Over the years, the Kuna Congress has had control of the vehicles that go up to San Blas daily, and we work like other vehicle owners for the Panama-San Blas-Panama route; all cars are 4X4, and they cannot be buses. Or vans, that’s why the luggage issue is stringent, and everyone should read it.
Since San Blas is Kuna-ruled, they have specific entrance and departing times that we must follow. (We don’t decide the times.)
Access to San Blas in the morning shift:
Entrance to San Blas in the Afternoon shift:
Departures from San Blas in the morning shift ZONE NO. 1 & 2 to Panama City or Tocumen Airport:
SCHEDULE FROM SAN BLAS TO TOCUMEN OR ALBROOK AIRPORT AND PANAMA CITY: WE DO NOT TAKE YOU TO THE PACIFIC AIRPORT; IT IS TOO FAR.
Your arrival time at Tocumen Airport will be between 11:50 and 12:00 pm. You will arrive in Panama City between 12:30 and 1:30 pm or before.
However, if your flight is scheduled to leave Albrook Airport (MARCOS A. GELABERT) at 1 p.m., you may be late, as you must be there at noon. Consider changing your flight schedule, as Albrook Airport can only be reached by private car, taking a different route that does not pass through Panama City.
Suppose you have a flight leaving San Blas and need to go directly to the airport. You must bring all your baggage if you’re going to Tocumen or Albrook airport.
If your flight is in the afternoon or at night and you have stored your suitcases at the hotel, you will arrive in Panama City between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.
The driver will drop you off at the hotel, and you will need to call an Uber taxi to the airport, as the driver cannot pick up your luggage and take you there. Please let the service provider know if you need any assistance with a taxi.
Unfortunately, ground transportation is not responsible if you miss your flight because of unforeseen circumstances. It is always advisable to avoid flying on the same day of your trip as numerous factors can cause delays or interruptions, such as broken-down vehicles, punctures, strikes, accidents, or heavy traffic on the way to the airport. I want you to know that you are responsible for leaving San Blas on time to catch your flight.
Departures from San Blas in the Afternoon shift ZONE NO. 1 to Panama City or Tocumen Airport:
Banedup, Perro Grande, Yansaladup, Nuinudup (Lemon Cays)
For Zone 1 Round trip (Pick up & Drop off), prices are as follows:
Shared Ground Transportation + Water Taxi Transportation: $150 ($75 each way) per person.
You will be paying $75 on the day you get picked up directly to your driver and $75 on the day you get picked up at the port directly to your driver.
Children aged 5 years and younger can travel for free if they sit on a parent’s lap. If you wish to secure a seat for your child, it is available for $70 for a round trip. If you have two children under five, you must purchase an additional seat for $70, which is mandatory. For safety, please ensure you have life jackets for children under four.
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NARGANA OR Corazon de Jesus, Cambombia, Green Island Chico and Grande, Waisaladup, Salardup, Nabadup, Isla de las Flores, and Esnasdup AREA .
For Zone 2 Round trip (Pick up & Drop off), prices are as follows:
Shared Ground Transportation + Water Taxi Transportation: $150 ($75 each way) per person.
You will be paying $75 on the day you get picked up directly to your driver and $75 on the day you get picked up at the port directly to your driver.
Children aged 5 years and younger can travel for free if they sit on a parent’s lap. If you wish to secure a seat for your child, it is available for $70 for a round trip. If you have two children under five, you must purchase an additional seat for $70, which is mandatory. For safety, please ensure you have life jackets for children under four.
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Water taxis are operated solely by the indigenous Kuna people, with fixed prices for passengers traveling on sailboats. Captains typically wait for their clients in zones 1 and 2. Please bring reusable plastic bags to protect your belongings from water or rain damage. The locals are not responsible for electronic equipment or losses that may get wet.
Regarding the water taxis, they can only be Kunas, and they have their prices established for sailboat passengers; since we use Zone 2, further away from the area of the sailboats and Zone 1, they still charge the same. The responsibility of the water taxi is solely of the indigenous; when entering their territories, there are already established laws for them. We help them collect their money and organize the passengers daily since they cannot communicate with foreigners because of the language.
Payment can be made in cash at the entrance and exit. We also accept credit card payments there is an increase for the service of 7%.
BRING YOUR ORIGINAL PASSPORTS BECAUSE THE SENAFRONT (BORDER POLICE) NEEDS TO SEE YOUR ENTRY STAMP TO OUR COUNTRY; COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, AND FOR RESIDENTS YOUR PANAMANIAN CARD OR IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE.
The cost of the round trip shared ground transportation and shared water taxi from Panama City to your sailboat and from your bar to Panama City is $150 per person.
