Destination Guides

Panama canal tours today with travel tricks

Panama Monkey Island tours in 2023 and tourism tricks? The San Blas Islands are a highlight in Panama! For most people, including myself, it is the reason we ended up in Panama City. For those who don’t know, the San Blas Islands are a group of 378 remote islands off the coast of Panama. The water here is turquoise, the beaches are pearly white, and the coconuts and abundance of sea life make it one of the most beautiful island paradises on earth – and a top attraction in Panama! Visiting the San Blas Islands is most commonly done on a 3 to 4-night adventure from Cartagena in Colombia to Panama City (or vise versa.) This is the best way to see the islands and if you have time I highly recommend it. Find additional details on Gamboa travel tours.

While there are many snorkeling options in the greater Cancun area, few are more unique or more breathtaking than snorkeling in Tulum in the waters of Yal Ku as well as the cenotes in the area. These beautiful, naturally-occurring bodies of water are found inland, tucked away from the currents of the sea. Unique in their geology and dazzling in their array of marine life, Yal Ku Lagoon and the cenotes near Tulum offer a truly one-of-a-kind swimming experience. On our Cenotes Tulum tour, you’ll get the opportunity to explore the popular cenotes near Tulum firsthand with state-of-the-art safety equipment and the expert guidance of our tour leaders. We’ll show you some of the most incredible and easily-navigable Cancun underwater caves while ensuring your safety at every step. We’ll also visit Yal Ku Lagoon, a large, shallow cenote famous for its marine inhabitants—including sea turtles, tropical fish, and more!

In this place the first Spanish settlement in the area was built in the early seventeenth century and was also where San Blas was founded. On the San Basilio Hill the most important Colonial Ruins on the Pacific Coast are found. The old fort of San Blas also known as La Contaduria (now semi-restored) and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary «La Marinera» dating from 1769, where you can find the famous bronze bells immortalized by Henry W. Longfellow in his posthumous poem «The Bells of San Blas.» These Colonial ruins are not restored but well worth visiting… The church is beautiful and gives us a clear idea of the Spanish community that settled in San Blas in those days.

There are three types of island lodging: stay in an authentic Guna island lodge over the sea or with sea views, on a yacht or at the nearby, upscale Lodge. To get the experience the close to nature and and truly away from all things modern, we recommend a stay at a Guna Island lodge. We recommend Yandup Lodge and Coral Lodge, three excellent all-inclusive San Blas destinations. Yandup Island Lodge is a private island rated by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the 50 best romantic getaways. If you want all the creature comforts and yet also be close to nature stay at the romantic getaway then check out Coral Lodge, on the coast near San Blas.

We had a wonderful boat trip on Lake Gatun. Saw so much; ships traveling the Panama Canal to lots of wildlife. Howler monkeys, iguanas, tamarins that came close for a little piece of banana. Sebastian, our guide was excellent. We then went for lunch on a houseboat followed by kayaking to a waterfall and swim. Picked up and dropped off at our hotel. Lake Gatun forms a major part of the Panama Canal, and on this guided boat tour from Panama City, you’ll be able to explore it. During the boat ride, spot different wildlife surrounding the lake, such as sloths, monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, birds, and more. After lunch, you’ll have the option to take a drip in a spring-fed natural pool, kayak in the lake, or go fishing. Discover more information on https://www.taotravel365.com/.

At Tao Travel 365 we strongly believe in eco-friendly travel and strive to support the environment as well as the local population where we conduct our tours. Read more on our philosophies in About Us. In line with our eco-friendly travel philosophy we only offer tours in exotic locations, away from mass-tourism and the immense carbon footprint. We are nature enthusiasts and enjoy breathing clean air, swimming in unpolluted waters and observing healthy wildlife in its original setting. We have greatly enjoyed all the adventures we are offering and are excited to share them with you.

If you truly want to get off the beaten track and have a taste of adventure, a trip to the San Blas Islands might be just what you’re looking for. Postcard perfect islands with palm trees and crystal-clear water gently lapping the white-sand beaches is what this area is all about. However, you need to be prepared to bring out your inner Robinson Crusoe, as the accommodations are generally on the rustic side. The only way to visit these idyllic islands is to book a package with the local indigenous Guna people, which includes transport to, from, and around the islands, accommodation, and three basic meals a day. This is a totally off-the-grid type of trip, so prepare accordingly.