A San Blas island tour from Panama City costs about $110 to $150 per person for a day trip and about $140 to $240 per person for one night on an island. The 4x4, boat, guide and meals are included, and the $22 Guna Yala entry fee is usually paid on top in cash. A day trip takes roughly 14 hours door to door for about six hours on the islands, so if you can spare one night, the overnight trip gives most travelers more for their money.
Every San Blas island tour from Panama City follows the same route. A 4x4 picks you up before dawn and drives about 2.5 to 3 hours over the mountain road to the port of Cartí. At a checkpoint on the way, Guna authorities check passports and collect the entry fee. From Cartí, a short boat ride takes you out to the islands.[1] What changes from one tour to the next is how long you stay, where you sleep, and how many strangers share your car and boat.
The prices below are the operators' own published rates as of October 2026. Most operator sites do not date their prices, so treat them as current listings rather than quotes, and confirm what is included when you book. For background on the islands, Guna rules and how the comarca works, see our complete guide to the San Blas Islands (Guna Yala).
San Blas island tour from Panama City: every option compared
A day trip is the cheapest San Blas tour at about $110 to $150 per person. One night on an island costs only $30 to $100 more, and sailing or private trips start at around $320 per person per night. Here is how the six types of trip compare.
| Trip | Price per person | Time | Included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day trip | $110-149 | About 14 hours, roughly 6 on the islands | 4x4, boat, lunch, guide; Guna fee often extra | Travelers with one free day |
| 2 days / 1 night island stay | $140-240 | Overnight on one island, back the next evening | 4x4, boat, cabin, all meals | Best value Most first-time visitors |
| 3-day island hopping (2+ nights) | From $285 | 2 nights or more, several islands | Transfers, cabins, meals, island tours | Remote cays and slow days |
| Shared sailing trip | $320 (1 night) to $750 (3 nights) | 1-3 nights aboard | Crewed boat, cabin, meals, road transfer | Couples and small groups |
| Private trip | Private 4x4 $360 round trip plus boat from $200 per leg, per group | Your own schedule | Vehicle and boat for up to 6 | Families and groups of 4-6 |
| Panama-Colombia crossing | From $775 (2027 sailing early bird) | 4-5 nights | Boat, island nights, most meals | Travelers continuing to Colombia |
Prices per person in US dollars, as of October 2026, from operators' published rates. The Guna Yala entry fee ($22 for foreigners) is extra unless the operator says otherwise.
Day-trip prices start at $110 with Pelícano Island's own operation and go up to $149 for Sanblastourspty's small-group VIP day, which visits four islands and a Guna community.[2][3] Sea San Blas charges $125 to $140 depending on the islands, Guna Yala Explorer's premium day tour is $135, and Panama Travel Unlimited lists full days at $125 and $130.[4][5][6] Overnight stays run from $140 for a shared cabin on Pelícano to $240 for a private overwater cabin on Perro Chico with Sea San Blas, both with transport from Panama City included.[2][4]
Reseller listings can look cheaper: Viator shows a 14-hour, four-island day tour from $79 per person, with a note to check the guide and the Guna entry requirement.[7] Before you treat a low listing as a bargain, confirm it includes hotel pickup, lunch and the fee.
San Blas day trip from Panama City: is it worth it?
A San Blas day trip is worth it if one day is all you have. Expect about 14 hours on the road and the water for roughly six usable hours on the islands.[8][3] It is the right choice for a tight schedule. It is a poor deal for anyone who could stay a night instead.
What the day looks like
That timeline is Pelícano Island's published itinerary, and other operators stay within about half an hour of it.[9] Sea San Blas quotes a 5:00 to 5:30 AM pickup and a 6 to 7 PM return. Guna Yala Explorer allows anywhere from 4:30 to 7:00 PM for the return, depending on weather and traffic.[4][10]
Which islands a San Blas day tour visits
Most day trips make three or four stops. These usually include Isla Perro (Perro Chico), where a shallow shipwreck sits just offshore for snorkeling, and the Natural Pool, a sandbar in open water.[1][5] The operator decides the route. With Sea San Blas, you choose it by picking a trip:
- Pelícano + Guna community: three islands, a community visit, kayaks and paddleboards, $130.
