panama to colombia sailboat

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Boat Colombia to Panama

Boat Panama to Colombia

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Immersive adventure – indigenous connection – sunset beach bash.

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• 2 SKIP LONG OCEAN CROSSINGS-NO SEASICKNESS & MORE ISLAND TIME
• 3 90% ISLAND TIME: FULLY IMMERSE IN SAN BLAS
• 4 JUST 8 HOURS BOAT TIME IN 4 DAYS
• 5 5+ ISLANDS – SLEEP ON THE ISLANDS
• 6 ENCOUNTER THE KUNA: EXPERIENCE A MAGICAL INDIGENOUS CULTURE
• 7 SNORKEL THE THIRD BIGGEST CORAL REEF IN THE WORLD
• 8 FREEDOM ON THE ISLANDS:EXPLORE AT YOUR OWN PACE
• 9 UNFORGETTABLE BONFIRE & BEACH PARTIES
• 10 DISCOVER COLOMBIAN HOTSPOTS: SAPZURRO, CAPURGANA & LA MIEL

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With San Blas Adventures most of your time is spent on the islands. Explore 5-6 beautiful San Blas Islands, soaking up hidden beaches, local culture, and clear waters as you travel from Panama to Colombia.

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How to Get from Panama to Colombia: Sailing San Blas Islands

Planning a Central and South America trip and looking for an adventure? How about sailing from Panama to Colombia via some of the world’s most beautiful tropical islands?

Sounds pretty great, right?

Spoiler alert: it is. However, there are a few things to be aware of. While the idea of travelling by sailboat on the open blue seems like a romantic and exciting way to travel, six days of boat life including 40+ hours on open water isn’t for everyone. So, if you are curious about the experience and looking for some honest insight, this is for you. Here’s how to get from Panama to Colombia by sailing the San Blas Islands- and everything to expect in between.

How to get from Panama to Colombia  

While land border crossings are easy in many places of the world, including other parts of Central and South America, it is not possible to cross by land between Panama and Colombia. At least not as a tourist.

There is, in fact, a single land border called the Darièn Gap, however, it is known as one of the unsafest land crossings in the world. While some may refer to it as a ‘road’ the fact is the highway that was meant to be was never completed. Instead, the Darièn Gap spans roughly 95 kilometres (about 60 miles) through incredibly dense jungle. No bridges, no cellphone service, and no infrastructure.

If a dangerous jungle trek isn’t enough to convince you, the knowledge of violent gangs that live in the area and often prey on those who try to cross will. Unfortunately, many South American citizens (and even citizens of other countries) still try. They pay exorbitant fees to local ‘guides’ to lead them through to the other side where they hope to make their way north for a better life. Yet despite their hopes, many don’t make it. The crossing has become a major concern with the Human Rights Watch and the UN keeps tabs on it. The hope is that both the Panamanian and Colombian governments will step in. However, for now, it remains an unsafe ‘no man’s land’ that neither country wants to get involved in.

As a result, for tourism purposes, if you want to travel between Panama and Colombia your options are to fly or go by boat. Flying is easy, but if you are up for a bit of an adventure and want to spend some time in one of the most beautiful parts of Panama, then I suggest taking the boat from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands.

Panama to Colombia: Speed Boat or Sailboat

There are two options to get from Colombia to Panama (and vice versa) by boat. The fastest is by speed boat. This is a popular choice for those who worry about getting seasick or maybe don’t have quite as much time. The trips are shorter as the mode of transportation is much faster. You still get island time, often sleeping in hammocks. However, I have heard it can still be pretty rough and bumpy and cramped- and sometimes people still do get sick. You are, after all, on the open water. Just not for as long.

The second option, which is what I did, is by sailboat. The journey takes about 6 days (weather/conditions permitting). It’s about 10 hours sailing to the San Blas Islands from the mainland, 3 days on the islands, and then 40+ hours straight sailing on the open blue once you leave the San Blas Islands. The boat serves as transportation, accommodation, and your dining room.

Sailing from Panama to Colombia Via the San Blas Islands: What to Expect

I’ll start by saying sailboat adventure sounds a little more luxurious than the speedboat option. After all, you get to sleep on the boat rather than in a hammock and it is a sailboat which is fancy, right?

Well, not so much. It really depends on the boat.

I’ll be honest. While I had an amazing time, it was not at all what I expected. I’m used to t he sailboat I rent in Greece for my group trips which is small and basic but comfortable. The boat we chose to go from Panama to Colombia, The Wildcard, however, is best described as a floating hostel dorm in a budget backpacker hostel.

Picture this: 20 people, 2 toilets, no showers, random bed allocations (including some shared situations with strangers), and basically zero privacy.  

Hey, I warned you: it was an adventure.

That being said, it was kept very clean and we all spent very little time downstairs in our ‘bunks’ anyway.

The top of the boat had a big deck with cushions and bean bag chairs. This is where we spent most of the time when we were on board. Meals (which by the way, were incredible) were served here as well. When the sun got high we created a little tent-like canopy to hide in the shade and some people even chose to sleep on the deck under the stars.

On the island days, we left the boat and spent the day swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing. We had beach BBQs, played frisbee and volleyball on the shore, and drank fresh coconuts sold by the local Kuna, the indigenous people of Panama who live on and own the islands.

If I could compare it to anything it would be like camping. Adventurous, basic, low-maintenance. Not something I want to do long term, but I had an amazing time doing it and am glad for the experience.

About the San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands are a beautiful Archipelago in Panama on the Caribbean side. There are more than 350 total islands but less than 50 are actually inhabited. These islands are considered a remote paradise. Life is slow here with little to do other than enjoy the water and the beach. Nap in a hammock, read on the beach, and snorkel the reefs. There’s quite a bit of marine life to see in the islands including sharks (I saw nurse sharks and reef sharks), rays, various reef fish, and dolphins. There are also crocodiles in the area (not joking) so don’t swim at night. However, do look at the water after dark because there is bioluminescence.

The islands are home to the native Kuna people, and while they do not live on every island they do own them so you need to be respectful at all times. Some islands will have food and drink for sale, others have accommodation options, and some are completely wild with no buildings at all. No matter what island you are on, remember that this is someone’s land. Cutting coconuts, for example, can cost you up to $100. They also have very strict rules about drones (many families don’t allow it and will charge you) so I didn’t bother bringing mine.  

Sailing from Panama to Colombia: Cost & Inclusions

Each boat has its own cost. The one I booked, Wildcard, was $660 USD (January 2024). I had to pay a $60 USD deposit to secure my space via PayPal and then I paid the rest in cash to the captain when I arrived. Again, this was a very basic boat and there are some other options that are a little nicer for a higher cost. It’s worth doing your research. I booked via BlueSailing which works with several operators so you can take a look at the options there.

For our tour, I paid extra for pickup in Panama City ($25 USD) and then did the 2-hour drive to the coast where we met with the boat. All meals for the duration of the trip were included and, again, the meals were amazing. Our chef, Manu, was a fantastic cook who made everything from hummus and tabbouleh to a lobster dinner- all in the tiny boat kitchen. Drinking water was accessible but anything else you needed to bring yourself (including alcohol if you want).

We all had a bunk with bedsheets but no towels or toiletries were provided. I made sure to choose a voyage that ended in Cartagena (there are others that end in another part of Colombia) and the trip also included all the immigration work. As a Canadian, I have to pay a visa fee for Colombia and the service did end up making me pay in cash rather than on a credit card which was how I was originally told I would pay. Thankfully, I did have the cash on me but they did upcharge me a bit which wasn’t ideal. However, nothing I could do.

What to Pack

As you can expect, with a dorm-like setup there is very little room for luggage so you’ll just want to bring the basics on board. Don’t worry though, your big suitcases and backpacks will be safely stowed in a dry space underneath. That being said, they still recommend you take any tech stuff out, just in case.

You are living on a boat in the islands for 6 days so forget about looking cute and fashionable. To be brutally honest, you’ll likely be pretty disgusting at the end too so don’t worry about re-wearing clothes so you have clean ones at the other end. Bring a couple of swimsuits (and maybe rash guards!), a couple of shirts and shorts and maybe a light sweater or long sleeve for evenings- especially if you want to sleep on the deck. The same goes with toiletries- bring the basics. And I really mean basics. Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap. Don’t expect to be able to shave or do a proper skincare routine.

Other essentials you should pack for sailing from Panama to Colombia include:

• A quick dry towel or sarong that you can use as a towel
• Reusable water bottle . An insulated one is your best bet to keep things cold.
• A reef safe sunscreen (lots of it)
• Sunscreen lip balm
• Aloe gel in case you get burnt (you probably will)
• Snorkel and mask: Boats often have some you can borrow but not enough for everyone.
• US dollars- Tips for the crew and to buy coconuts from the Kuna  

How long does sailing from Panama to Colombia take?

The trip is meant to take 6 days. Day one is departure, we left around 4pm and day 6 is a late morning arrival. You will then spend 3 days in the San Blas Islands and one full day at sea. Keep in mind this is all weather-dependant.

How long did you get in the San Blas Islands?

They say you get 3 days in the San Blas Islands but it’s more like 2 ½. Each day we went to a new island but there was a bit of sailing time (no more than 2 hours) to get to each one. On our last day on the islands, we had to leave at 4pm to start the crossing. However, it also was dark by 6:30 so we didn’t miss out on a lot of daytime. 

Did anyone get seasick?

Yes, people did get seasick even when taking medication. I did not, but I will say I felt a bit icky on our first night when I couldn’t see the waves and we had a lot of swell. Things did get pretty rough a few times, especially on the big open sea crossing. Laying down definitely helped and some people felt better sleeping on the deck with the breeze.

What were the group demographics?

Our departure was full so we had 20 people and ages ranged from 18 to 40. It was mostly solo travellers and primarily women. Overall, everyone got along and it was a really fun group. On a personal level, I think this type of travel would have been best in my broke backpacker days of my 20s rather than the type of traveller I am now in my 30s. But honestly, as long as you are friendly, can be low maintenance for a few days, and are up for an adventure you’ll fit in.

What do you mean no showers?

I really do mean no showers. So, we ‘sea showered’ as in we jumped in to get wet. Climbed back on board to shampoo and soap up, jumped back in the sea and then there was a big container of fresh water that we got a scoop of to ‘rinse’. Of course, we couldn’t do this when sailing across the open water so, not going to lie, everyone was pretty gross by the time we arrived in Cartagena. It wasn’t ideal but again, think of it as wild camping. Just the sea rather than on land.

Would you recommend it?

Without a doubt this was a very basic trip, but I really did love it. As mentioned earlier, I think it might have been more my style in my early 20s but, at 34, I still had a blast. Part of me wishes I picked a nicer boat but at the same time it was an adventure with a great group of people and I have lots of awesome memories. So would I recommend it? For sure. Now that I have done it, would I do it again? This particular trip probably not, I think I’d just go hang out in the San Blas Islands. Or, do the trip on a nicer boat (with a shower). 

Can You Visit San Blas Islands Without Sailing to Colombia?

Absolutely! If you don’t plan on going to Colombia or don’t love the idea of sailing and would rather fly but still want to see the islands, you can. There are several islands with accommodation options to stay overnight or you can even visit on a day trip. Here are some options to consider.

• San Blas Island Hopping Day Tour from Panama City 
• 3 Day San Blas Island trip from Panama
• 4 Day San Blas Island Hopping Trip

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance  here . If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend  SafetyWing . For Canadian readers, take a look at  SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend  booking.com  for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is  GetYourGuide . They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I’m a big fan of Airalo and have used their sim cards around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA. It’s really easy- you download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase. 

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my  travel essentials  and  camera gear  if you are looking for some ideas. 

Looking for a travel buddy?

Check out my group trips!

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Counting Our Footsteps

Panama To Colombia By Boat – Everything You Need To Know

Are you thinking about travelling from Colombia to Panama by Boat?

We backpacked all of Central America on our 10-month Latin America trip starting in November 2022. After reaching Panama , the next country on the list was Colombia.

We managed to not fly a single time to that point (okay, except Manchester to Cancun, but that’s quite far to swim), so we REALLY didn’t want to fly from Panama City . There is a problem there, though. The more than 100-mile-long Darien Gap. No roads go through here. It’s just an endless jungle. And not the friendly, visitable type either.

Luckily there’s another, even better option. Sailing from Panama to Colombia by boat. I’ll cover all you need to know, and mix in our own experiences to give you the accurate story behind this trip.

Which Tour Should You Book To Get From Panama To Colombia By Boat

There are some different options when looking online. The following have the best reviews, and are known for their quality:

• San Blas Adventures is the company you should consider for taking a speed boat trip through the San Blas Islands to Colombia.
• Blue Sailing should be what you’re looking for if you’d like to sail from Panama to Colombia.
• Extra: Consider the Alessandra as well! It’s a pirate-style ship sailed by the most hilarious captain I’ve ever met. I haven’t met that many though.

What To Expect From Sailing From Panama To Colombia By Boat

Ask someone to describe paradise. One will mention towering mountains and deep, colourful valleys. The other will describe islands, with crystal clear, turquoise water. A coconut in one hand, a book in the other.

Are you the second? Well. You’re in for a treat. While sailing from Panama to Colombia by boat, you will visit the San Blas Islands. One of the last untouched pieces of paradise on our planet.

What to expect of the San Blas Islands

Beauty like you’ve never seen before. The Guna, the native people of the islands, keep these sandy, palm tree-covered pearls in picturesque condition.

The Guna keep the islands clean. Which is why you sometimes need to pay a tax to enter an island. Usually this is no more than $1-$2. Very few islands have shops on them, but occasionally you’ll find you can buy beers or other drinks.

There are no buildings, no roads, nothing but a few huts and happy people.

The sea surrounding the islands is full of life. Rays, turtles, you name it. Grab a snorkel and mask and head out for a swim to find these gentle creatures.

All while the crew on the boat will provide you with meals and water. If you want any other drinks or snacks, you should get them beforehand because like I said, shops are not really a thing.

How Much Time Are You On The Islands Vs On The Boat?

This will depend on the type of trip you book. There are speedboat trips, where you don’t stay on the boat but on the island. Or, there are sailing trips where you sleep on the boat in front of an island, where you are free to come and go to the island as you’d like.

Other than that, your destination is a deciding factor. If you’re sailing to Cartagena, you have two days of open sea to get there. Which, if you get seasick like me, isn’t great.

The second option is going to Capurganá in the North of Colombia. And then travelling overland to Cartegena. Most companies include this bus journey, so while your destination is still Cartegena, you won’t have to cross the open sea. This is the option we picked.

So, to sum it up: if you take a speedboat, you’ll spend little time on the boat, and more time on the islands. If you sail, you spend more time on the boat, but still all afternoons and evenings at an island, which you are free to visit.

I consider sailing to be more fun and adventurous, but if you’re here for the island and not the sailing experience, fair enough.

Then your destination is the second thing to think of. Capurganá will mean less time on the boat, no open sea, but a long bus journey.

Cartagena will mean more time on the boat, but on the open sea so with high waves. But to make it better, no long bus journey at the end. All in all, going to Capurganá means more time on the islands because you’re not crossing the sea.

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What to expect at the border to Colombia?

Not a lot. Our experience was great. The crew took our passports to the immigration office and got us stamped. That’s it. We didn’t do a thing.

Now, it is not always the case. The crew sometimes takes you to the office to get your entry stamp. They’ll act as a translator if necessary, and help you out. Please check any visa requirements before making the trip, as this is different per country.

While we stayed on the boat with a cold rum and coke, the crew sorted everything out for us.

Where does the tour in Colombia End?

The boat trip will end in either Capurganá or Cartagena. But you’ll end up in Cartagena anyway. Just not by boat.

Again: if you suffer from seasickness, consider going to Capurganá. The open seas might not be for you.

How to travel onwards (from Capurganá, Colombia)

The best thing to do would be to book a trip that includes the journey to Cartagena as well as the boat trip.

We sailed with the infamous Alessandra and our crew (apart from the captain) got off the boat with us to travel to Cartagena. This made the whole thing a lot less stressful because they were still guiding us and taking us with them.

It’s advisable to book this journey in advance if it’s not included, but not necessary. There is a ticket office in Capurganá that’s very hard to miss because the town is tiny. It’s basically one ‘main’ street from the docks.

You can buy boat/bus tickets because there are no buses from Capurganá onwards. These tickets should cost 155,000 COP. You’ll have to travel to Necoclí first and take the bus from there. I mention Cartagena a lot because this is usually the way people travel. But from Necrolí there are buses to Medellín as well.

