Possible Itineraries For Your San Blas Cruise:

2 night itinerary including road transfer from your hotel/residence in Panama City:

Sailing will be limited since we understand you want to make the most out of your reduced time in San Blas, and so, visiting the islands, snorkelling, interacting with the locals, etc should be a priority. Advise us so if that is not the case, we will adapt to your needs.

Itinerary for 2 nights:

you will be picked up from your hotel or residence in Panama City at around 5:30 am and from there just a quick stop at the supermarket (normally guests buy extra alcohol, some snacks...). You will arrive at the port of San Blas at around 8:15-8:30 AM. Once in the port of San Blas and with formalities in check you will be directed to the corresponding water taxi which will take you to the catamaran.

Water taxi transfer is around 45 minutes Board the catamaran and after a quick briefing and maybe a swim, you will sail to W Cayos Holandeses which is about 1 1/2 hours total sailing. You will spend most of the day at the islands located around which can be accessed with the dingy, so no need for sailing.

Sleep is done while at anchor in that discreet part of the Dutch Cays.

Next day you will sail to another group of islands within the Cays. Sailing time is around 1 hour. Time for snorkelling, paddle boarding, kayaking, etc. That same afternoon on sundown you will sail back to the point of origin, expect around 2 1/2 hours of sailing, there you will be picked up next morning around 6:00 AM by the local water taxi.

Expect to be in Panama City before noon.

- Normally on short stays, guests tend to book a late exit for 50% of the price, that means disembarking at 15:00 on exit day thus spending one more night out in the amazing Dutch Cays or any location different from the initial point in Lemon Cays.

- Take into consideration that this itinerary can/will be modified by the captain if the weather does not allow such route. Normally in high season this does not occur, in summer chances are a bit higher but San Blas is absolutely amazing and there are more than 360 islands, so...

5 night itinerary including road transfer from your hotel/residence in Panama City:

Day 1: Banedub Island and Holandeses Cays.

You will be picked up from your hotel or residence in Panama City around 5:30 am and from there just a quick stop at the supermarket so you can make the purchases you want. It is customary to stop there, normally guests buy extra alcohol, some sweets ... You will arrive at the port of San Blas around 8: 15-8: 30 AM. Once in the port of San Blas and with customs procedures done, you will be directed to the corresponding water taxi that will take you to the catamaran; 30 minute water transfer. Board the catamaran and after a short briefing and perhaps a swim in the crystal clear waters, you will sail to W Cayos Holandeses, which is approximately 1 1/2 hours of total sailing. You will spend most of the day on the surrounding islands that can be accessed with the dinghy, so no sailing is necessary.

Day 2: Maqui Island and Holandeses Cays

Morning enjoying the islands around West Holandeses Cays, after lunch a 2-hour navigation through the many islands that make up the Holandeses Cays. It is your time to decide which island to visit, a difficult decision. All these virgin islands offer the possibility of enjoying the best of the best of San Blas.

Day 3:  BBQ Island

After your breakfast and possibly a swim around your catamaran, you will sail to the best islands of San Blas. Considered by experienced sailors and travelers to be the most idyllic. BBQ Island, also known as Tortuga Island, has always been the perfect choice for those enthusiasts looking for a real adventure. Healthy reefs, lots of lobsters and fish on the outer reef make for the best snorkeling in San Blas. It's time to visit the great BBQ island and enjoy a beer with the local Kuna Indians. The amazing beauty of Tortuga Tortuga Island along with the islands around the Cayos Holandeses will definitely leave a mark on you.

Day 4: Lagoon

After breakfast, you will sail to the glorious, secluded and wild anchorage of the Lagoon. With the most virgin barrier reef in all of San Blas just a few meters away and no trace of civilisation for kilometres, this place, which due to its shallow depth can only be accessed by catamarans, remains totally intact. Crystalline waters and abundant marine fauna make snorkeling the most interesting in all of San Blas. In the afternoon you will sail 1 1/2 hours to the departure point in Banedub, Cayo Limón.

7 Night Itinerary - air transfer

What is the best itinerary for San Blas islands sailing? 
Rent a yacht for a week in the Caribbean

Although short trips are possible and also amazing, the perfect San Blas trip is by definition a week long sailing adventure with air transfers to/from San Blas covering most of the jewels of San Blas islands: Coco Bandero and Dutch Cays.

Day 1: East Coco Bandero Cays

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Short sail from the airport run way of around 40 minutes to the impressive East group of islands within Cayo Coco Bandero. Here you will have your first encounter with the Kuna indigenous, their kindness will remain in your memory for ever. This is the paradise we always talk about, so take your time to enjoy the islands around and the absolutely breathtaking scenery.

Day 2: West Coco Bandero Cays

After breakfast at Coco Bandero East, a short sail of 50 minutes will put you in the totally isolated islands of West Coco Bandero. No Kuna indigenous population here, just pristine reefs teeming with marine life and all the islands for yourself without no interference from the outside. Simply enjoying lunch and dinner onboard and engage in any water activity such as paddle boarding or kayaking on the stunning crystal clear waters, an experience of a lifetime.

