San Blas Blog
Practical, honest posts about visiting San Blas — no filler, written by people who actually run the tours.
July 8, 2026
Day Tour or Overnight Stay in San Blas? How to Choose
Both options take you island-hopping and snorkeling over a sunken ship. Here's the real difference — and who each one is actually for.
July 4, 2026
Is San Blas Safe? A Practical Answer for First-Time Visitors
Boats, remote islands, no cell signal on some of them — a fair question. Here's what actually matters for safety in San Blas.
June 30, 2026
5 Things Nobody Tells You Before Visiting San Blas
The packing list covers sunscreen and swimsuits. It doesn't cover these five things that actually surprise first-time visitors.
May 27, 2026
Best San Blas Photography Spots (And When to Shoot Them)
The Natural Pool at midday and Cayos Holandeses at sunrise aren't interchangeable — here's a real, spot-by-spot guide to shooting San Blas well.
May 23, 2026
Where Does the Guna Yala Community Tax Actually Go?
The $22 entry tax you pay in cash isn't a generic tourism fee. Here's an honest look at what it is and why it works differently from a typical destination tax.
May 19, 2026
Sailing Trip, Day Tour, or Luxury Charter? How to Choose Your Way Into San Blas
There are three genuinely different ways to experience San Blas — a multi-day sailing crossing, a standard day tour or overnight stay, and a private luxury charter. Here's how to pick.
May 15, 2026
San Blas Weather Month-by-Month: A Real Traveler's Breakdown
Dry season and rainy season only tell you so much. Here's a more honest, month-by-month look at what weather actually shapes a San Blas trip.
May 11, 2026
The Guna General Congress: How Guna Yala Actually Governs Itself
Guna Yala isn't run by Panama's provincial government — it has its own political structure, built on the autonomy won in 1925. Here's how it actually works.
May 7, 2026
What Does 'Guna Yala' Actually Mean?
The name behind 'San Blas' has a real, specific meaning in the Guna language — and understanding it tells you something the tourist name never does.
May 3, 2026
Isla Perro vs Perro Chico vs Perro Grande: Solving San Blas's Confusing Island Names
Three different islands with 'Perro' in the name trip up almost every first-time visitor planning a San Blas trip. Here's how to actually tell them apart.
April 29, 2026
Do You Need Cash in San Blas? The Complete Answer
There are no ATMs anywhere in Guna Yala, and cards aren't accepted on the islands. Here's exactly how much cash to bring and what it's for.
April 25, 2026
Can You Scuba Dive in San Blas? The Honest Answer
San Blas is built for snorkeling, not scuba diving. Here's the direct answer on what's actually available, and why.
April 21, 2026
Is San Blas Part of the Darién Gap? Clearing Up a Common Mix-Up
San Blas and the Darién Gap are both remote parts of Panama near Colombia — but they're not the same place, and confusing them can affect how you plan your trip.
April 17, 2026
San Blas vs Bocas del Toro: Which Panama Island Trip Should You Book?
Both are Panama's best-known island escapes, but they're genuinely different trips. Here's an honest comparison to help you pick — or decide to do both.
April 13, 2026
15 Fun and Surprising Facts About San Blas
A self-governed nation within Panama, a Netflix filming location, and a starfish sandbar — here are 15 real facts about San Blas that surprise most first-time visitors.
April 9, 2026
What You'll Actually Eat in San Blas: A Real Guide to Guna Food
Fresh fish, coconut rice, and plantains — here's an honest look at what meals in San Blas actually look like, and where the real limits are.
April 5, 2026
Molas Explained: The Real Story Behind San Blas's Most Famous Textile Art
Molas aren't souvenirs made for tourists — they're a living Guna art form, hand-stitched in layers and traditionally worn as clothing. Here's how they're actually made.
April 1, 2026
How Many Islands Does San Blas Actually Have?
You'll see 365, 378, and 400+ all cited as 'the' number. Here's why the count varies and what the honest answer actually is.