Check out our guide for inspiration on how to spend your time in Cartagena .

Getting to Necoclí.

To get to Necoclí you’ll have to take a speedboat. It’s best to get your bag wrapped in plastic to protect it from water since it can get quite choppy at times. They offer this service at the ticket office for $500 pesos.

The boats go twice a day. Once at 10 am, which is the one you should take because the bus will leave at 12:30.

Keep in mind that if you buy your own ticket (so not included in your trip) only 10kg of baggage is allowed. Every kilo over that will be costing you 1000 pesos. Once that’s settled, all you need to do is pay a 2,000 COP port tax on entering the dock. It’s at the small office at the start of the dock.

When you get to Necoclí, grab your bags, thank the taxi drivers for offering their services (but decline) and walk 2 streets up to the bus ‘station’. Which is nothing more than a street where the buses leave from. Enjoy the journey!

What Is Usually Included?

On the boat, all your meals will be cooked for you. Drinking water is also included, and of course, the accommodation. Most boats also have snorkelling gear which is a great little feature. The reefs around the islands are AMAZING!

What is Usually Not Included?

• The $20 Guna Yala tax is what you pay to be allowed to get to the islands.
• Alcohol and drinks other than water on board the ship
• Any snacks other than the 3 meals a day
• An occasional $1-$2 fee to use the beaches
• Any fees for visas, if applicable
• Tips for the crew

Panama To Colombia By Boat – Sailboats vs Speedboats

I’ve mentioned some pros and cons of the different types of boats already. But let’s get into detail.

Panama To Colombia By Sailboat

Sailing is the most fun but takes the longest.

How long is the journey?

The journey is normally 5 days. 3 days of San Blas Islands, and 2 days (30-50 hours depending on weather) of open sea. This will take you all the way to Cartagena.

In case of the Alessandra, you’ll end up in Capurganá, but they include the journey to Cartagena.

How much does it cost?

The prices are depending on the boat but typically range between $660 and $780 USD. This includes the whole trip, but not the Guna Yala tax.

Where do you sleep?

On the boats! This isn’t as wavy as it sounds though. You’ll be in front of an island, out of the wind and waves. I found the very gentle rocking of the ship to be beneficial for my sleep. It was like being a baby in a crib.

Panama To Colombia By Speedboat

Speedboats have their very own pros. Let’s discuss them.

4 days and 3 nights. You’ll spend most of your time on the islands and won’t cross the open sea: meaning you’ll end up in Capurganá in the North of Colombia

The speed boat trip costs $525 with San Blas Adventures. This includes the same things as the sailing boats but DOES NOT include the onward travel to Cartagena over land. The good thing about this is that you could decide to go to Medellín instead.

On the islands. Usually in hammocks in huts. There shouldn’t be many bugs, other than the occasional sand fly. But they’re easily repelled by either bug spray or baby oil.

Tips For Sailing From Panama To Colombia & Visiting The San Blas Islands

Step into a world where turquoise waters embrace pristine beaches, and time seems to slow down to the rhythm of swaying palm trees.

These are my best tips for making the most out of the experience:

Pack a small bag of essentials

You can store your big backpack away not to be seen until Colombia. Which is great – you don’t need most of it. But clean underwear, towels, and some dry clothes are essential to your trip and need to be accessible.

Chargers and cables, a book, you name it. Pack it all in a smaller, separate bag to avoid having to unpack and pack your big backpack all the time in these tiny spaces. It’s a boat. It’s not going to be spacious!

Use Reef Safe Sunscreen

The San Blas islands are magnificent. And we’d like to keep it that way, right? Sunscreen is full of chemicals that harm marine life. The San Blas is located on the third biggest barrier reef in the world, so let’s help protect it as much as we can.

Water Bottle

You’ll have access to clean drinking water on the boats. But it’s nice to have your own bottle, instead of a small cup that you keep having to refill. Take your bottle to the islands and avoid being thirsty!

❗️ We use Water-To-Go bottles on ALL of our travels. Safe drinking water from ANY fresh water source. Taps, rivers, lakes, you name it.

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Sea sickness tablets

I couldn’t be a pirate. I get seasick in a pool. Okay, it’s not THAT bad, but I can feel pretty rough on the seas.

Dramamine seems to be the fix for this usually. Except for the day we went out in a storm, and the boat was rocking so bad we couldn’t even see the horizon on one side or the other. I think I lasted about 15 minutes. What a day that was.

Anyway, it’s just nice to have. Even if you’re not prone to motion sickness, it can get VERY rough. Even Callie was not well. And she has never been seasick before. It was exceptionally stormy that day though.

We even had to spend an extra night on one of the islands because we just couldn’t continue. What a shame right? Stuck in paradise.

Take a dry bag

A bag that stays dry, that is. Well, on the inside, not necessarily the outside. We had a few small ones with us while travelling, and these proved handy when we did the journey from Panama to Colombia by boat.

We occasionally swam from the boat to an island and wanted to take our phones for pictures. And some money to buy fresh coconuts of course! Not having a dry bag meant this wouldn’t be possible.

Even if you took the dinghy to shore (a small boat meant to travel between the main boat and shore), the splashes could still cause problems. Just imagine your fancy camera getting ruined when you could’ve prevented that with a $5 dry bag?!

When Is The Best Time To Visit The San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands have a few seasons. But not the ones you’re thinking of. Summer and winter are not a thing. Rainy, dry, and windy seasons are, however.

Between January and May is considered to be the dry season. Little to no rain, and great blue sunny skies as a result. Amazing!

Windy season is from mid-December to April. Which means there is a bit of an overlap there. mid-April to the end of May would be the best time to travel. But, the wind is only an issue on the sea. The first couple of days from Panama should be fine. And if you’re sleeping on the boat, it’ll be covered from the wind behind an island.

Crossing the open sea to Cartagena will not be a pleasant experience in the windy season. Well, at least from my motion-sick perspective. I bet it’s an experience you’ll never forget if you can stomach it.

Other Ways To Get From Panama To Colombia

Sailing is the best way, if you love adventure and paradise. I think I should have convinced you of that by now. But it’s not the only.

Of course. You can fly. But where’s the fun in that?! You might absolutely hate boats. Or sand. Or get incredibly seasick. Flying is also better if you’re short on time. The boat trip could take a day extra. Or even two days if you’re (un)lucky.

If you’re flying, you’ll probably go from Panama City. Flying is cheaper than sailing as well, unfortunately.

Anyway, if you’re keen to take the plane, I suggest using SkyScanner for the best ticket deals.

Crossing the Darien Gap

I’ll be very short on this one. Don’t do it. It’s dangerous.

Panama To Colombia By Boat FAQs

I’m confident I’ve given all the information you need to make the decision to sail or not. Hopefully, you’re positively inspired! To take every single question away from you, here are the frequently asked questions (and answers!).

Can you visit the San Blas Islands on your own?

Technically, yes, But I’m not sure you should. It’s not possible to take a taxi to the port. You either need to drive yourself in a 4WD, or get a specific driver who is allowed to make the trip by the local government.

You will also need to pre-book your accommodation. From the port, you can easily take a boat to your island of destination.

Can you cross the Darien Gap by car?

The name “gap” comes from the fact that there is “nothing” there. Just rainforest. There are no roads, and as such, you can’t drive through the Darien Gap.

How do you pay for the boat trip?

All boat trips generally require an upfront deposit. Normally via PayPal or credit card. This is between $50 and $100. The rest of the payment will be done in cash, to the captain of the boat.

How much luggage can we bring on the Boat?

This differs per boat. On some it’s not specified, on others, it’s 25kg per person. Please check your baggage allowance before booking a trip! Going from Panama to Colombia by boat, you don’t need that much anyway. Unless this is part of a longer trip, of course.

Are there any extra fees or charges on the islands?

On some, yes. A few islands have introduced a $1 or $2 tax for using the beaches. They keep the beaches tidy and clean in return. Obviously, it’s only a small payment for using their beautiful islands.

We’ve visited multiple islands and only had to pay $1 each on 1 of them.

Do you need to bring any extra cash?

Yes, for the previously mentioned tax and if you need to buy anything on any of the islands. Some of them sell fresh coconuts or cold beer. Which finishes the image of paradise already painted in our heads.

What currency do I need in Panama?

Panama, Along with their own currency, uses US Dollars. Their own currency is called Balboa and is always worth exactly $1. It’s basically the same thing, in Panama.

Are the boat tours family-friendly?

Yes! But some boats are ‘party’ boats full of young backpackers. So they might not be your thing. On our trip, we had a great mix of young and older, and from all parts of the world. Germans, Brits, Americans and more.

What should I pack for the trip?

Are you travelling onwards after the boat journey? Or are you just coming over for this trip? Anyway, you won’t need much on the boats. It’s warm, it’s sunny, and it’s the sea. So, swimwear, some dry clothes, and entertainment for the evenings like books or games, towels, and snacks. If you’d like any other drink than water you should take this as well.

Our Experience from Panama to Colombia by Boat

Storytime! We did this trip with a pirate ship called the Alessandra on March 30th 2023. I can safely say it was one of our best experiences in Central America!

Our first island was the most magical. Not because it was the prettiest, because it wasn’t, but because we finally started to realize how big of a treat we were in for. It was stunning – the water was clearer than you can ever imagine. And the beaches were whiter than a celebrity’s fake teeth.

It was like stepping straight into a postcard. I couldn’t believe it. I knew it was going to be good, but oh my! We got to know the people we would be spending the next 4 days with. A nice mix of different characters.

The islands were incredible. One even prettier than the other. As we were sailing to the next, we got company. A pod of curious dolphins decided our boat was worth investigating – they swam with us for what felt like an eternity. Jumping up and doing barrel rolls as they surfed the waves the Alessandra was creating in the water.

The first night was great too. We had some great food and somebody brought a game to play together. The vibe was amazing.

The next day would be very similar. After a good night’s rest in a very gently rocking boat we went on to the next islands. Halfway through we hit a short storm. Hard wind, MASSIVE waves and heavy rain. It was quite the experience. But after about 20 minutes, it was all gone. And as we arrived at the next island, the sky was perfectly clear again. Which was unexpected, at least for us. The captain told us it would be fine.

The rest of the day was similar to the first. Visiting gorgeous beaches, drinking rum straight from coconuts, laying in hammocks and snorkelling with big rays.

At the start of the next day, however, the captain realised the waves were too big to head off. And you could definitely see them crashing on the reefs in the distance. It was a little frightening. So. After we spent all day in paradise, the captain decided we had to stay put for another day. Bummer. Or not.

On day 4 we headed to the southernmost point of Panama. And this was the worst time I’ve ever spent on a boat. The waves were still very big, rocking the ship so hard that I got sick almost instantly. And after I went, others joined. We all sat there for hours. Holding on to the railing so we wouldn’t slide, with a bucket next to us. Please let this be over soon.

Luckily, it didn’t last all day. We arrived about 3 pm at yet another island, which was not part of San Blas, to stay for the night. To make the border crossing in the afternoon of day 5. Which the crew handled for us. We didn’t even get off the boat. Which, apparently after hearing other stories, is not the way it normally goes.

Day 6 consisted of the journey to Cartagena, and after that horrific day on day 4, I was incredibly happy this was over land. We took a very fast speed boat to Necroclí and had a bus waiting for us there. All were arranged by the Allesandra crew.

We arrived in Cartagena late. Tired. And smelly. Because the boats have no showers.

It was an experience I will never forget. The beauty, and the waves, will be ingrained in my mind forever. Even though that one day was harsh, I had the time of my life. And would advise going from Panama to Colombia by boat.

Panama To Colombia By Boat – Final Thoughts

SURELY I have convinced you of the greatness of this boat trip. And if not, I have at least given you all the information you need to make a decision on this trip.

Speedboats, sailing ships, Cartagena, Capurganá. I have discussed a lot. But if there are any more questions, feel free to shoot us a message !

Read more about Panama:

• Starfish Beach Panama – A Complete Guide
• Where to Stay in Panama City in 2024 – Best Areas & Neighbourhoods
• Is Panama Worth Visiting in 2023 – Reasons To Visit & Not To Visit
• Hiking The Lost Waterfalls, Boquete – A Complete Guide
• How To Get From Boquete to Panama City

Read more about Colombia:

• Medellin to Guatape – How To Get There & 15 Best Things To Do
• 3 Days In Salento, Colombia – The Perfect Itinerary
• Medellin vs Cartagena – Guide To Colombia’s Most Popular Cities

Guido is the co-founder and author of Counting Our Footsteps. He has travelled to 40 countries so far all over the world and is currently exploring Europe in his self-built campervan.

BOAT FROM PANAMA TO COLOMBIA

The ultimate san blas islands trip, your san blas island adventure starts here.

Step into another world with our 3-day island hopping boat trip from Panama to Colombia .

Forget sailing through rough seas, with our trip you will be spending the majority of your time exploring tropical islands and an ancient culture. We travel in a typical speedboat along all 365 of the San Blas islands , taking you to uninhabited, tropical islands that noone else goes to, to colorful coral reefs and to Kuna villages where you can get up close with our indigenous Kuna culture. Time on the boat is limited to 2-3 hours per day, instead you’ll be soaking up the sun and beaches!

Panama to Colombia off the beaten track

As a local business, we invite you onto the trip of your lifetime: explore in a small group the best the San Blas islands have to offer while supporting the local communities and making connections with like-minded travelers.

• Visit deserted islands
• Explore an indigenous culture
• Sleep in traditional cabins on the beach
• Support local communities
• Small groups
• Local Kuna guides knowledgable in our culture
• Delicious seafood

What to expect

We travel in a speed boat from island to island , starting in Cartí in San Blas, Panama, to Sapzurro in Colombia . Travel times between islands are short – we want to maximize island time.

The trip fare includes the boat ride, all meals, accommodation in traditional cabins on two islands, stops on islands and villages and support for crossing the border into Colombia.

Start in Carti, San Blas. Discover some of the most beautiful of the San Blas islands. At night, sleep in a traditional cabin right next to the beach and enjoy the endless night sky.

Today, we explore the Kuna culture. We visit a Kuna village for lunch and will sleep in a Kuna village at night. Learn about our traditional dances and lifestyle.

After a final island stop, we hop onto the boat and towards Colombia. We take care of the complex border formalities for you when leaving Panama. Our tour ends in the afternoon in Sapzurro, Colombia.

Hear from our guests

Living and traveling through Kuna culture was one of the most incredible sensations found on this overland journey in Central America

It was a fun three-day trip full of authentic experiences and impressions that are rarely found anywhere else in the world.

“I opted to use the services of a Kuna-based company, San Blas Frontera, to be sure that my money would end up staying within the community . As well as meeting the Kuna communities , I was also lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful, sandy beach with not a care in the world. A different sunny island for each day of the year – definitely something I could get used to!”

We had a unique and unforgettable evening and are very grateful that we could be part of it ! Thanks to Luis and his company!

Discount 10% Off

Book your ultimate San Blas Islands boat tour from Panama to Colombia now – we offer early bird specials and discounts for large groups!

Sailing Panama To Cartagena

Five night san blas island adventure .

Five Nights Accommodation On Board

All Meals, Tea, Coffee And Water

Standard Immigration Agent And Port Fees

• One Fresh Lobster/Seafood Meal

Not Included

Visas If Required

Guna Yala Tourist Tax $20.00 USD

• Alcoholic Drinks
• Transport To Departure Location

The length of the trip and what islands you will visit will depend on the weather and the anchoring conditions. You will likely visit 3 – 5 groups of islands and depart the boat in Cartagena after 5 nights.

Our standard trips start early afternoon from Puerto Lindo. This means on average you will get much more recreation time in San Blas compared to boats collecting passengers in the islands and only providing 4 nights. Transport costs are also much lower to get to Puerto Lindo, so our trip is easily one of the best value available as well as one of the longest running.

Please see the sample itinerary below. Note that changes may be forced due to circumstances out of our control.

Departure: Puerto Lindo

A member of crew will meet you in Puerto Lindo.

Most people choose to arrive by specially arranged group transport from Panama City (25.00 USD per person) which will take you directly to the meeting point. Passengers arriving independently will be given instructions where and when to meet.

After a trip briefing, everyone will board the boat and to set sail towards the islands.

San Blas Islands

This will be your first day in the San Blas islands. Normally this day is spent exploring islands in the western part of the archipelago.

Chichime and El Porvenir are some of the popular locations in this area.