Day 3: BBQ island, Turtle island: Cayos Holandeses, Dutch Cays.

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After your breakfast and possibly a swim around your catamaran, you will sail to what most sailors consider the best islands in San Blas, Panama, BBQ island. Also referred to as Turtle island, this tiny piece of coral island has always been the perfect choice for those adventure seeking enthusiasts. Healthy reefs, plenty of lobsters and colourful fish on the outer reef, make for the best snorkeling in San Blas.

Time to visit the grandiose BBQ island and enjoy a beer with the local indigenous Kunas, the striking beauty of Turtle Turtle island along with the islands around Dutch Cays will definitely leave a mark on you.

Day 4: Maqui island in Cayos Holandeses, Dutch Cays

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Following your breakfast at "the Pool" in Dutch Cays is a one-hour sail through the numerous islands that compose Cayos Holandeses. It is your time to decide which island to visit, tough decision... We recommend anchoring in Maqui island on the other side of Dutch Cays but it is really up to you. All of these pristine islands within this cays offer you the possibility to enjoy the best of the best of San Blas.

Day 5: Cambombia island

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After breakfast and spending half of the day at the islands around Maqui, we will sail South taking advantage of the local while gently gliding to the almost unknown and rarely visited island of Cambombia. The particularities of this island is that even though it is close to the jungle and to the community of Rio Azucar, still provides the perfect and untouched scenery we aim for. The surroundings are dotted with tiny islands, time to jump on the dinghy and explore.

Day 6: Bapurgana island

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The amazing Bapurgana island was sold between Kuna indigenous families for only a few $. In another part of the world, this island could be easily sold for a couple of million. Enjoy your visit, the island and the vast coral reef is free to explore and probably just for you to enjoy.

Day 7:Corazon de Jesus and Nargana: airport

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One hour sail will put you next to the runway for your 50 minute sail to Panama City. There is also the possibility to sail from Bapurgana to Corazon de Jesus on the afternoon of the 6th day.

Visit our Blog for What is the best itinerary for sailing the San Blas islands on a catamaran?

7 Night itinerary - road transfer

If you choose a 7 day trip but with road transfers you could follow this Itinerary, remember you can always come one, two, three days...7, 15...

Day 1: Banedub and Dutch Cays

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5:45 AM pickup by the transfer service from your hotel in Panama or the location you desire. After 2 1/2 hours, you will arrive at the Port Barsukum, you will see a sign on the right-hand side  of the road with the port name. Boat transfer to our catamaran will take around 30min. Normally, our catamaran will be in the island of Banedup, in Cayo Limón the Lemon Cays, and this is simply because the location is very close to our first island in the Dutch Cays. We will adapt the checkin location according to the weather, the exact location will be known the day  before embarking and communicated by us to the transfer company so just relax and enjoy the ride.

Once in Banedup, at around 10:30 Am, you will receive a briefing from the captain and get to know the boat and life onboard.  Lunch will be served at around 12:30, so you have time to explore the surroundings, after a quick rest after lunch you will sail for one hour to  Holandeses Cays, Paradise within Paradise.

Day 2: Maqui island Dutch Cays

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Wake up surrounded by nature and crystal clear waters of the West Dutch Cays and Maqui island or Maoqui. Time to use the kayaks and the paddle boards to go and explore the reefs and islands around. Go ashore to drink a coconut from Jose, our Kuna friend and at times also part of our crew.

Day 3: Central Cayos Holandeses, Dutch Cays

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Anchor in this spot in central Cayos Holandeses and you will have two islands surrounded by shallow reefs very close, snorkeling is top-class, also a nice opportunity for some total peace and quiet. A short dinghy ride will take you to the most authentic of the islands in San Blas. Consider mixing with the few local kuna indigenous around and learning their culture.

Day 4: Tortuga island, BBQ Island, Cayos Holandeses, Dutch Cays

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Arriving in "The Pool" and anchoring just meters away from Isla Tortuga is described as one of the most beautiful experiences in San Blas. Watch sting rays and friendly nurse sharks swim underneath the boat. Prepare your snorkeling gear, you will be amazed!

Day 5: Coco Bandero West

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Western Cayo Coco Bandero is composed basically of 3 inhabited islands, only one of them has a couple of fishermen dedicated to smoking fish and a small hut. As usuall, Perejil, the local Kuna, will bring us live lobster so that we can have them on our menu.

Day 6: East Coco Bandero- Banedub Cayo Limon

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East Cayo Coco Bandero and Rosa Linda´s kindness will remain in your memory for ever. This is the Paradise we always talk about, so take your time to enjoy it. After lunch, you will sail to the starting point of Banedub island in Cayo Limon or the Lemon Cays.

Day 7: checkout and road transfer to Panama City

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Early water taxi at around 6 AM will take you to the port of San Blas where you can take your road transfer back to Panama City. Expect to be in your hotel/residence/airport or any point you desire before 12:00 noon.