- Perro Chico: the sunken ship and the Natural Pool, $140.
- Chichime or Diablo: the two islands plus the Natural Pool, $125.
- Cayos Limones: four stops with lunch on Dad Igua or Gagandub, $135.
- Naranjo Chico: the most rustic, least crowded option, with a community visit, $135.
All Sea San Blas trips include round-trip transport from Panama City and a boat with a Guna captain.[4]
The road and the boat
Shared transport is usually a Toyota Fortuner or similar SUV carrying up to six passengers: one in front, three in the middle row and two in the back.[1] Seats are assigned, and some operators let you buy an extra seat if you do not want to be squeezed into the back row.[11] The drive is roughly one hour of highway followed by about 1.5 hours of steep, winding road. The boat ride can be bumpy and wet.[11] If you get carsick, take motion-sickness pills before the curves start, not after.
Who should skip the day trip
Sea San Blas's day trip listing advises against the tour for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers and anyone with poor cardiovascular health. Infants ride on an adult's lap.[8] The hard part is the bouncing road and the open boat, not the islands. If you are short on time and mainly want a beach day, El Valle, Taboga or Portobelo involve much less travel. Our guide to day trips from Panama City ranks seven options by travel time.
The case for one night instead
At Pelícano Island, a shared cabin for one night costs $140, only $30 more than the $110 day trip. That $30 buys dinner, breakfast, a sunset and a second morning on the island.[2] The day boats leave in mid-afternoon, so overnight guests have the island largely to themselves until the next morning's arrivals. That is why two days with one night is the most requested format at Sanblastourspty.[3]
Overnight and multi-day San Blas tours: 2 and 3 days
One night is the format most travelers choose. With two nights, you get one full island day with no drive at either end, and the trip stops feeling rushed. Tao Travel 365 suggests at least one night and ideally two or three days.[1]
San Blas 2-day tour: what one night costs
The price of an overnight trip depends mostly on the type of cabin and the island.
Pelícano, 2 days / 1 night, full board.
Same island and package, your own room.
Pelícano's top tier; other overwater cabins from $190.
Sea San Blas, next to the shipwreck snorkel.
Pelícano's overnight package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner plus the 4x4 and boat transfers.[2] Sanblastourspty's overwater cabins start at $190 a night.[3] Panama Travel Unlimited advertises 2-day, 1-night trips from $160.[6]
Sea San Blas lets you pick from nine islands. Prices per person, "from" rates, with transport included:[4]
- Chichime $165 (adults only)
- Aroma $170 (shared group cabins)
- Yanis $170
- Franklin $180
- Pelícano $180 (adults only)
- Naranjo Chico $200
- Aguja $205
- Misdub $220 (adults only)
- Perro Chico $240
Those adults-only labels matter if you travel with children. The choice of island affects the trip more than the operator does, and our guide on where to stay in San Blas compares island cabins, eco lodges and sailboats.
San Blas 3-day tour and longer island hopping
Pelícano's multi-day island hopping tour starts at $285, with a two-night minimum, and Sanblastourspty's island hopping starts at $365.[2][3] Panama San Blas Tours sells a 3-day, 2-night island hopping trip with bonfires, shipwreck snorkeling and community visits, and a 4-day, 3-night stay in private cabañas. It does not publish prices for either.[12]
The extra nights get you farther out. The Cayos Holandeses, known for very clear water, are usually explored on multi-day trips rather than day tours.[13] Toucan Discovery sells one night in a hammock there with a Guna guide and a grilled-fish dinner for $80 to $120 per person.[14] Boat rides to island lodgings take 15 to 45 minutes from Cartí, longer for the outer cays.[1]
What island nights are really like
The cabins are simple, without luxuries, and run entirely by Guna families.[10] Expect no WiFi.[15] On many islands, electricity comes from a generator for part of the evening, and fresh water is something you bring or buy. You also cannot arrive at Cartí and look for a bed: lodging must be booked before you reach the port. Travelers who need air conditioning and a private bathroom should look at the overwater tiers or a sailboat.
