How to Get to San Blas, Panama? The Ultimate Guide
Choose a 3 hour private or shared road transfer starting in any location within Panama City or a 40 minute private air transfer from Albrook local airport.
We understand the frustration of those guests that have had their Caribbean sailing vacations postponed. Lockdowns both in the origin countries and Panama halted our charter operations for some months during 202, but we are back!
Although we have resumed sailing in San Blas and our catamaran charters are slowly coming back to their original frequency, the truth is that most of our guests are still wary of the global situation and its effect on our charter operations in San Blas.
I previous posts we discussed how San Blas and basically renting a catamaran with your family and friends can be The best Coronavirus Isolation: a Caribbean charter sailboat; also in our post San Blas travel bubble approach we defined why booking a sailing trip and embarking on such a vacation can be very similar to a much needed travel bubble.
Now we will provide you info on how to travel to San Blas, board our catamarans and join our unforgettable charter experiences and sailing vacations.
You may choose between a road or air transfer, either both, we will guide you through the booking process.
ROAD TRANSFER
Most of our guests arrive in Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, from there two options are possible:
1. Guests arriving from abroad and landing in Tocumen International Airport in Panama City before 12:00 am noon can be transferred directly to the catamaran in San Blas with a private 4x4. Designated driver will be waiting for your group at airport arrivals. From the airport, a 2 1/2 hour road transfer will put you in the San Blas harbour ready to take the next water taxi to the catamaran. Wait at the San Blas port for formalities should be around 15 minutes and water taxi ride is around + 40 minutes. Final price of the water taxi slightly varies depending on where the catamaran is located.
Total time for private transfer is 3:30 hours
Cost of all transfers per person one way: $75, for groups of less than 5 guests consult prices
Disembarking is at 6:00, final checkout time depends on water taxi availability
Arrival in Panama city to your desired location is before 12:00 midday
2. Guests arriving past midday to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City and wanting to reach San Blas need to either fly one of our private planes to our catamaran or book at least one night at any hotel in Panama City and the next morning they will be picked up by their driver at 5:30 AM from the lobby of their hotel. It’s a 2 hour road transfer to the port of San Blas, then a water taxi directly to the catamaran. Wait at the San Blas port for formalities should be around 15-30 minutes and water taxi ride around 30 minutes. Final price of the water taxi slightly varies depending on where the catamaran is located.
Total time for private transfer is 3:15 hours and you can choose between a private or a shared ride:
- Shared transfer cost of all transfers per person one way: $75
- Private transfer cost: 4x4 car is $220 with up to 5 guests and light luggage, private water taxi $150
Catamaran boarding is around 10:00 AM
Disembarking is at 6:00, final checkout time depends on water taxi availability
Arrival in Panama city to your desired location is before 12:00 midday
3. Guests already residing in Panama can simply drive their own 4x4 car to the port of San Blas and from there take our assigned water taxi. Final price of the water taxi slightly varies depending on where the catamaran is located.
Total time for driving your own 4x4 from Panama City to San Blas is 2:00 hours
Water taxi cost per person and way: $25
Catamaran boarding is around 10 AM
Mandatory: cars must be 4x4 in order to go through the Kuna Yala border
Disembarking is at 6:00, final checkout time depends on water taxi availability
Arrival in Panama city to your desired location is before 12:00 midday
This option above is no longer available