San Blas Islands FAQ

Costs depend on the type of experience:

• Full day tour: $148 per person. Includes transport, 3 islands, fresh seafood lunch, 1 non-alcoholic drink, and Kuna taxes.
• Shared 4×4 transport (round trip): $140 per person. Kuna taxes ($22 per person cash) paid separately at the Guna Yala border.
• Private charters: Vary by boat and group size. All-inclusive, per person per night at 2 guests: from $250 on a sailboat, $450 on a catamaran and $725 on a luxury catamaran with A/C, with lower rates for groups of 3 or more. See every boat and price.

The main route is by 4x4, shared or private, picking you up from your Panama City hotel between 5:00 and 5:30 AM (about 4:30 AM in December and January). The drive is about 110 km (70 miles) and takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the season and traffic, along the Llano-Carti mountain road; the last stretch is steep, winding and unpaved. From Port Tupile Dibin on the Caribbean coast, a water taxi takes 20 to 60 minutes to your island or catamaran, so you are on the water by 10:00 to 11:00 AM, about 5 to 6 hours door to island.

A charter flight from Albrook Airport in Panama City skips the road, but it costs more and has a strict luggage limit.

Every option, with prices and times, is in our guide on how to get to San Blas from Panama City.

All AMPA Tours private charters include: your crew (a captain and a cook on every catamaran; on some sailboats the captain also cooks), all meals prepared on board, drinks with and without alcohol (in moderation), snacks, snorkeling gear and fins, and fuel. Most boats also offer lobster in season (we confirm it for your boat), and most have Starlink satellite internet. Note: transport from Panama City to the sailboat is a separate AMPA service and is not included in the charter rate by default. Ask when booking to add round-trip 4×4 transfers.

Yes. You must carry your original passport. Photocopies are not accepted at the Guna Yala border checkpoint. Every visitor passes through this checkpoint on the mountain road, and Guna authorities enforce the rule strictly. Leave your passport in your hotel safe? You will be turned back. Bring the original.

Shared 4×4 transfers allow 1 soft bag plus 1 backpack or carry-on, with a maximum combined weight of 13kg. Hard-sided 23kg suitcases do not fit in the jeeps and will not be accepted. Pack in a soft duffel bag or backpack. Private 4×4 transfers allow more flexibility but soft bags are still strongly recommended for comfort. Once aboard a catamaran, space in cabins is limited, so packing light is always the right call.

The Kuna Yala (Guna Yala) territory charges an entry fee paid in cash at the Nusagandi control checkpoint on the mountain road: $22 per person for tourists, $7 per person for Panamanian residents (residents must show proof of residency at the checkpoint). It is collected by Guna authorities, not by tour operators. It is not included in transport, island stay or charter prices; the AMPA full day tour ($148) already includes it. Children under 9 do not pay the $20 entry part. Bring exact change in USD bills. There are no ATMs in San Blas, so carry all the cash you need before leaving Panama City.

Sometimes, but availability is not guaranteed, especially in peak season (December to April) when catamarans and jeep spots fill weeks in advance. For the best chance of a last-minute spot, contact us directly via WhatsApp at +507 6027-0607. We can often confirm availability within an hour and will always give you an honest answer rather than a booking you will later regret.

Standard pickup is between 5:00 and 5:30 AM from Panama City hotels. Hotels near the airport are collected between 5:30 and 6:00 AM on shared transport, because the vehicle takes the city hotels first. In December and January, pickup is around 4:30 AM. We confirm your exact pickup time the evening before. Set your alarm: there is no second departure.

The dry season from December to April offers the best sailing conditions, clearest water, and most reliable sunshine. February and March are the peak months, with consistent trade winds and exceptional snorkeling visibility. The wet season from May to November brings more rain and occasionally rougher seas, but the islands remain open and beautiful, prices are lower, and you will often have entire anchorages to yourself. Avoid September and October for first-time visitors as seas can be rough. San Blas sits south of the hurricane belt, so it is never in the direct path of Atlantic storms.

Yes. Guna Yala is an autonomous indigenous territory governed by the Guna people, who maintain strict control over who enters and what happens on their islands. Crime against tourists is extremely rare. The waters are protected from Atlantic swells by the reef structure and are calm in most anchorages. The jeep road is safe when driven by an experienced local driver in a proper 4×4. AMPA Tours works exclusively with established, vetted drivers and captains. Thousands of visitors travel to San Blas every year without incident.