What are the Best San Blas Islands to Stay On?

San Blas has 365 islands in total, so you can visit an island for every day of the year. The beaches of the San Blas islands are considered a paradise in the Caribbean. In this blog, I will tell you about the characteristics of the 12 best islands with accommodation in San Blas so you can choose which one to stay on. There are San Blas Tours From Panama City that include transport, food, and your stay on your favourite Island. There are 1 Night 2 Day San Blas Tours, 2 Night 3 Day San Blas Tours, and 3 Night 4 Day San Blas Tours, all with accommodation included. If you ever want to stay longer, you can always ask your tour operator during your stay to extend. If there is availability there would be no problem. 

1. Diablo Island (From 175.00 USD P/P)

Diablo Island (Isla Diablo) is one of the most popular islands for its of different sizes cabins, on Tiqy.com it is the favorite. By staying on this island, you can also visit Isla Fragata, Isla Perro Grande and the Natural Pool, since your stay includes a visit to these islands.

Accommodation

The cabins available to stay on Isla Diablo are private cabins and shared cabins and have the following characteristics:

• Private Cabins: are wooden structures with wooden floors and consist of one double and one single bed. If you book for 1, 2 or 3 people, you will receive 1 cabin. If you book for 4 or 5 people, you will receive 2 cabins.
• Shared Cabins: are wooden structures larger than private cabins. They have a wooden floor and consist of 10 or 15 single beds. There are no double beds in the shared cabins.

Both options of cabins in Isla Diablo have shared bathrooms. Shared bathrooms are a house that has private toilets and showers. The water is not heated, and they have toilet paper, but it is recommended to bring yours just in case. There are no electrical outlets in the cabins, so you should charge your devices in the restaurant if you need to.

2. Wailidup Island (From 190.00 USD P/P)

This island is also known as Waily Island (Isla Waily) and is very popular for its Overwater Bungalows. During your stay on Wailidup Island, you will be able to visit two more islands, which will be chosen depending on the transit of people on the islands. Visits are generally to Isla Perro Grande, Isla Fragata and sometimes to Isla Perro Chico, without leaving behind the Natural Pool. In Waily Island there are seasons in which there are many mosquitoes, we recommend that you bring insect repellent, so this is not a problem for you.

Accommodation

• Overwater Private Bungalows: are wooden structures over the water with a capacity from 1 to 4 people. Depending on the number of people, the bungalows can have one double and one single bed or two double beds. They have a main light, but only until a certain time of night.

On the island, there are bungalows with private bathrooms and others with shared bathrooms. Shared bathrooms are a house that has private toilets and showers. The water is not heated, and they have toilet paper, but it is recommended to bring yours just in case.

3. Perro Chico Island (From 181.25 USD P/P)

This is another of the most famous islands, it is highly recognized for the sunken ship that adorns its waters. Perfect for Snorkelling and appreciating its coral reefs and the marine life that the island has. The stay on this island includes a visit to Isla Fragata and the Natural Pool.

Accommodation

• Private Cabins with Private Bathroom and Private Cabins with Shared Bathrooms: Private cabins are wooden structures with concrete floors and consist of one double and one single bed. If you book for 1, 2 or 3 people, you will receive 1 cabin, if you book for 4 or 5 people, you will receive 2 cabins.

If you choose a private cabin with a private bathroom, the bathroom will be inside of your cabin, and if you choose a private cabin with a shared bathroom, in the center of the island there is a shared bathhouse that has individual toilets and showers.

4. Aguja Island (From 177.50 USD P/P)

This is one of the biggest islands in San Blas, which makes you feel more privacy when staying here than in the other islands. If you decide to stay on this island, you will also visit three more islands. The islands you visit will depend on the traffic of people in San Blas that day. Generally, for this island they only offer 1-night stay, but if you want to stay more nights you can talk to the owners of the cabins once you are on the Island.