Sailing trips through San Blas
Sea San Blas sells shared sailing trips on crewed sailboats and catamarans at $320 per person for one night, $500 for two and $750 for three, with longer trips on request. A minimum of two guests applies.[4] Its Buenaventura sailboat starts at $350 per night.[4] Bluesailing runs a 3-night budget shared charter and an all-inclusive shared charter of two nights or more that reaches quieter islands.[13] Its shared charters depart from and return to Panama City.[16]
Panama to Colombia through San Blas
The crossing is a separate product from a round-trip tour. San Blas Adventures runs a 5-day trip by speedboat. It uses 28-32 foot boats with twin outboard engines, carries groups of at most 12 to 15, and spends only 2 to 3 hours a day on the water. Nights are in simple beach cabins or hammocks, and you clear Colombian immigration in Capurganá or Sapzurro.[17] Bluesailing sails the route in 4 or 5 nights, with three days in San Blas and an open-sea leg, and its 2027 early-bird fares start at $775 per person.[16] Sea San Blas runs speedboat crossings in both directions, with prices on request.[4]
One detailed independent review of the speedboat trip found that the advertised price left out the jeep to Cartí and the Guna fee. It also described a first night in hammocks in a crowded communal hut. Read the inclusions closely. Our guide to sailing from Panama to Colombia through San Blas compares the boats, prices and how to pick a safe captain.
Private San Blas tours: 4x4, boat or your own catamaran
A private trip costs more for the group, but once you are four to six people it costs little more per person than a shared tour. It also removes the two weakest parts of a shared tour: a full car of strangers and a fixed island schedule.
These are Clickandsailing's published transfer rates. It lists a private 4x4 at $180 per vehicle each way and a private boat from $200 per boat each way, both for up to six people.[18] The same page labels its prices as 2025 and subject to season, so confirm them before you travel.[18]
What a private day trip costs per person
Split six ways, the private 4x4 costs $60 each for the round trip, exactly the price of a shared seat. The private boat adds about $67 each for the out-and-back run, against $50 for a shared boat. That puts a group of six at about $127 each for private transfers. A group of four pays about $190 each. Lunch, island stops and the Guna fee come on top, so ask whether the private boat price covers island hopping or only the run to one island. For the full breakdown of doing the route yourself, see our guide to getting from Panama City to San Blas by 4x4, boat or flight.
Private multi-day trips and charters
San Blas Adventures runs its Panama-Colombia route as a private trip. The boat is yours, the pace and stops are set around your group, and you can ask for a day in a remote Guna community. It pitches this to families with children, groups of friends and honeymooners.[19] Bluesailing offers private charters with custom itineraries.[16] Tao Travel 365 runs private charters on a Lagoon 57 catamaran with cabins and meals on board.[1] Sea San Blas requires at least two guests for private bookings.[4] Day, weekend and week prices for crewed boats are compared in our guide to San Blas catamaran and yacht charters.
What a San Blas tour includes, the Guna fees and what to bring
Almost every tour price covers the 4x4, the boat, lunch and a guide. The Guna Yala entry fee is the item most often left out of the price.
What the tour price usually covers
The Sea San Blas day trip sold through Marriott Activities includes lunch (seafood or chicken with rice, fruit and salad), one drink, a snorkel mask, beach towels and mandatory life vests in adult and child sizes. That listing also includes the $22 Guna fee.[8] Guna Yala Explorer's $135 day tour adds a boxed breakfast, a fresh coconut and photos taken in and out of the water.[5] My Guide Panama's two-island tour includes island entry fees and shared snorkel gear but excludes the Guna fee. It also warns that snorkel gear is limited.[11] Extra meals and drinks are almost never included.
