Late December and early January are the busiest weeks of the San Blas year. Charters cost 20% more from 20 December to 10 January, and island stays 20% more from 15 December to 15 January. Confirmed charter and island bookings for 20 December to 10 January are non-refundable. Pickup from Panama City is about 4:30 AM. Full Day tours and transport keep their normal price. Book early.

The holidays at a glance

	Holiday dates	What changes
Private charters	20 December to 10 January	20% more per night, most boats ask for 5 nights, non-refundable once confirmed
Island stays	15 December to 15 January	20% more per night; non-refundable once confirmed for 20 December to 10 January; Franklin adds USD 50 per person on 31 December
Full Day tour (USD 148)	Any date	No surcharge; full refund if you cancel 48 hours ahead, minus the card or bank fee
Shared 4×4 and water taxi (USD 140 round trip)	Any date	No surcharge
Pickup from Panama City	December and January	About 4:30 AM, confirmed the day before

When is the San Blas holiday window?

Our holiday window runs from 20 December to 10 January. The dates are fixed, they do not move from year to year.

The busiest week inside it is 29 December to 2 January. It is one of the busiest weeks of the year. The window also sits in the dry season, December to April, when charters and 4×4 seats fill well ahead.

What changes over the holidays?

Charter prices go up 20%

Every charter night inside 20 December to 10 January costs 20% more. This applies to every boat we offer, catamarans and sailboats alike.

The surcharge is per night. If your trip starts on 17 December and ends on 22 December, only the nights inside the window carry the 20%. The nights before it stay at the normal rate.

Here is what that looks like. Our sailboat charters start at USD 250 per person per night for two guests, which is USD 500 a night for the boat. Inside the holiday window that becomes USD 300 per person, or USD 600 a night. Five holiday nights for two guests start at USD 3,000. Catamarans cost more, with the same 20% on top. See the charter fleet.

Holiday rates are firm. The boats do not discount the holiday weeks.

Most boats ask for a 5-night minimum in this window. Some boats set their own rules, and at least one is not sold over the holidays. We tell you which when you ask for a quote.

Charters do not include the 4×4 and water taxi from Panama City, or the Guna Yala entry tax. Both are extra. See San Blas transportation.

Full Day tours and transport do not go up

There is no holiday surcharge on the Full Day San Blas tour. It is USD 148 per person on any date, and it includes transport, lunch, three islands and the Guna entry fees.

There is no surcharge on transport either. The shared 4×4 plus water taxi is USD 140 per person round trip.

Island stays

Island stays also cost 20% more over the holidays, from 15 December to 15 January, a slightly wider window than the charters. Outside it, island cabins start at USD 200 per person per night. Send us your dates and we confirm the exact rate. See island cabins for all the islands.

One island has a holiday extra we can state. Franklin Island charges USD 50 per person for any stay that includes the night of 31 December. More on that below.

Cancellation

Charter and island bookings for 20 December to 10 January are non-refundable once confirmed, because the holiday rates are firm. Outside the holidays, charters and islands follow a sliding scale based on how many days before arrival you cancel. In this window that scale does not apply.

The Full Day tour is different. If you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour, you get a full refund minus the card or bank fee. Less than 48 hours, or a no-show, means no refund.

Weather is covered the same way all year. Rain alone never cancels a trip. If the authorities close the port, you get a free date change or a 100% refund.

Pickup is about 4:30 AM

In December and January, pickup from Panama City hotels is about 4:30 AM. In other months it is 5:00 to 5:30 AM from city hotels and 5:30 to 6:00 AM near the airport.

We confirm your exact time the day before. The 4×4 leaves once, so set an alarm. The road is a mountain pass with unpaved sections, and the drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours.

Which trip suits the holidays?

A charter suits groups who want the boat to themselves and have time. Crew, three meals a day, drinks and snorkeling gear are included. We suggest at least 5 nights, and most boats ask for 5 over the holidays anyway. Charters fill well ahead in this season, so booking early matters most here.

