The experience we offer is to come aboard Kaya, a 40ft Fontaine Pajot Catamaran, to reconnect with nature! San Blas is a paradise not just for its natural beauty, but because the local guna people still live a simple life we can learn from. Sailing from island to island daily, you'll get to live this beautiful life, eating fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood. You'll get to swim, snorkel, and paddle around the gorgeous coral reefs, and by the end you'll truly feel rejuvenated and regenerated! The space Kaya offers 2 double bed cabins (for 2 guests each) and 1 cabin with a double bed and a single bed (for 3 guests) for a total of 7 guests on board plus 2 crew to enjoy the best vacation in paradise. The comfortable cockpit area for outdoor dining and the net up front on the bow will be your preferred hangout spots for most of the trip. The beauty of sailing on a catamaran is the boat has more surface area, so it doesn't roll much with the waves and you have lots more room to spread out and take it easy. There are two bathrooms on board, one on each hull and each shared by two cabins. We have 2 paddleboards as well as snorkeling and fishing gear for all guests to play and have fun. Guest access You'll be able to hang out everywhere on the boat. It'll be your home during your stay, so you should feel at ease on and under deck! Other things to note Space on boats is limited, so you won't have a big closet space. You'll have shelves to put your stuff on, but please ensure to pack light so you have room in your cabin to roam around and don't have to deal with a bothersome suitcase.

## The Space

Experience life aboard Kaya, a 40-foot Fontaine Pajot catamaran, and reconnect with nature. San Blas offers not only breathtaking natural beauty but also a glimpse into the simple lifestyle of the local Guna people, from whom we can learn.

Sail from island to island each day, enjoying fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. You will have ample opportunities to swim, snorkel, and paddle around vibrant coral reefs. By the end of your journey, you will feel refreshed and revitalized.

Kaya accommodates up to seven guests with:

- Two cabins featuring double beds (each sleeps two guests)
- One cabin with a double bed and a single bed (sleeps three guests)

Additionally, two crew members are on board to ensure a comfortable vacation.

The boat includes:

- A cozy cockpit area ideal for outdoor dining
- A net on the bow serving as a favorite relaxation spot

Sailing on a catamaran provides more surface area, which reduces rolling from waves and offers plenty of space to relax.

There are two bathrooms, one located in each hull, each shared by two cabins.

For recreation, guests can enjoy:

- Two paddleboards
- Snorkeling equipment
- Fishing gear

## Guest Access

Guests have full access to all areas of the boat. Kaya will be your home during the trip, so feel free to make yourself comfortable both on deck and below.

## Other Things to Note

Storage space on boats is limited. While shelves are available for your belongings, closet space is minimal. Please pack lightly to ensure you have enough room to move comfortably in your cabin without the inconvenience of bulky luggage.

Estefania

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Maximum Occupancy

3BR house in Monteverde

Catamaran sailing off the beaten path! - Boats for Rent in Cays Chichime, Guna Yala, Panama

This review is for our 5 day sailing trip with Captain Jules and Natalia, who were the best hosts during our time in the San Blas Kuna Yala islands. They were so friendly and made wonderful food for us morning, noon, and night - everything fresh and well-prepared especially since we booked this trip on such short notice. I really appreciated how laid-back our trip was, as the agenda was determined by what was best given the weather or what we felt like doing. We hiked in the river/rainforest, visited small islands to snorkel and swim in, and just relaxed on the boat for some lazy time. I couldn’t recommend this more if you’re the type of travelers looking for similar!

This was such an amazing experience. My husband and I took our three sons (21,14,11) on this 50 foot, sailboat trip for 1 week sailing the San Blas islands. We decided to leave our phones, tablets and busy lives behind for the week and each of us took a book to enjoy. We had an outstanding captain (Gabriel), he knows the islands well, he's friends with the locals, plays guitar and sings, and most of all - he is amazing at sailing. Our beautiful hostess, Helena cooked fresh seafood caught by the locals or our captain. We also had fresh fruits and vegetables from the area that were so good. We had opportunities for snorkling, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, swimming, sailing, and taking a guided walking tour in the rainforest to swim by a waterfall. We also walked on the islands, bought some of the Molas and bracelets from some of the local Guna Yala women of the tribe. Stefania did an excellent job of coordinating our driver from Panama City, as well as the whole trip. Please do not hesitate to book this for your family- there is no better experience.

