San Blas Frontera
San Blas Frontera
4
Multi-day ToursCultural ToursNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Full view
About
We offer authentic day trips and overnight stays to the San Blas Islands in Panama as well as 3-day island hopping trips to and from Colombia. We are a 100% Kuna company, meaning that it is fully owned and managed by the indigenous tribe in the San Blas islands, ensuring our clients get to know our unique culture first-hand, while offering a highly professional service based on >12 years of experience in tourism in San Blas. Our owner has been travelling all across the globe (North and South America, Europe, Asia) and brought back his experiences and impressions with the vision to share his culture and home country with interested travelers.
Carti Tupile, Panama
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
101 reviews
Excellent
65
Very good
8
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
18
Jasmine S
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Solo
Everything went well but you have to be really chilled because the info you get from the agency is not the same as what the Kuna will tell you and offer you. I was told by the agency that we will visit 6+ islands and we had to insist a bit when we were on the island to really do that. We visited maybe 4 islands but they were beautiful so that was kind of ok. The only thing I didn’t like is that the second night we went on a island (isla Naranjo Chico) way more touristy and a friend from our guide tried to get with me, he became really drunk and disrespectful, touching my thigh and trying to pull my short up. I had to get really angry against him to make him finally stop. This is not a way to act towards tourists who come to relax and enjoy their holidays. I’m paying for a islands hoping and not something else.
Written March 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Jazzy,
first of all I want to thank you for taking the time to write a review! We take your feedback very serious and work hard to improve our offerings.
I am extremely sorry to hear that you did not have a pleasant experience on the second night! As tour operators, it is our utmost priority that everyone of our guests feels safe at all times (especially female and/or solo travelers) and we are extremely sorry if this was not the case on your tour. In order to keep this an isolated, once-only incident, we will work with the locals to remind everyone of respectful behavior and also provide guidelines to our guests on attending a local party if on this particular island. We want to make sure that this stays an isolated incident.
As for the tour itinerary we would like to apologize that you had not received the tour as advertised. We acknowledge that there have been a few tours lately that did not meet our promises and can assure you that we have made changes in personnel and changes to the set-up and are now back to deliver as advertised.
We would love the opportunity to exceed your expectations and would like to invite you back to San Blas very soon.
Thank you and all the best,
Luis
Written March 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
m ram
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Friends
This company provides an affordable option for a trip to San Blas, but you do get what you pay for. Late on the night before pick up we got an email stating they changed our island and accommodations stating that our original island, Senidup, had been overbooked. When I stated that I wanted the original one we scheduled, they acted like they did us a favor by not charging us more because the new island was a $15 upcharge.
The next morning we were waiting at 5am to be picked up at our hotel and waited for 2 hours. we had to keep contacting them because we were never informed that they would be showing up 2 hours late at 7am.
It sounds like there’s a lot of people involved in the process and the drivers are a different organization, but the person I was in contact with from SBF stated that this company had the advantage of being on the island and having quick contact with the drivers but it didn’t feel that way by the lack or organization.
I reached out several times and they did respond back fast via email. nevertheless, nothing was done to make up for how chaotic it was with the last minute change and not being advised about the late pick up. We got to the island late and left a hour earlier than we were told the next morning, it felt like we got less time there due to reasons beyond us.
Poor communication.
The island was great on Isla Iguana and all the people there were very friendly and accommodating.
I enjoyed going, probably would have booked a different tour company knowing how it went.
The next morning we were waiting at 5am to be picked up at our hotel and waited for 2 hours. we had to keep contacting them because we were never informed that they would be showing up 2 hours late at 7am.
It sounds like there’s a lot of people involved in the process and the drivers are a different organization, but the person I was in contact with from SBF stated that this company had the advantage of being on the island and having quick contact with the drivers but it didn’t feel that way by the lack or organization.
I reached out several times and they did respond back fast via email. nevertheless, nothing was done to make up for how chaotic it was with the last minute change and not being advised about the late pick up. We got to the island late and left a hour earlier than we were told the next morning, it felt like we got less time there due to reasons beyond us.
Poor communication.
The island was great on Isla Iguana and all the people there were very friendly and accommodating.
I enjoyed going, probably would have booked a different tour company knowing how it went.
Written February 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Meghan, thank you for your detailed feedback. We are genuinely sorry that your experience did not go as smoothly as we aim for. Our goal is always smooth and enjoyable experiences, but it seems we missed the mark this time.
