The San Blas Islands
The San Blas Islands are well worth a visit. Beautiful tropical islands, good snorkelling with a wide variety of marine life, and a reserved and good-natured people.
Guna Yala
The San Blas Islands are part of the region of Guna Yala and are home to the indigenous Guna people. The region forms a narrow strip of more than 200 kilometres running from the border with Colombia along the Caribbean coast, and is home to 365 islands. Guna Yala was declared a reserve in 1957. The Guna have fought hard to gain autonomy within Panama, and the region has a distinct flavour from anywhere else in the country.
Sailing from Panama to Colombia
I was due to travel to Colombia. There are several options, but it made good sense to sail and take advantage of the journey through The San Blas Islands. The growing popularity of this trip makes it easy to find a boat, and it’s a convenient way to see several islands. The captain and the crew take care of all the sailing and the food. An alternative would be to use local taxi boats and enjoy some of The San Blas Islands that offer accommodation, and then fly to Colombia!
Sea Sickness
Once upon time, I had no problem with sailing in the open sea. However, soon after learning to scuba dive that all changed, and now I easily become seasick on yachts and small boats. So, a five-day sailing trip from Panama to Colombia might not have seemed the best choice. But, the chance of visiting and snorkelling in the famed San Blas Islands was to good to miss. Thank heavens for seasickness tablets! I started six hours before stepping onboard the boat and took the maximum dosage for the rest of the journey. I was one of the few passengers who didn’t vomit, but I felt very rough.
The Journey
I had carefully chosen a yacht that took fewer passengers and gave the impression of being peaceful. Unfortunately, The company running the charters informed me a few days beforehand that the yacht wouldn’t be going. Nevertheless, I was ready for the next stage of the journey and so agreed to go on an alternative yacht.
To my surprise, a large group of us were squeezed into a catamaran that was in need of a plenty of TLC. Some of the fellow passengers clearly wanted it to be a non-stop floating party, and several of the other boats we saw had the same aim. Ultimately, the journey is hit and miss depending on the boat, the crew, the fellow travellers, and of course the weather. Many of the yachts follow the same route, safety in numbers.
At Sea
Leaving from Puerto Lindo, we spent three wonderful days in The San Blas Islands. I spent plenty of time snorkelling, enraptured by the myriad of tropical fish. The biggest treat was from a spotted eagle ray fish that allowed me to follow it for a while.
The Islands
The islands make a picture perfect tropical paradise. Once you’re finished with snorkelling, it’s hard to resist stretching out on the beaches under shady palms. The captain bought fresh lobsters from the locals and arranged for a beach barbecue. Definitely, the best meal on the whole trip.
After leaving the islands, we had two days sailing in open sea to arrive in Cartagena de Indias. Fortunately, there were no storms.