We had an amazing 4 days on Roberto’s boat. Our stay was perfect thanks to Roberto’s and Jenny’s attention who made our vacation unique. They also are great cook and we had lobster and crabs at every meal! Even if the boat was a bit dated i strongly recommend staying with roberto.

Great experience on the boat! Agustin and Toni (amazing chef!!) made us feel 100% comfortable and showed us everything to know about San Blas. Everywhere you go is a postcard. The islands are very very basic, bear that in mind always so the only good way to enjoy it is in a boat. Going in and out is also tricky and subject to the locals want to do and charge. Outside that detail, is a memorable experience. Enjoy

We had a lot of fun with captain Carlos. He was great host!! And the meals he prepared were fresh from the Sea and perfectly prepared!!!

The coordination with Estafania was excellent, he helped us a lot in adapting all the logistics for us and he was always attentive. The experience on the boat has been phenomenal. 

La coordinación con Estafania ha sido excelente, nos ha ayudado mucho en adaptar toda la logística para nosotros y siempre estaba pendiente. La experiencia en el barco ha sido fenomenal. 

Captain Luiso and his wife Nadia from now on are no longer my hosts without our friends because they were excellent.  Never hesitate to spend a few days with them. We had an excellent wedding anniversary celebration Thank you

El capitán Luiso y su esposa Nadia a partir de estos momentos ya no son mis anfitriones sin nuestros amigos porque E portaron excelente.  Nunca duden en pasar unos días con ellos. Tuvimos una celebración de aniversario de boda excelente Gracias

Our sailing trip through the San Blas Islands got off to a rocky start with an unforeseen road closure but quickly turned itself around within hours as Stef rallied to give us other options so as not to have to cancel our trip. Thanks to her great connections and communication skills, we were able to secure a plane to take us to the boat instead. Once on the boat, we were so happy we stuck with it! Our captain Andrea, and his brother Fabio made us feel right at home on the Micamale. We enjoyed delicious food, and great weather despite the weather forecast saying otherwise. Highly recommend this one of a kind experience to see the San Blas Islands!!

The Maluco is amazing! I would highly recommend it to anyone. The owners, Jon and Eyleen were fantastic hosts.

San Blas is a gem of a place and the sailing adventures organized by Stef are amazing. Everything from the scenery and food to experiences with folks from the Kuna tribes are really special. And the hosts are really thoughtful and cook amazing meals. Enough said. Looking forward to another adventure there soon. Thanks Stef, Roberto and everyone involved.

Very good experience with El Capitan Marcelino !!! Wonderful and thoughtful kitchen!

Muy buena experiencia con El Capitan Marcelino !!! Cocina de maravilla y muy atento!

The trip got off to a rocky start when the arranged driver was late dropping me off at the docks - I missed the only water taxi that was going to the island where Corto was anchored! But as soon as Stephanie learned about the problem, she was working on a solution - and within 30 minutes (maybe less) I had a new water taxi and a new destination: the sailboat Albatros. Hernando and Camilla were very welcoming, especially considering they weren't expecting any passengers that day! We spent a couple of hours purchasing supplies from the island - and a fascinating trip was already underway. Hernando has been sailing San Blas for a couple of decades, and he seems to know everybody! I learned so much about the Kuna just from walking through the village and talking with him and Camilla and observing their interactions with the Kuna on the island. We had lunch at the restaurant there (my octopus dish was quite delicious) and then set sail for Chichime. We had fantastic weather the first couple of days, and I enjoyed walking around the Chichime cays, swimming in the warm Caribbean water, and kayaking around the islands. We bought fresh red snapper and lobster from the Kuna family there, and on the final night had a beach barbecue with a group of other sailers (with the best pork ribs I've ever had in my life). We did a brief day trip to Dog Island, and the shipwreck there is well worth snorkeling! And had an adventure when the kayak got stolen - we were almost back to Chichime by the time we noticed. We turned around and located it on the beach (and had to ransom it from one of the local Kuna, the only negative interaction I saw with them), and Camilla and I got it back to the Albatros. The accommodations on the Albatros are quite basic - it's an older sailboat and it definitely shows. But really, this trip is about San Blas - and it did not disappoint. Gorgeous turquoise water, islands out of a postcard, and a fascinating indigenous culture - the Kuna were the best part in some ways, and I learned so much more about them from Hernando and Camilla than I ever could have on a trip by myself. Overall, I had a wonderful time, and Stephanie was always quick to address whatever issues popped up. I hope to get another chance to travel with them in the future!

