Panama City

Panama City trip ideas

Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visiting 4 Islands

Badge of ExcellencePanama City, Panama

Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visit 3 Islands in 1 Day

14 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Panama City, Panama

Lake Gatun Wildlife Tour from Panama City

945

from $70.52

Panama City, Panama

Panamanian specialist in city tour of Panama City and much more

from $70.00

Panama City, Panama

Day Trip To The San Blas Islands In Panama - Visit 5 Attractions

from $115.00

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Head to the Caribbean coast of Panama on a day trip from Panama City to the San Blas Islands. Traveling by boat check out a shipwreck and natural swimming pool, and enjoy the tropical scenery and atmosphere. Your tour includes breakfast, lunch, activities, and round-trip transport with hotel pickup and drop-off.

San Blas Islands day trip from Panama City
Go exploring with provided kayaks and snorkeling masks
Visit several islands in one day
Round-trip transport by minivan and boat included

What's Included

Snorkel MASK
Shared transportation from Panama City – Port – Panama City for 6 passengers
Shared Boat transportation from Port – Islands– Port
Tours to Iguana, Perro Chico, Niunudub and Natural Swimming pool (4 Islands)
Welcome Snack (fruits)
Traditional Lunch (Fresh fish with salad and rice)
1 Drink (Beer, Bottle wáter or soda)
Kayaks & Paddel board
Umbrellas, chairs and towels under request and upton to availability.

Entrance and port fees (25USD per person)
Infant spot in the car $50USD both ways, or can travel in adult laps for free.
Pick in Dreams or Westin Playa Bonita $10USD pp. both ways.

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

05:00 AM

Pickup details

We pick up in all hotels in Panama city. Just leave us a note with your hotel in Panama city if you dont see your hotel. Its not needed to call to confirm. We need also your room number once you make check in. Hotels in Playa Bonita has additional cost of 10USD per people to be paid to the driver in cash. Other hotels outside Panama city, please contact us to know the additional fee, we dont pick up in hotels in Playa Blanca, Summit or Gamboa Rainforest, or others hotels more than 30min far from Panama city.

What To Expect

Go island hopping in the San Blas Islands, and have all your logistics taken care of, with this full-day tour from Panama City. Relax with all transfers, water toys, beach equipment, lunch, snacks, and a beverage all included.

You’ll be picked up from your Panama City hotel early in the morning, with a stop to purchase snacks and drinks or get cash. Soak up the scenery on the 3-hour drive to the port to board your boat and meet your guide.

The first stop will be Perro Grande Island, where you can use the provided beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, and paddleboards. Afterwards, relax on the beach at Pelicano Island.

Next, head to Perro Chico Island for lunch and snorkeling. The final stop will be at a natural swimming pool in the ocean. Then it’s back to the port for the drive back to Panama City and drop-off at your hotel.

San Blas Islands

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

San Blas Islands

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

San Blas Islands

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Isla Perro

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

San Blas Islands

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Panama City (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Departure time is at 5:20am in the reception of your hotel. Any delay will have an additional charge, or may imply not to go to SanBlas.
You are allowed to bring additional beverages.
Check out from the island is at 3:30pm you should be back in Panama between 6-7pm.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR ORGINAL PASSPORT. WITH OUT IT, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER TO SAN BLAS.
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, we work with them to support the local economy. 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. Food is basic such as fresh fried fish with salad and rice.
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available

The vehicle is 4x4 for 6 passengers plus the driver. Pick up time is between 5:20am to 6:00am depending on the route, you can be first ones of last ones. Please be ready at 5:00AM to avoid any delays to other passengers. No Show – or Mayor delays will incur in a penalty – cost of reservation fee. In case you will be pick up in Costa del este or near to the airport, pick up time is between 5:45 and 6:00am
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.
Most travelers can participate
Transport time is 2.5 hours way in and 2.5 back. Then 40 minutes to the island in boat. Real time in Islands is around 5 hours.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Will_V

Great trip David was a incredible your guide would 100% recommend. This islands are beautiful and your weas well run

Reviews

4.5

1,011 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 1,011 reviews

We enjoyed Swimming in...

Emily_W, Apr 2024

We enjoyed Swimming in the secret pool and the beautiful beaches. The fish for lunch was really good too.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds like you had a fantastic time swimming in the secret pool and enjoying the beautiful beaches. We're glad to hear that the fish for lunch was also to your liking. We aim to provide unique and memorable experiences, and it's wonderful to know that we succeeded during your tour. We hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again soon for more adventures and delicious meals!

