How to Get to San Blas from Anywhere: Two Options
1. Fly to San Blas
A taxi will pick you up at Panama City’s Tocumen Airport or your hotel to take you to Albrook Airport. From there, a private plane will fly you to either Corazón de Jesús or El Porvenir airstrip, both located in San Blas. Once there, the crew of your boat, anchored nearby, will pick you up and take you on board.
Although significantly more expensive than traveling by road, flying is by far the best option, as it takes only about 50 minutes compared to the 4–5 hours by car. Payment is made directly to the flight provider.
We can provide contacts for arranging air transportation. Please note that no commercial flights are available.
Shared Charter Flights: Starting at $350 USD per person (round trip).
Private Charter Flights: Starting at $1,000 USD + 7% tax (ITBMS) for a three-seat private plane (round trip + taxes). Flight duration varies from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on air traffic.
Additional costs include a landing fee of $10 USD per trip and a $12 USD cash fee per person for airstrip usage.
2. Drive to San Blas
A paved but winding and steep road crosses the mountains from Panama’s Pacific side to San Blas on the Caribbean side. The journey takes about 2.5 hours, starting from Tocumen Airport or Panama City and ending at the San Blas port of Cartí. A 4×4 vehicle is required for this route.
Group 4×4 services are available from anywhere in Panama City (hotel or home pickup between 5–6 a.m.) at approximately $80 USD per person (round trip), payable directly to the driver. The sailing crew can assist with arranging this transport and provide the driver’s contact information upon request.
If you have your own 4×4 vehicle, you can drive to Cartí and park for $5 USD per vehicle. Beyond Cartí, there are no further roads.
From Cartí, you’ll board a small boat to reach your sailboat, which will be anchored among the San Blas islands. The day before your charter, the crew will provide instructions for connecting with the boat service in Cartí. The boat transfer cost depends on the number of passengers traveling in the same direction, but it is usually around $35 USD per person, per trip. Payment is made at the Cartí maritime transport office.
Additional Fees:
- Entry fee to San Blas: $20 USD per person with a passport or $5 USD for Panamanian residents, payable at a checkpoint managed by Guna Yala (San Blas) representatives. Don’t forget your passport or Panamanian ID!
- Bring approximately $175 USD in cash per person to cover the 4×4 transport, entry fee, and boat transfer.