San Blas

What a wonderful way to see the San Blas islands, Chris was the perfect host always in touch & helped me organise my whole 10 day trip including a stay in a wonderful cabin in Banedup run by Ibin’s restaurant which is a must visit whilst sailing around the islands. I was completely looked after & the food prepared by Diana was excellent too. Thank you both so much I had a fantastic time💜

We had a fabulous trip! Excellent communication! This trip exceeded our expectations. We were not sure what to expect as this was our first sailing catamaran experience. After this trip it it will not be our last. As others have stated before, trust the process. Gigi, Jeffrey and Raphael were our crew hosts for the catamaran . They all went above and beyond to make sure all our needs were met. My kids have traveled the whole world and so far this trip is their favorite ! We visited a different island each day. Kids went spear fishing , we snorkeled , went paddle boarding , explored uninhabited islands, met the local Kunas , ate, drank , relaxed and sailed. The food was amazing, Gigi , is a magician in the kitchen. Kudos to Jeffrey for busting out the juggling ropes, and putting on a fire show for us the last night . Raphael was an excellent communicator before and after the trip and a great captain! We hope to come back . There are so many more islands to see!

I was on board for 3 days and had an unforgettable time! Away from all the other tourists, we had a lot of contact with locals on the islands, with which our captain has a very friendly relationship. He and his wife invited other sailors and locals of course into coffee, small snacks or dinner. In return I was warmly welcomed on all islands! My absolute recommendation! To be on a boat for a couple nights in this paradise has given the whole experience the very special touch, it's worth every penny 😍

Our family of 5 (kids 8, 6, and 3 years old) were paired with Célina, David and their two children and it was an experience none of us will ever forget. They were outstanding hosts, they made us feel so welcome, prepared us amazing food, catered to the tastes of our (sometimes picky!) children, and provided us access to some of the most amazingly beautiful islands we’ve ever seen. The boat is beautiful and very comfortable with many different “areas” it never felt like anyone was on top of each other. There were fun games for the kids that they’d never played before and loved and their son taught them some magic tricks! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip if you’re considering it. Our kids are already asking constantly when we can see them again. They are such an incredibly special family and the islands are amazingly beautiful we all feel so lucky to have shared this experience!

We booked 4 nights with Philippe and Sailing Trip Paradise and it was absolute paradise!! I have 3 kids (10, 8 and 6yo) and I wanted to stay with a Spanish speaking family with kids so they could play and explore the islands together. We got perfectly matched with Nano and his wife and 2 kids on their lovely boat and had the best time ever! It is an all inclusive with food, juice, soda, alcohol, as well as snorkeling and stand up paddle boards. Everyday we sailed to new uninhabited, white sand islands with blue turquoise water with palm trees blowing in the breeze. We went in August, the rainy season, and had daily short bursts of rain, but then hours and wonderful sunshine. We were in the warm water exploring the fish and coral reefs endlessly, going on the stand up paddle board often Island to island, with the kids diving endlessly off the back of boat giggling to their hearts content. Nano’s wife is an amazing chef and we ate delicious crab, lobster, and fish daily. The couple have traveled a lot and are great to chat with. To note the transport from Panama City to your sailboat takes about 4 hours and the prearranged transport needs to pick you up from your Panama City area hotel by 5:30am, so we arrived the day prior and enjoyed a day in the city. You’ll have a 3hr 4x4 car ride on decent roads (only the last hour is bumpy), then transfer at the port of Carti to a small motor boat that takes locals to their islands and visitors to their sail boats (about 30-60min depending where your boat is). Book the trip with Sailing Trip Paradise and be prepared for one of the best vacations of your life!

Staying was absolutely worth it! We were allowed to experience unforgettable days with a warm family in Catamaran. The food was excellent and partly freshly caught by our host! We explored the less visited part of San Blas and were usually allowed to enjoy the islands all by ourselves. While snorkeling and on the sup, we were able to marvel at a large number of animals and corals.

My partner and I are travelling the world on a 12 month sabbatical this year, and I can confidently say that the 3 days we spend on the Catamaran in San Blas have been the highlight of the year. Our assigned captain, David, struck up a perfect balance between knowledgable of the area and of managing a boat, while keeping a relaxed and engaged feel to the trip. The other member of staff, Zorana, was funny, always helpful and cooked the some really impressive restaurant-chef-level meals that I was not expecting, given we were out to sea and my partner’s vegan dietary requirements. The boat itself was clean, comfortable and had paddle boards, fishing equipment and snorkelling gear you could take out any time. We travelled slowly around 2 or 3 perfect deserted islands each day, stopping to take in the sun and meet with some locals who want to talk to you and show you their produce. As a final comment, if you’re undecided between staying on a boat and staying on one of the resorts and getting day trips around, there are several reasons I would suggest this option. (1) we went in rainy season and were able to check the forecast and easily sail to where the best weather was each day, so avoided almost all the rain (2) we had entire perfect, picturesque islands all to ourselves and saw a few times when the “tours” would arrive and 30+ backpackers would descend on an island with bbqs and loud music. That happened once on an island we were on and we simply sailed to a new island to claim for ourselves (3) while the reefs protect the islands, there are still waves and getting around on one of the local boats can leave you with bruises (you have to take one to get to the Catamaran when you arrive and leave but this way you only have to do it twice, instead of your main source of transport) (4) Everything is included so no hidden costs and having a fully stocked beer & wine fridge is a big plus! Cannot recommend this experience highly enough!

We were lucky enough to stay with Celina and David along with their two children on our 3 night trip. I don't have enough words to describe what an experience it was. Our hosts were eager to make our time a happy one. We visited the most beautiful islands and we were able to spend time with our hosts enjoying delicious meals prepared fresh by both Celina and David, playing with the children, wonderful conversations over drinks and meals, enjoying the beauty of our surroundings. It could not have been better. Celina even helped me to snorkel for the first time. My husband and my son were apprehensive at first but now it is an experience that they will always cherish. Go to San Blas! And if you get to stay with David and Celina and their children your holiday will be even better!

Be aware that the trip to get to the boat is an adventure. Car ride to launch area is 2 1/2-3 hours over rough road. The launch ride to the boat can be 1 1/2 hours in choppy wet conditions. All the arrangements for transfers are taken care of by the boat captain. Trust the system. You don’t need much other than swimsuits and tshirts. Shoes won’t be worn after arriving on the boat. Let the captain know before arrival of food preferences. Fish is a staple and very fresh.