Are you planning a trip to Panama and can’t choose between Bocas del Toro and San Blas?
It’s such a difficult choice! I really couldn’t choose, so I visited both. Both archipelagos are true paradises, but apart from that, they are very different.
In this blog, I will describe both islands, so you can choose more easily!
Location and accessibility
Bocas del Toro
The archipelago of Bocas del Toro is located on the Caribbean side of Panama. It lies west of Panama City, towards Costa Rica.
There are several ways to travel from Panama City to Bocas del Toro. The plane is the fastest option. You pay around €95 for this (including checked baggage) and the flight takes about an hour. Too expensive? It’s cheaper to take the night bus and ferry. This trip takes about 12 hours and will cost you about €32.
Boquete is also on most people’s Panama travel itinerary. Bocas del Toro is ‘nearby’ here. In just 4 hours, you can travel from Boquete to Bocas del Toro by shuttle and boat, or vice versa.
Travelling to or from Costa Rica? You can easily travel to Bocas del Toro via Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
You don’t need a tour or guidance, you can manage your trip to Bocas del Toro just fine by yourself.
San Blas
San Blas, like Bocas del Toro, lies in the Caribbean Sea. It lies east of Panama City, towards Colombia. San Blas belongs to an autonomous region in Panama, run by the indigenous Guna people.
The best way to reach the archipelago is via Panama City.
The fastest way to travel to San Blas is by helicopter. But then you’ll also need a serious budget, think starting prices of €1,000 per person.
A 4×4 jeep is the usual way to travel to San Blas. That 4×4 is recommended because of the state of the road, although at the time of writing they are improving it. You then take a boat to the islet where you sleep. This trip takes about 3-4 hours in total. If you take an organised tour, 99% of the time you travel by jeep. In principle, you can take a day tour, but we recommend a longer stay, but more on that later.
Travelling to or from Colombia? If so, you can also do so via San Blas. It is not recommended to cross the border via ‘ground’, as you will have to go through the (dangerous and infamous) Darien forest. With a multi-day San Blas sailing trip, you will make a nice crossing.
While not completely impossible, we advise against going to San Blas on your own. In any case, it is rarely cheaper. Normally we are more of the self-arranging kind, but in this case it is better to take an organised tour, which includes transport, accommodation, activities and meals.
Accommodation
Bocas del Toro
Bocas has every kind of accommodation you could wish for.
Want a nice treehouse-style ecolodge, a hobbit house in the jungle, a flat over the water, or, a bed in a dormitory? On Bocas del Toro, everything is possible.
For €10 a night or €1,000 a night, you can make it as crazy as you like here.
San Blas
On San Blas, you often have a choice of a few accommodations per island. For example, we could choose from a bungalow on the water, on the beach, and a private / shared room.
Pretty much all accommodation on San Blas is made of wood and/or thatch, and very basic. A bed with an old and thin mattress, a thin sheet and pillow, and sometimes a table and chair. In most cases, there is a shared toilet and a shower with salt water.
The accommodations are part of your organised tour to San Blas and are comparatively quite expensive. On San Blas, it’s really about the experience, and the accommodation is quite primitive. Although very basic, we found everything very clean.
Nature and landscape
Bocas del Toro
On Bocas del Toro, you will find beautiful white and yellow beaches, but also huge tracts of rainforest with rich wildlife. Think different species of monkeys, sloths, poison frogs, toucans and we even spotted a caiman.
There are beaches where you can swim and spot starfish, but also endless beaches where you can surf well.
Bocas del Toro consists of several larger islands, some are barely cultivated and mostly unspoiled nature.
Looking for an uninhabited bounty island? Take a day tour to Isla Zapatilla.
San Blas
The San Blas islands are also known as the perfect bounty islands, surrounded by turquoise waters. They are full of palm trees and are often compared to the Philippines.
San Blas consists of about 365 small bounty islands, 50 are inhabited.
Because you are not allowed to dive on the San Blas islands, the coral here is still well intact.
Culture
Bocas del Toro
You don’t go to Bocas del Toro to soak up culture. You come here for the atmosphere, the beaches, the rainforest, and wildlife. Quite a few Americans live here, making it even feel somewhat Western.