Fees you pay on the day
The Guna Yala entry fee is $22 for foreign visitors and $7 for Panamanians and residents, paid at the checkpoint on the road in.[10][11] Children under 10 are exempt.[20][3] Pelícano Island quotes $23 for foreigners and $8 for residents, so expect a dollar of variation between operators.[21] At Cartí, a port fee of $2 is usual, though at least one operator lists $3.[18][22] Some islands also charge their own landing fees, usually $2 to $5, set by each community.[23] Sanblastourspty and sanblasfull say the fee can be paid in cash or by card to the driver.[3][24] Everywhere else, plan on cash.
| Cost per person | Day trip | One night |
|---|---|---|
| Tour price | $110-149 | $140-240 |
| Guna Yala fee (foreigners) | $22 | $22 |
| Cartí port fee | $2-3 | $2-3 |
| Island landing fees, if not included | $0-5 | $0-10 |
| Realistic total before drinks and crafts | About $135-180 | About $165-275 |
As of October 2026. Totals assume the tour price does not already include the Guna fee; subtract $22 if yours does.
Lobster: order ahead, and not in spring
On My Guide Panama's tour, lobster must be ordered when you book and is not served from March 1 to May 31.[11] The closed season itself is unclear. One operator explains that the Guna General Congress sets its own closure from March 1 to May 31, while the national closure runs from March 1 to June 30.[25] Sources disagree on the end date, so do not count on lobster from March through June.
What to bring
- Your original passport. It is checked at the Guna Yala checkpoint, and Guna Yala Explorer says the tour cannot go ahead without it.[26]
- Cash in small bills for fees, drinks and crafts. There are no ATMs on the islands, and cards are generally not accepted.[1]
- Swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes and plastic bags or a dry bag for wet things and electronics.
- Biodegradable sunscreen to protect the coral, natural insect repellent and motion-sickness pills for the curves.[10]
- Your own snorkel mask if you have one.
- Only a small bag. Most Panama City hotels will store larger luggage while you are away.[1]
A photo or photocopy is not enough at the checkpoint. Travelers who leave the passport in the hotel safe usually lose the day and the deposit.
San Blas tour operators: Sea San Blas, Guna Yala Explorer, San Blas Adventures and Bluesailing
No independent register ranks San Blas operators. The practical test is which company runs which product, whether it is Guna-owned, and what its own pages commit to on fees and refunds. Four names come up most often in searches.
Sea San Blas
$125-140 day$165-240 a nightSailing from $320Its own site says it is 100% Guna-owned, has run trips for more than 20 years, and is rated 4.8 from 1,654 reviews. It has the widest menu: nine islands for overnight stays, sailing trips and speedboat crossings to Colombia.[4]
Best for choosing a specific islandGuna Yala Explorer
$135 day100% Guna12+ yearsIts premium day tour has four stops, including a Guna community, and its cultural tour adds a bilingual guide, a welcome dance and optional mola-making workshops.[5][26] The cultural tour's inclusions list both the comarca taxes and the island fees.[26]
Best for a culture-focused daySan Blas Adventures
5-day speedboat12-15 per groupPrivate boatsIts main product is the Panama-Colombia island-hopping trip by speedboat, with no open-sea crossing. Its private trips run the same route for a single group.[17][19]
Best for reaching Colombia without open seaBluesailing
From $7754-5 nightsShared or privateIt runs sailing crossings in both directions and shared San Blas charters from Panama City. It asks for a 10% to 20% deposit and claims 20 years of experience.[16]
Best for sailingSeveral other names sell similar trips. Panama San Blas Tours sells a four-island day tour and 3- and 4-day packages, and says day tours can be booked at short notice.[12] Pelícano Island runs trips to its own island, Sanblastourspty sells day tours at $114, $135 and $149, and Panama Travel Unlimited sells two full-day trips.[3][6] Resellers such as Marriott Activities sell Sea San Blas's day trip under their own listing, so the same tour can appear at different prices on different sites.[8]
San Blas Adventures reviews: what to check
Reviews of the speedboat crossing split between travelers who enjoyed the social group trip and those who felt the rustic nights and add-on costs were not clear enough before booking. The company's safety page lists life jackets for every passenger, first-aid-certified bilingual guides and drinking water from onboard purification.[17] Before paying, ask for the full price including the jeep to Cartí and the Guna fee, and ask where each night is spent.
