The San Blas Islands are such an incredible place to visit because they feel almost completely untouched. They are not overrun with tourists and there is little to no development. There is no cell service in the area and electricity is only run off generators. Accommodations are the bare basics, and the food is primarily freshly caught fish and seafood. It’s a very different travel experience from other tropical destinations, but the simplicity and seclusion is exactly what makes it so special!

Getting There

There are several different ways to get to the San Blas Islands, including by plane, bus, or sailboat. We took a day trip from Panama City, which was entirely worth it in our opinion. It makes for a very long day, as it’s quite a journey from the city, but it was worthwhile for such an incredible experience. If you have more time, you can spend a few nights on the islands, but be prepared for a more rustic experience. The islands are part of the Guna Yala district of Panama, meaning that you do pass through a border on your way to the port. You need to have your passport with you and pay a small entry fee into the indigenous territory.

The Travel Experience

We booked our day trip through Airbnb Experiences. Our tour company was excellent and we highly recommend them! We were picked up very early in the morning from our accommodations in Panama City, and were driven to the port by a professional driver. We had read that the drive through the rainforest and the mountains was quite difficult, but it was much better than we expected. Panama City is on the Pacific Coast of Panama, and the San Blas Islands are off the Caribbean Coast. It’s about a three hour drive through the country and the last hour does take you through some very windy mountain roads, but the views are beautiful! We even stopped to see a sloth sleeping in a tree, and to take photos of the gorgeous scenery. After passing through the border you arrive at the port. From there, we hopped in a boat with a local guide and began our tour of the islands! If you’ve never tried an Airbnb Experience, it’s a great way to book local tours in different destinations! Click here to sign up to Airbnb and save on your first experience.

The Islands

Our tour included a full morning and afternoon of exploring, with stops on three different islands as well as a natural pool in the middle of the sea. We also had lunch provided (and were very happy that they accommodated us with a veggie option)! The highlights of the day were definitely snorkelling at a shipwreck off the shore, swimming in the clearest blue waters we’ve ever seen, and wandering amongst the palm trees on the quiet, secluded islands. It was truly a bucket list experience for us and we’re so glad we had the opportunity to experience it. Our guides mostly left us to explore on our own, and we had plenty of time to wander around, go swimming, take photos, and enjoy the beautiful views. The day went by fast, but we definitely felt like we had plenty of time to enjoy it! When heading to San Blas for the day, we recommend that you bring a swimsuit, a towel, plenty of sunscreen, a change of clothes, drinking water, snacks, and your camera!

We highly recommend taking a day trip (at least!) to the San Blas Islands. It’s truly an incredible adventure and in our opinion, is an absolute must-do while in Panama.

If you’re interested in travelling to Panama, be sure to read our Lesbian Guide to Panama City!

As well, we have a full article on How Lesbian Friendly Panama Is.

If you’re looking for other day trips, read our full guide to the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve.

Have you already been to San Blas? Share your experiences in the comments below!

The post A Day Trip to the San Blas Islands, Panama appeared first on Lez See the World.

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a beautiful property located right on the Panama Canal. They offer resort accommodations as well as tours of the reserve. You can choose to stay on the property for the full experience of a quiet rainforest sanctuary, or you can opt for a day trip to the resort from Panama City or elsewhere. Whether or not you choose to stay overnight, the resort itself is a wonderful experience. The building has a three level atrium with gorgeous views of the national park, along with an outdoor pool, a resort spa, and more than 150 rooms and suites with private balconies. All of the eco-tours and activities within the Gamboa Reserve are booked and facilitated through the resort. The staff members are very knowledgable, and there is a big focus on environmental conservation, as well as ethical and sustainable practices.

We chose to do a day trip to Gamboa during our stay in Panama City. There was plenty of time to fit everything into a single day, and we had a really enjoyable visit. Below we highlight the three tours that we experienced, all of which we highly recommend! They were all informative and entertaining, and offered us some of the most unique travel experiences we’ve ever had. Keep reading for more on each tour, as well as plenty of photos to inspire your trip!

Gatun Lake & Panama Canal Tour

We started our day with a boat tour of Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal. Touring the famous canal was a true bucket list experience, and completely unforgettable! After checking in with the tour desk upon arrival, we were driven in a safari vehicle down to the water. We then climbed into a small boat (just us, our tour guide, and our driver), and set off. For a full hour we explored both the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake, the large artificial lake connected to the canal. Our guide explained to us the history of the canal as well as the construction of the lake, and we saw plenty of large ships passing through. Our boat also took us up to Monkey Island, a small island in the lake that is inhabited by capuchin monkeys. Our tour guide was very knowledgable in pointing out all of the wildlife and we were close enough to get some amazing photos!

Aerial Tram

Our second activity was the aerial tram, a small gondola that transports you 600 metres through the beautiful Panama Rainforest. The views were absolutely stunning, and it felt completely magical to be up in the treetops. Even for someone weary of heights, it was amazing and entirely worth it. There is the possibility to see more monkeys on this tour, as well as many species of birds, and sloths if you’re lucky! The gondola drops you deep in the forest where you can climb up to the observation deck for more incredible views. The tower is 30 metres high and offers unobstructed views of the national park, the Chagres River, the Panama Canal, and the nearby indigenous communities. There was plenty of time to enjoy the look out point and take plenty of photos before making our way back down to the tram, and taking the gondola down to our starting point. This entire tour is about 1.5 hours.

Nature Labs & Sloth Sanctuary

Our last activity was a 1.5 hour tour of the nature labs and Gamboa’s sloth sanctuary, which was eye-opening. We learned so much about the conservation initiatives run by the Pan American Conservation Association, and all of the dangers that the sloth population is currently facing in Panama. Our guide was incredibly knowledgable and offered us a lot of really useful and interesting information. We were able to see some of the rescued sloths in their habitats, eating plants and doing a lot of sleeping. We were able to get close enough to take some incredible photos without disturbing them. In the additional nature labs we saw plenty of butterflies, frogs, and tropical flora. We really enjoyed this as our last activity of the day, and we learned so much about Panama’s unique tropical vegetation.

We highly recommend spending a day (at least!) on the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve. It’s easy to access from Panama City and in our opinion is an absolute must-do while in Panama.

If you’re interested in travelling to Panama, be sure to read our Lesbian Guide to Panama City!

As well, we have a full article on How Lesbian Friendly Panama Is.

Have you already been to the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve? Share your experiences in the comments below!

The post Visiting the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve in Panama appeared first on Lez See the World.