01 February – 02 February 2017
The San Blas Island are an
archipelago of some 365 islands that lie 2-3 kms off the northern coast of the
Isthumus of Panama. Our knowledge of the existence of these islands was
non-existent until 3-4 days earlier when our friend Marco from Barrbra BnBOver The Sea informed us of
an idyllic location, unknown to most outside of Panama, that provided a
Robinson Crusoe style existence in the crystal clear blue waters of the
Caribbean. Any other response than a hard
‘YES, lets do it’, to that explanation would have been a missed
opportunity.
WHAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW
The islands are part of a district
known as the Guna Yala and provides a simple but quite stunning home locale to
the Guna people. These people have generally maintained political autonomy from
the mainland since a revolution against the Panamanian government in 1925. What
it means for them is that dictate and control access to their islands in the
method and purpose they believe suits them most.
Getting there is actually
relatively easy, although its not a location you’ll stumble across, you need to
make the choice to discover them.
Understanding that we had a fairly
established plan for travel, but also, in built flexibility for side-trips such
as these, we opted for a 2 day-1 night stay on one of the islands. So with a
6am start at the Hard Rock Hotel, we were picked up by 4WD and driven literally
across the country, from Pacific Ocean to Caribbean Sea. The last hour of the
trip being fairly wild and rugged terrain amongst lush tropical landscape.
Impressive but for the fact that the early morning start had us wanting to
close our eyes for most of the ride.
Carti Sugtupu - San Blas Islands - Panama
Carti Sugtupu - San Blas Islands - Panama
Hitting the beach at around 9am
we awaiting our escort across the calm expanse between the mainland and the
islands. The open boat style of ride meant that every time we hit a wave of
moderate height and temperament we received a substantial spray. This literally
had us drenched by the time we got to the island.
On our arrival what we found was
that development was negligible or should I say not existent. Thatched rooves
and boarded huts on a pristine beach
with a central canteen for meals and announcements. That was the extent of it.
No jet ski’s, SUP’s, paddle ski’s, paragliding, scuba diving schools. It seems
that the Guna have really tried to maintain authority over how their islands
will should be used, therefore keeping tourist number lows and not allowing any
sort of development to overrun their corner of the world.
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
..And with all that said, the
islands are their own form of beautiful. They’re your typical palm fringed,
white sand, turquoise water style of paradise, made for simple enjoyment.
Lazing around, taking in the environment and finding time to dry off after
constantly moving to and from the water was the extent of our responsibilities.
We did also do a little bit of snorkelling as some of the islands were
surrounded by very basic reefs.
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
San Blas Islands - Panama
An enjoyable short stay for us.
It was an interesting part of the world and one that we probably never would
have even contemplated had we not been advised earlier. Definitely recommended
for a short period of time, but unless you’re a real loner than can spend days
on end in their own head space then I’d say two full days would be the maximum
period of time for a stay.
