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Panama · Gunayala (San Blas Islands)

Snorkelling on reefs and wrecks

Snorkelling only: scuba tanks are banned except for authorized research. Currents change quickly between islands.

4 places

  1. 1

    WaterOpen

    Isla Perro Chico shipwreck

    Off Isla Perro Chico, Cayos Limones.1.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A hull of about 50 m that sank in 1958, a few dozen metres off the beach on the island's northwest side. It lies at 0–5 m and now works as an artificial reef with corals and sponges.

    Source: Snorkeling at Isla Perro Chico – Snorkeling Report · 2022 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Access from the beach. Gear rental and island charge: not confirmed by the official source at the time of review.
    Time needed
    One to two hours of snorkelling.

    Tip: Currents are frequent; a line of buoys lets you rest or exit. Intermediate level. Scuba tanks are banned in Guna waters except for authorized research. Some corals on the hull are fire coral: do not touch them.

    Nearby: Isla Perro Chico / Little Dog Island (Assudub Bibbi) (0 km) · Isla Diablo / Devil's Island (Niadub) (0.4 km) · Cayos Limones (Lemon Cays) (1.4 km)

    Sources: Snorkeling at Isla Perro Chico – Snorkeling Report · Actividades no permitidas – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo · Perro Chico Island – Guna Yala Panama Travel

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  2. 2

    BeachOpen

    Isla Diablo / Devil's Island (Niadub)

    Cayos Limones, Gulf of San Blas; about 30 minutes by boat from Cartí or 15 from El Porvenir.1.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Island of about 300 m in the Cayos Limones with full-board Guna lodges and a shallow reef you can explore from the beach.

    Source: Snorkeling at Isla Diablo (Niadup) – Snorkeling Report · 2022 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Boat, official round-trip fare per person to "Niadub–Assudub Bibbi": B/.40 (Dec. 2022). Lodging and meals: depend on the cabin; no official rates are published.
    Booking
    Stays are run by Guna families, with shared or private cabins. Book with an operator accredited by the General Congress.

    Tip: Beginners enter from the main beach. Do not swim across to Isla Perro Chico because of the channel currents.

    Nearby: Isla Perro Chico / Little Dog Island (Assudub Bibbi) (0.4 km) · Isla Perro Chico shipwreck (0.4 km) · Cayos Limones (Lemon Cays) (1.2 km)

    Sources: Snorkeling at Isla Diablo (Niadup) – Snorkeling Report · Isla Diablo in the Cayos Limones – sanblas-islands.com · Tarifa de transporte marítimo turística – Congreso General de Gunayala · Gunayala – Visit Panamá

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  3. 3

    BeachOpen

    Cayos Limones (Lemon Cays)

    Gulf of San Blas, north of Cartí.0 km from the centre

    Entry
    $2
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Group of sparsely populated islands in the Gulf of San Blas, including Isla Perro and Isla Diablo. Their reefs and wrecks are the core of snorkelling tours from Cartí and El Porvenir.

    Source: Cayos Limones – Wikipedia · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Each community or family charges for landing; 2026 guides cite US$2–5 per island. Official amount: not confirmed by the official source at the time of review.
    Time needed
    A day boat tour, or one or two nights in a cabin.

    Tip: Spearfishing is banned. Do not throw coins or food into the water or at people: the Congress considers it degrading.

    Nearby: Isla Diablo / Devil's Island (Niadub) (1.2 km) · Isla Perro Chico / Little Dog Island (Assudub Bibbi) (1.4 km) · Isla Perro Chico shipwreck (1.4 km)

    Sources: Cayos Limones – Wikipedia · Guía completa de San Blas (Guna Yala) – PlanPTY · Actividades no permitidas – Secretaría de Asuntos de Turismo

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  4. 4

    WaterOpen

    Cayos Holandeses / Dutch Cays (Gaimau)

    Northwest of the comarca, offshore from the Cayos Limones.13 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Uninhabited cays on the outer edge of the archipelago, about 24 km², with a barrier reef and a shallow inner lagoon. Their Guna name is Gaimau or Gaimaudubgan.

    Source: Gaimaudubgan (Cayos Holandeses), área natural marina – A. Castillo, biólogo guna · 2013 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Boat, official round-trip fare per person to "Gaymau": B/.75 (Dec. 2022). Three-day, two-night packages vary by operator.
    Time needed
    Realistic minimum: 3 days and 2 nights. Sources disagree: a sailing guide says only sailboats get there, 3–4 hours under sail; land-based operators sell boat trips from nearby islands.

    Tip: Open water: the crossing gets rough in wind. On 24 June 2026 a catamaran sank in this area in strong winds (General Congress).

    Nearby: Chichime (Wissudub) (11.2 km) · Isla Perro Chico / Little Dog Island (Assudub Bibbi) (11.6 km) · Isla Perro Chico shipwreck (11.6 km)

    Sources: Gaimaudubgan (Cayos Holandeses), área natural marina – A. Castillo, biólogo guna · Tarifa de transporte marítimo turística – Congreso General de Gunayala · The ultimate guide to Cayos Holandeses – Nomad Sailors · Boletín Gigga – Congreso General de Gunayala (24 jun. 2026)

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