There are two departure points from Panama:

From Puerto Lindo

Puerto Lindo is a small seaside town on the Caribbean coast of Panama. We can organize a shuttle van for you (2 hours, 25 USD per person). The shuttle will pick you up from your hostel in Panama City and drop you at the port.

Some boats prefer doing daytime navigation to San Blas while others prefer to sail that night. You will spend the first 3 days in the San Blas Islands and end with the open-sea crossing to Cartagena. You will arrive in Cartagena on the sixth day, subject to sea, wind, and current conditions. 

From Porvenir

El Porvenir is an island in San Blas.  As there is only one road to San Blas and the jeeps that drive it are required to have a special license, we will organize your transport from your hostel in Panama City to the boat. It consists of a jeep and a speedboat.  The journey takes around 4 hours, costs about $60 usd per person, and is not included in the price of the trip.

Boats departing from El Porvenir begin their trip on the morning of the first day and end in Cartagena on the fifth or sixth day depending on the sea conditions.

The windy season runs from mid-December to April. During this time, strong winds are common, and the sea is often rough, particularly for trips departing from Panama as the boats travel against the wind and waves. In such conditions, boats may change their routes and navigate closer to the coast. If the weather gets particularly severe, the captains may opt to use the engine to motor sail. We do not accept children under the age of 15 during this time.

In other seasons, there may not be enough wind, and the boats may rely on the motor instead. While the captains prefer sailing, safety, and comfort are our top priorities for both the passengers and the boat.

We want you to have the best possible experience during your trip to San Blas! It is important to keep in mind that traveling by sailboat requires a certain level of flexibility.

We recommend that you give yourself 48 hours of wiggle room between arrival and any ongoing flights. The ocean and wind are unpredictable, and captains may need to change the departure date due to bad weather or mechanical issues. Please be prepared for unexpected changes and keep an open mind.

Our trips are not luxury or guided tours. Our captain’s top priority is to ensure your safety during the trip. The crew will provide you with the necessary resources to fully enjoy your experience.

If you are concerned about a tight connecting flight or have any other concerns, we will do our best to work with you. Please disclose to us if you have any physical limitations due to age, weight, or health. Also please let us know about any allergies you have.

Cost of the trip

The price of the trip is set by the captains of each boat and is the same no matter where you book. Prices typically range between $695 and $780 USD per person depending on the boat as well as cabin preference. Prices may also vary depending on the season, so please contact us for exact pricing information.

Finalize Reservation

If you would like to confirm a reservation, please email us a readable photo of all passenger’s passports. We will then send you a link for the $60 USD per person deposit which will secure your booking. The remainder of the payment will be paid in cash to the captain when you get to the boat. Please note that your spots cannot be saved until you have sent readable copies of all passenger’s passports and paid the $60 USD per person deposit. 

We handle all bookings via email and are also available to chat via WhatsApp!

The deposit is nonrefundable. If you need to cancel your reservation, we can transfer the deposit to a future reservation (within 1 year of the original departure date), but the cancellation needs to be made at least two weeks before the departure date. If you need to change your reservation date, you can do so once without penalty, it must be at least two weeks before your original departure date. If it is within 2 weeks of the departure date or you have already changed your departure once, you will need to pay a new deposit. Deposits can not be transferred between passengers.

If you cancel within 72 hours of the departure date, you will be required to pay 50% of the total cost of the trip. If you cancel within 24 hours of the trip you will be required to pay 100% the price of the trip.

Our boats typically depart and arrive on time, but in the unlikely event of a delay due to bad weather, mechanical issues, crew sickness, immigration, or other unforeseeable events, we will inform you as soon as possible. If your trip is delayed, it should not be longer than one or two days. There is no compensation for delays of 24 hours or less. However, if the delay is more than 24 hours, you may cancel your reservation and receive a refund of the deposit paid.

In the event of civil disobedience, actions by government employees, or acts of God, deposits cannot be refunded but may be transferred to future bookings within one year of the original departure date.

We are a booking agency, the boats are individually owned and operated. The captains have the right to refuse passage or make changes at their discretion to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers. Once you have boarded the boat, the captain assumes full responsibility and authority for the quality of service provided for the duration of the trip.

Please be aware that we are not responsible for any unforeseen events such as weather conditions, actions by government employees, civil disobedience, acts of God, or any other random events that may occur. We make every effort to work around or avoid these events and will keep you informed of any changes that may affect your trip.

The crew, owner, and Blue Sailing, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to personal items or personal injury. All passengers are responsible for having travel insurance before embarking on the trip.

Adventure travel inherently involves risk, and by booking and paying for your trip, you acknowledge and accept these risks. Therefore, Blue Sailing and its affiliates will not be held liable for any accidents, injuries, or losses that may occur during your trip.

All of your luggage will be on the boat, but we recommend packing a smaller bag with day to day items that you will need during the trip. The smaller bag will stay with you while your larger luggage will be stowed in another cabin or storage area on the boat until you reach your final destination. This is a matter of safety as well as space consideration.

Here is a list of items we suggest you pack in your small bag:

Please note that you will not need shoes for this excursion, as you will be living barefoot most of the time. And, let’s disconnect from the internet and enjoy the adventure.

Seasickness can occur during the navigation portion of the trip. Although not all passengers are affected by this, we do recommend that you purchase sea sickness tablets regardless and start taking them before departing for the open sea crossing. Dramamine and Mareol are common brands and can be bought over the counter at most pharmacies. Ginger is a natural remedy for motion sickness and can be taken as an alternative to tablets.

Please ensure that you have all the necessary cash ready before departure. We recommend leaving ample time to withdraw cash, as you may encounter a daily limit on the amount you can withdraw, depending on your bank and the ATM.