VIDEO: TRIP’S SNEAK PEEK
Join us on a spectacular 9-day island hopping adventure, sea kayaking the San Blas Archipelago. This well kept secret of Panama, home to the indigenous Kuna people, features 365 tropical islands located just off the Caribbean coast. This is expedition like travel; fully off-grid, self supportive, and tent camping on 5 different islands with world class snorkeling right off its beaches. Water conditions require previous paddling experience in currents, and swells (not for beginners).
Paddle from island to island, and learn about the history & contemporary life of the Kuna people. Experience the remoteness and natural life while camping on palm islands, surrounded by white sand beaches and crystal clear waters offering ideal swimming, and snorkeling the colorful coral reefs located only steps from your tent.
Let us show you a different world as our bilingual trip leader, and Kuna crew will turn this sensational destination into a once-in-a-lifetime sea kayaking adventure!
Trip Map | San Blas, Panama (Gunayala)
Trip Itinerary | At A Glance
B: Breakfast | L: Lunch | D: Dinner
DAY 1 | Trip start in Panama City (D)
PTY Airport transfer & trip briefing over dinner
Overnight@ Radisson Panama Canal.
DAY 2 | Travel to San Blas (BLD)
Paddling & Kuna culture introduction
Overnight@ Digirdup Island.
DAY 3 | Paddling to Diadup (BLD)
Paddling from island to island, R&R in the afternoon.
Overnight@ Ordup Island.
DAY 4 | Crossing Channel & Snorkeling (BLD)
Paddling open & protected waters; afternoon snorkeling.
Overnight@ Bebssidup Island.
DAY 5 | Paddle to mainland into jungle river (BLD)
Morning paddle to Paloma river, lunch on river bank.
Afternoon snorkeling on Sichirdup island.
Overnight@ Bebssidup Island.
DAY 6 | Mangrove & coral reef paddling (BLD)
Paddling mangroves from island to island.
Afternoon snorkeling & swimming.
Overnight@ Bidirdup Island.
DAY 7 | Island hopping and Snorkeling (BLD)
Morning paddling, passing 3 islands.
Afternoon snorkeling & swimming.
Overnight@ Aridup Island.
DAY 8 | Paddling & drive to Panama City (BL)
Paddling to mainland & transfer to Panama City.
Optional Panama Canal tour & Dinner in Casco Viejo.
Overnight@ Radisson Panama Canal.
DAY 9 | R&R in the morning (B)
Transfer out to PTY Airport.
Trip concludes.
Trip Itinerary | Full Day-to-Day Description
Click each day to open/close.
Upon your arrival to Panama City Airport (PTY), you will be met by a Tropical Sea Kayaking representative who will provide private transportation to a comfortable hotel in Panama City (30 minute drive), right on the banks of the entrance of the Panama Canal.
In the late afternoon, you will be meeting your trip leader who will invite you to dinner at a nice restaurant serving local & international dishes. Trip briefing over dinner.
∴ Overnight stay at Radisson Panama Canal Hotel
∴ Meals included today: Dinner
Early this morning right after breakfast, we’ll leave the city and cross the Continental Divide to reach the San Blas Archipelago (2,5-hour drive). You are now in the semi-autonomous territory of the Kuna People; the remoteness of the location and authentic culture will give you the feel of a National Geographic expedition. From there we will hop into our support boat for a drive to our first island, the community of Digirdup.
For the remainder of the day, you will become familiarized with your kayak by paddling along the rainforest mainland, and perhaps we’ll enter a cute little river if time and water level allows. This way we get the opportunity to test and adjust our boats and make sure we feel comfortable before we commit to any long stretches of paddling on the days to come.
In the later afternoon we’ll walk into the Kuna village for an introduction to their culture, and get to meet the women who will be showing their traditional outfits called ‘Molas’. During our walk we’ll be greeted by the many cute, ever smiling Kuna kids.
In the evening we’ll have our first Kuna dish where after they’ll perform a local dance in the moonlight. Surely we’ll all be ready for our first night sleep in the Land of the Kunas.
∴ Overnight stay at Digirdup (Tiger Island)
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning after packing up our camp, we begin a 4-5 hour paddle to the uninhabited island of Ordup (Gold Island). The paddling includes two open channel crossings. The first stretch requires open water paddling in gentle swells, until we reach the first uninhabited island known for its sandbar running into sea. From there we will cross over to the Mangroves, exiting in shallow waters passing the neighboring Kuna community.
Paddling up north, we will pass by a number of deserted islands, of which one will be a welcoming stop for a well-deserved break & lunch made on the spot by our Kuna crew. After lunch, we’ll continue paddling out, crossing another channel until we reach Ordub. This is where we set up camp, and enjoy some swimming, hammock surfing, and R&R after our first full day of paddling. To top off this excellent day, we’ll invite you for sunset dinner on the beach.
