Panama
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Aerial view of a palm-covered island surrounded by turquoise and deep blue water.

Panama · Gunayala (San Blas Islands)

Getting there, checkpoints and fees

You arrive by the mountain road to Cartí and continue by boat. Bring your original passport and cash. Schedules are set by the General Congress.

5 places1 closed or restricted, flagged

  1. 1

    AdventureOpen

    El Llano–Gardi road and Nusagandi entry checkpoint

    Between El Llano (Chepo district, Panamá province) and the Cartí coast, across the San Blas range.30.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The only road into the comarca: about 40 km of mountain road from the Pan-American Highway at El Llano to the Cartí ports. At the Nusagandi checkpoint, run by the Guna General Congress, documents are checked and the entry fee is paid.

    Source: Información útil – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo, Congreso General Guna · 2018 · +8

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Current official amount: not confirmed in the sources reviewed at the time of review; the General Congress states (2018) that each visitor pays a fee at Nusagandi for the Narganá Protected Area. Private sources disagree. The operator Guna Yala Panama Travel, which describes itself as 100% Guna-owned, cites US$20 per person for foreigners over 10 at the checkpoint plus US$2 port use per person over 10, in cash (article updated September 2025), but its Perro Chico package lists an entry fee of US$22 for foreigners and US$7 for nationals and residents (checked October 2026). San Blas Dreams (July 2025) gives US$23 for foreigners and US$8 for Panamanians, entry and port combined; PlanPTY (updated September 2026), about US$22 and US$7 for entry; and Nomad Sailors (updated September 2026), US$20–22 and US$5 for entry plus US$2–5 for the port.
    Hours
    Regular hours since 11 May 2026: the checkpoint opens at 7:00 a.m. for entry and until 4:00 p.m. for exit. From 30 November 2025 to 10 May 2026, entry was moved up to 6:00 a.m. for the high season (Guna General Congress, communiqué no. 8, 2026).
    Booking
    Only 4x4 vehicles certified by the ATTT and the General Congress may use the road (Congress, 2018). In May 2026 there were 131 tourist vehicles accredited by the Land Transport Secretariat. Bring your original passport with the Panama entry stamp; copies are not accepted.
    Time needed
    Panama City to Cartí takes about 2.5 hours by 4x4 (Visit Panamá); operators give 2.5–3 hours.

    Tip: The road has many bends. In 2026 the Congress reported crashes at km 28 and km 34 and fallen trees after heavy rain. Carry cash in small bills: there are no ATMs at the checkpoint, the ports or on the islands.

    Sources: Información útil – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo, Congreso General Guna · Boletín Gigga – Congreso General de Gunayala (comunicado n.º 8, 10 may. 2026) · Vehículos de servicio turístico – Secretaría de Transporte Terrestre · ¿Necesito pasaporte para San Blas? – Guna Yala Panama Travel · Guía completa de San Blas (Guna Yala) – PlanPTY · Gunayala – Visit Panamá · Perro Chico Island – Guna Yala Panama Travel · San Blas from Panama City: travel guide by 4x4 and boat – San Blas Dreams · How much cash to bring to San Blas – Nomad Sailors (operador)

  2. 2

    NatureOpen

    Narganá Wilderness Area

    Mainland part of the comarca, between the Nusagandi checkpoint and the coast.20.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Protected forest of about 954 km², created in 1994, running from the coast to the San Blas range divide. It is run by the Guna people, with the Ministry of Environment as administrator. The road to Cartí crosses it.

    Source: Narganá Wilderness Area – Wikipedia · 2025 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    According to the General Congress, the fee paid at Nusagandi is for the Narganá Protected Area. See the road entry for amounts.
    Booking
    Wikivoyage says the mainland area is visited with authorized guides. Hiking requirements and prices: not confirmed by the official source at the time of review.

    Tip: It is known for birdwatching. Congress forest rangers patrol the area, which also suffers from illegal gold mining.

    Sources: Narganá Wilderness Area – Wikipedia · Información útil – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo, Congreso General Guna · Guna Yala – Wikiviajes · Boletín Gigga – Congreso General de Gunayala

  3. 3

    WaterOpen

    Cartí ports (Niga Kantule, Barsuggun and Dibin)

    Cartí coast, next to Isberyala, facing Gardi Sugdub.14.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Community-run docks at the end of the road where you board the boat to the islands. The General Congress recognizes Niga Kantule (Gardi Sugdub), Dibin (Gardi Dubbir), Barsuggun (Gardi Yandub) and Aggwadub as control ports.

