San Blas islands sailing in 2023 and travel recommendations? When I told you about Casco Viejo, I said this was the old part of the city. Although true, it’s not the oldest part. Panama Viejo is the oldest part of Panama City and today it’s an archaeological site that’s a popular place to visit in Panama City. Panama Viejo was actually the first city built on the pacific coast of the Americas and was an important trade route. Because of this, the city was often attacked by pirates. Unfortunately, pirates completely destroyed the city in 1671, and the ruins of the city’s former self only remain. These days, the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the perfect place to visit to learn about the city’s history and importance during that time. The site has interpretive signs in both English and Spanish and only takes an hour or so to explore. This is a must-do activity for history buffs or those fascinated with pirates! Read even more details on Beach Horseback Riding.
Anyone who visits this area of Mexico should visit the unique ruins of Tulum, perched over the Caribbean Sea – no ruins can boast such an incredible view! But if you’re staying in Tulum, you really have no excuses. I like this 3-in-1 Discovery Combo Tour because you get to explore coral reefs, ancient history, and nature all in one day. The tour starts with a guided tour of the Tulum Ruins; after that, you’ll go on a boat tour to the coral reef in the Caribbean Sea where you’ll get the chance to snorkel. The Tulum and cenote tour ends with a swim at Cenote Caracol, a beautiful cave cenote.
Although you may not believe, bird watchers come to San Blas from many parts of the world, given its wide variety of birds of various kinds: Mountain, Middle Mountain, Lagoon, Sea and Estero. San Blas is considered one of the most important refuges in the Western Hemisphere. In January we celebrate the International Festival of Migratory Birds that offers several events for attendees, among them bird watching tours, children’s meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and cultural events, among others.
The San Blas trip is possible all year round. But you need to know one important thing: It’s windy season from December to March. This means there will be high waves, not necessarily around San Blas since it’s sheltered by a reef, but the journey over open seas can get rough (read more about the routes below). If you get seasick easily the sailing trip might not be for you. If you are adventurous and like the idea of sailing, then yes it’s for you!
Explore rowing on a kayak the beautiful Chagres River before it merges at the Gatun lake where the huge vessels and boats transit from Ocean to Ocean. The Chagres river is the main tributary of water of the Canal. A quite waterway, enjoying the sound of the wild life of this dense tropical forest. You might get the opportunity to see a sloth in a tree, a colorful bird peacefully living in the jungle or at the top the water plants, caimans, turtles among many others species of the local fauna. After a short hike to the small port used by the Embera indigenous at Gamboa, the tour last about 1 hour and 20 minutes (in the kayak) always accompanied by our bilingual guide and probably also by an Embera guide from the area who knows the place better than anyone. See additional details at TaoTravel365.
Tao Travel 365 aims to provide its travelers with a “one-stop-shop” for their next great travel adventure. From thoughtfully selected tours and itineraries, to expert travel advice from experts available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. At Tao Travel 365 we believe in eco-friendly travel preserving the beauties of nature and forming meaningful human relationships with the locals, while adhering to our Tao philosophies that focus on being in balance with yourself and with nature. Every adventure we offer to our customers has been handpicked and personally experienced by Michael and Paola, who value high quality experiences, great prices and excellent customer service.
One of the very few places in Panama where you can watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, the Sunset Coast is an undiscovered area with small towns, wide open beaches, and a small number of lodges where you can get away from the tourist scene. This is rural Panama, home to rolling hills, small villages, family farms, and huge beaches lined by palms and forest. Foreign tourists are not plentiful the way they are in other areas of the country, and many of the visitors are Panamanian. The road down to the Sunset Coast from the Pan-American Highway is twisty and has a few potholes to dodge, but every mile takes you further off the beaten track. This area is also popular with surfers. The wide-open beaches take the brunt of the Pacific Ocean rollers, and it’s rare that you’ll need to share a wave. If you want a beach all to yourself, this is the place to come.