All meals, non-alcoholic drinks, snorkel gear, kayak, fishing gear, captain and first mate, fuel for the route, and Guna community anchoring fees. The Guna Yala entry fee and the transfer to the boat are not part of the charter price, see the questions below.

Yes, all meals are included, prepared fresh onboard by our chef using local ingredients and, when possible, the day's catch.

Absolutely, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs are no problem. Just let us know when you book.

Yes, masks, snorkels, and fins are provided free of charge for every guest.

Not at all. Our captain and crew handle the sailing entirely. You're welcome to get involved if you'd like, but it's never required.

Our captain speaks English and Dutch. Transfer drivers and islanders speak mainly Spanish or Guna, so a few words of Spanish are useful.

Yes, the yacht is equipped with Starlink satellite internet, with unlimited data and high speeds (typically 50–150 Mbps, plenty for video calls, streaming and working remotely). As with any satellite connection, speeds can vary with weather and conditions, and the signal may briefly drop while sailing between islands. We still recommend a local Panamanian SIM card or eSIM as a backup, so you have mobile coverage whenever available. We're happy to advise on the best option for your trip.

Yes, there is a fresh-water shower on board. We have a powerful watermaker that produces 150 to 180 litres per hour, but it needs energy, and energy on board is limited, so the supply is not unlimited. Please keep showers short and use water sparingly.

Pack light and in a soft bag or backpack only, no hard suitcases, please. There is simply no room to store them on the boat. Bring light, quick-dry clothing, swimwear, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent and any personal medication. Towels and bedding are on board. Because the 4x4 and lancha have limited space, aim for around 13 kg (30 lb) per person. Use insect repellent with 25–50% DEET and sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher.

Non-alcoholic drinks are included. Beer and other alcoholic beverages can easily be purchased on the islands, at local restaurants, and in bars. Guests are also welcome to bring their own alcohol aboard. There are no shops on the islands, so if you want specific drinks, tell us in advance and we can buy them in Panama City before departure. Drinking water is provided.

Dry season, roughly January through April, has the steadiest wind and calmest seas. The rest of the year still sails well, with shorter afternoon showers and fewer boats around.

Most guests fly into Panama City and take an early 4x4 transfer (about 2.5 hours) to the Cartí dock. From there, you'll be guided to the correct lancha, which will take you directly to the yacht. We can help arrange the 4x4 transfer and lancha once your dates are confirmed. You can usually board between 10:00 and 12:00 on the day you arrive. We are flexible and it depends on how long your transfer takes, but you will not have to wait.

Yes. Our transfer costs about USD 155 per person for the round trip and picks you up in Panama City. A 4x4 takes you to the coast in about 2.5 hours, followed by a lancha ride of roughly 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on where Pierre is anchored at the time. You're taken straight to the yacht. Add it in the booking, or ask us when you book. Arriving on a night flight? Tell us in advance and the driver can meet you at the airport around 6:00 am on the day of departure. He cannot wait, so please be on time. The transport is run by an independent local carrier, not by us, so we cannot be held responsible for delays or a missed flight. Plan your flight home with plenty of margin, ideally for the day after the trip ends.

No online payment or deposit is needed to reserve. The full charter fee is paid in cash in US dollars when you arrive on board (euros are also accepted, at the market rate on the day of payment). San Blas is very remote, so there are no ATMs and almost no card terminals. Everything local is paid for in cash: fish, lobster, vegetables and fruit, groceries, diesel, island restaurants and bars, landing fees and souvenirs. Please bring enough cash, in small bills.

Yes. Every guest must arrange their own travel insurance before the trip. It is not included in the charter price and we do not provide it. The policy should cover medical costs and emergency evacuation for the whole trip (island clinics are basic, so evacuation cover matters) and ideally trip cancellation too. The clinics in the villages only speak Spanish, and evacuation by boat or small plane to Panama City can be expensive. Make sure your policy covers medical transport, treatment of tropical diseases and hospital stays.

You can cancel free of charge at any time. Because nothing is paid in advance, there are no cancellation fees. Please tell us as early as possible, so we can offer the week to other guests.

Within reason, yes. If the whole yacht is booked as a private charter, the route is yours to shape: tell the captain your priorities on day one and we plan around them. If the yacht is shared with other guests (for example two couples who booked separately), the route is agreed together so it works for everyone. In both cases the weather has the final say, and the captain may adjust the plan for safe anchorages and comfortable sailing.

