San Blas 4-Day Island Hopping from Panama City, Sleeping on Each Isle

Snorkeling reefs, a sunken boat and a Guna craft visit on white sand

Sleep each night on a different tiny island with white sand and turquoise water, snorkel one of the best reefs in the archipelago, and paddle kayaks between beaches. This four-day tour leaves from Panama City and is run with the Guna Ayala community that protects this zone, where you see how molas are stitched and can finish your own in a small workshop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to San Blas and explore first island

• Early morning pickup from Panama City
• Stop at supermarket for snacks
• Drive 2.5 hours crossing San Blas hills
• Meet guide at port
• Boat transfer to first island
• Assign cabana and explore island
• Lunch on island
• Visit local community and see crafts

Day 2: Island hopping and beach activities

• Breakfast on island
• Boat transfer to second island
• Relax on second island
• Lunch on island
• Visit Misdub and Perro Chico Islands
• Enjoy beach activities and natural pool
• Dinner on island

Day 3: Snorkeling and overnight on third island

• Breakfast on island
• Boat tour to Yani Island for snorkeling
• Arrive at third island for overnight
• Assign cabana or room
• Explore sunken boat snorkeling site
• Dinner on island

Day 4: Return to Panama City

• Breakfast on island
• Boat transfer back to port
• Drop off at hotel in Panama City

What’s included

• Workshop to finish a craft with local artisans.
• A driver, with basic English.
• Kayaks, paddle boards, water beds, pickle ball and mini golf.
• Three nights in a private room with a shared bathroom.
• Boat rides between all tours and islands.
• A guide for three hours of daily tours.
• A snorkel mask for each traveler.
• Shared ride from Panama City to San Blas.

Times

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• Every day 05:20

Information

Sleep on a different white-sand island each night, snorkel a sunken boat and visit a Guna community to finish your own mola in San Blas.

Group Up to 20

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to 2d before

Ages Adult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Infant seats available Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

Your day begins at the port, where your guide greets you and a snorkel mask goes into your hands before you reach the water. Boats cross the turquoise sea for under half an hour to Pelican Island, one of the loveliest spots in the region, where your cabana is assigned and you have time to wander at your own pace before lunch. Take motion pills beforehand if the morning drive tends to turn your stomach. In the afternoon you walk through a Guna community past the school and the main house, watching the molas come together by hand, then sit down at a small atelier to finish one of your own.

The second day moves at an easy pace. After breakfast a boat carries you to a small, quiet island where a hammock and a book are all you need, and the kitchen cooks fish, shrimp or octopus for lunch and dinner. In the afternoon you explore Misdub and Perro Chico, where pickle ball, mini golf, water beds, kayaks and yoga mats wait on the sand, and a natural pool is there to swim in.

On the third morning you head to Yani Island, famous for its snorkeling spot off the back. Lunch brings you to Perro Chico or Diablo, where you sleep, and just off the beach a sunken boat sits among lots of tiny fish. On the last morning you say goodbye to the friends you made along the way and the boat takes you back to the port.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I sleep on the islands or go back to Panama City?

You sleep on the islands, one each night, and the boat returns you to the port on the last morning.

Is this a guided tour the whole time?

No, it is self guided. A guide joins your daily tours but not the whole time.

Can I snorkel near the islands, and what will I see?

Yes, snorkeling is a main activity: the reef tour on the first day, the sunken boat at Perro Chico or Diablo, and the spot off the back of Yani Island.

Will I see molas being made in San Blas?

Yes, a visit to a Guna community shows the school, the main house and how molas are made by hand, and a small atelier lets you finish your own.

Can I rest on the islands between activities?

Yes, the calm second island has hammocks for reading, and free time on each island lets you explore at your own pace.

Operated by Panama San Blas Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated yesterday