El Porvenir (Seat of the Region)
Nargana
Wichubwala
Nalunega Island
Carti-sugtupu
Ailigandi

The San Blas Archipelago is composed of approximately 100 nameless islets, 113 with names and nearly 30 islands all coralligenous. You could spend almost an entire year traveling through the insular area of each one. There are no roads into the region, but small planes fly to more than a dozen landing strips daily. Panama City tour operators can arrange overnight stays, which is recommended. Off the northeast coast of Panama, palm-lined beaches, coral-ringed islands and jungle-cloaked mountains make San Blas look a lot like paradise, but the main reason for going there is to spend time with the Kuna Indians, who have managed to protect their unique culture. They live in thatched huts on about 40 of the 350 islands of the archipelago and rule their own autonomous province.

Inhabitants of the San Blas Archipelago live at the Mulatas' Archipelago or San Blas and at the Bayano and Chucunaque rivers basins. They are of Caribe origin, small in stature, short neck and big head, broad backs, strong chest, short legs and small feet. They dress moderately. The Kuna women still wear long skirts, red and yellow headdresses, appliqued mola blouses with showy colors. They wear gold earrings and a ring in their noses, keep their traditions and legends, their beliefs and myths, and their Gods.

Inhabitants of San Blas believe in superstition. Their language is rich and vast. They practice monogamy and adultery is a felony. Their leader is the Sahila who has authority on the community in which he lives. The Nele is the leader of several communities. They practice agriculture and cultivate coconut which is their main staple and which they have for sale. Although they cultivate corn, rice, cocoa and yucca, essentially they are fishermen. The National Government provides elementary schools for them and also a Junior High School at the Nargana Island. The adventure at San Blas could be a stay at an uninhabited island, a fishing tour, dancing and traditional rites, diving and submarine fishing, the enjoyment of the crystalline waters or merely the peace of a hammock swung by the wind or to get a tan.

Though they maintain their traditions, the Kuna have also become adept at modern business practices: The region's six hotels are owned and operated by the tribe, and all offer visits to nearby villages and snorkeling excursions. A newer hotel on the island of Kuadule offers private oceanfront huts and meals cooked by Kuna women. Business even comes to bear on any photos that you take of the Kuna: On most islands, you'll be expected to pay US$1 for each person in the photo.

Flight depart from the national airport in Panama City everyday at 6:00 a.m. to Porvenir and to several other islands, as far as Osbaldia Port. Flights return around 8:30 of the next morning. If you wish to go by road, take the Inter-American route toward Bayano; at the point of El Llano, Chepo, the route leads up to Carti in the middle of the San Blas coast, from there, canoes can be rented in order to make connections with the insular region.

San Blas Islands

El Porvenir- Seat of the Region
The regular weekly flights arrive on this Island. It is the strategic point to obtain more detailed information in connection with the kuna culture and the services offered by other islands. At Porvenir there are beaches and it is the administrative center for the governmental offices. Seat of the Region's Intendency. From here you may move to nearby islands. Even reaching Obaldia's Port, Panama's lost boundary with the Republic of Colombia.

Nargana
There is the Nargana Lodge Hotel. The island connects with another town through a wooden bridge, politically divided, known as Jesus' Heart (Corazon de Jesus), that is to say, it is an island that has two towns. These are two communities quite accustomed to other cultures, bilingual, men as well as women wear western clothes. Both towns are managed by the Sahilas. Presently these communities do not practice their rites, nor play their traditional instruments. They do not have much native things, however, its general aspect is quite pleasant because of its straight, clean and sandy streets. Traveling 15 minutes by canoe, you may visit Tigre Island, a very traditional island; women still wear Molas and they practice their traditional rites. The best typical dancing groups, well organized, are at Tigre Island. The inhabitants still make their handicrafts, to offer them to the tourists staying at the Nargana Hotel.

Wichubwala
The entire Archipelago favors tourist attention, but' the best services are found on this beautiful island. Here is the Anal Lodge; San Blas' best hotel. It has bungalow-type lodging, a marine pool with lobsters, it offers fishing trips or adventures to inhabited or uninhabited islands, diving or submarine fishing equipment are rented except for the oxygen tanks. It is worth mentioning that in the entire region there is no place to rent or fill up your oxygen tank.

Nalunega Island
Its name means 'Snapper Island', it is very attractive and its houses are traditional. This community takes advantage of the services of Porvenir Island.

Carti-sugtupu
We find the hotel which carries the some name of the island, and which belongs to the town. At Cartil there is radio-communication, post office, library, junior high s school, two docks, electricity, small shops, bakeries, a Catholic Church, a basketball court, health center and an airport on solid ground.

Ailigandi
Offers the services of the 'La Palmeco' Hotel, This community has a modern hospital, basketball courts, modest restaurants, shops, churches, airports on solid ground, post office, radio communication, plumbing, electricity, and a local Congress House. The hotel is a concrete, one story building, with a restaurant and a bar; it is property of the town cooperative society.

Special Events

Services

LODGING

El Porvenir
El Porvenir Hotel: 13 rooms. Tel: 221-1397

Nalunega Island
Hotel San Blas: 31 rooms, kuna style, 3 daily meals, tours around inhabited and uninhabited islands. radio communication. Tel: 262-5410

Wichub-Wala Island
Hotel Anai 20 rooms, Wooden floor and cane walls.Tel:239-3025.
Kuna Kishua Hotel. Five basic rooms. Tel:227-5308
Sugtupu With cabin like aspect, wooden floor and cone walls.

Ailigandi Island
La Palmera One story concrete building, With restaurant and bar. It belongs to the Town Cooperative Society.
Hotel Nargana 10 rooms; communication by radio. Hotel construction Kuno style.

Achutupo Island
Hotel Uaguitupo Cabins, restaurant, Bar.

Kuanidup Cabins, restaurant, bar.(Sidra River).

Iskardup Cabins, restaurant, bar.

Kwadule Eco-resort. 6 stand-alone cabinas and large restaurant. Tel: 269-6313

.