Panamanian Tourist Board CATA©

Panama Portobelo and San Blas Islands

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Tailor-made holidays

Flexible, custom-made holidays to Latin America created to match your exact requirements: our tailor-made itineraries are as unique as the clients for whom they are designed.

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Panamanian Tourist Board CATA©

When To Go

Situated within the tropics, San Blas has a balmy climate with high temperatures (25-30°C) all year round. Although there is plenty of sun, the archipelago receives some rainfall throughout the year; the drier months tend to be Dec-Apr. The region lies outside the main hurricane belt.

For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.

Language

The Kuna Yala language (dulegaya); Spanish.

Getting Local Currency

Balboa. The national currency is at parity with the US dollar, and only US banknotes are used. (There are some local coins equivalent to US cents). You are best advised to acquire dollar bills before travelling to the province. Panamanians are sometimes reluctant to accept US dollar notes of higher denominations.

Time Difference

GMT -5 hrs.

Combines With

A few days discovering Panama’s Spanish colonial history in the capital; exploring the rainforest of Panama’s natural landscapes at Gamboa.

Getting There

It’s a 30-60min flight from Panama City to San Blas.

Key Events

Anniversary of the Tula Revolution, Playa Chico, Tupile, Alligandi and Ustupu; Feb. Kuna dancing, feasts and speeches.
There are sporadic festivals on other individual islands throughout the year

If you still have questions, please contact us and one of our Travel Experts will be happy to help.

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  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

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    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

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    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

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    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

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    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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