Another full day in San Blas. This time you will head further east towards the outer, more secluded islands. We prefer visiting these islands as there are generally less tourists here, more chilled and cleaner. The noisy tourist speedboats can’t get here either and as such are some of the best anchorages in the San Blas islands.

The final day in San Blas before heading towards Cartagena.

Coco Bandero is a favourite place to stop on this final day to relax before setting off in the afternoon, beyond the islands and onward to Cartagena.

This whole day and night will likely be spent on the open ocean. Hopefully you will have a smooth crossing, however make sure you pack some sea sickness medication anyway!

This part of the trip is normally 35 – 40 hours

Arrival: Cartagena de Indias

You should arrive to Cartagena, Colombia in the morning or early afternoon.

After breakfast and completion of the official formalities, you will leave the boat at Club Natico Marina , a short taxi to the main hostel area of Getsemani and the touristic old town of Cartagena.

The immigration paperwork is completed by an agent and can take several hours. An afternoon or evening meeting will be arranged at a local bar or hostel where your passports will be returned back to you.

Panama City To Puerto Lindo

Group transfer $25.00 per person.

A direct group shuttle transport will be available from Panama City early on the morning of your departure.

You can be collected from any centrally located hostel/hotel and will be taken directly to the meeting point in Puerto Lindo.

Make sure you have everything you need for the trip and cash before you leave the city.

Public Transport $12.00 Per Person

Public transport can only be used if you are planning on leaving from Panama City at least the day the day before departure.

It is not possible to leave Panama City on departure morning by public transport, you will not make it on time.

You will need to make sure you have all cash before you leave the city. No banks or ATM facilities are available in Puerto Lindo.

What To Expect

General comfort.

We provide an island hopping adventure boat tour. Our boats are not luxury charter vessels or romantic honeymoon voyages. Privacy and space is limited and the trip is only suitable for open minded adventure travellers and backpackers.

You will be travelling in a tropical climate. Fans are provided in sleeping areas however it still might get hot. Hatches may need to be closed for safety reason when the boat is sailing limiting the amount of fresh breeze entering the boat.

The trip involves offshore sailing, therefore fresh water must be conserved for safety reasons. A rinse down shower may be possible once during the trip depending on the levels in the fresh water tank.

We consistently get great reviews about our food. You certainly won’t go hungry on this trip. We can accommodate, vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten free diets at no extra charge, however it is not possible to make separate meals if there are certain ingredients you don’t like.

In case you have an allergy it is important to know both of our boats have friendly canine crew members on board. We may also be able to take passengers travelling with dogs as well on some trips.

It is very rare that we have any issues resulting in a delay, however it does happen from time to time. We do not recommend booking if you have a tight schedule or without travel insurance.

Sailing time is only possible when the conditions are right. Too strong, not enough wind or wind in the wrong direction may not make it possible. The boat also has a schedule to keep to as well.

We have snorkel sets to share as well as a stand up paddle board, hammocks and beach/water toys. The crew can also help arrange a village tour and beach party bonfire when possible.

San Blas, Guna Yala

Guna Yala is an autonomous territory or ‘comarca’ comprised of approximately 350 islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. The inhabitants of the ‘San Blas Islands’, as they are commonly called are indigenous people with their own laws, language, congress and distinct culture.

Our boats have been sailing in the region for ten years, running popular backpacker sailing trips to between Colombia and Panama. The boat has a great relationship with the inhabitants of the islands who always provide a warm welcome when we arrive.

San Blas Sailing Panama to Colombia: Speedboat or Sailboat Trip?

Posted on Last updated: March 12, 2020

So, you’ve made the decision to take care of your border crossing by sailing Panama to Colombia. Good choice! As a border you can only cross by sea or air, it can be tough to decide how you want to travel from Colombia and Panama. But, if you consider that paying a bit more will allow you to have the experience of a lifetime and be able to see the most picturesque little islands the world has to offer, it’s honestly a no-brainer. People pay hundreds to do San Blas Sailing tours without a border crossing being involved, so this really is just killing two birds with one stone.

I recently sailed Panama to Colombia with San Blas Adventures , and it was one of my favorite adventures to date. This trip is not like many other Sailing Panama to Colombia tours, because the trip operates via speedboat. When I was weighing my options between taking a speedboat tour and a sailboat tour, I had a lot to consider!

Don’t miss my Complete Panama Backpacking Guide if you’re traveling around the area!

After doing much research on the different ways of sailing Panama to Colombia, and personally deciding on a speedboat tour, I thought that I would contrast the options for you here to help you in your decision as well. It’s a choice many backpackers must make, so hopefully this makes it a bit easier! Just make sure you do the San Blas sailing rather than flying. Trust me, this is a place you’ll want to see, and making a 4 day all-inclusive trip out of it is truly the way to go. I haven’t met a single person who thought otherwise! You’ll never forget visiting the San Blas islands.

Before you go to Colombia, make sure to brush up on your Colombian slang so you’re fully prepared – there are quite a few differences between Panamanian and Colombian Spanish!

Check out my other Panama content while you’re here (they open in a new tab!):

• Complete Panama Backpacking Guide
• San Blas Adventures Speedboat Trip Panama to Colombia Overview
• Things to do in Bocas del Toro: Travel Guide for Every Kind of Traveler
• Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro 
• Lost & Found: An Adventure Hiking Hostel in Panama’s Jungle
• Tribal Gathering Festival Review + Guide

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Boat Time + Seasickness

With a speedboat tour sailing between Panama and Colombia, you are on the boat for 1-3 hours per day, and a total of 8 hours in the 4 days. The boat time here is for a transfer – you may (probably will) get wet depending on weather, that is the price you pay for getting the transport time over with quickly.After the 1-2hrs, you are then are back on the islands with freedom to roam, swim, and relax.

Seasickness is not common due to this less boat time, and also because of the speed of the boat. Rather than slowly wave and bob around with the sea on a sailboat (which is what causes most seasickness), speedboats cut through the water much quicker. It can be VERY bumpy but the motion is much different and usually not as nauseating.

On a sailing boat between Panama and Colombia, you live and stay on the boat. The boats will dock up near islands for the day/night which you can make trips to, but you always return to the boat to eat and sleep. On sailboats you of course also have a two day open ocean crossing between the San Blas islands and Cartagena, where you don’t leave the boat at all.

This may be a problem for people who get seasick – many people opt out of sailing Panama to Colombia via sailboat because the 2 day ocean crossing can get very rough. There is also a 7-8 hour crossing from the dock to the first San Blas islands, taking up a large chunk of the first day. So basically, you spend 2.5 days in the northern San Blas Islands.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Amount of San Blas Islands Seen

On a San Blas Adventures speedboat tour, you get to boat through all 365 San Blas islands from the northernmost to southernmost. You remain very close to the Panamanian coast the entire time. Through your speedboat journey and different island visits, you get to see all the beautiful little tiny islands and how the landscape actually changes a bit from north to south.

The north has all beautiful flat pancake islands, and as you get towards the south they are a bit larger and more hilly with more mangrove forests. These tours are also the only ones who actually get to see the more untouched and authentic southern San Blas islands. All the San Blas sailing tours from Panama City see the north islands, but when you get down south you will see villages and islands that are much more unaffected by tourism, making the experience that much more special in my opinion.

Sailboat San Blas sailing tours spend their first three nights in the northern section of the San Blas islands, going between islands in the first section (of three). The San Blas Islands are all located next to Panama, so once you leave this area there are no more islands to be seen.

Because this is the most direct place to sail to Cartagena from, these trips sail from Panama to Colombia directly from the northernmost part of the San Blas area.

They spend more time relaxing around the northern and most touristic area, but do not see all the islands or the more authentic southern part of San Blas.

Distant Sailboats mooring up near northern islands for the night.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Island Time

With a speedboat tour, you will spend all of each day on the islands besides 1-3 hours of boat transfer. You eat, sleep, live, and do everything on the islands and always have freedom of movement. There aren’t many times in life you have tons of time to explore and relax on picture-perfect little islands that you can see from end to end – the photo opportunities are truly endless and you will never be able to believe it’s real life!

When sailing Panama to Colombia via sailboat, you take day trips from the boat to islands but must return to the boats to sleep and eat. You spend quite a lot of time on the islands during the 2-3 initial days, and have most of the days to explore around them and relax. But, all of your belongings and all the eating and sleeping are on the water.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Boat, Food, and Tour Quality:

When you book a speedboat tour, all the tours offer the same exact product. So this way, there’s no uncertainty between dates or boats. All tours will go to the same or similar islands, serve fantastic food, see the authentic and untouched village, sleep in the comfy colorful dorms/hammocks, and use similar speedboats with set timings.

You don’t need to be uncertain of any quality on a Panama-Colombia speedboat tour because you can expect a high quality every time.

With sailboat trips, the quality is much different on each boat. Because the sailing Panama to Colombia tour companies are simply agencies for different boats and captains, one tour can be a fancy catamaran while the next is a sketchy little boat where water splashes in as you sleep (I actually heard of this happening once!!). With each captain/boat comes a total different tour, food, and experience, so it’s sometimes like playing roulette.

You can research what boat to take beforehand and try to time your schedule with a good one if you want, but it is sometimes (depending on the company you go through) not as easy to access information and reviews on each captain and boat to make sure your experience is a good one.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Indigenous Interaction

On a speedboat San Blas sailing trip, you get more culture and immersion with the indigenous people throughout all islands. There are families or owners on most of the islands you visit, with whom you get to interact and learn. On one of the nights in the southern San Blas, you even spend a night in dorms in a Kuna village.

On this night you play with the kids, meet the locals, listen to an elder speak about the people, eat Kuna food, and even see a performance if you are lucky! This really helps you understand the fascinating culture and how they live their day to day lives. Read more about my experience with the Kuna people in my San Blas Adventures review.

Depending on the captain and boat, you may have more or less indigenous interaction. There will be families and locals on certain islands where you stop for a day trip and they may be selling some crafts, but it’s not as immersive.

Sailing Panama to Colombia Tours won’t stay in an actual Kuna Village or see the more untouched areas of the archipelago. Indigenous interaction also depends heavily on the captain of the boat you get and if he/she has any ties with specific Kuna people or islands.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Tour Ending Point

Speedboat adventures end in a tiny Colombian village called Capurgana , which is right over the Panamanian border and use past the end of the San Blas Islands/Kuna Yala territory. This village is beautiful and remote and has no cars – only horse-drawn carts! You will need to purchase your onward travel from Capurgana, which is about $60 to Medellin or Cartagena.

However, you will have seen one of the most untouched places in Colombia that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen because it’s only accessible via air or sea. The speedboat company should be able to help you with booking accommodation, onward travel, and recommendations for the area too! Chances also are that you will continue traveling with new friends from your trip – my group traveled together afterwards for weeks.

Read my guide to Capurgana here to see what it’s like! 

Sailing boats between Panama and Colombia end in Cartagena, a big city on Colombia’s coast which is on most people’s travel routes. This is a major convenience factor, and it nice to be able to end in a bigger city without having to worry about traveling there.

Ending in Cartagena however does cost you a 2 day ocean crossing, and missing out on most of San Blas and a true Colombian highlight. It’s always a give and a take!

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Group Size

Speedboat groups can reach up to 25 people in size, and are generally between 15-25. Of course sometimes bookings are lower than others and there can be smaller groups, but groups will always be on the island together and sail in 1-2 speed boats for transit time. Passengers are generally from all over the world and offer a great environment to meet new friends.

Group size depends fully on the boat- usually around 6-16 people and up to 25. Each boat will be an independent tour by themselves, and the group you’re with on the boat will be with you the whole way. Passengers are also usually from a wide variety of countries offering a very social and immersive situation.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Social Aspect

Because you spend most of your time on the islands, you are able to choose how social you want to be when on a speedboat tour. You can go and read under a palm tree alone, or you can hang out with people whenever you please.

You spend most of your time on the boat so you generally are around your group at all times without too much of a possibility to go off on your own if you feel you want some alone time – besides when you’re on the islands!

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Giving Back to the Community

San Blas Adventures in known for its responsible tourism and gives back to the community through various different initiatives and working directly with the Kuna People. One of the owners is Kuna, enabling the company to forge close and mutually beneficial relationships with many different families and communities.

Most of passenger fares stay directly within the local communities. Fares go toward using Kuna accommodations, Kuna boats, Kuna fusion food, Kuna guides, Kuna construction workers, and more, and committees are formed to help communities with changes they would like to see made. San Blas Adventures also has initiatives to help with recycling, teach permaculture farming, and bring water filtration systems, and they are working towards a zero waste goal as well. I was super impressed by this repertoire of responsible tourism, and thought you might be too!

Most sailing Panama to Colombia tours via sailboat will visit a few communities, but don’t have much to do with them other than that. Some tours may give back quite a lot while others have little to do with the communities. Again, it depends fully on the boat captain and anything they personally do to help out the indigenous or personal relationships they may have.

Sailboat tours will use their own food and of course accommodation, and the fares will usually stay with the captain, agency, and possibly inhabitants of an island or two just for daytime use.

Speedboat or Sailing Panama to Colombia: Accommodation

Speedboat sail Panama to Colombia tours will be accommodated in either hammocks or dorm beds. These will be in huts that are open to the warm island air with space to move around if you need but will be close to one another. Personally, I felt a bit worried about sleeping in hammocks but I got so used to them that I missed them when I got to the dorm!

The boat is where you stay for the 4 nights while sailing from Panama to Colombia. It’s important to note that rooms will not necessarily be private and sometimes there will be bunks in the ‘saloon’ of the ship. Depending on what boat you get, space may be very limited – enabling you to really get to know those around you! However, some boats may have private double rooms – again, it depends on what boat you get.

Anyway, I hope this comparison has helped you decide whether you want to take a speedboat or a sailboat in your voyage sailing Panama to Colombia! I’m sure you will enjoy your trip either way – wishing you an amazing trip with lots of adventures & sunsets! 🙂

Remember to Pin this!

Thanks to San Blas Adventures for hosting me on a speedboat trip. Of course, all words are my own and I couldn’t have loved my trip more.

Capurgana Colombia Travel Guide: Colombia's Hidden Caribbean Gem

Thursday 24th of May 2018

[…] small village, I quickly understood that the charm of this place is even more reason to book a speedboat tour between the two […]

The Best Way Panama to Colombia: San Blas Adventures Speedboat Trip

Thursday 17th of May 2018

[…] If you want to weigh the options more fully, click here for my complete comparison of speedboat and sailboat trips between Panama and Colombia.  […]

Miss Filatelista

Sunday 13th of May 2018

I'd love to do this journey via boat! I went to San Blas back in 2009 and it's still one of my most cherished travel memories as I spent my time on a remote island where just one family lived and played in insanely clear water that was full of amazing aquatic life.

That sounds like the San Blas islands alright! :) Sound like an amazing trip! Now next time to do the border crossing too!

Amanda Tran

Saturday 12th of May 2018

A very thorough comparison. We opted to do it by speedboat and loved it. We couldn't do a sailboat because my husband gets seasick. Glad you covered that aspect in the post!

Thank you! Ah, that's awesome you did the speedboat trip as well! definitely better for the seasickness!

Monday 7th of May 2018

I love reading a post where two excellent options are contrasted in such an awesome way, Kimmie! If I ever explore this part of the world, I would definitely decide for a speedboat tour. I really enjoyed your post!

Thanks so much Lydia! :) Glad you enjoyed it and glad you might want to try it one day... I couldn't recommend it more! :) Cheers!

Privacy Overview

Sail San Blas Islands: Journey from Panama To Colombia

If you’re searching for adventure in Central America, you must sail from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas islands. While you can travel by plane or boat to get from Panama to Colombia, sailing for six days with new friends is an adventure you’ll never forget. 

San Blas Sailing Trip to Colombia

When I set out to travel from Panama to Colombia via sailboat, I had no idea the experience I was in for. The journey started in Puerto Lindo, Panama, where I met the captain of Sailing Koala X, a 54-foot sailboat we would call home for the next few days. 

Here, I met the other 11 passengers, travelers from all over the world. Although we started as strangers, we became lifelong friends after the journey. I ended up traveling with some of my new friends in Colombia for the next few weeks. 

• Top Experiences on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast

Sail San Blas to Cartagena

The first leg of the journey is like a dream as you sail through paradise via the San Blas Islands. There are 378 islands in the San Blas archipelago located in the Northwest of Panama in the Caribbean sea. The islands are spectacular and an ideal place to find inspiration, explore the coral reef and learn about the Kuna culture from the people who live there. 