We want to clarify that our offerings include two main types of trips: overnight island stays, which you did and which is comparable to a hotel stay on one specific island, and group tours directly managed by us with a guide from our company at your side all the time (3-Days Island Hopping, boat trips to/from Colombia, Daytours). In cases like yours, involving overnight stays, we coordinate closely with just two parties—the island accommodations and the drivers. Our approach is as streamlined as possible, without intermediaries in between, though challenges can arise, such as with last-minute island changes.
We’re relieved to hear you enjoyed the alternative island, Isla Iguana, which we were able to secure swiftly to prevent any further inconvenience. But of course we understand that ideally such last-minute changes would not arise.
Regarding the transportation, we acknowledge the difficulties experienced and understand the importance of reliable service. Despite our efforts to manage these independently organized drivers, the situation highlighted areas for improvement.
Despite these explanations, we acknowledge the shortcomings of this trip for you and hope to have another opportunity to provide you with the quality trip you deserve.
All the best,
Luis
Written March 9, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patrick M
Washington DC, DC57 contributions
Mar 2023
We booked a day trip to Guna Yala through San Blas Frontera and had a fantastic experience. Yarmachi was prompt and helpful on email in advance of the trip, and provided clear instructions for our preparation and pickup. We opted to pay extra for a private car, and our driver arrived at our hotel at exactly 5 am, as promised. We stopped at a grocery store along the way to grab breakfast and additional snacks for the excursion. Yes, the drive to the port is long and winding. But if you can take some motion sickness medicine and try to relax and enjoy, it is part of the adventure. We enjoyed the scenery and animals through the windows, and our guide Jorge provided interesting stories and information as we went.
You will get out of the experience what you put into it. If you are able to relax and embrace some of the unknown and unexpected that is inherent in the trek, and meaningfully engage with the experience, it is very powerful and you can learn a lot.
At the port, our driver introduced us to our guide for the day and told us to listen clearly to everything they said. It was a little busy with several boats loading and unloading, and we waited a few minutes until she pointed to us to get us into the boat. Then we took off for the islands and entered paradise.
It is hard to describe the beauty of these islands and the overall setting. It is simply magical. We arrived at Yani and were greeted warmly at the dining area. We were given clear instructions (in english and spanish) and were free to enjoy. Lunch was delicious and the water and sand were magnificent. Then we went to a natural pool to snorkel a bit, and on to Perro Chico.
It is important to remember that Guna Yala is a community, it is not a resort. You are not there to be treated like a VIP 5 star guest. You are there to experience another culture, to listen, to learn, and to be respectful. Do not expect that everyone will speak Spanish or English. A few basic words and phrases in Guna will go a long way.
(If you will be in Panama City before your trip, visit the Mueso de la Mola in Casco Viejo for an excellent introduction to the history, art, culture, and language of Guna Yala.)
I am very grateful to have had this experience, and next time will plan to stay for an overnight or two to have even more time in Guna Yala.
You will get out of the experience what you put into it. If you are able to relax and embrace some of the unknown and unexpected that is inherent in the trek, and meaningfully engage with the experience, it is very powerful and you can learn a lot.
At the port, our driver introduced us to our guide for the day and told us to listen clearly to everything they said. It was a little busy with several boats loading and unloading, and we waited a few minutes until she pointed to us to get us into the boat. Then we took off for the islands and entered paradise.
It is hard to describe the beauty of these islands and the overall setting. It is simply magical. We arrived at Yani and were greeted warmly at the dining area. We were given clear instructions (in english and spanish) and were free to enjoy. Lunch was delicious and the water and sand were magnificent. Then we went to a natural pool to snorkel a bit, and on to Perro Chico.
It is important to remember that Guna Yala is a community, it is not a resort. You are not there to be treated like a VIP 5 star guest. You are there to experience another culture, to listen, to learn, and to be respectful. Do not expect that everyone will speak Spanish or English. A few basic words and phrases in Guna will go a long way.
(If you will be in Panama City before your trip, visit the Mueso de la Mola in Casco Viejo for an excellent introduction to the history, art, culture, and language of Guna Yala.)
I am very grateful to have had this experience, and next time will plan to stay for an overnight or two to have even more time in Guna Yala.
Written March 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Patrick,
thank you for taking the time to write this review, we absolutely appreciate it!
It is wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your day trip with us and thank you for the appreciation and open mind. I love the tip about visiting the Mola Museum in Panama City before the trip, we should recommend this to all our guests before joining our tours.
We'd love to have you with us again in the future!
