John Concrane August 28, 2021

Top San Blas sailboats today? Entering the Panama Canal you will get to photograph huge Ocean Liners up close. The Canal opens up into the pristine Gatun Lake where we head to the Monkey Islands. Here we photograph three types of monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, a wide range of stunning birds and maybe an elusive manatee. You leave with the complimentary SD Card from the camera with your wonderful memories. This tour starts in the morning at Gamboa park. You will navigate in the Gatun Lake together with cruises, vessels, container ships or even submarines as they cross the Panama Canal As you navigate the Gatun Lake you will encounter different animals that live in the rainforest surrounding the lake like sloths, different kinds of monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, birds, etc. You will be taken to a beautiful spring fed water hole by canoe but for the adventurous, kayaks are available as well as fishing at the lake.

OK, it sounds obvious, but it’s actually one of the very best things to do in Tulum. Paradise Beach is one of the most spectacular beaches in the area. When the ocean is calm, it’s crystal clear and you can see right down to the bottom. When the sea is more active, it’s fun to jump and ride the waves. However, do pay attention to the beach flags, which signal water conditions: a black flag means do not swim; a red flag indicates dangerous conditions or swim with caution; a yellow flag means that although there is no immediate danger, you should still use caution while swimming; and a green flag means that it is completely safe to swim. Be aware that most remote beaches do not have flags. There’s nothing like ice cream on a sweltering tropical day. There’s almost always a line at Panna e Cioccolato downtown on Avenida Tulum because of its sensational gelato flavors. At Helados Buena Estrella on Highway 15, which leads to the beach, you’ll find fresh, mixed ice cream, while Meows Cream Heladeria on Jupiter Avenue offers vegan soft-serve with an oat or coconut base. For something more authentically Mexican, visit La Reyna de Michoacan, located on Alfa Sur street off the main drag, for paletas (popsicles) made from natural ingredients.

Getting to the San Blas Islands is a journey in itself. It’s essential to have 4×4 transportation, as the winding roads leading to the archipelago are full of intensely steep mountains and valleys. It takes approximately 2.5 hours from Panamá City to arrive at the port, where a water taxi awaits, lasting around 30 minutes, depending on your island destination. When it’s time to end your journey through the San Blas Islands, you’ll likely leave just in time to catch an ethereal sunset along the jungle road.

Having traveled around the world on their 45-foot sailboat “Kailani” and encountering various amazing destinations, cultures and adventures that impacted their perspectives on life, founders Michael and Paola resolved to create a platform that allowed other travelers from around the world to gain access to these experiences. It is our hope that we will connect travelers from different backgrounds, cultures and mindsets, allowing them to share their values and gaining a deeper respect and love for each other – as human beings and connected spirits. Find more information at taotravel365.tours. The Miraflores Locks is the Panama Canal visitor center and viewing deck. The center is home to a museum and the best seat in the house to watch huge ships navigate the canal. You can visit the Miraflores Locks on tour or on your own. The entrance to the museum and viewing deck is $15 USD for adults and $10 USD for children. I personally visited the locks on this full-day guided tour that visited lots of other attractions around the city. A ship leaves the narrow canals of the Panama Canal and enters the man made Gatun Lake It takes a while for a ship to even pass one gate. If you don’t just want to watch the ships go through the canal then you can also do this partial Panama Canal cruise or this full cruise through the canal. These tours have you literally one a boat going through the canal. The partial cruise just takes you through on section of the narrow canal whereas the full tour takes you through all 3 canals and the man-made lake from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.

Although it’s not on most travelers’ itineraries, Punta Chame is home to one of the nicest beaches in Panama and it’s also the best place for kiteboarding in the country. Set on a peninsula jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, this area is literally all about the beach. The endless stretch of beach here is wide, and the water is warm and shallow, giving kiters who are learning the distinct advantage of being able to stand up in the water to collect themselves as they work with their kite. The winds are side on shore and quite consistent from December to April, which is Panama’s dry season. Several kite schools offer lessons, including Machete Kite and Kitesurf Panama, located at opposite ends of the beach.

Our last stop, an island famous among sailors who know the best kept secrets in San Blas, gives you more time to swim in the beautiful calm waters. With two islands right next to each other and home to a big shipwreck, stranded on its outer reef, you can enjoy the pristine beaches and beautiful scenery. Between 3-4pm we will leave this island paradise and head back to the Port of Carti. Your driver will be waiting for you and safely drive you back to Panama City, dropping you off at your lodging by 7pm. San Blas is one of the last unspoiled and undeveloped places in the world and we hope you will get to experience the beauty of the islands and the innocence of the unique Kuna culture. For our guests who only have one day to travel to the “Guna Yala” nation, the San Blas Day tour is the best option and will surely make you want to come back again. Few locations include A bakery with this name will make you think of one thing: banana bread. And you will not be wrong because of Famer Juan Bananas been doing it since the late seventies when he came to this country under the name of Juan Garcia. Besides that you can delight in your Bread hopefully it will touch fresh from the oven, Juan Bananas is an excellent tour guide. Ask advice!