Accommodation

• Private Cabins without Bathroom: are wooden structures with a sandy floor. They generally have 2 single beds inside and do not have a private bathroom.
• Private Cabins with Bathroom: are wooden structures with wooden floors. The floor of these cabins is above ground level (as shown in the image). Generally, inside there are 2 single beds.

If you choose a private cabin with a private bathroom, the bathroom will be inside your cabin and if you choose a cabin with a shared bathroom, in the center of the island there is a shared bathhouse that has individual toilets and showers.

5. Aroma Island (From 175.00 USD P/P)

Aroma Island (Isla Aroma) is known for its swing over the water, where you can take incredible photos. If you decide to stay on this island you will visit 2 more islands and the Natural Pool.

Accommodation

• Basic Cabins with Shared Bathroom: are wooden structures with a sandy floor and a shared bathroom. Its maximum occupancy is 2 people and inside they have a double bed.
• Basic Cabins with Private Bathroom: are wooden structures with a wooden floor and a private bathroom inside the cabin. Its maximum occupancy is 3 people and they have one double bed and one single bed.

Shared Cabins with Shared Bathroom: they are large wooden structures with a sand floor, consisting of up to 10 single beds depending on the size of the cabin.

If you choose a private cabin with a private bathroom, the bathroom will be inside your cabin and if you choose one with a shared bathroom, in the center of the island there is a shared bathhouse that has individual toilets and showers.

6. Senidup Island (From 168.75 USD P/P)

The cabins on Senidup Island are characterized by being one of the cabins that have the best infrastructure in San Blas. This Island has a peculiarity, and that is that it is divided into 2 parts. One part is called Senidup Island and the other part of the island is called Franklin Island (which I will talk about below). This is because each part belongs to different Guna families, and for each family differentiating their part, they named each one separately.

Accommodation

• Private Cabins: are wooden structures with sandy floors and consist of one double and one single bed. If you book for 2 or 3 people, you will receive 1 cabin. If you book for 4 or 5 people, you will receive 2 cabins.
• Shared Cabins: are wooden structures bigger than private cabins consisting of 10 or 15 single beds and they have sandy floors. There are no double beds in the shared cabins.

In the center of the island, there is a bathhouse, which has toilets and private showers. The water does not heat up. There is toilet paper in the bathrooms, but it is recommended to bring your own soap, shampoo and toilet paper, just in case. Shared bathrooms are for both, private cabins and shared cabins.

7. Franklin Island (From 192.50 USD P/P)

Franklin Island is the other part of Senidup Island. The only difference is that on Franklin Island there are only private cabins, while Senidup Island has private and shared cabins.

Accommodation

• Private Cabins: are wooden structures with wooden or sand floor and consist of one double bed and one single bed. If you book for 2 or 3 people, you will receive 1 cabin. If you book for 4 or 5 people, you will receive 2 cabins.

In the center of the island, there is a bathhouse that has toilets and private showers. The water does not heat up. There is toilet paper in the bathrooms, but it is recommended to bring your own soap, shampoo and toilet paper, just in case.

8. Naranjo Chico Island (From 162.50 USD P/P)

• Camping Tents: You will generally be provided with a camping tent and an inflatable mattress and you have to bring your own sleeping bag (and a pillow if you wish). There are some operators that do not provide the camping tent, but they offer you the option to rent it from 20 USD and it includes the tent and the mattress.

9. Cayos Limones (From 140.00 USD P/P)

All the islands in San Blas are eco-friendly, but Cayos Limones especially since there are no inhabitants or populated nearby. There are no cabins either, so if you want to stay in Cayos Limones you will have to camp. This option is very good to spend a good weekend on the beach in the calm waters that surround the island. Cayos Limones is made up of around 20 islands that are the ideal place to snorkel, play volleyball, and camp. You will be able to visit 3 islands during your stay.

Accommodation

• Camping Tents: You will generally be provided with a camping tent and an inflatable mattress and you have to bring your own sleeping bag (and a pillow if you wish). There are some operators that do not provide the camping tent, but they offer you the option to rent it from 20 USD and it includes the tent and the mattress.