Stefanie was in communication from the start and was able to answer any questions we had. The stay itself was a lot of fun. Captain Fernando and Camila were great guides as we explored the San Blas islands. They were also excellent cooks and provided all meals. Highly recommended for if you're planning a trip to San Blas.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful 4 day vacation on the San Blas Islands! We are so happy we decided to book with  I Travel by Boat- it made things so easy! It was so helpful to have the car pick up and transfer from panama to san blas coordinated and taken care of for us. But of course the best part of the trip by far was the days spent on the catamaran “buddha/impulso” on the San Blas Islands! Mario and Enrique were the most accommodating of hosts/captains. We caught fish, had a lobster feast and visited multiple islands a day. We had the opportunity to kayak, swim, and fish right of the back of our catamaran. Our accommodations were naturally small on a 40 foot catamaran, but they were beautiful designed and comfortable. We loved our stay on Impulso and we are grateful that the booking and coordination to get the islands was made easy by I Travel by Boat.

This was a dream come true! My boyfriend and I stayed on the Scacco Matto with captain Juri. Juri met us only a few minutes from the port and we sailed away. The trip to Chichime was long resulting in my boyfriend getting seasick. We didn't come prepared at all but Juri provided food and drinks immediately to help his sickness calm down. For a moment we thought the trip was a bad idea but once we arrived at the islands all doubt melted away! We stayed two nights one docked in Chichime and one in another cluster of islands. Juri was a magnificent host whisking us from island to island with his dingy so we could snorkel (our new favorite hobby!). The beaches were riddled with starfish and had one or two other tourists at maximum. The majority of the time we were in our own "private" beach. My boyfriend LOVES seafood so one day Juri was in a mission to find lobster traveling all over Chichime to locate some. He cooked them to perfection! My tips to travelers booking this stay: bring sunscreen and apply it every hour. Bring seasickness medicine. Pack in luggage that is moderately or completely waterproof. Prepare to have an unforgettable experience.

Wow!! Wow!!! What a wonderful experience. Every aspect of this adventure exceeded expectations and was beyond imagination perfect. Five star service from start to finish. Steph's communication and the quality and timeliness of all connections was right on target. The white sands, clear waters and mesmerizing beauty of Guna Yala San Blas are incredible. Captain, Gabriel , Daniel, Steph, Erin and their team provided close service as well as privacy, excellent meals prepared from fresh local ingredients, broiled lobster, fresh baked bread, local fruit and more. We were upgraded to the X 45 yacht Samantha. Daniel's Ananda Lahari looked fine as well when we saw her nearby. It was a real treat to sail this world famous design. A Danish built, fast cruiser, with spacious private cabins. From snorkeling to wave boarding, relaxing in the onboard hammock and ever changing island scenery with Guna hospitality was appreciated and will be remembered forever. Truly a bucket list experience. I have heard others describe this as "died and gone to heaven." This world traveler concurs. Hope to stowaway aboard again soon. Thank you again to Gabriel and to those who are hoping to conserve and share this treasure of Creation. A masterpiece most certain.

Grateful that Steph arranged our transportation and water taxi to the boat, it really helped! Once we arrived to the boat we immediately felt welcome and accommodated. Daniel was a great chef and baker, some of the best fresh breads we've had in ages. We appreciated that he wanted to use ingredients that were local from a Kona farm, from a Kona fisherman, or freshly caught by Gabriel. He was also able to modify several meals for a Vegetarian diet. Gabriel was great on the guitar and kept us busy with many snorkeling adventures. Steph was super helpful in speaking with Kona people as well as sharing their traditions and swapping travel stories. All in all we felt it was a successful adventure and we'd gladly do it again!

The communication with Stephanie was easy, punctual and clear! She gaves us all the information and facilities we needed for the journey towards the boat!  We were 3 adults and a 1 year old baby! The experience on the boat was fantastic ... more than we expected! We felt welcome on the boat and even if the space is limited, Gabriel (captain) and Kiko gave us the space we needed. I was delightful to share time with them (really). The food they cooked was just delicious (fresh sea food and fish, fruits, wine, coco water...). We had the proximity with the natives ''Kuna" and their amazing islands. We sailed around breath taking landscapes. It was a rejuvenated experience and we will certainly come back! Thanks to all the cocosailing team!