Yes, families are welcome aboard, life jackets are available in all sizes and most anchorages are calm and shallow. If a child is not travelling with both parents, Panamanian immigration often asks for a notarized consent letter from the parents, in English or Spanish.

No, not necessarily. You can book the whole yacht as a private charter (Premium Private Charter), in which case only your group is aboard. You can also book individual cabins: then the other cabins may be taken by other guests, for example two couples who booked separately. We always tell you in advance whether other guests will join your week.

Up to 4 guests across 2 private double cabins, one ensuite bathroom, and one shared bathroom.

Yes, life jackets aboard for all ages, and most anchorages are calm, shallow, and reef-protected. Let us know ages and swimming comfort when you book so we can plan accordingly.

The captain adjusts the route around the weather to keep you safe and comfortable, San Blas has sheltered anchorages for most conditions.

Everyone entering Guna Yala pays an entry fee of USD 23 per person. It is paid in cash at the checkpoint on the road to the coast and is not included in the charter price. Children up to 9 years old do not pay. Please bring your original passport with the Panama entry stamp, the checkpoint does not accept copies.

The Guna Yala entry fee (USD 23 per person) and the round-trip transfer from your hotel in Panama City to Cartí by 4x4 and on to the yacht by lancha (about USD 155 per person). Also not included: small landing fees on some islands (around USD 3 per person per island), alcoholic drinks, meals at island restaurants, tips, souvenirs such as molas, flights, and your hotel night in Panama City. Travel insurance is also not included and must be arranged by each guest.

Bring cash in US dollars (USD), preferably in small bills. Panama's official currency is the balboa, but in practice US dollars are used everywhere. In the San Blas archipelago there are no ATMs and no card payments. In Panama City and larger towns, cards and ATMs work without a problem, although withdrawals are usually limited to around USD 250 at a time. Typical prices in San Blas: a restaurant meal is about USD 10 to 25 per person, a beer about USD 2 to 2.50 and a glass of wine about USD 5. Also plan for the entry fee, the transfer, landing fees, souvenirs and tips. Some islands charge a landing fee of about USD 3 per person. In Panama City, an ATM withdrawal costs about USD 7 plus your own bank's charges.

Yes, arrive at least one day before departure. The transfer leaves from your hotel very early, around 5:00 am. The 4x4 ride to the coast takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, followed by the lancha to the yacht. On the last day you are back in Panama City around midday, so book your flight home for the following day. Popular neighbourhoods are Bella Vista, El Cangrejo and Casco Viejo. The driver can pick you up at any hotel in the city.

A valid passport (many countries require it to be valid for several months after arrival, check the rules for your nationality) and a return or onward ticket. Most nationalities do not need a visa for short stays. A yellow fever certificate is only needed if you arrive from a country where the disease occurs. At the Guna Yala checkpoint you must show your original passport with the Panama entry stamp. For vaccinations, see a travel-medicine doctor well before departure (hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus are commonly recommended) and bring insect repellent. Immigration may also ask for proof of at least USD 500 (a credit card is accepted), and a passport valid for at least six months is the safest choice. Ask your doctor about malaria and dengue precautions.

No, scuba diving is not permitted in Guna Yala. Snorkeling and free diving are, and many reefs are only a short swim or dinghy ride from the anchorage.

Depending on the route, favourites include Cayos Limones (a shallow reef, ideal for beginners), Cayos Holandeses (several good spots), Coco Banderos (colourful fish and a sunken boat) and the outer reef wall at Isla Verde for more experienced swimmers. A barrier reef keeps the water calm and warm, rarely below 28 °C. You may see starfish, spiny lobsters, parrotfish, rays, turtles and sometimes nurse sharks. Snorkel sets are on board, and you are welcome to bring your own mask. Avoid full-face masks. Wear a UV shirt, because sunscreen washes off quickly, and clean any coral scratch as soon as you are back on board.

Unlikely. A barrier reef shelters most of the archipelago from ocean swell, we anchor in calm bays, and passages between anchorages usually take one to two hours.

Tips are never required, but they are appreciated if you enjoyed your trip. Please tip in US dollars in cash, since there are no ATMs or card terminals in San Blas.