Over the next three days, we embraced boat life. During the day, we swam in the pristine water and island-hopped, and by night we played games and enjoyed meals together. 

Some of the islands are so small you can walk around them in just a few minutes, and most of the time, they were empty during our visit. You can also visit the San Blas islands during a day trip, but I heard this can get very crowded.

Living on a boat 

The first few days include kayaking, traveling by dingy to smaller islands and snorkeling. The next part of the journey consists of sailing in the open ocean for 36 hours to Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. 

Meals on board 

The food on the trip was delicious and made with love! We ate three delicious meals a day, including freshly caught fish. The staff on board made sure everyone ate well and had a wonderful time. (If you have any food allergies or restrictions, just let the crew know, and they will be more than accommodating.)

Expenses – Sailing from Panama to Colombia Costs

The trip costs $550 US per person. 

It includes:

• Food + water: Our crew cooked delicious feasts every time. 
• Kayaks + snorkel gear
• Immigration: The captain takes care of getting our passport stamps for the border crossing. 
• There is an additional $20 US (Kuna tax) to visit the islands.

You are more than welcome to bring any food or drinks on board. You can also arrange to travel from Cartagena, Colombia to San Blas, Panama by boat.

Day 1: Leaving Panama 

We arrived in Puerto Lindo at 11 am at Casa Restaurant X and waited here for several hours. 

Once we got onto the sailboat, we were assigned our rooms, had dinner, and set sail to Porvenir at night. It took a while to get used to being on a boat in the open ocean. I didn’t take any seasickness pills on the first night, but I highly suggest you do! 

We sailed through bioluminescent waters, and I spent several hours at night outside, trying to escape the heat of the small closet-sized room. 

Day 2: Arriving in San Blas, Porvenir to Chichime Island

As soon as I woke up, chef and crew member Robin had coffee and breakfast ready to go! What a treat!

On day 2, we got our first opportunity to swim in San Blas. This was also the first time we met people from the Kuna tribe when they approached the boat selling fish. We shared some of our breakfast with the kids, and the ladies showed us the beautiful traditional bracelets they make.

We also turned in your passports to the captain and didn’t get them back until the boat arrived in Cartagena.

Day 3: Chichime to Banedup Island

Sailing from island to island feels like a dream. And a breeze in comparison to the open water. 

When we arrived at the next island, we took out kayaks and started exploring. We found several starfish in the water here. At night we had a BBQ dinner on the island and got to learn more about the Kuna tribe from Diana, a local woman who lives on the island.

Day 4: Banedup to Maoky Island

After visiting the San Blas Islands, you’ll find it tough to say goodbye to Panama, but there is always an adventure around the corner when you’re traveling alone. We went snorkeling and spent time on the island before mentally preparing for the long journey ahead. 

My best advice is to put on your most comfortable clothes and try to get as much sleep as possible.

Day 5: Try to sleep through the next 36 hours at sea

If you forget to bring seasickness pills, chances are someone on the boat will have extra. But it’s highly suggested to bring your own. 

Plan to eat light, sleep a lot, and find a comfortable space on the boat. It’s tough to move around the sailboat without getting tossed around, but most of us managed to survive the ride without getting sick. 

Day 6: Arriving in Cartagena, Colombia

Day six is the longest day and night of the trip. We woke up to calm seas and caught our first glimpse of Colombia. 

My favorite part of the trip was seeing dolphins swimming alongside the boat in the morning as we approached Colombia. A few hours later, we arrived at Club Nautico in Cartagena around noon and waited approximately an hour to get our passports back.  

What to bring 

You won’t need much, and you won’t have much space on the boat to shuffle through your bag. Pack a small bag with a towel, sunscreen, hat, bathing suit, seasickness pills, toiletries, coconut oil, a light jacket, and comfortable clothes. 

You aren’t allowed to wear shoes on the boat, so pack them away. Bring snacks to share, and any alcoholic beverages you’d like to drink. 

Conclusion 

The San Blas Islands are spectacular and an ideal place to find inspiration, snorkel, and learn about the Kuna culture. It will be an experience you’ll never forget.

Ps. If you get easily seasick, you may want to fly instead.

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3 thoughts on “Sail San Blas Islands: Journey from Panama To Colombia”

Don’t see the link, but is it the Blue Sailing one?

Hi there, Sailing Koala X and Fabian was the captiain. I just linked it.

Hi, which company or organizer did you use?

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A Boat Trip from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands

Last Updated on January 5, 2016 by Jon Algie

If you want to travel from Panama to Colombia (or Colombia to Panama) you have three options:

1) Take a boat from Panama to Colombia via the amazing San Blas islands

2) Walk through the wild jungles of the Darien Gap. Living to tell the tale isn’t guaranteed!

3) Fly (probably the least exciting option).

As you’ve probably guessed, we decided to take a boat tour from Panama to Colombia with San Blas Adventures . This differs hugely from the more common option of taking a 5 day yacht trip where you’ll spend a lot of time at sea. We spent about 8 hours on the water over the 4 day trip which gave us more time to relax and explore some tiny Caribbean islands. Here’s what to expect on this island hopping 4 day boat trip from Panama to Colombia (or Colombia to Panama).

The beaches

Even if you don’t make the journey from Panama to Colombia I’d strongly advise you to spend a few days exploring the San Blas Islands. The beaches were the best we saw in Central America (by a long way) and there isn’t a resort to be seen. White sand and bright blue water are the main features on these tiny, unspoilt Caribbean islands – you might even get to see dolphins playing just off shore like we did.

Further reading : I wrote a post about the islands we visited during the tour , check it out!

How does all you can eat lobster sound? That was our dinner on the first night and I made sure I got my money’s worth – I might never have the option of gorging on that much lobster again in my life! The rest of the meals were good as well but couldn’t quite live up to the amazing start. Nutella even made a welcome appearance for breakfast one morning; we’d avoided it in Central America as it was really expensive.

We got picked up in Panama City in a jeep for the scenic trip to the Caribbean coast and from there we travelled on speed boats all the way to Colombia. We didn’t go out to the deep blue sea; land was visible the whole time and the water wasn’t too rough. I think we were lucky as the group before us apparently had a few bumpy rides; definitely bring sea sickness tablets! I’ve heard horror stories about the rough 40 hour ocean voyages that the yacht trips make – we were definitely glad we took the speed boat option.

Group tours can be pretty hit and miss; it all depends on the people you’re with. We had a great group and a couple of laid back guides which made the tour a good fit for almost anyone. At times we drunk with the party crowd but we had plenty of “couple time” on deserted Caribbean beaches. There was no pressure to socialise 24 hours a day and the whole atmosphere was really relaxed. We were determined to find out if this tour was suitable for couples as well as young backpackers and it definitely is (it may depend on the group you’re with the though). The guides were also great and didn’t organise activities all the time; when you’re on beaches as good as these you want plenty of time to relax.

The sleeping arrangements

We slept on three different islands; two nights in hammocks and one in a cabin that we shared with another couple. I’d never slept in a hammock (well, not for a whole night at least) and it took a bit of getting used to. There were also a lot of mosquitoes around so make sure you bring some repellent and maybe your own mosquito net if you have one. Having a bed to sleep in on the second night was definitely welcome but sleeping in hammocks does have a certain appeal once you get used to it.

The Kuna are the owners of the San Blas Islands, which form part of the Kuna Yala (land of the Kuna), an autonomous region of Panama. We stayed in a Kuna community on the last night and had a brief tour of the village. It was interesting enough but I always feel a little uncomfortable on these village tours (actually, I usually try and avoid them all together). It only lasted around half an hour though and it was nice to learn about this interesting culture. The Kuna settled in these islands during the 1800s and have lived in their traditional way ever since.

Further reading : Interested in the Kuna society and history? Check out this article !

Capurgana and Sapzurro

The boat tour from Panama to Colombia with San Blas Adventures finishes in Sapzurro (or starts there if you’re doing it from Colombia to Panama). Sapzurro and Capurgana are small towns only accessible by boat and are very different from the rest of Colombia. The beaches were OK but nothing compared to the San Blas beaches. There are some good nature trails in the area but I wouldn’t recommend spending a lot of time there; take a boat and bus to Cartagena after a night or two.

Panama to Colombia: How much does it cost?

The boat trip from Panama to Colombia with San Blas Adventures will set you back around $375, plus an extra $30 for the jeep transfer and $22 for the Island tax/entry fee. You’re also looking at around 140,000 COP to get from Capurgana to Cartagena. This works out cheaper than the yachts (which are between $500-$550) and you avoid the rough sea crossing. It was an easy decision for us as Gia gets seasick and wanted to spend the least amount of time on the water as possible.

The boat trip from Panama to Colombia has been one of our most memorable experiences in Latin America so far. If you want world class beaches, fresh lobster and a unique adventure, definitely consider taking the trip!

I worked with San Blas Adventures to bring you this post; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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6 thoughts on “A Boat Trip from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands”

Looks awesome bro – I’m heading that way myself soon and was looking at the yacht option but this looks like a way better option and also cheaper too…happy days!

Cheers Chris, it’s a great trip and a lot of people don’t seem to know about it!

The open sea crossing to Cartagena is seen as one of the worlds toughest by the global boating community, Please make yourself well informed of what you are getting yourself in for, and then relax, its a great trip, a must do and completely safe .

It does seem tough – glad we stayed closer to the coast!

Thanks for this article, we’ve just booked our tickets for the end of this month – Columbia to Panama. We were a bit hesitant as we are a couple in our 30s, not backpackers in our 20s. I hope that we enjoy it as much as you two did!

Any further tips would be welcomed!

Nice, I hope your enjoy the trip! I guess it depends a lot on your group but I think there is usually a range of ages etc.

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San Blas Sailing – Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands with Ave Maria Sailing

There’s a very good reason why we decided to go on a San Blas sailing trip – For anyone looking to travel from Central to South America via the Pan American Highway will ultimately run into the same barrier – The Darien Gap, a huge area of dense jungle and swamp, 160km long and 50 km wide, separating Panama from Colombia, making conventional road travel between the two countries practically impossible. So, it’s safe to say that this was not going to be the route for us! This left us with the choice between flying, or finding a sailboat to take us on a San Blas sailing trip from Portobello,  Panama to Cartagena, Colombia!

NOTE – To arrange to sail with Ave Maria, you need to contact them directly –  [email protected]   or call Panamá + 507 608 94802/ Colombia + 57 314 887 3353

We are simply bloggers who traveled with Ave Maria and loved it (read on to see for yourself!) We do not organize bookings!

San Blas Sailing with Ave Maria – Panama to Colombia – Colombia to Panama

• Fly from Panama City to a city in Colombia. You can find cheap flights on Skyscanner, but you can still expect to pay $200 to USD 300 p/person.
• The most relaxing and enjoyable – Take a private sailing boat for five days across the Caribbean from Panama to Cartagena via the incredible San Blas Islands – $525 to $575 p/person.

We chose number 2!

San Blas Sailing – Panama to Cartagena via the San Blas Islands

We had decided that we wanted to experience crossing the Caribbean by sailboat, but most of the boats we found appeared to be ‘backpacker party boats’ with 15 to 20 people crammed in like sardines, sleeping on the deck, on the floor, on each other – Not for us! We’re also not really into the backpacker party scene anymore, so that was another no-no.

Most of the prices for these San Blas sailing trips ranged from $525 to $575 per person, including three meals a day, 4-5 days sailing time, with 2-3 of those days in the San Blas Islands.

There is one company offering a San Blas sailing trip for $375 by speedboat, with basic accommodation on one of the San Blas Islands instead of on a boat, but with a little more research we found that the cost ends up being much the same, as you finish far from Cartagena. The price doesn’t include water, transport to the departure point ($35) or entry charges to some of the areas ($25). You also then need to consider the onward transport to Cartagena ($75), plus several days’ food and accommodation, so the total cost is the same as an all-inclusive San Blas sailboat experience to Cartagena .

WARNING – It’s unfortunately quite common for some agencies and hostels to tell you that a boat you want to book has canceled their trip, is broken, or even to make up bad stories about them, to steer you towards boats that offer them the most commission. Always check for real customer reviews on Trip Advisor, do your research and make up your mind.

We recommend trying to contact individual boats directly. If they are at sea, then you will have to send them an email or Facebook message. Otherwise, use a local phone or Skype to call them.

This left us with privately owned sailboats, catering to smaller numbers of passengers and a more relaxing, personal experience. There are a handful of boats offering a trip like this, but few of those have their website, and it can be hard to contact the owners themselves, as they are often at sea and use travel agents and hostels to get their bookings.

After several days searching for San Blas sailing boats online, in hostels and with various agencies, we came across a picture of a classic looking sailboat, with twin masts, timber deck and trims and sleek, slender lines, anchored in crystal clear turquoise waters between two palm-fringed desert islands. AVE MARIA was etched into the stern in elegant, antique lettering. It was beautiful, and we wanted it! We had found our boat; now we just had to find the captain. Unbelievably, an internet search brought up the website for the boat and its captain, with San Blas sailing trips running between Panama and Cartagena, via the San Blas Islands, including one leaving the next day from Portobello, about 2 hours from Panama City. We called the cell phone number, and they had two spaces available, so we grabbed the opportunity and packed our bags again. Here’s how our amazing San Blas sailing journey went with Ave Maria Sailing.

Day 1 – Panama City to Portobello – Setting Sail to the San Blas Islands

So, we just had to get to the port of Portobello by 10 am the following day, 4 th of June. Getting to from Panama City to Portobello is relatively cheap and easy – there is a bus from Albrook Station to Colon City which takes less than 2 hours and costs about $5, then another bus to Portobello for about $1. Easy! If you feel like splashing out, then you can get a yellow taxi which could cost you anywhere from $60 to $100, depending on your Spanish and your negotiating skills.

We arrived at 10 am and met up with Captain Paul, an Australian who has been living in Colombia and offering San Blas sailing trips for the past five years. We gave him our passports to take to the port authority to stamp us out of Panama; then we had a few hours to spend exploring Portobello, which is packed full of history, ruins, and stories of Spanish gold and pirates! We stocked up on beer and wine and extra snacks to take with us and waited until our 4 pm departure time when we jumped in a launch boat to take us out to the Ave Maria. She was just as beautiful as in the pictures, classic and streamlined with a white hull, Teak deck, and wood trimmings. Paul and Sindry helped us up onto the deck, and we stowed our big backpacks into the hold, keeping just a small day bag with a couple of t-shirts and some toiletries.

At 50 feet long the Ave Maria sailing boat has the capacity for eight passengers + plus two crew, with everyone having their bed! Four beds in the bow cabin, two double beds and one single in the mid cabin and the dining area convert to sleeping space for the final person. We only had four people + 2 crew on our trip, ourselves and a young Swiss couple who are also traveling the world. With light wind, Paul fired up the engine and left Portobello for the open Caribbean. Sindry cooked an amazing beef stew dinner, and we all fell asleep pretty early after that. Paul stayed up awake at the wheel, sailing 16 hours through the night to reach the San Blas Islands so that we would have a full days there to enjoy ourselves!

Day 2 – Arrival at San Blas Islands – Coco Banderas and our first Culo de Pollo!

We woke early with the rocking motion of the Ave Maria as she glided up, down and across the waves. When we climbed out onto the deck, we could already see an archipelago of small San Blas islands in the distance – clusters of palms hovering on the surface of the shimmering water encircled by white-sand halos, like an epitome of lonely bliss. This was exactly what we had come for! Sindry prepared a fresh and healthy breakfast of muesli, cereal and fresh fruit, which we ate outside in the cleansing salty air. As we arrived at our first stop, Coco Banderas, the weather began to turn.

Dark clouds and bickering gusts of cold winds surrounded the islands, and the choppy water pitched the boat up and down. This was nothing to worry about as the Ave Maria can handle massive storms, and we were already anchored down between two islands. The brief yet intense storm, which lasted for about one hour, is known as a Culo de Pollo, or Chicken’s Ass, for its characteristic erratic winds, chasing around in all directions. As soon as the storm was over, the wind died down, the sun broke the clouds, and the sea was restored to shimmering turquoise glass, clear all the way to the sandy floor below. Several other boats had chosen the same spot to shelter, but they continued on their way once all was clear again.

We spent the day diving off the boat into the warm sea, exploring the little islands and snorkeling around the shallow reefs that partially enclose the area. Local Kuna fishermen dive here for crabs, langoustines, and lobsters, which you can buy fresh out of their boats for just several dollars each! While we were snorkeling we saw huge shoals of tiny bait fish and red-nosed pencil fish, then as we swam back around to the beach, we saw a huge manta ray – two meters wide – and a smaller stingray!