This group of traveling nomads are living on different boats around the San Blas Islands. We stayed with captain Ornella on her boat the Santa Maria and her staffmember Lorena. And in one word our trip was amazing. And it was not only made by the surrounding of beautifull Islands, with their white sandy beaches, amazing snorkel spots and friendly Kunya people. It were the host's that made our stay complete and excellent. The transport (taxi and watertaxi) to the boat was arranged as told. And allready when we arrived breakfast was ready and Ornella explained everything about the boat and the upcoming days in a familiar way. Rideaway we felt welcome and at home. The boat had 2 cabins and kitchen area. The stear in the middle seperated both cabins so we felt private if we wanted to.   Ornella showed us the best reefs to snorkel, introduced us to the Kunya people and explained lot's of their history and culture. Not only she is an excellent saylor and host. She prepared us delicous meals and there was always enough on board. We can highly recommend to stay on the Santa Maria. Thank you Ornella and Lorena for making our trip to San Blas more then we could ever dream of.

i really liked the boat tour, it was wonderful days in San Blas, a unique way to enjoy  the holidays, I would definitely return. 

me gusto mucho el tour el barco, fueron unos días maravillosos en san blas, una forma unica de disfrutar  las vacaciones, sin duda regresaría. 

Stef was great to work with, very responsive and informative. She arranged everything for us from the pickup at hotel, transportation to the boat and everything for our return back to Panama City.   Our host was great. Carlos was well traveled and made a great host. He went above and beyond to make us comfortable even when my wife did not feel well.

San Blas was amazing. We loved sailing between islands swimming in crystal clear waters and enjoyed the incredible marine life whilst snorkelling. Our captain Yuri was a wonderful cook and the lobster pasta was a highlight. He also ensured we had a great time and got to see everything. Monica, first mate, is the ultimate host. She made our holiday very enjoyable. We definitely recommend visiting San Blas. 

Stef helped made sure the entire trip was smooth and planned all travel arrangements for me to reach San Blas. If you're going to San Blas from Panama, plan to leave around 6AM in the morning. It's a long trek from Panama City to San Blas islands. You'll have to take a SUV for (~2 hours) and then take a water taxi (~45 minutes) to your sailboat. I usually avoid waking up early in the morning, but I have to say... the morning trek was totally worth it. The car ride was scenic and the water taxi was one of my favorite parts of the trip. You speed by tons of islands along the way and it was all pretty surreal.  While driving there, the SUVs usually seem to stop at a grocery store along the way for people to pick up snacks, food, and drinks. This adds an additional 30 minutes to your 2 hour car ride. I would highly recommend picking up some food/beer to share because your captain/host on the sailboat rarely make it out to the grocery stores since San Blas is so remote. Good beer is even more appreciated out at sea.  Ezio was the captain of Yemanja, the sailboat I stayed on. He was a phenomenal cook and cooked some of the tastiest Italian food I've ever had. Ezio shared his interesting life story, his views, and took me around to see a few of the Guna Yala villages. He really showed me a completely different world, giving me a taste of his past few years living on a boat. It was quite the transformational experience. I would highly recommend staying with Ezio on the Yemanja if you have the option to. Just the fact that you are on a sailboat in the open sea was wonderful as well -- you can go swimming and snorkeling whenever you want on your own time, explore uninhabited islands, and even sleep outside under the night sky.  Highly recommend and will do again when I'm back in Panama! Thank you Ezio for a wonderful trip and than you Stef for setting everything up!

Ornella was the best Captain/host anyone could ask for! Passionate, exuberant, knowledgeable and super fun. She did a wonderful job balancing sailing and socializing and at all times she and her chef Manon (Manu) kept our bellies and glasses full. Making us feel welcome but also giving us space (a romantic dinner for two while the crew head off to another boat for the evening? How lovely!). They were open to anything we wanted to do but had the perfect plan laid out for our two day sail around the San Blas.  I think my favourite part of the whole experience was witnessing Ornella and Olli spear fish while snorkling in the reef followed by the freshest and most delicious ceviche I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.   It certainly didn't hurt that we had the ideal weather for sailing, even in the heart of the rainy season. What a perfect couple of days on the sea!

Wonderful stay with Gabriel as our captain on a 37-ft sailboat for five days. The seas weren't "rocky" but they weren't absolutely calm when sailing between islands, which gave my wife a bit of nausea since she has some seasickness (it get better after the second day) but otherwise it was a dream trip. Stef was GREAT in arranging it all!

Our sailing trip with Juri was amazing!  From the beginning, Stef was a delight to work with and made sure that this part of our honeymoon was perfect.  The food on the Sacco Matto was absolutely amazing (by far the best of our whole trip!).  Captain Juri was a great guy and made sure that we made the best of our time in San Blas.  I would highly recommend this experience to anyone thinking about sailing with Itravelbyboat in Panama!