Many thanks & all the best,
Luis
Written March 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shirin S
4 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
The person organising all bookings and emails sits in Colombia and has no idea, what happens on the islands. As you have to pay before you enter the island, you are left alone with pure chaos, not having the room type you booked, being moved to another island with a free cabinet for you, keeping asking for your booked tours, being returned to the city much later than promised (at night) and yet the best: no water for the shower or the toilet flushes the last night of our visit. We were not the only ones unhappy. There are other companies with someone around,to communicate with.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
missbailing
13 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Avoid this awful place!
We spent 2 nights in Wailidub Island paying 700 dollars and we lived the worst experience of our whole life.
The agency San Blas Frontera is a scam and the island is a trap for tourists!
That place is a clumsy!
The island is covered in trash and garbage and the sea around is also full of plastic.
The bungalow is indecent with dirty toilet and almost no water inside the bathroom.
The freaking people who run the island are rude and incompetent and they refused to contact the agency.
When we complained about no water in our bathroom they started laughing like stupid "no agua, no agua".
When we told them that we paid 700 dollars for a bungalow with private bathroom and water, they told is not true.
When the water came to the bungalow it was dirty and bad smelling. We have to use the water in the bottles to wash ourselves and avoid cholera or something.
They could not understand us in English but they just pretend don't understand Google translate in Spanish.
We asked to come back to the mainland and they refused, they go away telling that Italians are bad people and that they don't want Italians on their island.
But we have to stay, because they refused to call a boat.
We didn't have phone signal so, in effect, it's almost a kidnapping, right?
We had a terrible and scary experience as tourists hostage in a remote island.
The second day, in the morning, there was a typhoon and the bungalow with the beds and all our things got wet because the rain was coming inside from the roof and the window.
The tin roof almost flew away because of the wind.
Again we asked to leave the island in the afternoon and they told we need to pay another car transfer to Panama City!
The snorkeling tour was ridiculous: they took us to another ugly island under the rain and then to the "natural pools" where we saw nothing: no star fish, no manta, no sharks, no fishes.
The only thing we saw underwater is plastic and garbage.
Those islands are the worst place I have visited in my whole life, covered in trash and without marine life.
The food also was bad: we ate for 3 times fish and chips (the cheapest junk food!) and when we asked grilled fish, they brought it almost raw!
They are not able to cook nothing!
All the guests that stayed in our same island were complaining about how dirty, ugly and expensive is.
The last day we woke up with the bodies covered in bites, when we finally came back to Panama City we went to the pharmacy and they told it seemed the result of a flea-infested bed.
They suggested to go to the E.R because could be dangerous.
So we paid 700 dollars for flea!
This was the most frightening experience of our whole life!
Avoid this clumsy and save your money!
We spent 2 nights in Wailidub Island paying 700 dollars and we lived the worst experience of our whole life.
The agency San Blas Frontera is a scam and the island is a trap for tourists!
That place is a clumsy!
The island is covered in trash and garbage and the sea around is also full of plastic.
The bungalow is indecent with dirty toilet and almost no water inside the bathroom.
The freaking people who run the island are rude and incompetent and they refused to contact the agency.
When we complained about no water in our bathroom they started laughing like stupid "no agua, no agua".
When we told them that we paid 700 dollars for a bungalow with private bathroom and water, they told is not true.
When the water came to the bungalow it was dirty and bad smelling. We have to use the water in the bottles to wash ourselves and avoid cholera or something.
They could not understand us in English but they just pretend don't understand Google translate in Spanish.
We asked to come back to the mainland and they refused, they go away telling that Italians are bad people and that they don't want Italians on their island.
But we have to stay, because they refused to call a boat.
We didn't have phone signal so, in effect, it's almost a kidnapping, right?
We had a terrible and scary experience as tourists hostage in a remote island.
The second day, in the morning, there was a typhoon and the bungalow with the beds and all our things got wet because the rain was coming inside from the roof and the window.
The tin roof almost flew away because of the wind.
Again we asked to leave the island in the afternoon and they told we need to pay another car transfer to Panama City!
The snorkeling tour was ridiculous: they took us to another ugly island under the rain and then to the "natural pools" where we saw nothing: no star fish, no manta, no sharks, no fishes.
The only thing we saw underwater is plastic and garbage.
Those islands are the worst place I have visited in my whole life, covered in trash and without marine life.
The food also was bad: we ate for 3 times fish and chips (the cheapest junk food!) and when we asked grilled fish, they brought it almost raw!
They are not able to cook nothing!
