San Blas

[Sybarite]

Apparently these islands are a paradise which one just has to visit before transitting the Panama Canal.

However a new tax has just been introduced which represents 5USD per square foot per day. So if you are in a 40' X 23' catamaran, that is going to cost you $4600 for one month + other existing charges 100USD entry tax, + 20USD/person, etc.

Paradise evidently has a cost.

 

[tcm]

These are a small group of islands each with a coconut tree or perhaps a few, good for those rtw pics. Not much to do except wander around a little island, and then wander around another. The Kuna Indians live there and will try sell you artwork/tat, but they don't like you taking pix cos it steals a part of their soul, unless you give them $5 in which case it's ok to steal part of their soul.

 

[rwoofer]

Check out White Spot Pirates on Youtube for videos of cruising the San Blas

 

[ip485]

Wonder how you work out the charge for a typical yacht given the variation in the width along the length?

By any measure £3K for a month seems excessive.

 

[ip485]

Ah just seen some info on the web and it would seem these fees although in theory introduced are not being enforced (yet), hopefully never.

 

[Tradewinds]

These are a small group of islands each with a coconut tree or perhaps a few, good for those rtw pics. Not much to do except wander around a little island, and then wander around another. The Kuna Indians live there and will try sell you artwork/tat, but they don't like you taking pix cos it steals a part of their soul, unless you give them $5 in which case it's ok to steal part of their soul.

Shame.

It wasn't like that in 1995 thankfully (IMO) though the islands nearest the Panamanian isthmus e.g. Porvenir/Chichime were definitely becoming more tourist aware.

 

[Sybarite]

Ah just seen some info on the web and it would seem these fees although in theory introduced are not being enforced (yet), hopefully never.

This is recent:

http://www.sextan.com/2015/08/taxes-de-mouillage-aux-san-blas-prohibitives/

 

[TQA]

It is worth noting that at least 6 boats have been lost in the San Blas islands this year.

In most/all cases the cause was entering in poor light or at night. Electronic charts of this area are not accurate.

The old adage " If in doubt stay out " applies.