Private Tour
Private Day tour in San Blas Islands
Overview
Available languages
13 hours
Mobile ticket
Visit the amazing paradaise of San Blas Islands by your own time and rules. You will have a PRIVATE Comfortable car 4x4 only for you. Once you arrive to the port you will have your own PRIVATE capitan and panga boat (local boat), you can choose the time you want to spend in each of the 3 islands.
Options Islands: Perro grande, Perro chico, Pelicano and natural swimming pool.
Kayaks, Snorkel mask, life jacket will be provided.
Self guided tour. Once you book we will provide all info needed so you can explore by your own, please notice there are no english-speaking guides in this tour.
Under request we can provide towels, beach chairs ** limited quantity.**
Minimum 2 people
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The car will make a stop in a minisuper, so you can buy snacks, drinks, ice, desserts, fruits and everything you want to take to San Blas. Its is a long drive 2.5 hours way in and 2.5 way back, then 40minutes in boat. Total time in Islands around 5hours.
Please notice San Blas is an Indian protected zone. All the services are basic and rustic, only kuna people are in charge of all tourist’s services such as food, ground and water transportation, lodging, etc. Please take this into consideration, the services are not as in the city, the waiting time can be long, and kunas are more informal. We have provided hospitality train to them, but they are still working on it, their culture is different, they are never in a rush, this is part of the adventure to San Blas.
Day tour return is at 3:30PM. You will arrive in Panama City between 6:30PM and 7:00PM.
We recommend you bring your personal hygiene items, towels, sunscreen, mosquito repellent. You can bring a cooler with your own drinks, potable water, snacks and beverages (fruit juice or alcohol) you can by on site or bring it yourself. The driver will make a stop in a super market where you can buy a disposable cooler, ice etc. In San Blas Islands there are no ATMs, only cash in received. You can buy drinks there, snacks, souvenirs etc.“+Movil” and “Digicel” are the cell phone companies which works in San Blas Islands. There is no power electricity in the huts, only light.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private Car only for your group.
Private Boat from 1 people in advance. You can choose your time in each island.
Life jacket
Umbrella, beach chair and towels.
Visit to 3 Islands (Wailidub, Perro Chico and Natural Swimming pool)
1 Drink (Soda, beer or bottled water)
Snorkel Mask
Kayaks and paddel board to share.
Lobster lunch (+$20USD)
Fees to the islands to visit
San Blas Islands
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Calle 50 Con 53 Este, Marbella Panama City Panama
Waldorf Astoria Panama
47th St. Uruguay Street, Uruguay Street Panama City Panama
Sheraton Grand Panama
Via Israel Y Calle 77, San Francisco, San Francisco Panama City Panama
Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino, Autograph Collection
Calle 56 Y 57, Obarrio, Obarrio Panama City Panama
W Panama
Calle 50 And Aquilino De La Guardia, Calle 50 Panama City Panama
Hilton Panama
Balboa Avenida & Aquilino De La Guardia, Avenida Aquilino de la Guardia Panama City Panama
Bristol Panama, A Registry Collection Hotel
C. Aquilino de la Guardia Panama City Panama
Eurostars Panama City
Calle Ricardo Arias, Bellavista via Espana Panama City Panama
What To Expect
Panama City
Start your journey with pick up around 5:20am in your hotel in one of our best cars 4x4 only for your group. Make a stop in the supermarket if you need to buy drinks (wine, beers, water, and snacks). Around 1 hour and a half after pick up you will enter to the San Blas hills, the roads are bumpy so please take medicine if you suffer of nauseas. Around 8:30am arrive to Carti port, a very rustic port with lot of pangas around. You guide Naidi will introduce him self and help you with your luggage. Time to ride some waves!! Arrive to your first island Perro Grande after 30 minutes of boat, where we will welcome you with fruits, chairs, kayak and paddle boards exclusive for our clients.
Isla Pelicano
Visit the tiny but beautiful Pelicano chico island, known by their hammocks in the ocean and great place to take a selfie! There is bar in this area if you want to order a drink.
Options
Private Day tour in San Blas Islands
Pickup included
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Breathtakingly Beautiful San Blas!
Monica B,
May 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A truly unique experience touring various islands of San Blas and getting to see and learn more about the Cuna indigenous culture. The private tour actually got us to the islands to have them all by ourselves for a bit, and the islands and water are stunning! Definitely worth the effort to get out there. (Given the rudimentary cabins for rent out there, I am glad we only did a day tour vs. spending the night out there.)
The best tour we have taken.
