Chichime Island

Chichime is actually two small cays sitting side by side, separated by a shallow channel you can wade across at low tide — which is exactly why it’s one of the most photographed spots in the whole San Blas archipelago. Powder-white sand, a curtain of leaning palm trees, and water that shifts from pale turquoise to deep blue within a few meters of the shore.

Why travelers love Chichime

Unlike some of the more built-up islands closer to the mainland, Chichime still feels wild. A small Guna fishing community lives on one of the two cays, and it’s common to see dugout canoes (called ulus) pulled up on the sand next to fishing nets drying in the sun. The reef just offshore is shallow and calm enough for beginner snorkelers, with sea fans, small reef fish, and the occasional starfish visible in the clear water.

Getting there

Chichime sits toward the western edge of the archipelago, reachable by speedboat from the Carti embarkation point after the 4x4 transfer from Panama City. Most one-day and multi-day tour itineraries that start from Carti include Chichime as a stop, often paired with a second nearby cay so guests can compare two very different islands in the same day.

Good to know

• Best for: first-time visitors, snorkeling, sunset photos.
• Facilities: basic — a few thatched-roof shelters for shade, no running water or electricity infrastructure for tourists.
• Guna community tax: like most inhabited islands in the comarca, a small entry fee applies per visitor (paid in cash on the island), separate from your tour price.