Making the most of San Blas
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships calling at the San Blas Islands must anchor a good distance from the main island and tender into port. The tender quay sits directly amid the island's market and beach district.
The San Blas islands form a largely unspoilt paradise. Kuna Indians inhabit these hundreds of tiny islands immediately off Panama's coast. They wear the traditional dress visitors might expect, with women carrying family capital as gold around their necks, in their ears or through their noses.
Life remains very simple: most homes have electricity but no plumbing.
Getting around
Visits can be made to Kuna Indian villages, while the mainland jungle is also available to explore.
The women are fascinating to observe. Most have pierced noses, while some bear a tattooed line running down the centre of the forehead and over the nose. Almost every woman appears to wear gold in some form. They make excellent photographic subjects, but do not take a picture without the required dollar for that privilege.
Food and shopping
Local people wear very colourful traditional dress and produce and sell beaded jewellery and molas. These creatively sewn squares and articles of layered cloth can be extremely elaborate and require weeks to complete. Mola work also appears in clothing, shirts and various other purchasable items.
Money
Panama's currencies are the Balboa and US Dollar. The balboa is exactly equal in value to the US dollar, but in practice Balboas exist only as coins equivalent to US coins.
Staying connected
Languages: Spanish (official) and English 14%; many Panamanians are bilingual.
Opening Hours and
Trading times differ, but most shops open Monday–Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 p.m., with some remaining open until 10:00 p.m.