You will pay the driver of the vehicle when you enter San Blas $75 per person for shared ground transportation and shared water taxi, and when you return from San Blas to Panama City, you will pay the driver the same amount per person. (THESE PRICES ARE FOR ARRIVAL AND DEPART TRANSFERS OF YOUR SAILBOAT.) DO NOT INCLUDE ENTRY FEES TO SAN BLAS OR PORT TAXES.
Shared ground transportation is for six people plus the driver per vehicle.
One pax sits in the front seat, three in the middle seat, and two in the back seat.
If it is your case that you arrive from a flight after 6:00 am, you would have to pay for the transfer of private ground transportation plus a private boat because, by the time you arrive at the port of San Blas, it would be too late to take a shared boat. It is not profitable for a boatman to carry 2-4 passengers so he would charge you for a private trip.
If you want us to pick you up outside Kuna hours, you must contact us, and we will inform you of the steps to follow and the final price.
From the Tocumen Airport, the last time we can pick you up is until 6:00 am, ready to take our ground transportation to San Blas at a regular price; after 6:00, it has another cost. I think it would be preferable to travel to Kuna between 5:00 and 5:30 the next day so you can share all the transfers with others and thus save money. You can also take a plane to get there faster, but luggage is minimal. Therefore, you would have to book in advance.
If you prefer private transportation, please let us know! Private vehicle transfers are available between Panama City and San Blas (each way, following San Blas schedules) and include the Shared water taxi service. Pricing per group is as follows:
– 2 people: $290
– 3 people: $330
– 4 people: $370
– 5 people: $410
– 6 people: $450
Note: Children under five do not count toward the group total
– Entrance to San Blas-NUSAGANDI (Border from Panama / San Blas, Guna Yala):
– $21 Tourists
– $6 Panamanians and residents
– Children up to 9 years old are exempt from paying the entrance to San Blas.
– Port taxes $2 per person.
NOTE: Also, starting January 2025, there will be a $2 increase next year, so Kuna’s Congress taxes will rise to $25 per foreign person and $10 for Panamanians and residents.
For pickups or drop-offs in the following areas—Veracruz ($35), Playa Bonita Dreams ($35), Radisson Panama Canal ($10), and Summit Rainforest & Golf Resort ($20)—there is an additional one-time fee of $10 to $35 each way, as these locations are outside the main city area. This applies to both shared and private vehicle options.
We do not provide pick-ups or drop-offs at Gamboa Resort. If you are staying there, please book an Uber and meet us in town.
LUGGAGE: We recommend bringing only light hand baggage or a small backpack with a maximum weight of 30 pounds (13.67 kilos). If you need to carry extra luggage, please let us know. Failure to inform us will cause the driver to delay his route significantly.
This helps avoid overweight boats and potential accidents at sea during your trip. Please bring reusable plastic bags to protect your belongings from water or rain damage. The locals are not responsible for electronic equipment or anything that may get wet.
Water taxis are operated solely by the indigenous Kuna people, with fixed prices for passengers traveling on sailboats. Captains typically wait for their clients in zones 1 and 2.
We assist the Kuna people in managing transportation and collecting their payments daily, as they may experience language barriers when communicating with foreigners.
Respect the local people when entering San Blas. If you plan to sail, follow some guidelines to avoid delays.
The vehicles that can only be used to go to San Blas are 4X4, which will only carry six passengers per trip plus their light luggage; they are vehicles such as Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prado, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Lexus. They are average vehicles with 4X4; imagine six passengers and six small carry-ons. It is perfect, but where do we take you if you carry all your luggage? PLEASE ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE PERMITS FROM THE PANAMA LAND TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THE TOURISM AUTHORITY, AND INSURANCE THAT COVER DOCTORS AND HOSPITALIZATION IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, ALL UNDER PANAMA REGULATIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A FLIGHT LEAVING SAN BLAS AND NEED TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT, YOU MUST NOTIFY US IN ADVANCE; you must bring all your luggage if you go to Tocumen or Albrook airport.
If your flight is late and your bags are stored at the hotel, you will arrive in Panama City around 12:30-1:15 p.m. We will drop you at the hotel, and then you must call a UBER taxi to the airport. Please let us know if you need help with a Taxi. Take the necessary things for your trip; you can ask the hotel where you are staying if you can store your extra suitcases. 97% of the hotels in Panama City have storage.
Hoping that you understand about the luggage problem and the Kuna laws, we are responsible for you not carrying excess luggage and no vessel suffering an accident.
IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO BRING:
– SURFBOARD.
– DIVING EQUIPMENT SUCH AS HARPOONS OR TANKS.
– THE DRONES COULD ONLY USE IT IN UNPOPULATED PLACES THAT THE KUNAS DO NOT REALIZE.
– AIR SURFING (SKY SURFING).
– No dogs or cats.
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