with my team all day long
Question 5
Why do we have to leave so early?
San Blas It is 2.5 hours away from Panama City. We nomally arrive around 8:45 am, depending upon traffic. From the port of Carti it will take about 30 minutes to get to the 1st island and from the 1st island it will take less than 10 minutes to visit the other ones.
Question 6
Why does it cost $155?
Taking anyone to San Blas involves many expenses: Private Transportation back and forth, only in 4x4 vehicles, experienced drivers with permit, entrance fees, port taxes, island fees, boat fare, lunch among others. The value of this tour is nowhere near close to what it should be based on the amount of logistic required and all the people involved.
Question 7
Are there mosquitoes or Zika in San Blas?
No reason to be concerned about Zika either unless the panamanian authorities raise an alert.
The islands you visit are not located within the indigenous communities and have the basic infrastructure required for tourists such as bathrooms.
We are always aware of any news to keep our guests safe.
As any caribbean island with palm trees, there may be a few mosuitoes but nothing to be worry about.
Question 8
How many people per vehicle and how many on the boats?
6 guests will be on each vehicle. 6 is the maximum allowed per vehicle.
We can arrange private transportation for an additonal cost.
Our boats, on the other hand, have a capacity for 20 people. Normally the boat is shared. It is common to get on the boat with indigenous people because indigenous help each other to move in between islands.
Remember they don't have buses, they move by boats
Question 9
Is there a refund if it is raining?
We will provide a full refund if the tour is cancelled 24 hours before ONLY for one of the following reasons:
- The General Guna Congress decides that is not safe to go to the islands or if
- We (meaning The Real Panama Trs) cancels the tour for your safety based on information obtained from official sources
Before you book this tour, especially during our rainy season, keep in mind that from the moment we make the reservation your payment it is not refundable unless one of the 2 reasons explained above applies and, only those 2 reasons. No exceptions.
Again, we don't cancel tours if it is raining in Panama City because that doesn't mean that is going to be raining in San Blas and WE are the ones that will make that decision.
We don't cancel tours based on the weather in Panama City, simply because Panama City is 2 hours away from the islands on the Pacific side. We have to drive over to Carti to make that call. There is no way to determine how the weather is going to be because it could be raining at 5 am in Panama City or at San Blas and it may stop at 8 am or during the morning hours.
Most of the time, if our guna team forsees bad weather or receive an alert before hand, we will notify you and provide a full refund if that is the case. This only applies if the tour has not taking place.
Question 10
Is it worth all the hassle?
yes, a million times yes. San Blas is like a postcard
Final Notes
When you are going to San Blas, go with an open mind, expect the best, please don't stress me or yourself about the things that are outside of our control such as weather and traffic. Please, please, please!
Be kind to our indigenous team that works hard from 4:15 am.
Everyday we are on the streets are 4:00 am getting the cars ready, clean, checking the tires, picking up passengers and then we drive for 2 hours each way safely. It is not easy. Your driver is back in the city around 7 pm and gets back home at 8:00 pm.
Please be considered with my team because they do their best to serve you.
Be kind to all the indigenous people that you will encounter. Remember: what we give, we receive. Be kind.
The Real Panama Trs indigenous team is organized, professional and mindful and they are also humans.
During high season, due to the amount of people visiting, it will be hectic.
Be mindful if you book a tour on the weekends. Weekends are the busiest days and it would be crowded.
If you can do the tour on a week day it will be better.
Treat our gunas with respect, lower your expectations a notch and be thankful for the opportunity to visit the amazing islands of San Blas.
Thanks very much
Sorhay
Quite honestly I don't understand why so many concerns because you are not taking a space ship and you'll be here, right here, in paradise.
San Blas or Guna Yala is not in Jupiter or Mars. It is right here.
San Blas is simply an autonomous indigenous reservation, with their own rules. It belongs to Panama, however, they have different customs and traditions and a General Congress that makes the important decisions.
The indigenous are normal people.
There are a few things we believe are really important you consider:
- You should not expect the indigenous to speak english. The gunas speak spanish and their own language: Guna. This is Panama. We speak spanish.
- No buses go to San Blas. Only private transportation is available to go there
- Only drivers with special permit from the General Congress are allowed to enter
- The road is good
- Daytours depart at 5:20 am and return at 6:45 pm approx.
- Everyone must show original passports. This is mandatory
- Yatchs have been banned from doing tours at the islands
- Even kids must pay to go to San Blas because they will have their own seats
Question 1
How is the weather in San Blas?
No one knows. I understand you want me to say is going to be sunny and beautiful but the true answer is: In Panama in general, the weather is UNPREDICTABLE.
Either will be sunny or rainy. That's it. For sure it is not going to snow.
No one, absolutely no one will be able to tell you what you want to hear which is: it is going to be a perfect sunny day.
The advise is to enjoy the day as it comes and please, dont stress me or yourself looking at the forecast. Please! I am not a meteorologist.
