Is it Safe to Sail in the San Blas Islands? The San Blas Islands is the safest and most unique year round cruising grounds for all kinds of travelers in the world. Unlike other parts of the Caribbean, the archipelago of Guna Yala is a hazard free region thanks to the indigenous communities and their close watch on all situations. If you have traveled or sailed the Caribbean for sure you have at least had an encounter with some of the pushy locals that often show up next to the boat demanding some sort of collaboration in one way or the other. Merchandise and tours of dubious nature at unreasonable prices are offered from their colorful boats; pricey lobster and other goods are also pushed with insistence. Cordially denying any of the offers might work at times but the reality is that most of the times it just doesn’t work and if the situation is not handled correctly it quickly escalate into and uncomfortable situation. Touristic sail grounds all over the Caribbean and the rest of the world for that matter come together with that sense of uneasiness not found in parts of the world where tourism is limited and no big yacht charter agencies are found like the San Blas Islands. Throughout the years, locals indigenous have had the chance to continue developing their own approach to what a conscious and respectful with the ecosystem life should be. Having sailed the San Blas islands for years we can say that the only reason San Blas is still for the most part intact and the best Caribbean sailing destination is due to the fact that the land, the islands, cannot be sold to foreigners or any outsider not part and the indigenous community. With self determination like in the San Blas autonomous region comes the agility in any process needed to maintain order in any way and that includes security. Closed indigenous communities are excellent when it comes to dealing with any security issues. In case of any event or alert such as the approach of a local squall or culopollo-chokosana, response by not only the Guna authorities but also from all chiefs or sailahs and the whole boating community is swift. A catamaran cruise in the San Blas islands is not only completely safe but also a mind enriching experience that will stay with you for years to come.

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Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid on a Private Yacht Charter in San Blas Being prepared for such an out of this world sailing trip is vital. Don’t think San Blas is anywhere similar to the British Virgin Islands or Croatia, it’s much better! We’ve said it before: embarking on an all-inclusive catamaran trip in the San Blas islands is a unique experience in a unique part of the world. Peculiarities of the topography with the more than 365 islands and the interesting and perfectly preserved Guna indigenous culture, make for an inviting scenario not only sailors but for all kinds of travelers, including families with children, friends and couples. Best is to be prepared. follow thee simple recommendations as possible. Avoid these 10 typical mistakes when coming to San Blas: Try to use the air transfer instead of the road. You will cut down your transfers from +4 hours to 40 minutes and your starting point will be the runway deep down in the best part of the San Blas islands Cultural shock ahead: leave your prejudices aside, there are other ways to approach life and living the "here and now" in symbiosis with the ecosystem like in Guna Yala is perfectly fine Do not rush: relax and watch the magic unfold Try not to connect from your homeland directly to San Blas and be careful with your plane ticket times in and out ot San Blas. It is advisable to book your planes in and out of Panama so that you can have a night rest in Panama City before your departure to San Blas, likewise upon return from San Blas, try to book a night in Panama City if possible. Having a decent buffer time in between transfers will give you peace of mind. Bring appropriate clothes for Tropical weather. Avoid thick fabrics. Bring along a nice cap and sunglasses, a rash guard and flip flops. Do not overpack, you will regret it Do not drink too much onboard, do not think this is Ibiza and be focused on what is in front of you You think you can use your credit card... not here. Bring some cash along to get yourself some of the amazing mola handcrafts Rent a catamaran that has all the water toys you need, air conditioning if possible and is big and stable enough to satisfy your needs. Choose only professional crew with 5 star. You do not need a “fake nice crew” you need a professional, consistent, open to suggestions crew that will go that extra mile in order to show you the best islands and experiences in San Blas but also is respectuous of your privacy and know when and how to act and what to propose. Lookout for Daniel, Paloma and Jose: our awarded crew on the Salina 48 catamaran "Mambo Diablo". Clients reviews on this crew are astonishing Book your catamaran cruise in San Blas with a specialist not only in San Blas but also in catamarans. Booking your sailing trip with a company that has no solid reputation, takes along regular charter clients as well as backpackers, does not show their conditions in their FAQ section or is not responsive enough will definitely put not only your money but also your dream plan on the verge of disaster. We´ve said it. Now you can be as prepared as one can be. Catamaran Cruise in the San Blas Islands with Catamaran Adventures San Blas.

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Yes there is, but not everywhere. Dutch Cays and BBQ islands or the Pool for example do not have internet nor cellular signal or the quality of the service is extremely poor. Check our internet coverage map and be prepared for your next catamaran charter in the San Blas islands. Internet and cellular coverage in the San Blas islands does not include all parts of the Guna Yala region There are very few antenas and the ones there are, do not reach the whole archipelago . When booking your next San Blas islands sailing charter and if you require internet onboard for work purposes, or simply for a way of being in touch with the "real world", please let us know in advance and we will adapt our itinerary to meet your connectivity demand. Below is a signal coverage map to know which islands in San Blas have internet available Our catamaran sailing charters in the San Blas islands have internet which is mostly provided by our captains hotspot and it can be used by our guests but limitations in data transfer imposed by local operators limit substantially the amount of data our hotspots can deliver. The absolute best for being connected to the internet is to buy a Tigo sim card and top it up with an internet plan once in Panama. it's extremely cheap and you will have full internet for just a few $. You can buy sim cards very easily in any conveniente shop in the streets of Panama City. Do not buy sim cards at the airport arrival, they inflate the price there. You also have roaming in San Blas if your phone is configured for that matter. Do check with your home operator for roaming tariffs AT&T Roaming plans for Central America including Panama No internet in Dutch Cays or Cayos Holandeses in San Blas, but who cares.....!!!! Catamaran Adventures San Blas.

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