Thanks for accepting us with no notice at all! This is a plan for at least 2 nights-3 days, the drive is quite long. We didn't get good directions, but, we made it! After driving from Nueva Gorgona to Guna Yala (3 hours)we left from the Barsucum river on Gustavio's boat 30' (amazing Native man) to be taken to Claudio's Catamaran, it was a beautiful experience, The ocean was a clear blue, intense, Claudio was a good Italian host, cooked lobster, Italian cake, eggs, spaghettis, took us to other of the 365 islands in San Blass, picked us up when ever we wanted, we went snorkeling to the spot he recommended, and was amazing, tranquil waters you could see fish and coral 20 feet down...his catamaran was clean and fully equipped, snorkeling items, sandals, shampoo, medicine etc...We truly loved the experience to the point of thinking in buying a sailing boat.. Mom, sister and the 4 of us had a great time.Thanks !

We had an amazing time in Panama and it was in large part to our experience on the Ananda Lahari!  I thought Gabriel and Ornella were great hosts! They are a very welcoming and laid back couple who have made San Blas their home. They gave us a small glimpse of what it's like living your life at sea. They know all the islands and many of the indigenous tribes people, the Kuna. It was like visiting friends who moved to a new city and they are showing you around town. They love San Blas and are passionate about showing you what makes this place so great. Our days were filled with swimming, relaxing on the boat with food/drinks, visiting and learning about the Kuna, snorkeling, exploring small islands, perfect sunsets and just sailing around wherever our hearts desired! As far as the boat goes, it was a really cool smaller sail boat that only holds 4-6 people. It's not like staying on some big yacht with lots of space and lavish amenities. You are going sailing with a couple on their private boat but they make sure that you feel right at home. You can help yourself to anything they have. Staying with them in close quarters like this allows you to get to know them better too. I think this makes it a more personal and truly unique vacation/adventure experience.  Their boat was always well stocked with plenty to eat and drink. Gabriel also speared some fish and Ornella cooked it on the boat. She is like a grandma, always worried about making sure you're well fed with a beer in your hand and happy :) The islands and sea there are absolutely amazing... A truly picture perfect paradise!  We also had the chance to meet Stef, the Rep for I travel By Boat, and she helped iron out a few kinks we had in our itinerary. She was very helpful and nice! I would recommend I Travel By Boat and staying on the Ananda Lahari to any of my friends. Thank you to all of them!!... I will definitely be back!!!

Karen & I had a truly magical time on the Ananda Lahari with Gabi and Ornella.  It was the experience of a lifetime!  From spearfishing with Gabi to indulging in the culinary delights made by Ornella you couldn't ask for anything more from these wonderful hosts.  Not to mention the beautiful setting of the San Blas islands and the friendly Kunas we visited with.  We were sorry it had to end but their inspiration to us lives on. -  Bradley & Karen

Amazing experience, the boat was very clean and the captain very nice. We could not ask for anything more. 

Javi, the captain of Ni banu is great! Good Cook and excellent sailer. We had a blast!! Definetely would go again!

The trip with Capitan Andres was a very unique, amazing and absolutely special experience. Pick up was very easy and well organized and the boat was fantastic. Capitan Andres spoiled us with fresh Lobster, fish and did everything for us to feel at home. We went harpoon fishing, snorkelling and he showed us the best places for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The boat was totally clean and tidy and we always had the feeling that he took great care of us and knew what he was doing and where to go. Forget the Maldives, check in with Capitan Andres on his boat for a few days at San-Blas Islands. 

Javi and Sara were great hosts on the Ni Banu.  This part of our trip to Panama was definitely the highlight.  The big advantage of staying on the Ni Banu is that it allows you access the tiny, pristine, peaceful islands of San Blas, with their white sand, clear water, coconut trees, and Kuna huts.  Everything is included in the price:  food/drink, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and transport from the Ni Banu to the small islands.  We opted to get there from Panama City by SUV/motor boat, which of course costs extra.  They arranged all the transport for us, and even though we don't speak much spanish, we didn't have a problem.  The SUV allowed us to travel through the Kuna territory and see its natural beauty.  I'd recommend spending a day or two hiking there, we didn't have time.  The snorkeling is great and easy in clear, shallow water.  We played with baby sea turtles and saw lots of starfish.  This vacation was adventure and relaxation at its best, in a natural, nonresort way.  

3BR House