All the guests that stayed in our same island were complaining about how dirty, ugly and expensive is.
The last day we woke up with the bodies covered in bites, when we finally came back to Panama City we went to the pharmacy and they told it seemed the result of a flea-infested bed.
They suggested to go to the E.R because could be dangerous.
So we paid 700 dollars for flea!
This was the most frightening experience of our whole life!
Avoid this clumsy and save your money!
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Roberta, dear Luigi,
thank you both for taking the time to each write a review here. I have been pondering for a very long time about what to respond to your feedback and it still makes me very sad that you did not enjoy your trip at all but also were not open for dialogue afterwards.
Again, we are very sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations and we have taken your feedback very seriously and shortly afterwards stopped working with this island. Please understand that we are an agency and as such are very limited in controlling the islands but of course take any concerns with regard to dirty accommodations, improper behavior and bad quality very seriously and try our best to make things right if our guests were not satisfied.
We also inform all our guests before the trip to not expect luxury, to check if you are ok with rough conditions and simple meals and to not put the costs in relation to the level of service that you would get elsewhere because, simply put, it is comparably extremely expensive to provide hospitality in San Blas.
Nevertheless, I kindly ask you to always put things into perspective and also give us the chance to make things right. Unfortunately, you were not open for dialogue and I found your emails rather hurtful: "The f*** freaking people that run the island are rude, incompetent and uncivilised." or: "Moreover we have pictures and videos and we'll spam them on all the social networks: TripAdvisor, Google, (we have 2 millions views on our reviews) Facebook, Instagram.I have 100.000 followers on Instagram, so you have cheated the wrong person! Shame on you!"
We are honest people working very hard to provide our guests good experiences and always open to feedback and to improve. Again, we apologize sincerely that you did not have a good experience and we stopped collaboration with this island until the service level has improved.
All the best,
Luis
Written March 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jamie D
Brisbane, Australia22 contributions
May 2022 • Solo
The local people at the islands were very nice but the trip was not as described. I got the 3 day 2 nights to see: around 8 islands, kayak, SUP, snorkel a sunken ship and a coral reef and see uninhabited islands. None of this happened.
I emailed to confirm pick up the night before since i had not heard from Yamarchi. He confirmed the 5am pick up at my hostel and also then said:
"
We hope you are doing well! We will pick you up tomorrow morning at 5am at Selina’s.
One thing, we had to make a few last minute changes. Due to recent gasoline prices increases it is currently not economical to go to the Cayos holandeses. We nevertheless put together two islands for you to sleep and a few tours to visit other islands so you will overall get to see a lot of the islands. We hope for your understanding and will reduce the price to 315$.
Thank you and kind regards
Yarmachi"
The driver didn't show up until 5:40am. A person in a second vehicle said he was Yamarchi's brother and would take payment in cash then, handed over $315.
The driver barely spoke to the passengers. Very aggressive driving, on the phone and with extremely loud music. He seemed annoyed with any questions. Couldn't find my boat driver at the dock and tried to leave without a word just gesturing to follow a man.
Arrived at 10am to the island and was treated kindly and showed my accommodations and where meals would be served, and the bathrooms. Was told i could wander around and talk to anyone. Meals were simple but delicious. Was told we would tour the next day. On day one we didn't go anywhere. We went out once on the second day to 2 inhabited islands and the shallow pool with starfish.
On the 3rd day had v breakfast around 8am, he said we would go somewhere, then proceeded to have a long conversation with a friend, then have a mechanic tucker with the boat and fix it. Then we had lunch and he said we would leave early to see more islands before going to the dock. But instead he offered to stop at a very crowded dirty island or go straight to the dock, of course we choose to go straight to the dock and not miss our rides.
Not as advertised at all, and i overheard the tour guide and both drivers complaining about not getting paid.
I contacted him through whatsapp with my concerns after i was back in Panama with wifi, no answer.
I emailed to confirm pick up the night before since i had not heard from Yamarchi. He confirmed the 5am pick up at my hostel and also then said:
"
We hope you are doing well! We will pick you up tomorrow morning at 5am at Selina’s.
One thing, we had to make a few last minute changes. Due to recent gasoline prices increases it is currently not economical to go to the Cayos holandeses. We nevertheless put together two islands for you to sleep and a few tours to visit other islands so you will overall get to see a lot of the islands. We hope for your understanding and will reduce the price to 315$.
Thank you and kind regards
Yarmachi"
The driver didn't show up until 5:40am. A person in a second vehicle said he was Yamarchi's brother and would take payment in cash then, handed over $315.