An island stay suits people who want one base, the sea and a simple bed. The cabins are basic and on Guna-managed islands. Bathrooms can be shared. Basic cabins generally have no Wi-Fi. On Franklin it is available in the evenings for a fee. Franklin and Pelicano both start at USD 200 per person per night outside the holiday window. Franklin has a New Year party. Pelicano has several room types.

The Full Day tour suits anyone short on time, or who wants to see San Blas without a night away. It runs 13 to 14 hours, it is a shared tour with daily departures, and the 4:30 AM start makes for a long day.

Not sure which? Our cost guide compares them side by side.

Weather and sea in late December and early January

December to April is dry season. It brings the calmest seas and the clearest skies of the year. The water stays warm all year.

December to March also brings steady trade winds, which is why sailing is at its best then. Wind and swell change from day to day, so no one can promise a flat sea on a given date.

Month-by-month detail is in our weather by month guide and our best time to visit guide.

How far ahead should you book?

As early as you can. Charters and 4×4 seats fill well ahead from December to April, and 20 December to 10 January is the busiest part.

Custom quotes come within 2 hours on WhatsApp. The deposit is what confirms and holds your dates.

What is New Year’s Eve like on the islands?

Franklin Island runs a New Year party. There is a buffet dinner, DJs, and music until about 1 AM. Guests are asked to wear white. The USD 50 per person supplement applies only if your stay includes the night of 31 December.

If you want a quiet New Year, Franklin is not the island for it. Tell us and we will point you somewhere calmer.

What to bring

• Your original passport. It is checked at the Guna Yala checkpoint.
• Cash for the entry tax. It is USD 22 per tourist, paid in cash at the checkpoint. Panamanian residents pay USD 7 and must show proof of residency. The Full Day tour price already includes it. For charters and island stays, bring it in cash.

Our FAQ has the full list of rules.

How to pay

Pay by card through a secure link, which adds a 7% surcharge, or by Banco General transfer. An international wire costs USD 37.45. Local transfers inside Panama have no fee.

Deposits to confirm a booking:

• Charters: 50%, or 30% when the total is above USD 19,000. The balance is due 30 days before the trip.
• Island stays: 30%.
• Full Day tour: paid in full when you book.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How much more do San Blas charters cost at Christmas and New Year?

Every charter carries a 20% surcharge for nights between 20 December and 10 January. A night outside that window is charged at the normal rate. Holiday rates are firm and are not discounted. Most boats also ask for a 5-night minimum in this window.

Can I cancel a San Blas booking over the New Year period?

Charter and island bookings for 20 December to 10 January are non-refundable once confirmed, because holiday rates are firm. The Full Day tour is different: it is refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours before, minus the card or bank fee. A port closure by the authorities means a free date change or a full refund.

What time is pickup in December and January?

Pickup from Panama City hotels is about 4:30 AM in December and January. In other months it is 5:00 to 5:30 AM for city hotels and 5:30 to 6:00 AM near the airport. We confirm your exact time the evening before, and there is no second departure, so set an alarm.

Do Full Day tours and transport cost more over the holidays?

No. The Full Day San Blas tour is USD 148 per person and the shared 4x4 plus water taxi is USD 140 per person round trip, on any date. The 20% holiday surcharge does not apply to them. The Full Day price includes transport, lunch, three islands and the Guna entry fees.

How do I pay for a holiday booking?

Pay by card through a secure link (7% surcharge) or by Banco General transfer (USD 37.45 per international wire, no fee for local transfers in Panama). Charters need a 50% deposit, or 30% above USD 19,000, with the balance 30 days before. Island stays need 30%. The Full Day tour is paid in full.

How much is the Guna Yala entry tax and how do I pay it?

The Guna Yala entry tax is USD 22 per tourist, paid in cash at the checkpoint, and USD 7 per person for Panamanian residents with proof of residency. Bring your original passport, which is checked there. The Full Day tour price already includes the entry fees.