Get in…the water is perfect!

Jose_P, Apr 2024

This is a long day, but well worth it! The Kuna Yala people are lovely and their islands are beautiful! I could have spent the whole day in the warm clear waters. Such a lovely day.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed your day with the Kuna Yala people and found their islands to be beautiful. It sounds like the warm, clear waters made a lasting impression on you. We agree, it's a long day, but we're delighted that you found it to be well worth the effort. We hope the memories of such a lovely day will bring you joy for a long time to come. Thank you again for choosing the tour, and we look forward to welcoming you on another adventure in the future!

Enjoyable excursion

Mayelin_R, Apr 2024

This tour to San Blas island was unforgettable. The driver and guide during the trip to the Guna’s (Tory) was on time to kick up us at the hotel. During the trip he was explaining in details about the history of the Gunas and we really enjoy his narrative. In addition all the time he took care of our needs. We asked a lot of questions and in a knowledgeable mode he respond to all of them. The isles are beautiful. Sand, water and environment super beautiful and comfortable. Drinks a little expensive at the islands but we were precaucióus and brought our own drinks in a cooler. The lunch provided was delicious and the fish very fresh. I really recommend this trip to all of my friends.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that your tour to San Blas Island was unforgettable and that you enjoyed every aspect of your experience. It's great to know that Tory, your driver and guide, enhanced your journey with his timely service, informative narrative about the Guna people, and attentive care to your needs. We're also delighted that you found the islands' beauty and ambiance to be exceptional and that you enjoyed the fresh fish provided for lunch. Smart thinking on bringing your own drinks to manage costs! Thank you for recommending the trip to your friends. We look forward to hosting them as well as welcoming you back on future adventures. Your satisfaction and endorsement mean the world to us!

San blas islands are a...

Elvia_N, Apr 2024

San blas islands are a very beautiful place to visit, diverse culture to experience. The locals and tour guide are very friendly

Don’t second guess it, it’s worth it!

Matt_D, Apr 2024

Let me start by saying that this is one of the most beautiful excursions I’ve ever been on. Pure paradise. Would do it again without hesitation! Now some information I think will be helpful. You will be miserable if you are prone to motion sickness. The drive there is basically 2 hours of winding up and down a mountain road. Then you get on a boat! Be prepared to sit in traffic for up to an hour as you get to a checkpoint. Everyone’s passport will needed to be looked at. Get out of the car and stretch your legs. Take a nap since you’ll have been awake since 4ish. Bring a decent amount of cash. You’ll want to tip your driver as well as your guide for the day. Also, they will keep a running tab of drinks/food you order on the islands (that aren’t included) and you pay at the end. A beer is $2 and cocktails are $10+. Lunch with a drink is included. Water shoes are helpful as some of the beach areas do have crushed coral. Pack a towel. Recommend buying a protective case for your cell phone so you can take beautiful underwater photos. The island where you eat lunch has a cool shipwreck right off the beach. Go with the flow. Don’t stress if unexpected things happen! We had to go to our guide’s home island so our one engine could get repaired. Took some time out of our day, but in the end it was incredible. Every person you’ll meet is working their ass off to ensure that you have a wonderful time.

A MUST do when visiting Panama.

Megan_F, Apr 2024

This was a once in a lifetime experience. Yes, the trip is long, however, it's absolutely worth it. The drive is only about 2.5 hours from the Dreams Playa Bonita and the last full hour is through beautiful mountains. However, I will worn you, if you get car sick, please take motion sickness medicine as the road is extremely winding. The driver and tour guide are very polite and informative, and the islands are breathtaking! Honestly, it exceeded my expectation and then some. Do yourself a favor and BOOK this excursion now. You won't regret it!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your experience with us was a memorable one and that you enjoyed both the journey and the destination. It's great to know that the scenic drive through the mountains added to your adventure, and we appreciate your helpful tip for future travelers about motion sickness. We're also delighted to learn that our team members contributed positively to your trip and that the islands exceeded your expectations. Thank you for recommending our excursion. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!

