How Do Backpacker and Quality Sailing Holidays Coexist in the San Blas Islands?

Back in the days, border closure with Colombia and the impenetrable jungle that covered most of the Guna Yala region, made traveling to San Blas extremely complicated.

Well, guess what? The border with Colombia is still closed, and the jungle remains impenetrable for the most part. However, there are now new means of transport that make traveling to the San Blas Islands possible: sailing boats and catamarans.

In 2021, one would expect the international borders of the most important nations to be open to travelers in one way or another—but not the Panama-Colombia border.

The border between Colombia and Panama is a very remote and largely ignored wilderness. There’s no need to worry about security in San Blas. The border with Colombia is a couple of days' sail away, and no issues related to border instability have ever been recorded in the San Blas Islands. The San Blas region is the safest in Panama, and there are numerous consistent reasons for this. Visit our blog post:

Are the San Blas Islands safe? Yes, the whole archipelago of the San Blas islands is totally safe from crime and outside interference. Feel free to sail all the islands with our all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages.

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The new route connecting Colombia to Panama was established thanks to the arrival of sailing boats in the area about 30 years ago. It became an incredible, risk-free adventure for backpackers—a feast for their wanderlust and a chance to explore far-off places. Bypassing the land border on a sailing boat between these two countries remains the most common route for backpackers.

The Colombia-Panama route is the most popular, primarily because it caters to travelers heading north after exploring South America.

The unparalleled beauty of San Blas.

How has the backpacker traveling business influenced the San Blas islands?

To some extent, it’s important to affirm that the San Blas Islands might not have gained public recognition without the influence of backpackers. This type of adventure-seeking tourism paved the way and allowed for other types of travel in the region. Consider the backpacking industry as the precursor that established the basic infrastructure necessary for other tourism operators and sailing charter agencies alike.

Today, the sailing boats that carry backpackers from Colombia to Panama are still in operation. Although they remain present, these boats tend to avoid the more isolated parts of our sailing grounds, instead visiting islands that offer what they need: a festive ambiance, for the most part.

It’s important to note that some catamarans in San Blas have a dual purpose, catering to both backpackers and those on crewed sailing holidays. Needless to say, the standards in itineraries, catamaran layout/maintenance, and onboard service required by these two types of guests are extremely different. Take that into consideration and conduct thorough research when booking your catamaran vacation in the San Blas Islands.

We offer simply the best in sailing, with the most authentic San Blas experience and the finest catamaran and service available.