Sail with Confidence: Onboard Safety in San Blas

Relax, Explore, and Enjoy Paradise—Your Safety Onboard is Our Top Priority in the San Blas Islands

At Catamaran Adventures, our goal is simple: for you to feel completely relaxed while sailing through the San Blas Islands. Your only job is to enjoy turquoise waters, soft breezes, and island sunsets—while we take care of everything else. Part of that peace of mind comes from knowing that your safety is always looked after: with modern, well-maintained equipment, a professional crew trained for every scenario, and a region that is as safe and welcoming as it is breathtaking.

You soak in the turquoise waters and golden sunsets — while we ensure every moment is safe, seamless, and unforgettable.

Onboard Safety in San Blas: Essential Equipment You’ll Find Aboard

A charter is only as safe as the gear, systems, and crew behind it.

Every catamaran in our fleet is equipped with all the essentials to keep you safe and comfortable. Here’s what you’ll find on board:

System	What We Provide
Life Jackets / PFDs for All Guests & Crew	Adult and child sizes, properly serviced, routinely inspected, and readily accessible
Liferaft(s) with Full Capacity	Enough seats for everyone onboard, serviced within valid date, with quick-deploy system
EPIRB & Distress Signaling Gear	Emergency beacon registered to the vessel, plus flares, smoke, and other signaling devices
VHF Radio with DSC + Handheld Backup	Reliable communications for distress calls and coordination at all times
Fire Safety Equipment	Fire extinguishers in engine rooms, galley, and cabins, plus fire blanket and smoke/CO detectors
Bilge Pumps & High-Water Alarms	Multiple automatic electric pumps per hull, with manual diaphragm pump as backup
First Aid Kit & Medical Supplies	Comprehensive kit for trauma, burns, seasickness, and cuts, with crew trained in first aid
Man Overboard Recovery Gear	Lifebuoy with light/drogue, throw line, and recovery sling or ladder system
Navigation & Collision Safety	AIS, radar reflector, navigation lights, paper charts, and backup GPS
Safety Procedures & Crew Training	Clear guest safety briefing, documented emergency plans, and regular fire/abandon ship/MOB drills

Modern catamarans inherently offer some safety advantages (e.g. redundancy of twin engines, a stable platform) when handled prudently. But safety is never passive — careful operation, routine checks, and crew alertness are essential.

Before you even board, we inspect and certify every piece of safety gear; crew members run through their checklists; and the vessel undergoes periodic full audits to ensure everything remains in spec.

Sailing safely in style — our Lagoon 52 glides with precision and care.

Health & Peace of Mind in San Blas

San Blas isn’t just safe on the water—it’s safe on land too.

• No malaria here. In 15+ years of running charters, we’ve never seen a case in the islands.

• No strange tropical diseases. Forget the horror stories—there are no contagious or rare illnesses here.

• No special vaccines required. Aside from your routine travel vaccines, nothing extra is needed for San Blas.

  
  

The only tiny annoyance? The occasional mosquito or sandfly at river mouths and ports if you’re coming by road before boarding. Long sleeves, pants, or repellent will do the trick. Once aboard, the sea breeze usually keeps them away.

Medical Backup if Needed

For small mishaps—like a scraped knee or seasickness—we take care of everything on board. For anything more serious, local clinics in Corazon de Jesus are nearby. And in very rare cases, there’s always the option of helicopter or plane evacuation. Because San Blas is remote, having contingency plans is non-negotiable.

Truth be told, the only time we’ve ever needed that was when a guest had one too many drinks and ended up with a broken arm (they left San Blas with a story to laugh about).

Rest assured: even though we have the option of medical evacuation, it’s extremely rare to need it.

What We Expect from You (to Help Us Help You)

We’re partners in safety. Here’s how you can help us uphold that:

1. Follow the safety briefing & instructions — especially during maneuvers or after dark.

2. Stay seated or hold handrails when told

3. Let us know your swimming ability, medical conditions, or fears up front—crew can adapt procedures accordingly.

4. Use your insect protection during land transfers—this is when mosquito exposure is highest.

5. Respect rest times for crew—alert, well-fed, rested crew are safer crew.

Sail Easy, Sail Safe

With modern equipment, a well-trained crew, and a region free from health worries, you can step aboard knowing you’re in safe hands.

Your job is simple: Breathe in the salt air. Dive into turquoise waters. Relax with a cocktail under the sun.

The rest—your safety and peace of mind—is on us. With our focus on onboard safety in San Blas, every moment of your charter is carefree and secure.