10. Demar Achudup Island (From 193.75 USD P/P)

Staying on this Island has a peculiarity and that is that they give you the option of visiting one of the Guna communities so that you can learn a little about its culture. It also includes a visit to Pelicano Island and the Natural Pool.

Accommodation

• Private Cabins: are wooden structures with thatched roofs and sandy floors. They one double and one single bed. If you want 3 single beds instead of 1 double bed and 1 single bed, you can request this to the operator once you are on the Island and the change will depend on the availability of beds.
• Shared Cabins: these are wooden structures bigger than private cabins. They have from 10 or 15 single beds and they have thatched roofs and sandy floors. There are no double beds in the shared cabins.

On the island, there is a shared bathhouse, which has toilets and private showers. The water does not heat up. There is toilet paper in the bathrooms, but it is recommended to bring your own soaps, shampoos, and toilet paper, just in case.

11. Cayos Holandeses (From 112.50 USD P/P)

Cayos Holandeses is a group of popular islands because they are considered the most beautiful islands and best for snorkelling in the reefs that surround them, the reefs of these islands are the largest in San Blas. They are one of the islands that are furthest from the port, the boat transfer from the port to Cayos Holandeses takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, but it is definitely worth it, as its beaches and landscapes are heavenly. Regularly, the minimum number of people required to visit Cayos Holandeses is 8 people.

There are no cabins, so if you want to go to these islands, you will have to camp. It is very common for visitors to bring small roasters to prepare roasts, although some operators include meals.

Accommodation

• Camping Tents: You will generally be provided with a camping tent and an inflatable mattress and you have to bring your own sleeping bag (and a pillow if you wish). There are some operators that do not provide the camping tent, but they offer you the option to rent it from 20 USD and it includes the tent and the mattress.

12. Cartí Mula Island (From 165.00 USD P/P)

This island is different from the others since there is a small Guna population that resides on it. When you arrive, you will be taken to Perro Chico Island or Marine Corridor and the Natural Pool. If your group is small, you will stay in one house of a Guna family, usually in Hammocks. If the group is big, you may be divided into different houses in the same community. They regularly offer the option of 1 night, but if you want to extend your stay you can request it from your operator once you are on the Island.

Accommodation

There are no tourist cabins, but you will stay in the community houses. They are rudimentary (traditional) structures made of wood and thatched roof.

Recommendations for Staying on a San Blas Island

San Blas is undoubtedly a paradise in the Caribbean, and for you to have the best possible experience, here are some recommendations for you to take into account and thus make your stay in San Blas more pleasant:

• There are no ATMs in San Blas, so make sure to bring enough cash.
• You can bring a cooler with drinks and food, but make sure to take your trash back to Panama City with you.
• There are no electrical outlets in the cabins, so you should charge your devices in the restaurant if possible.
• You must bring shampoo and soap.
• The cabins have a main light, but only until a certain time of night. he time the light switches off changes depending on the amount of people on the island, maybe at 8:00 or 9:00 pm. Therefore, it is recommended that you carry a flashlight or that your phone is fully charged for lighting at night.
• Sleeping bag (a pillow if you wish), it can be a little cold at night, but not very cold.
• There is a cell phone service on the island with Digicel, and also + Mobile. You can buy these chips in the commercial centers of Panama City or at the airport.

In Conclusion: What is the most recommended San Blas Island to Stay On?

San Blas is made up of many islands, and there is something for everyone. If you want to stay on the most popular Island, then I recommend Isla Diablo. If you are thinking of staying on an island in San Blas that has cabins over the water, Isla Wailidup is ideal for you, just remember to bring insect repellent. If you want to go snorkelling and discover the Sunken Ship, Isla Perro Chico is your best option and finally, if you want to have a closer experience with the Guna community, staying on Isla Cartí Mula will fulfill all your expectations.

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