How to check an operator
The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) publishes a list of authorized tour operators on atp.gob.pa so travelers can verify a company before paying.[27] Guna Yala Explorer says operators should also be authorized by the Congreso General Guna, which governs the comarca.[10] Boat safety is worth a direct question. A passenger boat that sank near Guna Yala on a Colón to Puerto Obaldía run led the Panama Maritime Authority to investigate possible overloading and safety failures.[28] That was not a tour boat, but the lesson applies: do not board a boat without a life jacket for everyone. For the wider picture, see our honest guide to whether Panama is safe.
How to book a San Blas tour, and when to go
Day trips can usually be booked a few days ahead. From November to April, book overnight stays weeks ahead, and for holidays and long weekends, about three months ahead.[10] Panama San Blas Tours says day tours can be booked at the last minute, but cabins for multi-day trips should be booked early.[12]
Pick the length and the island first
Decide between a day, one night or two-plus nights, then choose the island. On overnight trips, the island matters more than the operator.
Get the inclusions in writing
Ask whether the price covers the Guna fee, island fees, lunch and drinks, and whether pickup is at your hotel or a meeting point such as the Super Extra supermarket.[10]
Prepare the night before
Set out your passport, cash in small bills and a small bag, and leave the rest with your hotel. Be at the door before the pickup window opens.
Where you sleep in the city affects the pickup. Tours collect from hotels and rentals in Panama City.[8] Tao Travel 365 charges $55 per person for a shared 4x4 round trip from the city and $65 from Playa Bonita.[29] Our guide on where to stay in Panama City compares the areas.
Best time for a San Blas tour
December to April is the drier, busier season, but trade winds can make the sea rougher on some days. May to November brings more showers, usually short ones, and often calmer seas.[1] Bluesailing calls June to November the calm season.[13] Official climate data shows rain on Panama's Caribbean side throughout the year, with only slight variation between months, so a shower is possible in any season.[30] Guna Yala Explorer counts December to April plus July and August as high season.[5] For month-by-month detail across the country, see our guide to the best time to visit Panama.
Operators change island stops when the sea is rough, and few publish a weather refund rule. Ask before paying whether a cancelled boat day is refunded or rescheduled.
Before you go
How much does a San Blas day trip from Panama City cost?
About $110 to $150 per person as of October 2026, including the 4x4, boat, lunch and a guide. The Guna Yala entry fee of $22 for foreigners is usually paid on top in cash, plus a $2-3 port fee and sometimes small island fees. A realistic total is about $135-180 per person before drinks.
Is a San Blas day trip worth it?
Only if you have just one day. The trip runs about 14 hours door to door, with roughly six hours on the islands. One night often costs only $30 to $100 more and adds a sunset, dinner, breakfast and a second morning, so most travelers who can spare a night get more from the overnight trip.
What time does the San Blas tour pick you up and drop you off?
Pickup is usually between 5:00 and 5:45 AM at your Panama City hotel. You reach your hotel again between about 6:30 and 7:00 PM, later if traffic or sea conditions are bad. The drive to Cartí takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way.
Is the Guna Yala entrance fee included in San Blas tours?
Usually not, but it depends on the operator. The fee is $22 for foreigners and $7 for Panamanians and residents, and children under 10 are exempt. Some listings include it, such as Sea San Blas's day trip on Marriott Activities and Guna Yala Explorer's cultural tour, so ask before you pay.
Do I need cash in San Blas?
Yes, bring enough cash for the whole trip. There are no ATMs on the islands, and cards are generally not accepted, so the entry fee, island fees, drinks and crafts are all paid in cash. Small bills make change easier.
How much does a private San Blas tour cost?
A private 4x4 costs about $360 round trip per vehicle and a private boat from about $200 per leg, each for up to six people. For a group of six, that works out to roughly $127 each for transfers, close to the price of shared seats, with lunch and fees extra. Private sailing and catamaran charters are quoted per boat. See our San Blas catamaran charter guide.
How many days do I need in San Blas?
Two days with one night is the minimum most travelers find worthwhile, and three days with two nights gives you one full island day with no driving. Multi-day island hopping starts at about $285 per person and reaches remote cays such as the Cayos Holandeses that day trips skip.
When is the best time to visit San Blas?
December to April is drier but windier and busier, with rougher seas on some days. May to November brings more showers and often calmer water, with fewer crowds outside July and August. Rain is possible in any month on the Caribbean side.