    Source: Reglamento de Transporte Marítimo – Congreso General de Gunayala · 2022 · +4

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Port use: official amount not confirmed in the sources reviewed at the time of review. A Guna operator (2025) cites US$2 per person; other guides, US$2–5. Boat to the islands: the latest official table consulted (Maritime Transport Secretariat, December 2022) gives B/.20 to B/.75 round trip per person depending on the island; not confirmed as the current fare.
    Hours
    The Guna maritime regulation sets passenger boat departures from 6:00 a.m. and arrival at destination by 6:30 p.m.
    Booking
    Boats must hold a General Congress operating permit. As a passenger, the regulation requires you to wear a life jacket and bans drinking alcohol during the trip.
    Time needed
    25 to 45 minutes to the nearest islands, depending on sea conditions and destination (private guide PlanPTY, 25–40 minutes to the Cayos Limones, updated September 2026; operator San Blas Dreams, 30–45 minutes, July 2025).

    Tip: Operators leave the city between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. to catch the morning boats. If you reach the dock late, there may be no boat that day.

    Nearby: Isberyala (Nuevo Cartí) (1.4 km) · Gardi Sugdub (2.6 km) · Sailboat or speedboat from Panama to Colombia via San Blas (12 km)

    Sources: Reglamento de Transporte Marítimo – Congreso General de Gunayala · Tarifa de transporte marítimo turística – Congreso General de Gunayala · ¿Necesito pasaporte para San Blas? – Guna Yala Panama Travel · Guía completa de San Blas (Guna Yala) – PlanPTY · San Blas from Panama City: travel guide by 4x4 and boat – San Blas Dreams

  4. 4

    CultureOpen

    Gaigirgordub (El Porvenir)

    Western Gulf of San Blas, about 15 minutes by boat from Isla Diablo.6.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Administrative island with the main seat of the Guna General Congress and the El Porvenir airstrip. The community of Wichub Wala lies next to it.

    Source: Destinations – Air Panama · 2026 · +4

    Practical details and sources
    Booking
    Flights: Air Panama lists Gunayala only as a charter destination in 2026; a private information site mentions daily flights to El Porvenir. Scheduled flights: not confirmed by the official source at the time of review. In 2026 the Congress proposed rehabilitating airstrips such as Assudub and Muladub.

    Tip: It is a seat of government, not a resort. Do not photograph the congress house or ceremonies without express permission from local authorities.

    Nearby: Sailboat or speedboat from Panama to Colombia via San Blas (0.2 km) · Cayos Limones (Lemon Cays) (6.6 km) · Isla Diablo / Devil's Island (Niadub) (7.4 km)

    Sources: Destinations – Air Panama · Air Panama flights to San Blas – sanblas-islands.com · Boletín Gigga – Congreso General de Gunayala · Actividades no permitidas – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo · Isla Diablo in the Cayos Limones – sanblas-islands.com

  5. 5

    WaterRestricted access

    Sailboat or speedboat from Panama to Colombia via San Blas

    Departures from Cartí, El Porvenir or Puerto Lindo (Colón), depending on the operator.6.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Multi-day trips across Gunayala to Colombia: by sailboat to Cartagena (5–6 days) or by speedboat to Capurganá (about 4 days), according to the travel blog Food Travel Explore (April 2026).

    Under the consulted version of the Guna General Congress Maritime Transport Regulation (approved in 2019; page updated Dec 2022), a vessel carrying tourists without a Gunayala operating permit is fined US$1,000 the first time and US$5,000 the second, and is permanently expelled the third time. Separately, a 2018 Congress page bars foreign yachts and sailboats from any profit-making activity in Guna waters, and also from tourist chartering; the sources consulted do not say an operating permit exempts them from that ban. The Congress's public list of guides and operators was last updated in June 2021; that list does not allow confirming current vessel permits for this crossing. If you go, ask for the Guna permit and the Panama immigration exit process before boarding.

    Source: Actividades no permitidas – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo · 2018 · +8

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    The travel blog Food Travel Explore (April 2026) gives US$400–550 by sailboat; for the speedboat it gives US$650–750 in one section and US$550–650 in its FAQ. Pleasure yachts pay anchoring fees to the Congress and to communities according to its rate manual.
    Booking
    Before booking, check with Panama's and Colombia's migration authorities where and how to record your exit and entry by sea, and which documents or visa apply to your nationality. The procedure for this specific crossing was not verified. The operator's arrangements do not by themselves confirm migration clearance.

    Tip: UK (FCDO): east of the Punta Carreto (Gunayala)–Yaviza–Punta Piña line, near the Colombian border, travel only in an organized group, make sure local police and security authorities know about your visit, follow their advice and do not stray from your group. Canada flags the southeastern Gunayala coast as a drug-trafficking corridor, especially dangerous at night.

    Nearby: Gaigirgordub (El Porvenir) (0.2 km) · Cayos Limones (Lemon Cays) (6.8 km) · Isla Diablo / Devil's Island (Niadub) (7.6 km)

    Sources: Actividades no permitidas – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo · Reglamento de Transporte Marítimo – Congreso General de Gunayala · Lista de guías y operadores de turismo habilitados – Congreso General de Gunayala · Panama to Colombia by boat (2026) – Food Travel Explore · Panama travel advice – UK FCDO · Panama travel advice: regional risks – UK FCDO · Panama travel advice – Government of Canada · Turistas – Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá · Requisitos de entrada y salida del país – Migración Colombia

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