365 islands
Sandbanks, islands you can walk around in four minutes, and mangrove channels along the mainland. Swim from Shakira to the islands and enjoy nature's beauty in this remote paradise.
About Guna Yala
An archipelago that still belongs to its people
Guna Yala — most travellers know it as San Blas — stretches along Panama's Caribbean coast: roughly 365 islands, reef-fringed and mostly uninhabited, governed by the Guna themselves.
The Guna
An autonomous region, not a resort coast
The Guna won self-rule in 1925 and have kept it since. They decide who visits, where boats may anchor and how the reefs are used. There are no hotels stacked along the beaches and no jet skis — the quiet is deliberate.
Communities live on a small number of the islands, in cane and palm houses, fishing and tending mainland plots. Women are known for molas, layered appliqué panels sewn by hand and worn as part of everyday dress.
We visit communities and their islands only when we are welcome, buy what we can locally, and ask guests to always request permission before photographing anyone.
Above and below the water
Warm, shallow, clear and full of life
Reefs full of life
Coral gardens in a few metres of water — rays, starfish, turtles and colorful fish that make you want to stay in the water all day. Image taken by one of our guests while snorkeling.
Tropical weather year round
Typically the weather in Guna Yala is tropical and steady, with lots of sun and a nice breeze from December to April (high season). Outside the high season the weather is tropical, with more chances of rain and (short) storms. Besides strong sun and warm tempratures, weather conditions usually don't reach extremes here.
Enjoy nature's beauty from Shakira
Sailing is the only way to reach the outer cays and stay overnight where day boats cannot. If you are looking for a unique experience in a natural place, surrounded by the water, Guna Yala is your destination.
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