The San Blas Islands Sailing Blog

There’s a familiar energy across our boats as high season approaches. Crews are preparing, water toys are being checked, menus are taking shape, and our shore team is coordinating the details that bring every charter together. Our high season runs from November 15 to May 1, bringing the most popular months for a private catamaran escape in San Blas. We’re looking forward to sunny days, warm Caribbean water, and welcoming families and friends aboard for time together somewhere

You don’t have to be a sailor to enjoy a sailing holiday. In San Blas, Panama, the appeal is just as much about what happens between sails: swimming before breakfast, exploring palm-covered islands and enjoying lunch overlooking clear turquoise water. With short distances between islands and cruising routes sheltered by outer reefs and cays, a private San Blas catamaran charter offers a relaxed way to experience the Caribbean. For experienced sailors, there is the pleasure of

You open your phone to check the weather. Twenty minutes later, you’re reading about another international crisis, someone is arguing about politics, and you’ve somehow become worried about a shipping route you couldn’t have pointed to on a map before breakfast. Between the war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and the diplomatic arguments filling the headlines, there is plenty to feel unsettled about. Keeping up can feel like a second job. And somewhere in the middle o

We always recommend five to seven nights in San Blas. It gives you time to explore, settle into life aboard and enjoy the islands without feeling rushed.But we understand that our guests have time constraints. You may be fitting San Blas into a wider Panama trip or only have a few days to spare. San Blas does not follow the seven-night charter format common in international yacht charter destinations. You do not need to book a full week to enjoy a private San Blas catamaran c

Most of the islands we visit during our private catamaran charters in San Blas are uninhabited. Days often revolve around quiet beaches, snorkeling and relaxing beside palm-covered islands. A quiet island stop during a private catamaran charter in San Blas, check with your crew before going ashore This guide refers specifically to the places where Guna people live: islands cared for by a resident family, and established villages and communities. These encounters can be a memo

We have been waiting a long time to share this news. The extraordinarily rare albino nurse shark previously documented in San Blas has been spotted again alive, moving calmly through the clear Caribbean water and accompanied by a group of normally colored nurse sharks. When we published our first story about the elusive albino nurse shark in San Blas, we hoped that we would eventually encounter him again. San Blas is immense, however, and its hundreds of islands, reefs, lagoo

Imagine waking up aboard your catamaran, walking to the stern and stepping almost directly onto a deserted tropical beach. No marina, dock or long dinghy ride—just a few steps between the catamaran and the sand, with coconut palms rising immediately behind it. Catamaran positioned beside a tropical beach during a San Blas sailing charter Almost nowhere else in the world can a charter catamaran be positioned like this. It is one of the experiences that makes sailing in San Bla

Panama is one of the few destinations in Latin America where the US dollar is used for almost everything. For international visitors, that means the cost of a Panama vacation can change considerably—even when the published price in dollars remains exactly the same. When the US dollar weakens against your home currency, every dollar-priced part of the trip becomes less expensive: the catamaran charter, transfers, hotels in Panama City, restaurant meals and local flights. On a

If you are planning a sailing vacation in Panama, one of your first questions will probably be: How much does a private catamaran charter in San Blas cost? Bedisup,the San Blas islands. In 2026, a private, fully crewed and all-inclusive catamaran charter in San Blas starts at approximately US$1,800 per night for two adults. Larger premium catamarans start from US$2,200 to US$2,700 per night, depending on the size, layout and onboard amenities. The final price depends primaril

Recent news about the Panama Canal may contain an unexpected message for travelers considering San Blas in the coming months: Panama could experience considerably less rainfall than usual. The Panama Canal Authority has announced that it will reduce the number of daily vessel transits beginning in September. The decision is intended to conserve water as a strengthening El Niño is expected to bring drier and warmer conditions to the region. The Canal depends on freshwater from