So there’s no culture at all? There is! Take a water taxi to the island of Bastimentos. In the village of Old Bank you will find an Afro-Caribbean community, the Guari-Guari. They have their own language and the village looks cheerful and colourful. They are super-friendly who speak very good Spanish and English in addition to their own language. You must also try the local cuisine on Bastimentos!
San Blas
San Blas is actually called Guna Yala, which means ‘Guna’ or Kuna area. The Kunas are one of the largest indigenous peoples still living in Panama. And after their uprising in 1925, they were assigned their own territory, where they also enforced their own laws.
The women, in particular, are very recognisable with their traditional costumes, nose rings, and body markings. They have their own language, but most do speak Spanish and a few words of English.
Nice to know: coconuts are a currency on San Blas. So don’t just pick up a coconut!
While this certainly won’t be the best cultural experience of your life, it is very special to sleep here.
Activities and nightlife
Bocas del Toro
There is a lot to do on Bocas del Toro. Think surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, island hopping, diving, quad biking, jungle hiking, yoga, …. There are numerous restaurants, beach bars, and entertainment venues. You’ll also find supermarkets in Bocas Town and small shops in other places.
If you want the hustle and bustle, Bocas Town is the place to be, but outside this small town, there are beautiful and nice places where you can completely unwind. A good restaurant or trendy cocktail bar is never far away.
You won’t get bored on Bocas del Toro, whether you come for the peace or to party into the early hours every night.
San Blas
San Blas is the opposite. You won’t find any shops, restaurants or nightlife here. On San Blas, you come for the relaxation.
You eat what’s on the plate with the local family of the island where you are staying. Usually, you can choose between fish, chicken or vegetables with rice. With some luck, you can also buy beer, rum, soft drinks, or cocktails from the family.
Depending on the island where you stay, you can kayak, lie in a hammock, or play beach volleyball. Every day, an excursion is organised that takes you to another islet, a sunken ship or other beautiful places where you can snorkel.
Electricity on the island is limited, by the way.
Budget
Bocas del Toro
On Bocas del Toro, you have complete control over your budget. For both activities, accommodation, and restaurants, you have a wide choice between cheap and expensive options.
The only thing that is roughly fixed in terms of price is (public) transport. But even these costs are quite low.
There are several ATMs in Bocas Town and in many places (hotels, restaurants, shops, …) you can pay by card. In (water) taxis, though, you pay cash.
San Blas
San Blas is expensive, which is why it is often skipped. If you look at the price and the luxury you get for it, it is pricey.
You go to San Blas for the experience. To spend a few days on a bounty island run by an indigenous family. Back to the basics in paradise.
If San Blas were cheaper, the place would be packed with tourists. Just because it is so expensive, it attracts a certain type of traveller. People who are looking for a unique travel experience, and don’t need luxury to enjoy themselves.
Only cash is accepted. There are no ATMs, so bring enough cash from Panama City.
OtherÂ
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro has a microclimate, which means it rains a bit more often than in the rest of Panama. This may put you off, but often it’s only about one strong shower a day.
Thanks to all the rain, it is also very green on Bocas del Toro. And that immediately makes the islands especially beautiful. You can walk for hours through the rainforest here and spot monkeys, sloths, and other wild life.
San Blas
The indigenous Guna tribe that rule the islands have their own laws. For example, you are not allowed to use drones there or dive.
Want drone permission? Then you need permission not only from the family that owns the island, but also from a kind of council where each family has someone sitting. The latter is barely accessible to tourists. We tried but were still not allowed to take off last minute.
By the way, the Guna are not too keen on photos either. Always ask permission before taking a photo.
Conclusion: Bocas del Toro versus San Blas
Choose San Blas if you are looking for a special travel experience and don’t mind living primitively for a few days. Go for a 2 or 3-night stay. We found this a nice experience at the end of the trip (check our itinerary!).
If you have longer than 3 nights, are on a tight budget, or can’t live without some luxury, opt for Bocas del Toro. If you would still like a bounty island during your trip, take a day excursion from Bocas Town to Isla Zapatilla.
But if you can, have the time and the budget, visit them both! I could live on Bocas del Toro, while I never wanted to miss the San Blas experience either. Travel choices are sooooo hard!
Hopefully, you got something out of this! I’m already looking forward to hearing about your choice, will you let me know what it turned out to be in the comments below?
