Cost
San Blas 5-Star private catamaran charter
$1850 per day-night for the ZENITH 48' Catamaran (US Flag, and high safety standards), crew, boat relocation, fuel, anchorage fees, etc…
plus....
$195 per adult per day-night which covers food and beverages, sports and entertainment equipment, all island per-person fees, air conditioning as requested, hotel-type expendables, and all of the 5-Star ammenities described.
Children age 12 years and under are half of the adult price ($97), and children age 3 years and under sleeping with parents sail free ($0).
Normally, charters range from 3 to 7 day-nights, and can be booked year-round. In high season, from December 15th till December 28 these prices are increased 10% with a 5 day-night minimum charter, and from December 29th to January 12th the prices are increased 20% with a 7 day-night minimum.
For guests arriving by air or road + lancha (fast water taxi), usual embarkation time is approximately 9 am, with 8 am disembarkation on the last day. Similar arrival and departure times apply to air transport, however, the travel time by air is much shorter than by road, and without need for water taxi. Departure can be extended to 2 - 3 pm on the final day for 1/2 of the one day-night cost.
Below are the 3 ways to reach San Blas, and the approximate travel time and cost of each.
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TRANSPORTATION TO SAN BLAS
There are 3 options
1. Fly to San Blas
This is the nicest and fastest way to reach San Blas, and allows some flexibility on the time of day you wish to travel to San Blas, and to return. You will arrive at the Corazon airstrip in San Blas by private air charter, and be met by the ZENITH crew. The ZENITH will be anchored nearby. The cost to fly is significantly higher than travel by road or by sail, however, guests that have travelled the different ways say that the extra cost was worth it! By air you will also view San Blas from above. We can make your flight arrangements as part of a total package, or you can arrange directly with the charter provider, Sky Ride. There are no commercial flights. Here are the options and one-way costs provided by Sky Ride Group, S.A., as of 2022. The weights shown include passengers and baggage, therefore, the baggage weight should be ascertained in order to determine the actual number of passengers that may be seated:
Kodiak: $1950, deluxe plane, 9 seats, 1900 pounds maximum for persons + baggage. Normally 8 persons or less.
Islander: $1605, standard plane, 9 seats, 1400 pounds maximum for persons + baggage. Normally 8 persons or less.
C206: $900, standard plane, 5 seats, 850 pounds maximum for persons + baggage. Normally 4 persons or less.
Prices shown include all taxes. The cost of round-trip airfare is twice the above.
The costs shown above are from the Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" Domestic Airport in Panama City (PAC), close to the popular old town area “Casco Viejo”.
Alternatively, private charter flights to San Blas may originate from the Tocumen International Airport (PTY), for fast transfer from incoming International arrival flights, for a small extra charge. Similarly, private charter flights from San Blas to Panama City may land at the Tocumen International Airport, for fast transfer to an outbound International flight, for a small extra charge. For international guests that are visiting Panama, this will often save the cost of hotel rooms and meals in Panama City. When visiting any other location in Panama that is served by a domestic airport, private charter flights to-from San Blas can be organized.
2. By Road to San Blas
Travel by road is available again, after a long period of closure by the Guna Yala Congresso. You will need a designated coordinator and specific instructions to use the road, full information below:
There is road over the mountains, from the Pacific side of Panama to San Blas on the Caribbean side. Although paved, it is often in disrepair, and always curvy, with steep ups and downs. The ride takes about 2 ½ - 3 hours from Panama City, over the mountainous isthmus of Panama, and ends at the San Blas port of Carti. A 4x4 vehicle is required for use of this road, and “ride share” 4x4 services will pick you up anywhere in Panama City for about $60 per person round trip, paid directly to the vehicle driver. Pickup at your address is between 5 am and 6 am, so you must be ready early. You may wish to bring something to eat and drink, although most drivers may stop in a service area where you may purchase food and coffee (usually on a long line).
At the port of Carti, there are 3 boat terminals. You go to the designated terminal, and board a specific water taxi that will take you to the ZENITH catamaran, where ZENITH catamaran will await you at anchor within the San Blas islands. The water taxi cost may vary a little, depending on total the number of passengers going in the same direction, but averages $40 per person, round trip.
Along the road to San Blas, before you reach Carti, there is a San Blas entry checkpoint where you will pay a fee of $20 per person with passport, or $5 for Panamanians and foreign residents of Panama holding a resident card (Cedula). A representative of the Guna Yala Congresso will provide you a receipt, which you should retain in case asked once within San Blas. At this checkpoint, the Congresso representative will ask your destination. You must name a specific destination island, not ZENITH, and not “a sailboat”. ZENITH pre-arranges an association with this destination island, which ensures that the Guna islands receive a financial benefit from ZENITH for sponsoring your travel. Some sailboats attempt to violate this island requirement, therefore, it is this island as the destination that must be informed whenever you are questioned! Don’t forget your passport or Panamanian Cedula, which is required to enter San Blas!
In total, bring about $150 in cash per person for the round trip 4x4 ride, entry fee, and water taxi.
It important that your arrangements for the 4x4 and the water taxi are coordinated so that you and the 4x4 driver knows the destination island and can provide this information at the Guna checkpoint. The 4x4 driver also needs to take you to the correct terminal at Carti, and place you on the correct water taxi. ZENITH will therefore designate a coordinator for your travel, and provide you the coordinator’s phone number and email address in case of any questions. There is no extra charge to you for this coordination.
3. Sail to San Blas
This option is available from May through November, when the wind and sea in the open Caribbean Sea are generally calm. Sailing from Puerto Lindo to San Blas then becomes a good option for people who do not suffer from motion sickness. During the windy season, generally December through April, the open Caribbean is usually rougher than the reef-protected waters of San Blas, therefore sailing to San Blas is not offered to guests at that time.
When sailing to San Blas, you will start from the modern Linton Bay Marina at Puerto Lindo. The sailing time is about 7 hours each way, along Panama’s Caribbean coast. ZENITH charges $150 per person round trip (children age 12 and under $75, age 3 and under free) to cover the cost of the extra meals and drinks. This will add 1 day to the total time required, but ZENITH does not charge a charter day for that extra day! The charter time charged is for time at San Blas.
Generally, ZENITH sails over on the first morning, starting at daybreak, and arrives at San Blas around noon. ZENITH sails back on the last day starting at noon. So the chargeable charter time is from the noon at arrival San Blas, until noon on the day of departure from San Blas. Arrangements may be made to stay the night before sailing aboard ZENITH in the marina, with dinner served, for a small extra charge. Or arrangements may be made to stay aboard in the marina on the night of return, with breakfast in the morning before leaving the marina. Other departure and return times may be arranged as you may prefer. The only requirement is that sailing over and back is during daylight hours.
To join the ZENITH, you can drive from Panama City to Puerto Lindo by ordinary car, and park securely at the Linton Bay Marina. ZENITH pays the parking charge. The driving time from Panama City is about 2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. Puerto Lindo is 20 minutes past the famous village of Portobelo, in the event you want to plan a stop there when travelling to the ZENITH, or when returning to Panama City.
NOT IN PANAMA LONG ENOUGH TO VISIT SAN BLAS ?
From May through November, in addition to charters at San Blas, 1 - 3 day charters are offered within Panama’s Costa Arriba, originating from the Linton Bay Marina at Puerto Lindo. Daysails are also available for groups of up to 16 persons. Costa Arriba is ideal for groups with limited time, and readily accessible by normal auto from Panama City. Stops may include Isla Grande, Portobelo Harbor, Isla Mamay, Playa Blanca, Venas Azules, and the Lovers Channel.