For lunch, we had freshly caught fish, which Paul had reeled in from the back of the boat during the night, cooked up with a mixture of other fresh, delicious seafood, all prepared by Sindry!  The afternoon was passed with more of the same simple pleasures until we watched the sun set behind the island, casting oranges, reds, and purples across the sky. We spent the night anchored in the same spot, talking amongst ourselves and eating yet another amazing home-cooked dinner.

Day 3 – San Blas Islands BBQ and night time sea turtles

The morning was completely peaceful, any other boats that had been in the area had vanished, and we had three whole islands all to ourselves! Sindry made us breakfast with fresh fruit and scrambled eggs on toast. The two best things about a San Blas sailing trip (apart from sailing) are the San Blas Islands and the food, so we swam to the nearest island to gather driftwood for a beach fire BBQ.

The sun had dried everything out pretty quickly, and we had a big fire going just off the beach using nothing but driftwood, palm leaves and dried coconut shells. Sindry prepared everything in the Ave Maria and brought it over to the island in the little dingy; marinated pork chops; avocado salad, potatoes, olive oil and home-made balsamic salad dressing. With a simple hot plate laid on the fire, we had an instant grill for the pork chops, which were some of the best I’ve ever tasted!

Later that afternoon, a local Kuna came by in his boat with some giant langoustines, freshly caught that day, which Paul and Sindry prepared for dinner with pasta and sauce, with crusty bread that evening.

During the night, just as everyone was thinking about sleeping, two massive sea turtles started swimming around the boat, feeding on the algae growing on the underside of the hull, then surfacing to take deep noisy breaths. They stayed around for about 2 hours, and all the while manta rays were jumping out of the water and flying several meters into the air! Paul and Sindry said this was really unusual for this part of the San Blas Islands and they’d never seen this kind of activity before!

Day 4 – New San Blas Islands and ‘the big question!’

Our last day in the San Blas Islands before heading back out into the open Caribbean, to end our San Blas sailing trip with a 34 hour non-stop journey to Cartagena.

After breakfast in the morning, we pulled up the anchor and headed deeper into the archipelago to another group of islands, with more reefs and peaceful, warm water. We made the most of the swimming and snorkeling and explored the larger island closest to the boat.

After a burrito and salad lunch, while everyone was chilling out on the boat, I paddled Kach and me out to the island in the dinghy, and we took a walk along the beach to take some photos. We sat down on a big driftwood tree, and that’s when I gave her a ring I had found in Istria, Croatia just a week before and asked her to marry me. Luckily she said yes, and now we’re engaged! Apparently, we are the first engagement on an Ave Maria sailing trip! We all celebrated with some drinks on the deck and chilled out again until we were ready to start the long journey to Cartagena and set sail that night.

Day 5 – San Blas Islands to Cartagena, Colombia

More great food, conversation, reading and episodes of Game of Thrones kept us occupied on the day and a half journey, and we even took shifts steering the boat along the way. The rain came and went, and so did the hours; it’s incredible how time passes when you have no idea what time it is!

We all slept quite early and woke up as we pulled into the Boca Grande port of Cartagena at about 4 am the next day. We were there just in time to see the sunrise over the city, which was one of the most beautiful mornings we’ve ever seen. There was no rush to get off of the boat, we had breakfast and packed our things before piling ourselves and our luggage into the dinghy. With all four of us on dry, Colombian land for the first time, we said goodbye to Captain Paul, Sindry, and the Ave Maria – Our San Blas sailing trip was officially over!

We were so glad that we had chosen the Ave Maria for our San Blas sailing adventure – Great people, great food, great company, beautiful classic sailboat, spectacular San Blas Islands!

CONTACT EMAIL –  [email protected]

To find out more about Ave Maria Sailing and to book a San Blas Sailing trip, you need to contact them directly – email:  [email protected]   or call Panamá + 507 608 94802/ Colombia + 57 314 887 3353.

You can check their scheduled journeys through their website .

We loved Paul, Sindry, and the Ave Maria so much that we negotiated a special deal for Two Monkeys Travel readers!

Normal Rate: $550/ person but our discounted rate: $525 per person for individuals or $500 per person for groups of 6 people or more (Ask around your dorm!)  Bonus; FREE cocktail each sunset in San Blas.

All you need to do is mention Two Monkeys Travel when making your reservation. This offer is available for direct bookings only (not through agencies or hostels)

(All aspects of your trip are the concern of Ave Maria Sailing. We receive no money from this offer, we just really enjoyed our trip with them, and so we wanted to share that with you too!)

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48 thoughts on “ San Blas Sailing – Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands with Ave Maria Sailing ”

Hola, can you please send me the dates for the sailing from Panama to Cartagena?

Thank you for this wonderful post and congrats on your engagement! We’re researching different sailing companies for our upcoming trip and might have found the winner!

What great place to propse. Awesome san blas adventure you had.

The first engagement happened in the area, Jhen. San Blas is full of adventures and a romantic spot. Sure you will also love the islands.

Sounds like a great trip guy and congratulations on the engagement!

We loved our time on the San Blas Islands and really want more people to experience their beauty.

You just made me brain travel with your photos and detailed info. Thanks for sharing and this is on my to visit list.

Our pleasure, ThisKenyanTraveler. Let us know when will you do San Blas sailing and maybe we can give some tips. Just drop a comment here if you have some queries.

Sounds like an awesome trip and perfect time to pop the question.. Congratulations!!

San Blas sailing was an awesome trip, EG III.

Everything looks gorgeous but pricey! It looks like you did a lot! I,hope you had fun on,your trip. 🙂

The price is reasonable, Style With Tina, with what we had experience. 🙂 We had fun in exploring San Blas islands.

It must be amazing traveling the world, I could only dream of having the privilege to get up and go. Lovely photos.

It’s amazing, especially if you got to experience wonderful places like Sa Blas islands. #dreamsdocometrue, Kenia.

I am so jealous. That’s why I love these type of blogs, they make me travel with my mind and dream! The pictures are really amazing, I wish I would have the opportunity to fly away for a while!

Don’t be jealous, Kalliopi, Sooner or later you will have your own adventure. Consider San Blas islands in your travels.

I think that $500 for a sailing trip like this is not bad at all. The boat seems perfect for a small group trip, or maybe a family get away and the experience of a bbq on board must be priceless. The water looks stunning, especially that picture where you are floating above sea stars.

Joanna, 500$ was a good deal. The whole experience of San Blas sailing was priceless. And yes, this is perfect for a family or friends getaway. Bring your family in San Blas islands. 🙂

What a great sailing adventure you had! Your photos are so inspiring, I’d like to go there one day! Pinned your post for the future! Congratulations on your engagement! So romantic!

Thank you Eugenia. Appreciate your lovely comment and for pinning this post. Hope you will have your adventure soon. Better start in San Blas islands. yay!

Sailing trip sounds a great way of doing a trip, esepcially if you can visit islands, eating fresh seafood, and the blue water with amazing creature like the turtle. Your post absolutely fabolous, you give very clear details of information about the sailing trip. By the way, congratulation for your engagement.

Exactly, Rose! Every part of the San Blas sailing was a blast. Hehe. The food, the people, and the islands are all awesome

What a cool new experience. I think I’d like going on a sailing adventure like this. I didn’t know you’d be able to do so much!

It’s almost a week of wonderful adventure sailing in San Blas islands, Liz.

Congratulations on getting engaged! So adorable to make it happen during your trip to such a paradisaical place. We never thought about Colombia before, but you make me want to go there someday and the idea of taking the boat in the Caribbean is a good one.. Thank you for sharing this.

Thank you, Nya! It’s an overwhelming experience. San Blas sailing is definitely a trip worth to try.

Wow this looks like so much fun and a must do. San Blas Islands is now on my bucket list. These images are gorgeous. That turtle pic is just awesome. Reminds me of Hawaii somehow

Great decision to include San Blas Islands on your bucket list, IamVagabond. Looking forward to the time you will tick it off. From then, happy sailing! 🙂

Looks like a lot of fun! My husband has been dying to go sailing! Maybe one day! Congrats on the engagement!

Then you should do San Blas sailing with your husbdand, Carrie. You will have a great time.

Your blog inspires me to pursue my dream of travel and I hope to one day be able to travel the same roads as you. Even better you were able to watch Game of Thrones on the trip too!

#dreamsdocometrue Ana! 🙂 San blas sailing might be your first trip! 🙂

I love the photographs. It sure seems that water travel is great. Have to try it once . 🙂

Thank you, Subhadrika. You should really try it and San Blas sailing is a great choice for water travel adventure.

This is super inspiring, hope to be able to do exactly the same in the future! Great images by the way 🙂

You will, Nicolas! 🙂 Sure you will have a great San Blas sailing and explore these wonderful islands.

Wow, this looks like such an amazing trip! I’ve seen giant turtles before but not that close – they are lovely creatures. How exciting for you! And congratulations on your engagement 🙂

A spectacular moment, Rosie. The whole San Blas sailing experience was exciting!

Wow! What an amazing journey! I love that you chose the sail for 5 days option too! You’ve come away wth so many memories and such a great experinecen congatulations on your engagement!!!

Thank you Francesca, It was really a great choice and no regret at all. San Blas sailing is definietely among the best experiences we had.

Panama already figures in my bucket list. San Blas Islands looks divine and being proposed at such a magical place would have made it all the more memorable. Many congratulations on your engagement, dear! 🙂

Felt romantic and magical, Ratisha. San Blas sailing was really memorable and will definitely want to visit the islands again.

The idea of that cramped sail boat sounds awful! And great heads up about the scams! What a unique adventure you’ve been on from preparing and eating fresh fish on board to experiencing the islands with nobody else around. You were lucky to have a captain like you had too but most importantly CONGRATS on your engagement. What a place and journey to propose on! Certainly unforgettable for you both!

Thank you, Amy! San Blas Sailing was such an adventure and indeed unforgettable. 🙂

wow!! Such a beautiful place. Hope you Guys really enjoyed there.

There are cheap flights from Panama City to Cartagena, via Bogotà. I paid no more than 150 USD for that. Besides, Viva Colombia also has cheap flights to Bogotà and Medellin. And since February there is also a ferry service that connects Colon to Cartagena, twice per week.

How do I know? Because I ended up in a really BAD sailing boat. Just from the pictures, yours look much better than the one I took. Despite my efforts to make some good research, I ended up on a 12 meters sail boat with 9 more persons – including the crew. Yes, that means 10 persons on 12 meters – something I found out only when we finally got on the boat, as until the day before the captain ensured me that there would be 6 of us. It was unbearably crowded. We did not have a table to sit and eat, because the deck was all covered with our belongings. I got really sea sick but I think that if we had had a bit more space it would not have been so bad, as I could have laid down.

I ended up abandoning the boat as soon as we arrived in Porvenir, and getting back to Panama City to then fly to Cartagena!!

Good you guys had a better experience.

Hello Claudia, sorry just now we were on a boat again from Leticia to Manaus! Anyway, do you know the name of your boat company? That’s what we’ve heard too from other tourists and we’re not party people anymore so we were boat hesitant taking the boat, just lucky that we’re able to connect directly to the owner and it’s one of the best trips we’ve taken! Thanks for sharing your story, hope we can warn others too! Positive vibes!

I don’t have it. I was searching for a boat and then saw in the hostel that there was a flier. The guy had not really set up a company yet. I wish I could write a review for that. His name is Ian and he’s Canadian. Perhaps you came across him?

not sure, we’ve talked to a lot of people and even checked this popular hostel there but some of them are rude. Anyway, the ferry stopped in the last few months and i think they will resume in the 3rd quarter of this year. We also checked viva colombia before as an option instead of san blas, good thing we didnt fly because it’s indeed a great experience! =) Enjoy your travels Claudia!! =)

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Written by Kach Umandap

Founder of Two Monkeys Travel Group. Since 2013, Kach has visited all the 7 continents (including Antarctica) and 151 countries using her Philippines Passport. In 2016, she bought a sailboat and went on sailing adventures with her two cats - Captain Ahab & Little Zissou in the Caribbean for 2 years. She now lives in Herceg Novi, Montenegro where she's enjoying her expat life and living on a gorgeous Stonehouse. She writes about her experiences traveling as a Filipina traveler with a PHL Passport. Also tips on backpacking trips, luxury hotel experiences, product reviews, sailing & adventure travel.

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San Blas Islands Adventure Tour: Colombia To Panama By Boat

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated: June 24, 2023

Categories COLOMBIA , PANAMA

This is your Ultimate Guide to a San Blas Islands tour by San Blas Adventures : The best way to get from Colombia to Panama and see the amazing San Blas archipelago! This four-day boat adventure was one of the most amazing experiences we had in the region with island hopping, snorkeling, bonfires, and amazing, tropical scenery.

WHY A BOAT TRIP IS BETTER THAN A FLIGHT

The journey from Colombia to Panama is not a straightforward transit. The dangerous Darien Gap Jungle makes it impossible to pass through overland on a bus or via car. The most common way to reach Panama from Colombia is to fly to Panama City. However, we found that the flight tickets were $250 USD one way, which is quite expensive given the distance of the flight. The next option is to sail or take a boat from Cartagena, Colombia to Panama City, which sounded like the most adventurous option. We organized a 3-night/4-day San Blas Islands tour boat trip from Colombia to Panama, which costs $399 USD with San Blas Adventures .

WHY WE DECIDED TO GO DO A SAN BLAS ISLANDS TOUR

If you need to get to Panama City in a rush then you will definitely need to fly. However, if you are backpacking or traveling through Central/South America, the boat trip is the best option.

• The cost of the San Blas Islands Tour was $399 and the flight from Colombia to Panama was $250. Therefore you get the San Blas Islands tour and transit bundled into one convenient package for only $150 more than the flight itself.
• You need to transit one way or the other so combining the transit with an authentic adventure seems to make the most sense.

My mate Josh and I decided that for the extra $150 we would do the boat trip with San Blas Adventures for $399. Included in this fee were all accommodation, transits, meals, snorkels, and activities. The only other money we spent was on beers and coconuts but it was only a few dollars here and there. The group was awesome and we ended up having an epic time.

SAN BLAS ADVENTURES BOAT TOUR

In this San Blas Islands blog post, I am going to give you a detailed look into the four-day San Blas Islands tour with  San Blas Adventures . It was seriously an epic four days of living like nomadic pirates and getting a unique insight into the Kuna culture and way of life. Of course, the scenery was out of this world and I was lucky enough to get permission from the Kuna leaders to fly my drone to be able to get a unique aerial perspective of this beautiful region.

SAN BLAS ADVENTURES TOUR AVAILABILITY

The calendar below shows the availability of the current tours with San Blas Adventures !

CARTAGENA TO SAPZURRO

For our journey, we needed to get from Cartagena to Panama City. The first step was to get to Sapzurro, a small town where the San Blas Islands tour departs.  San Blas Adventures  makes it really easy with instructions on how to get there by public transport. It was two relatively long days of transit before the tour even started, which is something to take into consideration, but there is no real way around that unless you sail from Cartagena directly. Beware of sailing directly as you will be stuck on the boat the whole time. The max time we were on the boat was 2 hours and for the rest we were exploring islands and villages, which is the best way!

From Cartagena we caught the following transports to Sapzurro:

TRANSIT DAY 1

• Taxi from Cartagena to the bus station
• 10-hour public bus to Necocli

TRANSIT DAY 2

• 1.5-hour Public boat from Necocli to Capurgana
• 15-minute ferry from Capurgan to Sapzurro (or you can do the 5km hike over the hill)

THE PANAMA – COLOMBIA BORDER

We woke early and jumped in our passenger boat, which we would be cruising for the next four days. This was the official start of our San Blas Island tour. All of the bags were wrapped in black garbage bags, people were showered, and smelt nice. The next four days would be all about the adventure and that kicked off with our first stop at the Panama/Colombia border.

Our boat pulled in and we were asked to bring out all of our bags and lay them in rows on the wet cement. Still in the black garbage bags, a sniffer dog was released from a small cage as a soldier with a machine gun led him around our bags. He finished and luckily none of the guys in our group had been dumb enough to try and smuggle anything across the border!

We thought that might be the end of the process. However, they indicated we would need to have every single back, and every single pocket individually searched. This took about an hour for our group of 13. After we finally finished we went to the local bakery with our bags to chill and wait for our passports.

