Go Sailing San Blas Where There Is One Island For Every Day Of The Year

By Allyson Burke


San Blas is a group of 365 islands in the Caribbean along the northern coastline of Panama. They are fabulous destination for sailing yachts or for those wanting to charter a yacht locally, bareboat or crewed. Splendidly safe, turquoise waters surround the islands. There are many fine spots for anchoring. The island group lies just north from the equator and enjoys balmy, tropical weather all year round. However, perhaps the major attraction of sailing San Blas, however, is the indigenous Kuna people and their fascinating culture.

Wake in the morning prepared for your soul to soar with a dazzling sunrise. Take pleasure in a quick dip then enjoy breakfast on deck with fresh fruit, scrumptious sweet breads and fresh coffee, all sourced locally. Check the weather forecast and your marine charts then head off to explore the neighboring bay or one of many surrounding isles.

Wake in the morning aboard your boat and feel your spirit lifted by a stunning sunrise. Enjoy an early morning dip as the warm sea caresses your body. Take breakfast with fresh fruit, delicious pastries and freshly brewed coffee, all grown or sourced locally. Check your marine chart and the weather forecast then lift anchor and set sail to explore the next cove or one of the many little islands visible in the distance.

Drop anchor, launch the dinghy and row to a picture perfect beach. Walk along the virgin sand where the only footprints will be your own, mixed perhaps with those of some small crabs that, as you approach, scurry into the gentle waves that lap the shore. Lie on the beach and feel your body draw warmth from the sand as your mind slowly drifts away into idle thoughts.

Return to your yacht to prepare a long, lazy lunch of fresh lobster, king crab or perhaps one or two pelagic fish. Relax with a magazine or an afternoon nap. Weigh anchor and push off to a new anchorage in good time so that you can enjoy your favorite cocktail. As the sun sets, it burns its last rays of orange hue into a boundless sky soon bejeweled with a million stars. The night is yours, and you will pinch yourself to make sure the experience is real are not a dream.

Many Kuna lead a traditional lifestyle. They cook meals over an open fire and sleep in a communal hut slung with hammocks. Basic infrastructure such as running water is sometimes lacking.

One of the key attractions of the island group is its people, the Kuna. This distinct ethnic group is fiercely proud. Its ancestry traces back through time for more than 500 years. The Kuna have retained their culture despite repression by early Spanish colonialists and, more recently, by several unsympathetic Panamanian governments.

There is enough to see and do in the islands to fill a two-week itinerary, even longer. Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities are world class, including amazing coral reefs that are rich in color and vibrant with sea life. Popular islets include Cayo Limon, Cayo Holandeses and the intriguly named Dog Island. Seasoned sailors that have gone sailing San Blas leave vow to return again. Be careful however, the name can be confusing. Be sure not get it mixed up with regions carrying the same name near Cuzco in Peru, Buenos Aires in Argentina or the Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.




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