A mola is a hand-sewn textile panel made by Guna women from several layers of coloured fabric, with the pattern revealed by cutting away the top layers. Making one takes 60 to 80 hours, and the value grows with the number of layers. Women often paddle up to the boat in canoes to sell them. Bring cash in small US bills, since there are no card payments.

No, Panama lies south of the hurricane belt. The dry season, roughly late November to May, is the most popular time to sail San Blas.

On board: no alcohol while sailing, manoeuvring or swimming, and please follow the captain's instructions at all times. Drugs and weapons are not allowed. In Guna villages: ask before photographing anyone, do not wear swimwear, and do not leave any litter behind. A short safety briefing on the first day is mandatory. Guests are liable for damage they cause to the yacht, its equipment or third parties. The captain may refuse further transport to anyone whose behaviour seriously endangers others. Do not touch or damage the coral, and do not touch or chase marine animals. Surfing, kitesurfing and wakeboarding are not allowed in Guna Yala either. Ask permission before filming ceremonies or places of worship.

Guests need to be able to move around on their own on a moving boat, climb steps and get in and out of the dinghy, so the trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility. Pregnant guests need a medical certificate if they are 32 weeks or more at any point during the trip.

There is no fixed schedule. A typical day starts with breakfast on board, followed by two to three hours of sailing to the next island or reef. Then it is time for snorkeling, swimming and the beach, and often a beach dinner as the sun sets. The route depends on weather and what you would like to see.

Uninhabited palm islands and small Guna islands, colourful reefs and, depending on the route, a shipwreck at Isla Perro that you can reach by snorkelling. You will also see Guna culture and hand-sewn molas, white beaches with hammocks, birds and tropical plants, and enjoy fresh seafood and coconut rice.

Many islands have Tigo mobile coverage, and you can buy a local SIM card at Panama City airport. On board you will find both European (230 V) and US (110 V) sockets; the European sockets are the main ones. A small power bank is handy for beach days.

Yes. San Blas is an autonomous Guna territory and is quiet and safe. The clinics on the islands are very basic, which is why insurance with evacuation cover is so important.

On board we carry a life raft, life jackets, a VHF radio, AIS, flares, a first aid kit and fire extinguishers.

Fly to Panama City (PTY). There are nonstop flights from Miami, New York and Houston, among others. Besides the 4x4 transfer, a small plane flies to San Blas from Panama City. Nonstop flights also run from Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Choose your week and cabin on this page and send your request. We confirm it by email, no deposit or online payment is needed. After that we ask for your traveller details (full names as in the passport, dates of birth, nationality, email, WhatsApp number and the name and address of your Panama City hotel, at least 14 days before departure). The full charter fee is paid in cash in US dollars when you arrive on board. After we confirm, we ask for each guest's full name exactly as in the passport (without accents), date of birth, nationality, a WhatsApp number, and the name and address of your hotel in Panama City, at least 14 days before departure.

Cabin prices are per person for the full week (6 nights, 7 days). Example for two guests sharing a cabin: shared-bathroom cabin 2 × USD 1,400 = USD 2,800, or private-bathroom cabin 2 × USD 1,600 = USD 3,200. On top come the Guna Yala entry fee (2 × USD 23) and the round-trip transfer (2 × USD 155), so about USD 3,156 or USD 3,556 in total, plus your flights and a hotel night in Panama City.

Both are double cabins for one or two guests. One has its own ensuite bathroom (USD 1,600 per person) and the other uses the shared bathroom (USD 1,400 per person). Each cabin is booked as a whole for the week, so nobody else will share it with you, whether you travel alone or as a couple. Every cabin has a fan to keep you cool through the night.

Yes, with the permission of the Guna people. Guna Yala is an autonomous territory governed by the Guna General Congress, which regulates access, entry fees and yacht permits. Guests pay the entry fee (USD 23 per person) at the checkpoint, and we sail with respect for the communities and their rules. Only sailing yachts are allowed to stay overnight. There are no hotels, shops or public transport, and the only access road is controlled by the Guna General Congress.

No. Life jackets are on board for everyone, and most anchorages are calm and shallow. Still, much of the beauty of San Blas is in the water, so if you cannot swim yet, a few lessons beforehand are a good idea.

Possibly. Message us and we will check whether your cabin is free in another week.

Of course. Tell us before the trip who is celebrating and when, and we will prepare a small surprise on board.

Panama is on UTC−5 all year round, with no daylight saving time. That is the same as US Eastern Standard Time, and one hour behind New York during US summer time.