George S,
Apr 12, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00The private San Blas tour was epic. We were picked up at our apartment by a private driver. He did a great job of getting ahead of the other tours for an early start and left the gas station as soon as we finished eating to get us there sooner. Once we got to the port we had our own boat, guide, captain and first mate. It was great. We were 5 people. We were alone on our first island for about an hour before others arrived. Eddie brought fresh pineapples for our family and brought our drinks to where we sat swam and snorkeled. The natural pool was pretty cool. A perfectly white sandbar about 2-4 feet deep surrounded by deeper water. Again - only ones there and stayed until we wanted to go. We went to have lunch. That food was OK. I had bones in my fish fillet, the whole fish by brother got was better and interestingly I think the chicken was the best meal. That island was cool with a sunken ship. Last we went to pelican island and relaxed in hammocks in the water and on the beach. The crew shared drinks with us and taught us what they could about their culture and even some of their words. I felt both immersed in their culture while having a first class experience. Seeing other boats with 10-15 people on them this is the way to go for sure.
Great tour.
lardog123,
Apr 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience from the word go. Be aware it takes time to get there from Panama City. Took 4 hours from 5:00AM hotel pick-up before your toes hit island sands. 3 1/4 to get to the Marina. However, the SUV we travelled in was newish and clean. The driver only had rudimentary English skills, which made for limited discussion during a long trip. But he was pleasant and accommodating. The last hour's drive is in the mountains before you hit the sea. Twisty-turny, uppy-downy you go. If you have a modicum of being subject to car sickness, take a Gravol. If you are on a tour where you might get stuck in the back seats of an old Honda CRV, take several. Frankly, i think a lot has to do with the temperment of the driver. This private tour vehicle and its driver were terrific. I watched and he seldom went over 40kph in the mountains and he wasn't offended or challenged by several other vehicles taking risks to pass him. He calmly drove on, for which i was appreciative. We have taken six tours this trip and note that every single tour guide and driver are male. Brings to mind that a high school boy's locker room, after the game, with various air-clouded AXE body spray assaults confronting you, the impact has nothing on some of these guys. If you have scent sensitivity, i would suggest requesting a scent free driver. I had to ride with the window open all the way. The islands were wonderful but you have to be aware that while the boat and guides are private to you, the places you go are not. One aspect of this excursion that was unique to the private tour was the guides stopped say a hundred meters or so off one of the islands, dropped the anchor, and we snorkeled with them looking at sting rays, etc. Apparently i saw a shark, as proven by the video the guide took during our swim, but i didn't realize i saw it. Ha. The shark was the same colour as the coral. Terrific tour, worth every penny. enjoy.
Excellent!
LAVINIA S,
Aug 10, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00It was downright stunning! We had a great time and you did a good job preparing us for what was in store. Our tour team was friendly and helpful. My only issue, and this is minor, is if you have customers who are senior citizens, it's a bit hard to get in and out of the boat. Our tour team was very helpful ensuring my parents had support getting in and out, but it was difficult. Regardless, I can't wait to go again! It was magical!
Lunch was bad. Coordination of your company was not good on the different islands. Boat guys did not speak English.
Nikhil C,
May 1, 2023
- Review from Viator
3.00Islands were nice. Lunch was not good. Drive was ok. The stop was crowded with lot of people. Bathrooms were bad everywhere.
Top experience
Matteo B,
Mar 20, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience. Very well prepared and good level of service l. Nice people with how have a day of tour.
San Blas amazing experience
560amadeom,
Nov 26, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00To complete your experience in Panama, you have to go to San Blas, you are speechless when you arrive and see the Archipelago , they receive you very friendly and to know the islands in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, much peace and tranquility . The only detail is the road with many bumps but nothing that cannot be overcome
Highly recommend!
Melanie B,
Jun 11, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00A truly amazing experience and highly recommend! The second half of the car ride is extremely bumpy due to torn up roads so be prepared. The guides are amazing and the islands are beautiful. Great snorkeling and great food.
Unfailing in the visit to Panama
mcaleroclavijo,
Oct 10, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Spectacular everything! From the hotel departure to the return. The islands are amazing, the people's attention spectacular!! They fulfilled 100% what the package mentions
Misleading Advertising
Arnold W,
Aug 20, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00We booked and paid for a private day tour for Tuesday Aug 6, 2019. My wife (who is Panamanian) and I took the tour to San Blas after seeing the ad stating Private Tour. We thus assumed it would be so. We understood that transportation to San Blas and back to Panama was in a shared transport, which was no problem with us, but they neglected to tell us that they would cram 7 people in a 4x4 car meant for 5 passengers, Arriving at the port to go to San Blas, they informed us that we had to wait for other people coming in other cars to be able to take the boat. So what part of our tour was private? We were then told we would have to pay an additional $ 60 to take a private boat. Seemed like a classic switch and bait. The return trip was extremely uncomfortable and the driver drove at reckless speeds to try and get back to Panama City after a long delay from one of the passengers. We emailed Panama San Blas Tours on August 15, 2019 but never received a response. While San Blas itself was beautiful, Panama an Blas Tours was disappointing. Tourists beware of this company,.
Related Experiences
Operated by Panama San Blas Tours