By Javier Barrios Destouet
My wife and I spent time snorkeling the San Blas Islands Panama September 1-9, 2026, and snorkeled 5-6 hours each day. We found an unexpected paradise.
The surprise was immense. The reefs are enormous, incredibly diverse, with an impressive number of corals of all kinds, many fish and other marine creatures, and, in general, in very good condition.
We have been to Polynesia, liveaboard from Egypt in the Red Sea, Bunaken and Raja Ampat in Indonesia, and many, many places in the Caribbean, and we can say without exaggeration that the San Blas reefs are as good as any we have ever been to.
The archipelago is gigantic, stretching 160 km, with more than 350 islands, the vast majority of which are uninhabited. The population is relatively small and there are no international resorts or hotels of any kind. Furthermore, scuba diving is strictly prohibited. This is possibly why there are so many extensive and well-preserved reefs; the marine life is incredibly rich, abundant, and diverse. The water clarity is remarkable, the currents are nonexistent or gentle, and the depths are perfect for snorkeling.
We were very lucky to be aboard the sailboat Odara with Captain Gabriel, as he has lived on his boat in these islands for 15 years. As a former diver and divemaster, he knew the best spots perfectly and took us exclusively to them, always with the reef entirely to ourselves.
If you a snorkeling fan, like we are, and have the chance, don’t hesitate to visit these islands. They are not very well-known or explored (at least we didn’t find much information before coming), and they turned out to be an unexpectedly fabulous experience.
We also highly recommend Captain Gabriel; he is the person to go with for the best experience.
We snorkeled the San Blas islands in the early 1980’s and loved it. Friends owned a 46-foot trawler and invited us along. You are really on your own out there.
Wrecks of several small freighters were within sight, letting you know that the area can be treacherous. A sudden and short-lived squall grounded our boat on a sand beach. Fortunately, an accompanying sport fisher yacht was able to pull us off the beach.
The area is semi-autonomous to the Guna natives, who somewhat regulate the area.
Great news about the reef there. How do I get in touch with Captain Gabriel?
Hello, you can contact him by regular telephone or WhatsApp. Here is his number: +55 11 99025 4532. You can tell him that Javier from Uruguay give you the number. Best regards.
Could you please provide contact info for Captain Gabriel? Husband and I are going to spend some time snorkeling in the San Blas Islands in 2027 and are just starting to organize. Thanks!
Hi Susan, please see my reply to Abi above. Thank you.
Thank you so much Javier! And Susan if you need others on your boat reach out.