The driver barely spoke to the passengers. Very aggressive driving, on the phone and with extremely loud music. He seemed annoyed with any questions. Couldn't find my boat driver at the dock and tried to leave without a word just gesturing to follow a man.
Arrived at 10am to the island and was treated kindly and showed my accommodations and where meals would be served, and the bathrooms. Was told i could wander around and talk to anyone. Meals were simple but delicious. Was told we would tour the next day. On day one we didn't go anywhere. We went out once on the second day to 2 inhabited islands and the shallow pool with starfish.
On the 3rd day had v breakfast around 8am, he said we would go somewhere, then proceeded to have a long conversation with a friend, then have a mechanic tucker with the boat and fix it. Then we had lunch and he said we would leave early to see more islands before going to the dock. But instead he offered to stop at a very crowded dirty island or go straight to the dock, of course we choose to go straight to the dock and not miss our rides.
Not as advertised at all, and i overheard the tour guide and both drivers complaining about not getting paid.
I contacted him through whatsapp with my concerns after i was back in Panama with wifi, no answer.
Written May 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelisa
3 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We (a family of 3 with a 3 year old) did the 1 night trip to Isla Iguana with San Blas Frontera and I would certainly recommend them if you are looking for an authentic experience. The people on Isla Iguana are lovely and accommodating. The island itself feels remote without being too far from civilisation and the afternoon tour to the snorkel spots was good. Sleeping in the huts overnight was a really cool experience; listening to the sound of the ocean was our favourite. The beds and the huts themselves are very basic (and quite comfortable) but they’re authentic, which is what we wanted to experience. They turn off the generator on the island at around 10pm and it’s only lit by moonlight which I thought was a great thing to see! Our 3 year old daughter really liked it too, but I will say that one night was enough if you have small children. The food was basic but tasty and there are plenty of drinks and water to buy on the island if you need them. The only slightly negative part of the whole trip was the car journey through the mountains, myself and my daughter were car sick; we didn’t realise the journey from Panama City to the Kuna Yala port is around 4.5 hours. We left our hotel in Panama City at 5am and arrived to Isla Iguana at 10am; this long journey isn’t communicated clearly on the website. Aside from that, it was a really cool experience that we enjoyed!
Written July 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mihaela0780
Romania3 contributions
Mar 2023
Me and other 3 people ( I didn’t know before) had a 3 days/2 nights trip with San Blas Frontera that was extremely exciting, fun and relaxing thanks especially to Luis our guide.
We visited various islands (crowded or not) and Luis managed to show us the best San Blas has to offer - from idyllic sandy white islands, interaction with friendly Guna people, bonfire at sunset and lots of fun! We had the opportunity to do snorkeling as well as kayak on the second island we slept.
The accommodation and food while basic, were perfectly sufficient and had a certain rustic charm.
I searched a lot on internet before I booked this trip with San Blas Frontera and I'm very pleased I got more than expected. Luis a beacon of positivity, energy, and laid back vibes really made our trip special. Thank you!
We visited various islands (crowded or not) and Luis managed to show us the best San Blas has to offer - from idyllic sandy white islands, interaction with friendly Guna people, bonfire at sunset and lots of fun! We had the opportunity to do snorkeling as well as kayak on the second island we slept.
The accommodation and food while basic, were perfectly sufficient and had a certain rustic charm.
I searched a lot on internet before I booked this trip with San Blas Frontera and I'm very pleased I got more than expected. Luis a beacon of positivity, energy, and laid back vibes really made our trip special. Thank you!
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mihaela,
Thank you for choosing San Blas Frontera for your recent trip to San Blas Islands and taking the time to share your feedback on TripAdvisor. We are thrilled to hear that you had a lot of fun on our 3-day Island Hopping trip and enjoyed your time on the islands.
We are putting a lot of effort into ensuring that you really get to see the best spots in San Blas and make this a really fun and exciting trip and it's super refreshing to hear that this hit home with you and the group!
We also really appreciate your feedback about the accommodation and food. We are always looking to find islands with basic yet comfortable accommodations and delicious meals for our guests while keeping the charm of the simple island lifestyle.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We are happy to hear that we exceeded your expectations, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable experience.