Good Experience

indiasavoy, Apr 2024

The trip was very organized well put together. My only cons is that they don't tell you they take you over to the island in a small boat and its just way to much climbing in and out the boat. No steps to get in & out that part needs improvement.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for taking the time to review your trip with us. We are glad to hear that you found the tour well-organized and enjoyed the overall experience. Your feedback about the boat transfers is incredibly valuable to us. We understand the importance of ease and accessibility, and we are looking into ways to improve the boarding process, including the possibility of adding steps to assist with getting in and out of the boat more comfortably. We appreciate your input as it helps us enhance our services, and we hope to welcome you again soon with improvements that enhance your experience even further. Warm regards,

A must trip to the Carribean islands of Panama

Anastas_Z, Apr 2024

Excellent trip to Caribbean islands with the pristine water and the white sandy beaches , we passed the forest- Jungle, very calm waters , enjoying to swimm

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip to the Caribbean islands, with their pristine waters and beautiful white sandy beaches. It sounds like the serene journey through the forest-jungle and the calm waters provided a perfect setting for swimming and relaxation. We're so glad you had a wonderful experience, and we look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!

Wonderful tour

Emerson_F, Apr 2024

The place is wonderful, the driver is careful, the food is awesome and the visit is really impressive at all.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you so much for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an impressive visit and enjoyed everything from the careful driving to the awesome food. It's wonderful that the beauty of the place made such a positive impact on your experience. We appreciate your feedback and hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again soon for another remarkable journey!

Exciting Island Hopping Adventure

Nicole_D, Apr 2024

Getting to the islands was quite the adventure. My family got picked up from our hotel in Panama City around 5:30a. It took about 3.5 hours to get to the first island, which included over an hour driving up and around a steep, windy mountain and another hour on a heavily bumpy speedboat. Once we arrived at the first Island, it was picture perfect beauty. They had snorkeling equipment and paddle boards available for use. We stayed on each of the four Islands for at 1-2 hours per island. The lunch that was provided was delicious. The whole excursion was quite the experience. I would highly recommend.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you so much for your review! It sounds like your journey to the islands was truly an adventure, and we're thrilled to hear that you and your family enjoyed every aspect of it. The early start and the exciting travel to the islands seem to have set the stage for a memorable day filled with natural beauty and fun activities. We're glad that the snorkeling equipment and paddle boards enhanced your experience and that the lunch met your expectations. Thank you for recommending us, and we look forward to your next visit for more unforgettable moments!

Drunk boat guides

Samantha_W, Apr 2024

First off the description is not honest. You go to three islands and a sand bar, not four and there’s no breakfast (as in the description). There’s no soap any island bathrooms and so not sure the lunch they give is sanitary…. Didn’t matter at the fish was inedible (cooked WAY too long earlier that day) the tour operators (the island owners) got super drunk and yelled at a pour mother who didn’t speak English (or Spanish) for not putting her life vest on quick enough (she was making sure her children were in safely). And then they went around to everyone on the boat and told them to write a good review for them while they watched over you. It was all very weird, unprofessional, dangerous and disappointing (that I paid the amount I did when cheaper operators, with less but honest reviews by people who actually wanted to review them, probably would have been better and less drunk).

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We take all feedback very seriously and are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests. We have identified the person from the island who drinking, and it was not part of our staff neither the boat driver as your title says. As you know you are travelling to a local community where local people are the hosts in each island there is a different family, but they are not the ones running the boats. Still, we want to assure you that this behavior is unacceptable and not representative of our company's standards. As a result, we will take out this island from our itinerary. Regarding the meals provided during the tour, we apologize if the lunch did not meet your expectations, the lunch is what the local people prepare as they are travelling to an indigenous community, the lunch is the catch of the day with patacones, and the breakfast is fruits (we call it Snacks fruits rather than breakfast). We also want to address the concern about our review process. We encourage guests to share their experiences to help us improve, but we never intend to make anyone feel pressured or uncomfortable. We will reevaluate our approach to ensure it is respectful and considerate of our guests' privacy. Safety is a top priority for us, and we will take immediate steps to review and enhance our safety practices. We appreciate your feedback as it helps us to improve our services and ensure a better experience for all our guests in the future. About the itinerary, in the description of the itinerary we mention the 4th island is the natural swimming pool, the one you call a sand bar, which is one of the most beautiful spots in san blas. Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience or discomfort you experienced during the tour. We value your input and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more positive experience in the future.

San blas island great vibes💯

Elson_D, Apr 2024

We enjoyed every second of the trip and all 4 islands are amazing. Everyone was helpful from the driver that that picked us up at the hotel to the boat and trip guider. They even have internet and charging stations at the island. Food was great and boat rides were very smooth and great vibes throughout the entire journey. Salute to san blas island and to everyone that took care of us.

