[Review] San Blas Islands Speedboat Tour with San Blas Adventures

Pre-San Blas

All the preparation and waiting to start the trip…

Cartagena / Travel to Star of Tour

• Day in Cartagena: Despite not having high expectations, we had a surprisingly fun day in Cartagena. We did a walking tour, explored various shops, enjoyed good food and drinks, and watched street performers. Since Cartagena isn’t packed with activities, a day there was enough to enjoy the city. We didn’t plan to come back to Cartagena but this was the start of the 2 day travel so we made it part of our trip.

• Journey to Sapzurro: Our adventure began with an early start — 8 AM bus ride for a two-day trip from Cartagena to Sapzurro, the start of the boat tour. This journey made the entire trip 6 days instead of 4.

  • Bus Ride to Necocli: The first leg was a 9-hour bus journey to Necocli, where we spent the night. The port town had limited offerings, so we only had dinner, met our group members, and went to bed early.

  • Boat to Sapzurro: The following day involved a somewhat chaotic and inefficient process at the port, including wrapping our bags in trash bags to protect our belongs and waiting at the port for a really long time without any updates. This boat only goes once a day so we needed to have gotten to Necocli the day before. In all the confusion, we made it on the boat and to Sapzurro in one piece.

Arrival in Sapzurro

• Preparation: Upon arriving in Sapzurro, we met our trip guides (Tom - Australian, Joha - Colombian, and Lina - German), received a pre-trip briefing, and prepared for the trip! We needed to move our essentials into smaller bags since our big bags would not be accessible the rest of the trip. We also purchased water, rum, snacks, bag spray and coconut oil (sandflies — yuck).

• Immigration: We got our immigration stamps to leave Colombia, as Sapzurro is a unique area where you can stay for 48 hours without officially being in either Panama or Colombia.

• First Group Gathering: We ended the day at a bar and viewpoint for our first official group gathering, enjoying the beautiful spot despite the mosquitoes.

San Blas Islands Adventure

Now the fun begins…

Starting the Trip

• Border Crossing: The trip began with a thorough customs check, including strict measures against drug possession. We had to travel to an island to get our bags checked and passports stamped to entire Panama. More waiting… but once cleared, we were finally off on our speedboat adventure!

Activities and Islands

• Daily Island Visits: Over 4 days, we visited 7 different islands. Our days were filled with snorkeling, cultural activities, games (both drinking and non-drinking), and relaxing on the beaches. The group dynamic was fantastic, enhancing the overall experience.

• Accommodations:

  • Sleeping Arrangements: Each night we stayed on a different island, managed by different indigenous families. The first night, Kels and I shared a bed with two others sleeping in hammocks in the same room. It was uncomfortably hot, so I ended up sleeping on a bench outside. The following nights, sleeping in hammocks was more comfortable due to the breeze and not feeling like I’m sleeping on a moist sheet.

  • Facilities: The bathrooms were very basic, with holes in the ground flushed by pouring water, and showers were simply pouring water from jugs or buckets over our heads. The rustic conditions were expected and manageable.

Fun and Games

• Snorkeling: We snorkeled at a few different locations but I don’t enjoy snorkeling as much, since I’m spoiled by scuba diving. However, the coral was beautiful in that area and there were a lot of colorful fish. I didn’t get to see any big marine lift, which was a bummer.

• Cultural Activities: We kayaked in hallowed logs to a nearby village, learned about local schools, social and political structures, and participated in cultural dances. I like that they included different ways for us to learn more about the Guna Kula people! However, I wished learned more about what makes them special and what Mola, the traditional pattern making, meant to their community, especially the women. We learned more about this at the Mola Museum in Panama City.

• Games: Each island had volleyball so we played a lot of volleyball, and it turns out it’s not a common sport for other countries to learn how to play. It was many people’s first time playing volleyball! We also had group games such a team racing games, a German drinking game that requires you to knock a bottle down, and "assassin." Each evening, we gathered to play games, drink, and chat. We learned games like Buffalo, A&B, horse race, and various card games. “Assassin” was a game that involved each person having a target, an object, and a location to “kill” them by giving them the object in the location. I managed to get 3 kills!

Food and Drinks

• Food: Meals were provided but were quite basic and not very filling. I expected more seafood but mostly had chicken. The food quality didn’t match my expectations. I was honestly pretty disappointed by the food.

• Drinks: We bought rum and water for the trip but lost both quickly. We forgot our rum bottle at the first island, then our water jug never appeared after we put it on the boat. Thankfully, others shared their alcohol and water, and we could buy beers and soft drinks from the families.

Transportation

• Travel Modes: The journey involved buses, boats, speedboats, and a 4x4, plus flights to and from Cartagena and Panama City. We opted for speedboats to spend more time on the islands rather than sleeping on a sailboat, which suited us given our tendency for seasickness.

• Speedboat Experience: The average boat trip between islands was 45 minutes to an hour. We lucked out with great weather because we were entering rainy season, making the boat rides enjoyable (we called it “natural AC”). However, the last day on our way to the mainland, we were hit with a storm, making the trip wet and uncomfortable but made us appreciate how lucky we were with the weather.

Group Dynamics

• We also got lucky with our group of 20 people from the US, UK, Australia, and the Netherlands. Everyone got along well; we all hung out together, making the trip even more enjoyable.

• The other group that we passed (they were doing the opposite direction) were only 6 people so that would be a completely different dynamic. The guide also told us that some large groups can get very cliquey and not all hang out together.

Overall Thoughts

• Experience: The trip was a fantastic and unique experience, filled with diverse activities and beautiful island visits. The group’s camaraderie added immensely to the enjoyment.

• Value for Money: The total cost was around $800, covering the tour, entry fees, supplies, transport, and accommodation. Considering the rustic conditions and average food, the value didn’t entirely match the cost. A price around $500 would be more reasonable, especially for backpackers.

• Recommendation: Despite the cost, I would recommend this trip for its unique and fun experiences, but advise potential travelers to be mindful of the rustic accommodations and average food quality.