Franklin Island, known in Guna as Tubasenika, sits in the Grullos Cays of Guna Yala and has been receiving guests since 2008. This is the honest, rustic side of San Blas. Thatched cabins under coconut palms, beds a short walk from the water, fresh fish three times a day, and nothing much to do beyond swimming, snorkeling and watching the light change. There are no over-water bungalows here and no private bathrooms. What there is instead is space, quiet, and the most affordable private cabin we offer.
Island Stays
Franklin Island
Beach Cabins in the Grullos Cays, Meals and Transport Included
From $200 per person, all-inclusive
Region
Grullos Cays, San Blas
Access
4x4 and boat from Panama City
Stay Type
Beach cabin, shared bathrooms
From
$200 / night
The Experience
Choose Your Stay
Accommodation Options
Wood Floor Cabin
Built on stilts with a plank wood floor, wood and cane walls, and a small private terrace facing the beach. Layouts range from two beds to four. Bathrooms are shared with the other guests on the island.
Prices per person
Min 2 people
1 Night (3 meals)
$215
2 Nights (6 meals)
$285
Each additional night: +$75 per person (includes 3 meals)
Shared bathrooms
Raised wood floor
Private terrace
Sea views
Book This Stay
Sand Floor Cabin
The simplest cabin on the island and our most affordable private cabin anywhere in San Blas. Traditional cane walls built straight onto the beach, with sand as the floor and beds raised on wooden frames. Layouts range from two beds to four. Bathrooms are shared. The only difference from the wood floor cabin is the floor.
Prices per person
Min 2 people
1 Night (3 meals)
$200
2 Nights (6 meals)
$255
Each additional night: +$55 per person (includes 3 meals)
Shared bathrooms
Sand floor
Traditional cane walls
Steps from the water
Book This Stay
Every Stay Includes
- Round-trip 4x4 transport from Panama City
- Round-trip boat transfer from the port to the island
- Cabin accommodation with shared bathrooms
- Three meals daily (fresh fish, seafood, chicken)
- One boat excursion per stay to nearby islands and reefs
- Snorkeling gear during the island tour
Not Included
- Guna Yala entry tax ($20 per person tourist; $5 per person Panamanian resident with proof of residency, paid in cash at the Nusagandi checkpoint)
- Port tax ($2 per person, cash)
- All drinks, including with meals (beer, water and sodas from $2; wine $15 to $20)
- Starlink internet ($3 per person per day, evenings only, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM)
- Late checkout ($35 per person, includes lunch)
Before You Go
Departure & Transfers
Departure
Pickup at 5:00-5:30 AM from your Panama City hotel or Airbnb, or 5:45-6:00 AM if you are staying near Tocumen. Then a 2.5 to 3 hour 4x4 drive through the mountains to the San Blas port.
Boat Transfer
A boat runs from the port out through the Grullos Cays to the island. We confirm the exact crossing time with the island when you book, since it changes with sea conditions.
Return
The boat leaves the island at 8:00 AM and the 4x4 has you back in Panama City between 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Late checkout is available for $35 per person, which includes lunch and a later return to the city.
- 4x4 pickup included from central Panama City (hotel, hostel, or Airbnb)
- Extra fees apply for pickup and drop-off outside downtown (for example Playa Bonita $35, Summit $20, Amador $10)
- Minimum 2 people to book this island
- Do not book a flight out of Panama on the day you leave San Blas. Return times depend on road and sea conditions and we cannot be responsible for a missed flight.
Common Questions
FAQ
A sand floor cabin is $200 per person for one night and $255 for two, with each extra night at $55. A wood floor cabin is $215 per person for one night and $285 for two, with each extra night at $75. Every price includes round-trip 4x4 transport from Panama City, the boat transfer, three meals a day and one boat excursion to nearby islands. Minimum two people. The Guna Yala entry tax of $20 per person ($5 for Panamanian residents) plus $2 port tax is paid separately in cash.
The floor, and that is genuinely it. Both are traditional cabins with shared bathrooms and the same meals, tours and transport. The wood floor cabin is raised on stilts with a plank floor and a small private terrace. The sand floor cabin sits directly on the beach with sand underfoot and the beds on wooden frames. The wood floor cabin costs $15 more per person for the first night.
No. Franklin has shared bathrooms for all cabins, in their own concrete block. Each one is a private stall with a door: flush toilet, tiled shower with a curtain, tiled floor. There are photos in the cabin galleries above so you can judge them before you book. Simple and functional rather than modern. If a private bathroom matters more to you than the price, Wailidup Island has them in the over-water cabins.
Only in the evening. Power runs from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. During the day there is a solar panel you can use to charge a phone or a camera. Plan for a largely off-grid stay and bring a power bank if you rely on your devices.
Yes, and this is unusual for San Blas. Franklin has Starlink for $3 per person per day, paid on the island and not included in the room rate. It runs in the evening only, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, in line with the island power. Most other San Blas islands have no internet and no phone signal at all.
No. Unlike some of our other islands, drinks are not included at Franklin, not even with meals. The island sells beer, water and sodas from $2, wine by the bottle at $15 to $20, and rum. You are also welcome to bring your own drinks and the island does not charge corkage. Bring small bills in cash, since payment on the island is cash only and there are no ATMs in San Blas.
Travelers who want San Blas without the polish, and who would rather spend less on the room than on the view from it. You get the same water, the same food and the same boat tours as the more expensive islands. What you give up is the private bathroom and the over-water cabin. If you want those, see all four of our island stays side by side.
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