After five hours of waiting on the island, we finally got our passports and could head off. It is a pretty lengthy process as the guards need approval from the head office. It doesn’t seem like the most efficient system ever but if you want to get through via boat this is just how it goes. We had a kick-around with some local kids, watched the world cup, had numerous coffees, and pastries, and chatted amongst ourselves. Five hours passed quickly.

 ATIDUP ISLAND

Leaving our lengthy process of border security behind us we got back in our boat and headed off in the direction of Atidup Island. It was finally time after 2.5 days of transit to enjoy the San Blas Islands tour. This is where the fun began.

Atidup Island was beautiful. No one else was there, it was our private island for the afternoon. A beach volleyball court was sheltered by plentiful coconut trees. The sun was out and the good times were rolling. All around us were beautiful yet empty, palm-tree-laden islands. Most of the islands we would see on the trip seemed untouched or occupied by one small bamboo hut.

Coconuts and beers were available but Josh and I opted to get straight into the water to snorkel the nearby reef, which turned out to be amazing. A huge shelf of the reef drops down into the dark abyss. Hundreds of fish swam about the brightly colored coral. We even found a tunnel that we held our breath through for a few nervous moments!

Back on dry land we grabbed a coconut and settled into a chair. The local Kuna tribe from Caledonia village had sent a boat of talented kids to perform a traditional dance. They are the champions in the region and it showed. It was a great show for the kids, some as young as five getting in on the action with flutes and dancing.

In the distance, the sun began to set over the layers of mountains in the Darien Gap. From beneath the palm trees, we watched the early colors develop. We jumped in the boat to watch the final moments of the sunset, which spectacularly lit up the dense layer of clouds above.

CALEDONIA ISLAND

We arrived after sunset at Caledonia Island, which would be our home for the evening. It is the main Kuna Island in the San Blas Islands. The village is home to 900 people, 600 of which are children. The Kuna people sleep in hammocks, eat a lot of seafood and the kids love soccer. They have a rich history and have overcome a lot throughout the years.

There is just one hostel and restaurant on the island, both of which offer luxuries like beer for sale and allow alcohol consumption. Alcohol is not allowed outside of the hostel or restaurant. We had a big group dinner of octopus, fish, and vegetables before heading back to the hostel for a few drinks.

DAY 2 

Our accommodation at Caledonia Island was simple but everything we needed. The bungalow-style accommodation hung out over the water and one side and was an epic spot to welcome the new day. Our legendary crew made us a breakfast of fresh fruit, Kuna bread, chia seeds, peanut butter, coffee, and tea. The food was really good throughout the whole trip but breakfasts with fresh tropical fruit were my favorite.

After quickly packing up we set off for a big day of adventures on our San Blas Islands tour. In the San Blas Islands archipelago, there are 365 different islands and on this trip, we would be setting foot on five of those! We boarded our boat and settled in for a 2-hour drive. It would be the longest boat ride of the adventure. You get to spend 90% of your time on the islands and 10% (8 hours) in the boat throughout the entire 4 days, which is prime.

PELICAN ISLAND

The waves weren’t too bad for most of the trip to Pelican Island but I was definitely glad to be on a boat for 2 hours and not a sailboat for 4 days. Two hours was enough. We rolled into Pelican Island, another deserted island for our group of 13 to enjoy for the afternoon. One of the great parts about this San Blas Islands tour is that it wasn’t rushed. Sometimes on a trip or island hopping adventure, you get one or two hours on an island. We would get 3-5 hours. It meant you could play volleyball, explore, and have lunch but also wind down and read a book. You didn’t get to the accommodation at night completely wrecked from trying to fit it all in.

Beach volleyball fast become the activity of choice for our crew. It’s always risky spending four days in tight quarters with a group of others but I think the adventurous nature of this trip ensures everyone on board loves the beach, and being outdoors, and wasn’t looking for a luxury, glamping experience. Everyone was keen to get involved with activities, games, or exploring.

Josh and I shot some hoops on the jungle basketball court despite both scoring 1/50 shots. It’s just how you look in the photo right?

After another amazing lunch of quinoa salad, pasta salad, and chicken, we lay on the beach watching small sailboats ferry coconuts to and from the villages.

TUPILE (REVOLUTION ISLAND)

After our relaxing afternoon at Pelican Island, we docked into our home for the night, which was Revolution Island. It got the name after being the central hub for the revolution when the Kuna tribes came together here to take back their land. Now, Tupile, is a peaceful village with kids playing volleyball and soccer, older women making bracelets.

We went on a short tour of the village but Josh and I got sidetracked and ended up losing our group and getting involved in some games and soccer with the local kids. It was a crazy afternoon of laughs and fun hanging out with the kids and teenagers of the village.

Dinner at Tupile was amazing! The crew made chicken burritos, Panama-style, and a pumpkin sauce. It was incredible the quality of food they were coming out with as they cooked from small islands with ingredients we had brought in coolers from Colombia.

Our beds for the night would be hammocks. I had never slept in a hammock before so this was a first for me and it ended up being more comfortable than I had expected. I slept in shorts and a t-shirt without even a blanket, although some in our group used blankets that had been brought.

ISLA PELICANO

Another day, another island. We set off from Tupile and made our way to Isla Pelicano. It took about an hour and we arrived mid-morning. The island required almost no exploring as it was about fifty meters across the island at the longest point, which made it a sweet little spot to hang out on the sand, read a book and fly the drone!

The snorkeling at Isla Pelicano was pretty cool. While we didn’t quite find any epic reef, there were so many starfish and we even came across a spotted ray only a few meters out from the shore. You can tell this is a region with a diverse array of wildlife. Dolphins, fish, rays, and everything in between had been spotted during our San Blas Islands Tour.

Lunch was outstanding once again with multiple healthy salads and tuna baguettes. It’s amazing that the best, healthy food we had during our time in Colombia/Panama was on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean! The crew really rocked it at every meal.

This island was beautiful, but it wasn’t until I sent the drone up to explore that I saw how epic the reef system was around Isla Pelicano. Huge drop-offs from the shelf into deep blue water create an epic contrast. Giant blue holes look like perfect spots to snorkel, explore and watch the native marine life.

COCO BANDERA ISLAND

After Isla Pelicano, we made our way to our headquarters for the night, which would be Coco Bandera Island. It was a beautiful little island, about 100 meters long. It was adorned with palm trees and white sand with a few huts for sleeping, cooking, and the local Kuna people. We slept in hammocks inside the bamboo and leaf huts and eat our meals out in the communal hut.

Luckily the huts had strong roofs because that night a huge storm hit us. We managed to stay dry and despite the storm, it wasn’t cold, just very wet!

Coco Bandera Island has a volleyball court, which our crew made the most of for several hours! There was also some great snorkeling to be had and we even watched a few dolphins cruising around the island. Not long ago a huge sea turtle came ashore to lay her eggs. The hatchlings had already scampered out to sea before we arrived.

We spent the night enjoying a few beers, which were available for $2 a bottle on the island, and some rum we had brought from Colombia. Sat around a bonfire on Coco Bandera Island in the middle of the ocean was the perfect end to our last night of the San Blas Islands tour.

We packed up at Coco Bandera Island and enjoyed a relaxing morning in the sun. After lunch, we made the 1-hour boat trip to the port in Panama. Here we loaded into jeeps organized by San Blas Adventures and made the 3-hour journey through the jungle to arrive at our Hostel. We were pretty damn tired and dirty from our epic trip so we showered up and got a good night’s sleep at Mamallena Hostel in Panama City. If you want to book a night of accommodation at Mamallena for the night after your trip you can click here .

SAN BLAS ADVENTURES TOUR VIDEO

We made a short video of the adventure, which you can check out below.

SAN BLAS ISLANDS MAP

The map below was made by  San Blas Adventures and give you a great guide of the whole process from Cartagena all the way through to Panama City. Depending on where you begin, whether it be Cartagena or Capurgana, this San Blas Islands Tour map will help you understand the whole process from start to finish.

WHAT TO PACK FOR A SAN BLAS ISLANDS TOUR

I went pretty basic in terms of packing but there are some key things to consider while packing your bag. You will need a daypack with all of your gear as your big luggage will be wrapped in plastic and taken from Colombia to Panama and you will only have access to it after the trip. Essentially they transport it there for you so you will wave goodbye to it in Colombia and see it at the end of the trip. This means you need to pack everything you need in your day pack. Here is what I recommend packing for the San Blas Islands tour.

Another point to note is that there will not be electricity along the way. So a power bank is necessary if you want to charge your phone and camera.

• Daypack: For the last 3 years I have traveled the world with my Victoria Tourist Camera Laptop Backpack . It is only $60 on Amazon and one of the few camera backpacks that hold your camera and 3 lenses in a padded, easy access pouch, a 13-inch MacBook Pro and still have room for everything else. I’ve talked about how good this bag is to so many people that lots of my friends have traded in their expensive Lowepro bags for my budget backpack because it is the best all-rounder for a backpacker who takes photographs and uses a laptop. You can check it out on Amazon by clicking here .
• 2 T-shirts or tank tops
• 2 Boardshorts or shorts
• Reusable water bottle:  Generally for me, the Hydro Flask has always been the best bottle to keep your water cold throughout the day and a great way to not use a ton of small plastic bottles. On this trip, you can buy gallon plastic bottles, which is still better than lots of small plastic bottles. Each morning fill up your Hydro Flask from your gallon and you are good to go! You can check out the Hydroflask and pick a color you like by clicking here .
• Flip-flops/Sandals:  You won’t need shoes on this trip so save space by just packing a pair of flip-flops or sandals.
• Toiletries: I literally just packed soap, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste. For me, island living is not a fashion parade. Bring the essentials but leave the beauty products and hair straighteners in your big bag!
• Power Bank: I’ve used a lot of power banks and the most reliable and long-lasting is the Anker Powerbank . It has a dual USB-slot and it never drains itself or magically appears to be dead like others I’ve had in the past. I can charge my camera batteries and my phone multiple times with this gem. You can check the Anker Powerbank out on Amazon by clicking here .
• Camera Gear: Your camera phone may be enough for you. Obviously, I packed a lot more to shoot the whole trip. If you want to check out the gear I use to capture photos on this trip and all of the trips I take across the world you can click here. I use a drone, GoPro, Sony Action Camera, DSLR camera and my iPhone.

View the full blog post: MY TRAVEL BLOGGER CAMERA GEAR & GENERAL TRAVEL EQUIPMENT LIST

I hope this blog post convinced you to explore the San Blas Islands via boat during your journey from Colombia to Panama City. Like I mentioned above it is only an extra $100-200 to do the entire tour than to fly direct. Therefore unless you are in a rush this is the best way to explore the San Blas Islands and transit to Panama to continue your travels.

It was an absolute blast thanks to our guide Svea and her crew who made sure everything was always organized and we were never hungry! I can’t recommend this experience enough so I hope you guys get out to the San Blas Islands and be sure to message me when you do with a photo! Let me know if you have any questions about the trip. You can email me at [email protected] or contact me via direct message on Instagram.

Friday 12th of May 2023

Beautiful pictures and story. We would love to go there. May I ask how you got permission to fly your drone? Thanks in advance!

Austin Gosney

Monday 11th of October 2021

I read a lot of your articles and every one of the articles are extremely useful. I also might want to contribute an article on your website page. I have been composing a lot of articles and might want to distribute them on your site. Desire to get a positive reaction from you.

Michael Roche

Monday 6th of January 2020

Nice blog. I was going to do the sailing trip from Cartagena but after reading this, I signed on withSan Blas Adventure. I used the link to save 5% on the trip and the money saved mostly paid for the Anker Powerbank you also recommended. So a worthy read!

SAN BLAS ISLANDS TOUR - COLOMBIA TO PANAMA BY BOAT - Voyage Love

Saturday 28th of September 2019

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SAN BLAS ISLANDS TOUR - COLOMBIA TO PANAMA BY BOAT - Journey Era - Voyage Love

Thursday 26th of September 2019

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San Blas Adventures

Boat exploring between Panama and Colombia

Speed boat Tours

Panama to colombia and viceversa.

4 days – 3 nights

*Low Season

Explore the San Blas Islands with San Blas Adventures from Panama or Colombia . Discover inaccessible and untouched corners on our exclusive route from Carti to La Miel or vice versa. Embark on this unique adventure and discover the beauty of San Blas!

In Colombia the trip starts/finishes in Capurgana , a beautiful Caribbean bay on the border of Panama & Colombia. From there it is one day travel by boat and bus to Cartagena or Medellin which is not included in the price.

*Price changes may occur during holiday periods, such as Christmas and New Year.

Not a boat tour, but an island experience

Being on a speed boat means you get to spend most of the time on the islands, showing off the beautiful beaches and villages. In 4 days you are only on the boat around 8 hours in total, and there is no ocean crossing. On the trip you’ll sleep on the islands, spending two nights in Kuna villages and one night camping on a deserted island.

The crew has years of experience both in boating and in San Blas. They work closely with the Kuna , giving you a unique opportunity to meet the local people as well as experience the pristine beaches and waters on offer.

Island activities

Guitar & Drum

Beach Party

Attention: This is not a sailboat tour!

BEFORE BOOKING A DATE, CHECK AVAILABILITY WITH OUR STAFF. YOU CAN BOOK A TOUR FROM PANAMA TO COLOMBIA OR FROM COLOMBIA TO PANAMA , WITH A DOWN PAYMENT (YOU ARE NOT PAYING THE TOTAL AMOUNT). THE REST OF THE BALANCE IS PAID IN ONLY CASH ON THE DAY OF THE TOUR.​ AFTER BOOKING, PLEASE MAKE SURE READING YOUR E-MAIL AND RECEIPT.

Let us help you plan the perfect trip

All about this tour

TYPE OF BOAT

PASSENGER GROUP SIZE

Panama Arrival/Departure

Colombia Arrival/Departure

What is included in the package?

Panama to colombia.

​To make a reservation we take a deposit of $50 USD per person through our online booking system. Check out our departure dates:  click here BY BOOKING THIS TOUR, YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND, ACCEPT AND AGREE OUR FAQ, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND OUR LIABILITY RELEASE.

Our relationship and your experience After many years of operating in San Blas we have developed very close relationships with the local indigenous community, the Kuna. Being able to share this experience with you, and share you with them, is an integral part of our trip and what really sets us apart. Throughout the trip you will be meeting locals who work with us, communities that we work closely with, and villages where we buy supplies like fish/seafood, rums, & ice, etc. We highly respect the communities in our route and we plan our trips in a way that we don’t exhaust the villages with our visit. Most of our crew are from these villages and we are welcome there. As an individual you are welcome to go around villages to talk with and meet the locals.

Photos: Photos are a big deal in Kuna Yala, some will ask you 1$ for taking a photo of them, some will completely refuse. In all cases you will need to start a conversation with them first and then ask for a photo. Kunas children will go after your camera and make your photography a dream! However, you will still need to ask their permission and if their mother or father is around, you will need to ask permission from them.

Coconuts: The San Blas islands are coconut plantations planted by the Kuna. Every coconut, no matter where you find it, has an owner whom you need to find and pay before going crazy banging it on rocks and whatever you can find to try and get it open. Kunas have machetes and they will open it for you.

Village Rules: Always wear a shirt in villages, Ask before taking pictures. Sometimes the Kuna may charge you 1$ for picture. Please don’t offer alcohol to the Kuna, particularly rum, the results are not fun for anyone! You can bring things for the Kuna kids. Some suggestions are: books, pens, volleyball, basketball, football, any game…. It’s better to give these kinds of things than sweets.

Watching where your money goes is very important! Come with us and support the local families. Ethical travel doesn’t mean we want tourists to stop having fun, we just want them to think about how they’re spending their time and money. Be a conscious traveler, with an awareness of the place you’re going and whether or not the money you spend benefits the economy of the local hosts. We work very closely with the Kuna on all aspects of the trip and most of the money from your fare stays in San Blas, distributed among the local people we work with and the different communities we visit along the way.

We travel between Sapzurro/Capurgana in Colombia and Carti in Panama. This is literally from one end of the San Blas Islands to the other. We are THE ONLY tour that takes you through the full archipelago of San Blas. Passing through all 365 islands.

NO OCEAN CROSSING:  Traveling this way you’re always in sight of the coastline, weaving through paradise islands and indigenous villages.

COLOMBIAN HIGHLIGHTS: Visit Sapzurro, Capurgana & La Miel on your way. Some of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean.