Question 2
How far is San Blas and how long does it takes?
It is 2.5 hours away from Panama City, including a short stop at supermarket.
All the tours start at 5:20 am and you should be back by 6:45 pm.
Question 3
How much time do we spend at each island?
Approximately 1 hr and 45 minutes on each island.
You visit 3 islands including the Famous Perro Chico (Small Dog).
The other islands would be chosen by my team based on the weather and the sea conditions
Normally the other islands are one of the following: Icodub, Aroma, Devil's island, Big dog or Waili.
You will have 20-30 minutes at the Natural Swimming Pool with starfish.
Question 4
Do we have interaction with indigenous?
The Real Panama Trs Team at San Blas is 100% indigenous and has been trained to meet the foreign visitors standards.
From the moment you are picked up, you are in direct contact with gunas.
At some islands you will have the guna ladies working on their famous molas.
Our crew is guna. The gunas speak spanish and their own language: Guna. Their english is limited.
They speak basic english. They understand basic commands. Remember that you are visiting their territory, therefore, they don't have to speak your language, they have their own dialect. We should be polite and try to communicate with them because that is part of the experience. How? smile and sign language.
Since it is a structure tour, basically island hopping with lunch included and everything pre arrange, you will be ok.
The Real Panama team in San Blas knows exactly what they are doing.
I organize your tour and follow up with my team all day long
Question 5
Why do we have to leave so early?
San Blas It is 2.5 hours away from Panama City. We nomally arrive around 8:45 am, depending upon traffic. From the port of Carti it will take about 30 minutes to get to the 1st island and from the 1st island it will take less than 10 minutes to visit the other ones.
Question 6
Why does it cost $155?
Taking anyone to San Blas involves many expenses: Private Transportation back and forth, only in 4x4 vehicles, experienced drivers with permit, entrance fees, port taxes, island fees, boat fare, lunch among others. The value of this tour is nowhere near close to what it should be based on the amount of logistic required and all the people involved.
Question 7
Are there mosquitoes or Zika in San Blas?
No reason to be concerned about Zika either unless the panamanian authorities raise an alert.
The islands you visit are not located within the indigenous communities and have the basic infrastructure required for tourists such as bathrooms.
We are always aware of any news to keep our guests safe.
As any caribbean island with palm trees, there may be a few mosuitoes but nothing to be worry about.
Question 8
How many people per vehicle and how many on the boats?
6 guests will be on each vehicle. 6 is the maximum allowed per vehicle.
We can arrange private transportation for an additonal cost.
Our boats, on the other hand, have a capacity for 20 people. Normally the boat is shared. It is common to get on the boat with indigenous people because indigenous help each other to move in between islands.
Remember they don't have buses, they move by boats
Question 9
Is there a refund if it is raining?
We will provide a full refund if the tour is cancelled 24 hours before ONLY for one of the following reasons:
- The General Guna Congress decides that is not safe to go to the islands or if
- We (meaning The Real Panama Trs) cancels the tour for your safety based on information obtained from official sources
Before you book this tour, especially during our rainy season, keep in mind that from the moment we make the reservation your payment it is not refundable unless one of the 2 reasons explained above applies and, only those 2 reasons. No exceptions.
Again, we don't cancel tours if it is raining in Panama City because that doesn't mean that is going to be raining in San Blas and WE are the ones that will make that decision.
We don't cancel tours based on the weather in Panama City, simply because Panama City is 2 hours away from the islands on the Pacific side. We have to drive over to Carti to make that call. There is no way to determine how the weather is going to be because it could be raining at 5 am in Panama City or at San Blas and it may stop at 8 am or during the morning hours.
Most of the time, if our guna team forsees bad weather or receive an alert before hand, we will notify you and provide a full refund if that is the case. This only applies if the tour has not taking place.
Question 10
Is it worth all the hassle?
yes, a million times yes. San Blas is like a postcard
Final Notes
When you are going to San Blas, go with an open mind, expect the best, please don't stress me or yourself about the things that are outside of our control such as weather and traffic. Please, please, please!
Be kind to our indigenous team that works hard from 4:15 am.
Everyday we are on the streets are 4:00 am getting the cars ready, clean, checking the tires, picking up passengers and then we drive for 2 hours each way safely. It is not easy. Your driver is back in the city around 7 pm and gets back home at 8:00 pm.
Please be considered with my team because they do their best to serve you.
Be kind to all the indigenous people that you will encounter. Remember: what we give, we receive. Be kind.
The Real Panama Trs indigenous team is organized, professional and mindful and they are also humans.
During high season, due to the amount of people visiting, it will be hectic.
Be mindful if you book a tour on the weekends. Weekends are the busiest days and it would be crowded.
If you can do the tour on a week day it will be better.
Treat our gunas with respect, lower your expectations a notch and be thankful for the opportunity to visit the amazing islands of San Blas.
Thanks very much
Sorhay