Lets do it again!

Anne_S, Apr 2024

Getting to experience the San Blaus islands was amazing! Each one was had a wonderful serenity with beautiful water. The tour guides were extremely friendly and helpful. I would recommend this tour to anyone coming to Panama. My kids loved it!! Road to get to the islands is very windy with switchbacks, so you might need Dramamine. Plus I would recommend a towel for each person and extra clothes in a ziplock bag. Bring small bills for purchasing from the locals.

Great overview of San Blas

Michelle_L, Apr 2024

This was an a great opportunity to explore different islands of San Blas; however, it is definitely NOT for anyone who has limited mobility.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you had a great opportunity to explore the different islands of San Blas. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the mobility limitations. Some of the ports are not suitable for limites mobility, please let us know in advance so we can choose different islands or your tour. We'll take this into consideration for future improvements to our tours.

A Perfect Day of Beauty

Nia_P, Apr 2024

The Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visiting Four Islands was an amazing full day tour! It is well worth every penny and then some! Let me say Davis was an awesome guide and very attentive! Let me back up! Our driver picked us up on time at 5:15 am. I will say that the description of the car is accurate. There are 3 rows and it is small. If you're claustrophobic, you may not be comfortable. That was not an issue for me. Perhaps you can ask for the front/middle seat. The drive was scenic and I slept. It’s an about a 3 hour ride including the stop at the convenience store for snacks. Also there is a checkpoint where the officer checks for passports. Once we got to the port we waited for about 45 minutes to board the boat. (That process could be streamlined for less waiting). Davis made sure we were all there and asked for our lunch choices. Once on the boat, the beauty of the islands made everything worth it! The weather was amazing! The water was warm! The scenery was beautiful. Davis made sure we had chairs on the beach, paddle boards, other equipment. He also had our lunch ready on the third island. He took pictures of us and was really warm and attentive throughout. Each stop was different but wonderful. And we felt like we got our money’s worth because we didn’t get home until 8 pm. Our driver wasn’t talkative but he was kind and friendly. Davis and the crew were great and I loved loved loved seeing the beautiful indigenous ladies who cooked our food on the 3rd island. The food was tasty! I had the whole fish with rice and veggies plus delicious fruit. I have a million pics and great memories. Davis made sure to point out certain things and even showed us the island where he lives. Culture and beauty everywhere!! It’s a must do! I would go again.

Loved It!

Ivonne_O, Mar 2024

Wonderful time, BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS, amazing tour guide Davis! Everything about this experience was beyond my expectations! Highly recommend!

Would recommend if you only have 1 day to visit

Sajni_C, Mar 2024

Had a lovely day filled with activities and our guide was funny and informative. The islands are beautiful and if you only have 1 day to visit then we would definitely recommend this trip. Lunch was tasty too.

Just beautiful

Iraniesha_F, Mar 2024

Our driver Garcia was such a natural navigating the mountains up to port. I felt super safe with his driving and he also assisted with getting food at the rest stop due to long lines. Davis was our tour guide and he was awesome !! He made sure we alright consistently while showing us the 4 of the 300 plus island of San Blas.

Relaxing

MerissaH, Mar 2024

Great experience. Our tour guide was very hospitable and kind. I will say that the tour is advertised as four islands, but it’s really four with a natural pool. The natural pool was nice. All in all a nice experience.

Beautiful islands

Kyle_t, Mar 2024

Awesome experience seeing these islands. Unfortunately it did rain and we didn’t get the best experience. The islands are small, don’t have much on them, but the area is beautiful. They said it usually doesn’t rain and that it’s much hotter. Lunch was excellent, get the whole fried fish.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience visiting the islands with us. We're delighted to hear that you had an awesome time exploring the beautiful area, despite the unfortunate weather conditions. It's true that the islands are typically known for their sunny and warm climate, and it's a rare occurrence for rain to dampen the experience. We appreciate your understanding and are glad that you found the islands' natural beauty captivating, even though they are small and relatively undeveloped. This simplicity is part of what makes them so special and serene. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the lunch, especially the whole fried fish. We'll be sure to pass on your compliments to our culinary team. We hope that you'll consider visiting again in the future, perhaps during a drier season, to fully experience the islands' charm under the sun. If there's anything we can do to assist you in planning your next trip, please don't hesitate to reach out.

...