MEET PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD! We encourage a wide mix of ages within the group, from old time adventurers to short break professionals to first time travelers. Every combination of people makes a unique, one off, atmosphere onboard. There is no upper age limit. All you need is a normal physical condition to get on and off the boat, and an adventurous team spirit!

Colombia to Panama

Are you looking for private transfers.

Let us help you plan the perfect Island getaway

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Roaming Around the World

Travel Guides, Tips, and Tales

Sailing Around the San Blas Islands: Our Voyage from Panama to Colombia

May 19, 2014 By John Widmer 14 Comments

Determining How to Get From Panama to Colombia

To this point we had successfully made it all the way from Mexico to Panama completely overland aside from a few small stints overwater to some islands. Using buses, cars, boats, and a train, our journey took us the entirety of Central America from Mexico, to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and finally to Panama. But the Pan-American Highway stops here and we had planned to make our way down to Colombia. With no roads we needed to figure out how to travel from Panama to Colombia. We now had the following three options:

1)   Blaze a trail with a machete through the Darian Gap past FARC terrorists. (We’re pretty adventurous but we have to draw the line somewhere); or 2)   Take a flight the short distance from Panama to Colombia. (Although Panama and Colombia are neighbors on a map, the least expensive flight had a long layover in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and a $600 price tag. This just didn’t make sense); or 3)   Take a sailboat on a 6-day voyage including stops in Panama’s San Blas islands.

Weighing out these options, the decision became an easy choice. But upon further research we came across horror stories of dirty & crowded conditions, bags getting wet/damaged, coked-up captains, and even sailboats sinking and wrecking onto reefs. Ultimately we learned that the boat you choose would make or break your trip.

Shipwrecked sailboat

Sailing From Panama to Colombia on the Mintaka

We chose to sail on a vessel named the Mintaka, run by a German couple that’s been sailing the seas for over the past 30 years. Other reviews seemed to indicate a safe, pleasant voyage, and highlighted great food. So we knew this was our ship. Captain Manfred and his wife/first mate/chef would be taking us on the voyage between two continents. Another six people would join us for this grand adventure. Together, the ten of us would share the tight but comfortable quarters of this 47-foot sailboat for the next six days. We lucked out in having some great crewmates with a mix of nationalities: two mates from Australia, an Irish guy, two German girls, a doctor from Montreal, and the two of us. We got to the dock in Portobello, Panama in the late afternoon and two and three at a time boarded a dinghy with Captain Manfred, who took us to the Mintaka.

The Mintaka

Day 1: Sailing to the San Blas Islands

We boarded the sailboat in the late afternoon and were shown to our birth, which was a nice little private room in the bow of the ship. After Manfred provided a very long and thorough yet extremely humorous demonstration of how to operate the toilet, it was time for dinner. Petra doubles as chef aboard the Mintaka and whipped up a fantastically saucy Coq a Vin. It was delicious and I wasn’t going to shy away from seconds. Night had fallen and it was soon time to get the mast up and set sail into the open ocean. We had picked up some Guinness to enjoy during our sail away. But this was not regular Guinness; rather it was a God-awful Panamanian rendition of the stout that went down horribly on an already very full stomach. Leaving the harbor, the seas became quite rough. This was not good for a stomach full of Coq a Vin and faux-Guinness. Okay, you can see where this is going. Lets just say its going to be a long time before I can have either Guinness or Coq a Vin again, two things I formerly liked very much.

It was definitely time for bed. Catching wind from the sail, the boat was consistently leaning at what seemed like a 45-degree angle. This made sleep quite challenging. It only took us a few hours of constantly rolling on top of each other to realize the key was to sleep along the width of the bed instead of the length. At times the boat was leaning so much that it felt as if we were standing rather than lying. There was also the constant up and down, including some really hard, fast drops that would almost take us airborne at times. We were getting thrown around all over the place. Every 30 minutes or so, it would be time to sit up to puke some more in the bucket, or “bucky” as the German girls affectionately called their companion, as they were battling the same problem. Sometimes in the process we’d get a face full of the prickly pineapples that swung back and forth above the bed. Needless to say, it was a very long night with no sleeping. This was our first time on an overnight sailing trip and it was as if the seas were putting us through a hazing of sorts to break us in.

Day 2: Sailing in San Blas: El Porvenir Island

Finally the morning light began to peak through and we could feel the seas subsiding. We had reached the San Blas islands and entered a protected harbor. Thank goodness! Both the seas and our stomachs had finally calmed. But as soon as we were able to nod off, it was time to get off the boat onto an island to go through immigration.

Immigration

Now, a little background about the San Blas and the Kuna people who inhabit them: The San Blas islands are a group of remote islands located off of the southeastern coastline of the Panama isthmus. The indigenous Kuna people reside on the islands and although these islands are technically part of Panama, they are self-governing by the Kunas. These indigenous people have their own language, which is only a spoken language and not written. The seclusion of the San Blas islands have helped to keep their culture isolated from the modern world, yet many of the islands graciously welcome the few tourists which come on the handful of backpacker sailboats making the journey between Panama and Colombia. There are literally hundreds of islands in this chain and roughly 50 are said to be inhabited. During our upcoming few days we would even see some islands that were no more than a few dozen feet long and a few dozen feet wide, with only a couple sparse palm trees and a single thatched-roof hut on it, occupied by a fisherman. Pretty amazing. Extremely basic, but he sure does have some nice waterfront property.

Single hut Kuna island

Anyhow, back to our voyage: From the immigration stop, it was off to El Porvenir Island, where we’d thankfully stay anchored until the next day. After a nice snorkel and some lunch, we set off to walk around the small island with a Kuna village of what seemed like just a few dozen people. It only took about 15 minutes for a slow walk around the entire island during this overcast afternoon.

The Kuna women would smile or say “hola” as we passed their humble homes made of palms, while the Kuna children and a dog were played nearby.

By dusk it was time to retire back to the Mintaka. After being awake for nearly 40 hours, a few hours of snorkeling/swimming, and another amazing yet coma-inducing dinner by Petra (this time a 3-course steak dinner), we slept like rocks.

Day 3: Sailing the San Blas: Western Hollandes Islands

Upon reaching the islands we went for another snorkel and the reef there was amazing. Colorful live coral abounded while schools of fish and other marine life swam around. In certain spots wave broke on this shallow reef and you would need to be careful to avoid getting sucked in to the wave. Lifting your head out of the water to clear your mask revealed pristine seclude palm-tree lined beaches. It was hard to determine if the more beautiful site was above or below the water.

After a swim back to the boat, we then went onto the island. We walked around its perimeter and that’s when we came across two Kuna men who had returned from fishing and were trying to hoist their wooden boat back on to land. Myself and the other guys on our sailing trip jumped in to help them out. They were very thankful and appreciative of our assistance.

Meanwhile our captain was searching around the island for the chief and his wife. They all turned back up and after introductions we were seated and treated to fresh coconut water. One of the men who we helped with the boat came back to crack the fresh coconuts for us, one by one.

Day 4: Sailing the San Blas Islands: Coco Bandera

Our fourth day took us to yet another San Blas island, Coco Bandera, or as Captain Manfred would joke, “Same shit, different fucking island.” Sure, we would be doing the same routine: snorkel, lunch, relax, walk around an island; but he had saved the best for last. As we cruised up in the morning, we could see that this cluster of islands was absolutely stunning and truly postcard worthy. The waters were magnificent shade of light blue and crystal clear.

I found the snorkeling here to be the best of three destinations. Visibility was probably dozens of feet and fish were everywhere. But it was also enjoyable to just float and relax in the ocean on the side of the boat and relish the amazing water with serine island vistas that surrounded.

See the video below for a peek around the beach and below the water of these majestic islands.

The two of us decided to briefly break away and take a quick swim over to a little nearby island to have a look around. There we ran into a Kuna man who was chopping down coconuts with a machete. He approached us and in Spanish told us this was “mi isla” (his island) and demanded two dollars each for being on it. We were unaware the island carried an entrance fee so we had not brought any cash with us during our swim over. I told him “Su isla es muy bonita pero no tenemos dinero” (that his island was very beautiful but we didn’t have any money). With machete in hand, he told us he would have our heads if we didn’t give him two dollars. Okay, that was our cue to get back in the water and quickly swim to the boat.

Soon after, this pirate-of-sorts, motored his wooden dinghy up to our sailboat and demanded money from each person onboard. He looked as if he might try to board the Mintaka. But our captain sternly told the crazed Kuna man to leave. Much yelling ensued back-and-forth. Apparently this guy was drunk and just acting foolish. But he was very angry, passionate, and had a machete; all of which definitely made us a bit nervous. Nevertheless Captain Manfred firmly stood his ground and after about five minutes of yelling, the drunken Kuna man went off to harass the few other boats anchored in this harbor. Manfred said they’ve never encountered anything like that before as the Kuna people are typically very peaceful and friendly.

After that excitement, we then took Mintaka’s dinghy to the most beautiful island we’ve ever been to. Ever. This island took no more than about three minutes to walk around the entire perimeter, which had pristine beaches and palm tree clusters in the middle. It was truly paradise. It would have been very easy to just waste the entire day away here.

As we sat on this island, no one wanted to leave. The last several days had been very easy sailing, mostly behind protective barrier reefs. But now it would be time to cut across the open ocean from Panama to Colombia. As we took the dinghy past another anchored boat, they were shocked to learn that we were setting sail in the over 3-meter (9+ foot) seas ahead. These other boats were instead waiting it out for the seas to calm before continuing onward. Their comments were not very encouraging but Manfred just shrugged it off. This final portion of our voyage would take about 40 hours total with no more islands to break up the trip along the way. After our awful first night, we were absolutely dreading what was about to take place over the next two nights and day.

But at least this time, we were prepared. We dosed up on seasickness pills, ate a lighter meal, and didn’t touch any booze. As we sailed off towards Colombia, the sun dipped down into the horizon and the seas predictably began churning up. To take our minds off the all the rocking, we played some stupid mind games amongst each other and listened to some of Manfred’s sailing tales, like how he sailed the Mintaka across the Atlantic and that time he thwarted a Somali pirate attack.

Day 5: Sailing to Cartagena, Colombia

It was slightly eerie but also awesome being out in the middle of the ocean with a pitch-black backdrop and nothing else around for miles and miles. But around midnight we saw a dim light that was getting closer and closer. Manfred seemed thrown-off because the colored lights were not in the correct spot for a sailing vessel. In a matter of seconds we realized we were going to be in a collision with this other boat, which seemed to have just sprung up out of nowhere. We made a sharp-left 90-degree turn to avoid hitting the sailboat that appeared to be spinning in place in the middle of the ocean. Manfred had theorized the person at the helm of the other boat had fallen asleep at the wheel. We’ll never know exactly what the heck was going on here, but it sure did jolt in some excitement to the otherwise uneventful night.

It was also a nice diversion to keep our minds away from all the rocking that was taking place. We were going over huge swells. Up and down, several feet, over and over. We all felt pretty nauseous but the seasickness medication seemed to be doing its trick too, as we also were getting sleepy. The seas were even rougher than during our first night. But we were becoming more accustomed to sailing life, prepared ourselves better and managed to get a few hours of broken sleep this time.

Then we had a full day of sailing and bouncing around to look forward to. Some remained hulled up in their births most of the day trying to sleep it off. Others came up to get fresh air and gaze out at the horizon. We mostly just sat around, many of us queasy, tired, and in somewhat of a dazed stupor. I would say that this was a very long day at sea but it somehow managed to go by pretty quickly. Many of us liberally popped seasickness pills to not only help with the nausea but also in an attempt to knock us out. A few folks slept, or at least laid down in bed most of the 40 hours, coming up only to eat a little something or use the bathroom. “Bucky” only made a brief encore appearance. For those of us up on the deck, we kept an eye on the fishing line being trolled behind the boat. We got one bite but the line broke loose upon reeling it in.

So no fresh fish for dinner tonight. Instead Petra used the shark meat from a catch during their last sail and made a delicious green curry out of it. The boat was so rocky and sidewise that I could barely walk through the cabin, so it was a pretty amazing feat to be able to cook a curry dinner with all the motion, but somehow she managed to pull it off and scrumptiously so, even with upset bellies.

During the final night as we approached Cartagena, the seas were probably at their worst. This was the first time in which water was constantly coming over onto the deck. The few of us that remained on top of the deck got soaked. It only got worse from there. As we retreated to our births, Manfred and Petra stayed up to battle the sea. The mighty Mintaka seemed to slice right through some of the swells as water continued to slosh up and over the ship. Other times the boat just pounded and crashed right up and over them. More seasickness pills please!

Day 6: Arriving in Cartagena Colombia from Panama

The morning finally arrived. I popped up top to find flat seas and mercifully sighted land. It was Cartagena! We made had made it! Another hour or so took us into the port and eventually onto dry solid land. I could have kissed the ground.

Arriving to Cartagena

Yes, the rough seas took a toll on us but ultimately it was very worth it for a fantastic trip overall, particularly three awesomely magical days in the spectacular San Blas islands. This was an undeniably excellent way to get from Panama to Cartagena and a great experience.

If You Go Sailing From Panama to Colombia:

We sailed with the Mintaka . We would definitely recommend them and give them a good review. They run a tight ship, have a nice boat, take small groups, and probably have the best meals of any of the backpacker boats sailing this route. The price of the Mintaka sailing in March 2014 was $529 per person, which is very much inline with the price of other boats. This is all inclusive of meals, water, and entry fees/taxes. If you can’t sail with the Mintaka, there are a number of other reputable sailboats but make sure to vet them out wisely based on their track record and your preferences (e.g., a party boat with a lot of people may be a good or bad thing, depending on your travel preferences). Also, head the warnings of taking seasickness pills. I rarely get seasick but did in this case. Lastly, bring a good attitude. You’re on a boat for six days. Have fun, relax, enjoy the company of others, and help around the boat when you can. It will all make your experience that much better. Enjoy the voyage and feel free to shoot us an email with any questions.

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October 7, 2019 at 8:16 PM

What month of the year did you do this sailing trip? I’ll be taking a Spanish course during February and March and would like to do this trip afterwards, but I’m not sure if it would be worth it with the rough seas. I also heard that doing the trip from Columbia to Panama (vs Panama to Columbia) makes for a calmer sailing experience during the dry season (Dec-April) because you’re going with the wind. Do you know anything about this?

October 12, 2019 at 2:52 AM

We did the trip at the end of March / early April. The sea conditions will really come down to the weather at that exact time. Although we experienced rough seas, it was quite calm before and after our trip.

May 30, 2018 at 4:41 AM

Nice yacht 🙂

April 19, 2017 at 9:25 AM

I am considering going on the trip from Panama to Cartagena and was enthusiastic until I read experiences once you leave the Islands of San Blas on the open sea. Sounds awful and scary. Perhaps it would be better to go on a shorter trip only around the islands and then back to Panama. Do you know if there are boats that do those trips and if so who would I contact? On my original idea I was considering the sailing boat Quest or even Mintaka ! Mintaka because I am half German, father English but I am totally Brasilian born there and still go often.Thank you for a lovely read

April 29, 2017 at 4:12 PM

Hi Barbara, Thanks for the comment and question! I’m not familiar with companies that would provide round trips from Panama to the islands. To be honest, I got the most sea sick leaving Panama before reaching the San Blas islands. The seas do get pretty rough especially if you don’t have good sea legs such as myself. Aside from the seasickness, I’d still recommend the trip. We had an incredible time and really enjoyed spending time exploring some of the most beautiful islands I’ve ever seen. The Mintaka and crew were great and we can’t recommend them highly enough.

October 20, 2016 at 1:42 PM

If you don’t mind me asking how much was the cruise?

October 22, 2016 at 7:42 AM

Hello! The cost for our trip on the Mintaka was $ 529 USD per person all inclusive (all paperwork too), but exclusive of alcohol beverages. Let me know if you have any other questions!

May 25, 2016 at 7:11 AM

Lovely share!

Sailing a yacht is really an amazing experience which not only fill our life with beautiful memories but also allows us to do something adventurous.

May 27, 2016 at 11:31 AM

We would agree wholehearted about that!

June 8, 2014 at 12:45 AM

You could absolutely go to your expertise in the task you are writing. A area wants far more ardent freelance writers as you that are not worried to bring up where did they imagine. All the time abide by your own heart.

May 25, 2014 at 6:07 PM

Great post. Very similar to my recent post minus the rough seas and aggressive Kunas. Manfred and Petra definitely run a tight ship.

May 27, 2014 at 3:30 AM

Glad to hear your trip was free from crazed drunken Kunas. Enjoy Columbia!