Best regards,
Luis
Written April 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
georgen304
9 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
The trip itself was honestly magical. They fetched us from our hotel in Panama City and took us to the dock to await the boat trip out to the islands. In total over the three days we visited about 8 different islands and slept on two different ones. Each island is unique in its own way whether that be the type of beach, presence of coral reefs or even shipwrecks so I can highly recommend doing a tour which involves multi-island visits. Our tour guide himself was incredibly accommodating and took time to explain various aspects of the Kuna culture and their way of life on the islands. Food was decent, but take some snacks with you, as well as 5l of water as buying bottled water as you go starts to add up. We searched for hours online wondering which tour to book for our trip to San Blas and we are so glad we ended up going with Frontera - an amazing experience all round that will not soon be forgotten.
Written February 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trip: 3-day San Blas Island Hopping
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are happy that you had a wonderful time with us on our Island Hopping trip and enjoyed the different islands we visited. We do indeed try to provide variety by visiting different locations and islands to give you the best possible memories. Glad you enjoyed it! All the best, Luis
Written March 9, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dalia K
12 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
It is very unfortunate that I write this review, but our tour left us very disappointed! Starting the day our driver kept making random stops but never informing us what was happening which left us very confused along with being squeezed in a car on a super bumpy road for 4 hours! Finally we arrive at the port and we're just dropped off and not given any instruction. Finally a kind couple who knew English and Spanish asked for us, found our boat and translated. We waited a while to board and head out. Once again guide spoke no English! You assume when booking a tour for tourists that someone would at least speak English! Then the waters where super chopping causing us and our things to get soaked, all our things ruined! Finally upon arrival at first island they realized there are side panels that could come down but where were all soaked at that point. Time on the islands was super short then brought back to port. Originally driver never showed up and once again the kind couple found us a car to go back in. The entire lot cleared out by 4 PM but our luck we got stuck there till 5, and once again no one explaining anything!!!
Truly upset by the experience, granted some of those things aren't in your control but I booked your tour and had a terrible experience, will not be recommending to anyone!! It's truly unfortunate as the island are beautiful.
Truly upset by the experience, granted some of those things aren't in your control but I booked your tour and had a terrible experience, will not be recommending to anyone!! It's truly unfortunate as the island are beautiful.
Written February 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Dalia,
We appreciate your feedback and we are very sorry that you got left disappointed by your day tour. Let me respond to a few of the points you have mentioned, a few of them we can work on and will take your feedback on this and a few other things are unfortunately out of our control:
(1) The San Blas islands are a rough place to visit and the only way of getting there is through this bumpy road. We do not offer the ride ourselves but have to partner with drivers that have been licensed by the local government - all tours going to San Blas are via this road and with these drivers in those exact conditions (up to six people in one car during main season). This is nothing that we can influence - the only option is to rent an entire car, essentially paying more for the trip. We will think about adding this as an option when booking the trip.
As for the missing communication and delay, this is clearly a miss from our side. After your email we have investigated with the driver (who is - as your designated driver throughout the day - responsible for being punctual and making sure you get to your boat) and took appropriate steps.
(2) For the boat ride: the boats used in San Blas are perfect for entering the shallow beaches around the islands but can be a bit uncomfortable, especially during rough weather and strong winds. We do inform our guests beforehand that there is a chance to get wet but will make sure to communicate this much better in the future. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
(3) As for speaking English - foreign guides are not allowed to work in San Blas and only a very small number of local people speak English. The San Blas islands are not a touristy place but an indigenous area that is opened for a small number of tourists everyday. As such, we kindly ask for your understanding that not everything here works as you might be used to from other places.
We take your feedback very seriously and appreciate the time you took to write this review. We will work to change the things that are under our control and will work on how to improve communication to our guests on the things we cannot influence.
Kind regards
Luis
Written March 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What’s the average age of people who do the trip from Colombia to Panama?
Written February 13, 2019
Hi Ethan,
thanks for getting in touch!
We don't have an average group, our tours are open to everyone. Our guests are mostly in their mid-20s and early 30s and every once in a while we also have guests young at heart.
I hope this was helpful. If you would like to get in touch, you can also drop us a message on our homepage.
Thank you
Luis
Written February 14, 2019
Hi, how do you enter Panama, without proof of an outbound flight? I would like to reserve a boat trip, but I first need to be sure to be able to enter Panama from Costa Rica...
Written September 30, 2018
Hi Anja, we would love to have you with us soon!
Upon making your reservation we can provide you with a reservation confirmation showing that your trip will take you from Panama to Sapzurro in Colombia. Previous clients have used this and all of them could enter Panama, however we cannot give you a guarantee that it will be accepted.
Let me know if you have any further questions, I am happy to help!
Best, Luis
Written October 3, 2018
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