Is San Blas Adventures a good tour?
It suits travelers heading to Colombia who want island nights instead of an open-sea crossing. The 5-day speedboat trip uses groups of up to 12 to 15, with nights in simple beach cabins or hammocks. Reviews vary on comfort and add-on costs, so confirm whether the jeep to Cartí and the Guna fee are included.
How much does a Panama to Colombia trip through San Blas cost?
Sailing trips start at about $775 per person on Bluesailing's 2027 early-bird fares, for 4 to 5 nights including the open-sea leg. Speedboat trips take about five days and island-hop all the way to Capurganá or Sapzurro. Compare the boats in our guide to sailing from Panama to Colombia through San Blas.
Sources
Prices, schedules and rules change. The small numbers in the text point to these sources.
- 1Tao Travel 365 - San Blas Islands travel guidetaotravel365.tours
- 2Pelícano Island - San Blas day trip vs overnight stay comparisonpelicanoislandsanblas.com
- 3San Blas Tours PTY - San Blas day tour prices and inclusionssanblastourspty.com
- 4
- 5Guna Yala Explorer - Premium day tour listinggunayalaexplorer.com
- 6Panama Travel Unlimited - San Blas tours and pricespanamatravelunlimited.com
- 7
- 8Marriott Activities - San Blas day trip listing (Sea San Blas)activities.marriott.com
- 9Pelícano Island - San Blas day trip from Panama City itinerarypelicanoislandsanblas.com
- 10Guna Yala Explorer - How to book San Blas tours guidegunayalaexplorer.com
- 11My Guide Panama - San Blas Islands and community day tour listingmyguidepanama.com
- 12Panama San Blas Tours - San Blas tour booking pagepanamasanblastours.com
- 13Bluesailing - Best San Blas islands tours and seasons guidebluesailing.net
- 14Toucan Discovery - San Blas / Guna Yala tour optionstoucandiscovery.com
- 15San Blas Adventures - What to do in San Blas Islands guidesanblasadventures.com
- 16Bluesailing - San Blas sailing charter options and depositsbluesailing.net
- 17San Blas Adventures - Boat trip safety and route guidesanblasadventures.com
- 18Clickandsailing - Road travel guide from Panama City to San Blasclickandsailing.com
- 19San Blas Adventures - Private trips pagesanblasadventures.com
- 20San Blas Tours Panama - Guna Yala community tax articlesanblastourspanama.com
- 21Pelícano Island - How to travel to San Blas without an agencypelicanoislandsanblas.com
- 22Pelícano Island - Guna Yala rules, passport and $23 taxpelicanoislandsanblas.com
- 23
- 24Sanblasfull - Chichime and cays day tour ($135)sanblasfull.com
- 25San Blas Tours PTY - Guna Yala lobster closure datessanblastourspty.com
- 26Guna Yala Explorer - Cultural tour inclusionsgunayalaexplorer.com
- 27
- 28Primera Edición - Mariyi boat sinking near Guna Yala, AMP investigationprimeraedicioncol.com
- 29Tao Travel 365 - Isla Guasirdup overwater bungalows and shared 4x4taotravel365.tours
- 30Idiap - Environmental and social assessment report, Guna Yala climate dataproyectos.idiap.gob.pa
Image credits
- Cabañas Guna YalaAyaita · CC BY 3.0
- Tour boat approaching a palm-fringed island with thatched…Pexels · Pexels License
- Turquoise water fronts a palm-covered island with thatched…Pexels · Pexels License
- Isla Pelicano - San Blas - Panama (SG105536)Felipe Valduga · CC BY 2.0
- White sailboat on calm turquoise seaPexels · Pexels License
- Guna Yala IslandAyaita · CC BY 3.0
- San Blas IslandsUser:Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Isla Tortuga (Morrodub) Cayos Holandeses, San Blas, Panamá Garcia.dennis · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Snorkelling in Guna Yala - Panama - panoramiodiego_cue · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Diadup, Kuna Yala (Panamá) (6550159843)Jose Jiménez · CC BY-SA 2.0