May 22, 2014 at 1:12 PM

Thanks for posting such an awesome detailed review of the trip. I am getting to travel with the Myntaka and am extra excited now to hear about how great the experience was for you guys!

Happy Travels!

May 22, 2014 at 2:51 PM

Glad it was helpful! Hope you have an awesome time on your upcoming sailing trip! Just pack plenty of seasickness pills 😉 Bon voyage!

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How to get from Colombia to Panama by boat: 15 Things I Wish I Knew

There are a few ways to get from Colombia to Panama (or vice versa).

Overland is not one of them!

So, you’re left with these two options:

• An international flights (cheap and fast, yet boring)
• An ocean crossing by boat from Colombia to Panama (expensive and slower, yet adventurous)

I chose the latter!

Was it worth the money? And was the boat ride as rough as people say it is? I answer these questions and a whole lot more in this epic guide to 15 things I wish I knew about going from Colombia to Panama by boat.

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December to April is the windy season

The windy season starts in December and continues until April.

This is considered a good time to travel by boat from Panama to Colombia as there is no rain. But you’ll have to make a compromise and deal with the wind instead.

Taking the sailboat vs speedboat from Panama to Colombia

There are two ways to make the crossing. The first is by speedboat, the other is by sailboat.

The sailboat takes a different route from the speedboat and is more exposed to the elements.

During the open ocean crossing, you won’t leave the sailboat for 32 to 46 hours. The constant rocking due to rough sea conditions often leads to severe cases of seasickness.

Because of this, many people choose the speedboat instead.

With the speedboat, you spend less time on the water and more time on land. Your starting point is closer to the San Blas Islands, and you sleep on these islands (and not the boat).

But it’s still a hell of a bumpy ride

I hate to break it to you, if you’re crossing from Panama to Colombia by boat, there’s no escaping the rough oceans. This is only during the windy season, of course!

“But what about the speedboat option?” you might ask.

It’s still bumpy AF!

I was not prepared for what was in store for me. Looking back, I can only laugh at how naive I was in thinking an ocean crossing would be a smooth ride.

When our guides gave us snorkeling masks, I thought they were joking. I can now confirm that they were not! These masks saved the day.

You will get soaking wet. Our speedboat was taking hard knocks and yes, some people still got seasick!

This was my experience in February so rather expect the worst but hope for the best.

You’re only on the boat for 2 to 3 hours per day

The speedboat crossing starts (or ends, depending on your route) in Capurgana in Colombia (not Cartagena).

This means you’re a lot closer to the San Blas Islands and have less distance to cover over the ocean.

You’ll stay on the islands and won’t be on the boat for more than 3 hours per day.

So yes, the conditions can be rough, but it won’t be for more than a few hours.

Instagram vs reality: The truth about going from Colombia to Panama by boat

The San Blas Islands are incredible. But as with all things in travel, there are two sides… The one you see on Instagram and the reality!

We explored the most pristine and picturesque islands during our trip. Palm trees, sandy shores, turquoise waters.

But it won’t be perfect all day, every day.

Here’s my reality! On day two of our crossing, we stopped off at a small sandbank in the middle of the San Blas. On a bright sunny day, this would have been the most spectacular location.

But on a windy, overcast day, it was a different story.

With no shelter, there was no escaping the harsh conditions. The entire group lay hopelessly on the floor waiting for the go-ahead to leave the island. It wasn’t exactly the island paradise I had expected.

It’s travel in the best way

Taking the boat from Panama to Colombia is certainly not for everyone. It’s not luxurious nor is it comfortable.

But it’s the best way to travel if you’re looking for adventure.

You’ve just got to be realistic and be open to all experiences you might have. Embrace it!

Which company to book with

If you take the sailboat option, you’ll be spoiled with choices when it comes to boat operators. There are numerous vessels available that offer different levels of comfort.

However, when it comes to the speedboat, you’re not left with many options.

San Blas Adventures is the most popular operator that manages speedboat trips from Panama to Colombia. They offer regular trips, are a safe and reputable company, and work with the local communities.

I booked my San Blas tour with them and have based this post on my experience. I personally paid for it myself and they didn’t know that I was a travel blogger – so you’re going to get the real and raw version!

Your San Blas Adventure officially starts in Sapzurro

When traveling from Colombia to Panama, the sailboats depart from Cartagena in Colombia.

The speedboats do not!

Instead, the speedboat tours depart from a small town called Sapzurro close to the Panama/Colombia border.

It’s not really a 3 night / 4 day tour

San Blas Adventures advertise their crossing from Panama to Colombia as a 3 night / 4 day adventure.

And technically, it is. But if you book your trip with them, you’ll need 5 nights / 6 days.

Because it takes two days to get from Cartagena to Sapzurro, the starting point of your speedboat crossing.

So, remember to keep 2 additional nights free in your itinerary. I didn’t! This meant my time in Cartagena came to an end sooner than I had planned.

The speedboat is not the cheaper option

A reason why many people choose the San Blas Adventures boat from Panama to Colombia is that it’s supposedly the cheaper option (compared to the sailboat).

Yes – the upfront costs that you pay directly to San Blas Adventures is cheaper than the sailboat.

But these costs only include your travel and food from Sapzurro, Colombia to Carti, Panama. Nothing else.

There are other mandatory costs, like the additional 2 days of travel expenses and local taxes. These all add up and eventually make the speedboat trip more or less the same price as the sailboat.

Actual costs for San Blas Adventures boat from Colombia to Panama

The San Blas Adventures boat from Panama to Colombia is advertised as $495 for the 3 day / 4 night tour.

You’ll pay a small deposit, and the balance needs to be paid in cash (USD only) when you meet the team in Capurgana.

Here are the additional expenses that you will incur. There’s no avoiding these costs!

• Kuna Yala Entrance taxes: $20
• 4×4 Taxi from Carti to Panama City: $30
• Bus from Cartagena to Necocli: 100 000 COP
• Accommodation in Necocli: 50 000 COP
• Boat from Necocli to Capurgana: 85 000 COP
• Boat from Capurgana to Sapzurro: 20 000 COP
• Accommodation in Sapzurro: 50 000 COP
• Water, black bags to cover your items, snacks, beer: 120 000 COP

In total, you’re looking at about $620 for the boat from Panama to Colombia with San Blas Adventures.

Necocli is the gateway to the Darien Gap

Wondering why tourists don’t travel from Colombia to Panama by land? The Darien Gap is the reason!

It’s one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.

Despite the presence of drug cartels, extortion by criminal groups, and risks of sexual assault, thousands of people, young and old, try crossing the Darien Gap to get further north into the USA.

You will witness the extent of this when you get on your boat from Necocli to Capurgana. Most migrants depart from this very same dock, carrying all their most valuable belongings in one small bag.

It broke my heart to see this firsthand and I’ve since become so much more aware of the struggle’s migrants face.

So be kind to people you meet, always. You don’t know what journey they’ve been on to get there and what hardships they may face in the coming days.

You’ll get to interact with the local communities

By choosing the speedboat option, you’ll spend each night on the San Blas Islands. You’ll visit the local communities that call the islands home and learn more about their way of life.

This was an incredible experience. We danced with the kids and played games with them. We also got to learn more about how the Kuna Yala live, their struggles and triumphs as well as how they fit into Panamanian culture.

It was fascinating!

You’ll need to wrap all your bags in plastic

If there is one thing I didn’t like about crossing from Panama to Colombia by boat, it was that you have to wrap all your luggage in black plastic bags. And with numerous layers!

This is to prevent your things from getting wet.

You can buy these black bags and tape from the local vendors at the port in Necocli or Carti (depending on where you’re starting from).

The accommodation on the San Blas Islands is basic

Some nights you’ll sleep in hammocks, others you’ll have dorm-style rooms available.

The facilities are rustic and basic, but that’s what you’re signing up for.

Thoughts on how to get from Colombia to Panama by boat

My boat trip from Colombia to Panama was one of the highlights of my 6-month backpacking trip.

Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s rough. But the memories I have and the friendships I made will stay with me forever!

Are you planning of traveling from Colombia to Panama by boat? Drop me a message in the comments section below if you have any questions.

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Hi, I'm Carryn. I’m an adventure travel blogger trying to figure out my way through life by traveling and exploring. Join me as I share my travel guides and tips for life abroad. Find out more about me here .

The Best Cozumel Dive Sites: Epic Swim throughs, fast drift dives & vibrant marine life

Guide to scuba diving isla mujeres: best dive sites and more, leave a comment cancel reply.

Sailing trip Panama to Colombia

Cartagena to Panama, San Blas

Boat Panama to Colombia

Departing regularly from Portobelo, Panama for a relaxed, authentic sailing voyage to Colombia via uninhabbited San Blas Islands or vice versa.

Ave Maria, a classic 50′ Offshore sailing ketch offers comfortable shared cabins for the 5 night inclusive passage.

It is an awesome, budget adventure of epic proportions. On a great, safe, boat with friendly experienced and sober crew. Sailing from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands or vice versa. Relax as we island hop through the coral reefs, azure waters and coconut palm lined beaches of San Blas.

5 Nights inclusive LIMITED AVAILABILITY from US$550 per person,

Includes; 3 great meals per day plus some snacks and fresh fruits unlimited drinking water. FREE sunset cocktail in San Blas huge spacious deck more San Blas Island time visit 3 different groups of islands 3 days exploring the islands sailing through the San Blas to the most remote locations fabulous snorkeling opportunities good fins, masks and snorkels for your use. inflatable dingy, double air bed, hammock etc. recharging connection speaker to connect with your music player interaction with the locals if you choose. a beach BBQ and Bonfire. every person has there own comfortable bed. simple, economical transfer options always taking the safest most comfortable route.

An awesome island hopping sailing adventure.

To Reserve Your Place; BOOK NOW

email; [email protected]

+ 57 302 4395615

Boat Colombia to Panama

Sail cartagena to panama via san blas, adventure sailing holiday, sail panama to colombia via san blas, boat panama to colombia via san blas, share this:.

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You will enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience!

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The marine experience created for adventurers!

The unforgettable trip on the boat Alessandra . Join us on one of our sailing tour from Colombia (Cartagena) to Panama or Panama to Colombia (Cartagena) . Enjoy nature, amazing food, snorkeling, swimming, relaxing and meet people from all over the world. Discover the paradisiac San Blas Islands: an idyllic place. Enjoy this unique and wonderful experience, knowing the prettiest of the Caribbean Sea and its beautiful nature, in the islands of the Kuna native, with their ancient civilization.

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Phone: (+57) 312 556 3931 WhatsApp: (+507) 6031 2380 Email: [email protected]

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What to Know About Repositioning Cruises — Unique, One-way, Extended Itineraries That Can Be a Steal

Here's how to tell if a repositioning cruise is right for you.

What is a repositioning cruise?

Where do repositioning cruises go, and how long are they, what happens on a repositioning cruise, when do repositioning cruises happen, are repositioning cruises cheaper, 5 repositioning cruises to book now.

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As I stepped off the pier and onto my ship in Ushuaia, Argentina, it dawned on me that this was the last time I'd be on continental land for nearly three weeks. Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Explorer was about to ferry me across the South Atlantic, all the way to Cape Town. Now that is a cruise.

In fact, it was a very specific type of cruise known as a repositioning cruise, or a "repo." Repositioning cruises do exactly what their name entails — they reposition a ship from one place to another. In the case of my sailing, National Geographic Explorer had just wrapped up a season in Antarctica and was scheduled for a stint in Africa. So, the ship sailed a repositioning cruise to get from one region to the other, bringing along a handful of intrepid travelers.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about repositioning cruises.

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Repositioning cruises reposition cruise ships — it's as simple as that. But to understand why cruise ships need to be repositioned, you have to look at how most cruise lines operate their vessels.

Generally speaking, cruise ships don't just crisscross the world on a series of one-way trips, sailing from A to B, then B to C, then C to D, and so on. Most ships spend months at a time "homeported" at a specific cruise port, such as Miami or New Orleans, or sometimes in a general region, like the Mediterranean. Then for the duration of a season, they'll sail either an identical itinerary or perhaps a few similar itineraries. Take, for instance, a cruise that's homeported in Miami for the winter. That ship might sail Eastern or Western Caribbean itineraries for a few months, but not necessarily the entire year.

"Due to weather and seasonality, most cruise ships don’t stay in the same geographic area for an entire year. They therefore must reposition from one region to another — and those cruises are referred to as repositioning cruises," Travel + Leisure A-List Advisor Rob Clabbers , president of Q Cruise + Travel, tells T+L . "For example, a ship that sails summers in Alaska may spend the winter in the Caribbean; and therefore will reposition in the fall to go from Alaska via the West Coast and the Panama Canal to the Caribbean, then back in the spring."

Depending on the route, cruise lines might choose to reposition ships without guests onboard. In that case, the crew might spend the time deep cleaning and performing maintenance on the vessel. But repositioning cruises still use a lot of expensive fuel, so many cruise lines opt to open them up to guests to help offset that cost — or even turn a profit, if they're lucky. From the guest perspective, you get to sail a non-traditional itinerary, which could take you to less-visited destinations. In my case, we ventured to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the extremely remote Tristan da Cunha, a tiny volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic that's only accessible by ship.

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Clabbers shares some common repositioning routes below, but repositioning cruises can happen pretty much anywhere in the world. There is one rule for all repositioning cruises: They must be one-way.

• Between Mediterranean and South Asia: Traditionally via the Suez Canal, but more recently around the tip of South Africa.
• Between Antarctic and Arctic polar regions: Via the coasts of the Americas (might include an expedition onto the Amazon); or in some cases via the coast of Africa and Europe.
• Between Alaska and Japan: Via the North Pacific.
• Between North America and Australia/South Pacific: Via Hawaii and French Polynesia to Australia and New Zealand.
• Between Europe and North America: Via the Atlantic, which may also mean from the British Isles via Iceland and Greenland to Canada for the Canada/New England season in the late summer/fall.
• Between Alaska and the Caribbean: Via the West Coast and the Panama Canal.

As for how long repositioning cruises are, that varies. "Repositioning cruises, such as transatlantic sailings, are generally longer than a 'standard' seven-night itinerary and will include more sea days, as they have to cross a larger distance," says Clabbers.

But some repositioning cruises might be broken up into shorter segments. In the instance of a ship repositioning from Alaska to the Caribbean, there may be a West Coast sailing followed by a Central America sailing that transits the Panama Canal. While you could stack the two journeys to create one long cruise, you could also book it in shorter segments.

It all depends on where you're sailing. "Depending on the part of the world, the ships stop at fewer ports of call and/or stop in ports that are somewhat unusual because of their location," T+L A-List Advisor Olga Placeres, president of Preferred Travel & Co, tells T+L. She points to transatlantic cruises as an example — they have numerous sea days, but they also might stop in remote places like the Azores.

If you're repositioning on a mega ship , you'll likely get to fully immerse yourself in all the amenities that the ship has to offer. My transatlantic repositioning cruise was on a tiny expedition ship, which meant that the focus of our programming was education and adventure, so our sea days were filled with lectures and wildlife spotting — and plenty of time for contemplation.

Repositioning cruises can happen at any time of year, but most occur in the spring and fall, which are traditionally shoulder seasons for cruises. Some cruises use seasonality to their advantage. For example, when ships are repositioning from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean in the fall, they'll take advantage of fall foliage in the Northeast U.S. and Canada.

The short answer: It depends on demand. And demand depends on the itinerary and the size of the ship. "More unique itineraries — through the Panama Canal, or along some of the more unusual/off-the-beaten-path islands in the South Pacific — can be very high in demand, which is reflected in the fares," says Clabbers.

But not all repositioning itineraries appeal to the mass market, and cruise lines may struggle to fill the ship. "Fewer travelers enjoy a crossing with many sea days. Most guests wish to see ports, not only the ocean," says Placeres. "Weather is another factor — crossings can be rough, and you need to be a good sailor to enjoy a bumpy voyage." In those cases, demand can be low, and therefore prices (when broken down per day) can also be comparatively low.

Generally speaking, however, many repositioning cruises are, in fact, cheaper than more traditional week-long sailings. "There are many ships that sail from the Caribbean to Europe in the spring, including some of the larger contemporary cruise ships. That means there is quite a bit of capacity at a wide range of attractive fares each year for those that would like to travel between the continents," says Clabbers. "These cruises can be quite affordable, especially when looking at it from a per-day perspective. In addition, with fewer ports of call, the taxes and port charges may be lower, too."

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