∴ Overnight stay at Ordup (Gold Island)
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we break camp and paddle along sand cays and across open channels to the magical white sand palm island of Bebssidup. Although you can walk from one side of the island to the other in under 60 seconds, this beautiful island is big enough to share with a Kuna family.
Most deserted islands in Gunayala are ‘uninhabited’, however those belonging to the Kuna communities (as opposed to privately owned), will have the islands maintained by selected families that are part of the respective community. For instance, as Bebssidup belongs to the community we paddled by today, each year it assigns 4 families to stay on the island for 3 months each. Although daily island maintenance is part of their task, this job is considered a privilege, and a vacation. Who doesn’t like to spend some time on a deserted beach, catching fish & lobster, drinking coconut water, and napping in a hammock. You’ll be part of their daily routine as their island will be our home for the next 2 days.
The afternoon will offer amazing snorkeling opportunities, whereafter your hammock calls to relax while enjoying vast ocean views until dinner time.
∴ Overnight stay at Bepssidup
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Layovers are great! This morning we can sleep-in, theoretically, because who wants to miss out on a beautiful sunrise? We don’t need to pack up camp, instead relax and enjoy delicious breakfast in paradise.
At midmorning, we are taking a day trip to the nearby mainland, where we will paddle our kayaks upstream through the gentle Paloma River looking for birds & other wildlife, and the best swimming holes to take advantage of the fresh water flowing down the pristine rainforest mountains. In the meantime our Kuna crew will prepare lunch on the river bank to enjoy a jungle meal at noon.
After lunch we’ll paddle back out to cross an open channel towards the tiny island of Sichirdup (translates Ant Island). Here we’ll get an excellent opportunity for an afternoon snorkeling session along the ‘wall’; a drop outside the reef offering spectacular marine life sightings! From here it’s only a short distance back to our camp on Bebssidup where we get to enjoy some hammock time, R&R, drinks, and sunset dinner.
∴ Overnight stay at Bepssidup
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we set off on another amazing stretch of tropical sea kayaking to reach the perfect Island of Bidirdup. The 3-4 hour paddle necessary to get there will have us initially island hopping, and eventually making one open crossing. In between the islands we will experience the calmest of waters as we paddle behind a long stretch of Mangrove islands protecting us from any kind of currents and wind. The shallow, crystal clear waters allow us to spot the beautifal yellow and orange colored starfish, several species of Ray, and juvenile Barracudas hunting for small pray hiding in the Mangroves.
After a lunch break on a gorgeous spot, we’ll reach Bidirdup, another small palm island, perhaps with the acreage of a football field, and with only one native family being the only inhabitants and caretakers of the island. The fine white sands, turquoise water and picture perfect setting will likely be ours, and ours alone during this overnight visit.
This location offers amazing swimming & snorkeling, as well as both sunrises & sunsets!
∴ Overnight stay at Bidirdup
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy sunrise from your hammock while sipping on a cup of coffee, or tea, followed by breakfast. After packing up camp, we’ll slide into our kayaks to head west going with the predominant wind and current, for approximately 3 hours. Island hopping our way passing picture perfect isles, we will finally reach Aridup (or Iguana Island), our last tropical atoll paradise of this trip.
This beautiful island is slightly closer to the mainland and port, but far enough to enjoy our last night on a remote island, surrounded by amazing coral reefs for snorkeling, and ideal for hammock surfing, sunset watching, and star gazing without any light pollution.
∴ Overnight stay at Aridup
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After your last breakfast in paradise, we will either kayak or boat over to the mainland to reach port, where we’ll hop into our 4&4 vehicles to cross the continental divide, leaving the semi-autonomous country of Gunayala. For the last stretch on the Interamerican highway, we will reach civilization called Panama City.
Once back at the hotel for a highly needed shower, the remainder of the afternoon is yours. If you’d rather be more active than sipping cocktails at the pool, you may opt to visit the Panama Canal’s Miraflores locks, or explore the old city of Casco Viejo (or both). The latter offers ample options for drinks & appetizers before dinner at one of its many bars & restaurants!
∴ Overnight stay at Radisson Panama Canal Hotel
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast & Lunch
This morning we have arranged for your transportation to the international airport in Panama City to catch your flight home. You will leave Panama with a new understanding of the tropics and with a unique insight into the simple lifestyle and worldview of the Kuna People. To you we say “nu-edi”, or thank you & goodbye in the Kuna language.
∴ Meals included today: Breakfast
Photo Gallery | San Blas Slide Show
