Panama Yacht Charters
Crewed yacht charters in Panama’s Caribbean San Blas Archipelago
One of the most beautiful parts of Panama is located along the Caribbean coast: the 365 islands of the San Blas Archipelago are each a real postcard scenery with white sand beaches, coconuts trees and turquoise waters. Today's Kuna Indians inhabit the islands in the same way their ancestors did. Circumnavigators even consider the San Blas archipelago as one of their top 3 destinations in the world!
No road gets (yet) to the archipelago: this helps preserving the San Blas from massive tourism. From fishing to kayaking thru snorkeling and visiting the traditional villages. 1 to 2 weeks vacation is a good time frame in which to discover all what San Blas has to offer, but charters of 3 days are also available.
Sailing in the San Blas is a real pleasure though distances are short (1 to 3 hours per day or more if you ask for it!). Most yachts belong to owners that are physically on board; most are doing really well under sails and captains love to teach the basics to starters or just let the pro sail by themselves. Note: bare boats are not available for hire in San Blas. From December to beginning of May, the cool trade winds blow; this is the best time to sail. The rest of the year the Green Season brings light winds and sporadic rainfall. These months conditions allow for better snorkeling, fishing and sea life watching: lees wind, less current.
Every night is spent at anchorage. Once moored, snorkeling is easy access to all: starting in 3 feet of water down to 100 feet. (Note that Kuna Indians do not allow scuba diving). Spear fishing is admitted and passionate fishermen will appreciate hunting for red snapper, jack or grouper. If you do not fish, most skippers will fish for you; meals are prepared with the catch of the day: fishes, lobsters and the famous San Blas giant crabs are extraordinary.
Choose the length of your adventure & amenities you prefer on-board and contact JB Journeys for guidance in deciding on your available options.
The Fleet
Please click on the images to see a larger version, and the links to read more about each boat.
Sailing Monohulls
These lively monohulls are for the true sailing enthusiast who enjoy "close hauled into the teeth of the wind".
2010 Prices valid April 15 - December 14, per person per day, for 3 - 7 days
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| Tai Phou 41' | Da Capo 36' | Jivago | |
| max 4 persons, 2 doubles | max 4 persons, 2 double | max 5 persons 2 doubles & 1 single | |
| genaker & twin seats kayak | genaker & inflatable twin seats kayak | twin seats kayak | |
| 4 persons $150 | 4 persons $200 | 5 persons $165 | |
| 3 persons $175 | 3 persons $210 | 4 persons $175 | |
| 2 persons $200 | 2 persons $220 | 3 persons $200 | |
| 2 persons $225 |
Not included: Kuna taxes (around $12.00 per person to be paid directly in San Blas), the flights Panama City – Corazon de Jesus – Panama City, and .5% VAT.
Please check with us regarding other boats that offer a 'shared option'
Sailing Multihulls
The catamarans and trimarans are for "the dream" - lazy downwind sails, sunning on the trampoline. They offer plenty of room, level sailing and speed!
2010 Prices valid April 15 - December 14, per person per day, for 3 - 7 days
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| Pepita 42' | Liberty III 34' | *Seaprize 47' |
| max 6 persons, 3 doubles | max 4 persons, 1 double & 2 singles | max 7 persons, 3 doubles & 1 single |
| 2 twin seat kayaks | twin seats kayak | twin seats kayak |
| 6 persons $170 | 4 persons $135 | 7 persons $240 |
| 5 persons $180 | 3 persons $149 | 6 persons $260 |
| 4 persons $200 | 2 persons $180 | 5 persons $300 |
| 3 persons $250 | 1 person $315 | 4 persons $350 |
| 2 persons $350 | 3 persons $430 | |
| 2 persons $590 |
Not included: Kuna taxes (around $12.00 per person to be paid directly in San Blas),the flights Panama City – Corazon de Jesus – Panama City and .5% VAT.
*Sea Prize can be offered in Bocas del Toro for charters of 5 days or more.
Please check with us regarding other boats that offer a 'shared option'
Sample Itineraries or Design your Own
4 days "Introductory" Tour
The basic introduction to the San Blas Islands and the Kuna Indians. It includes a visit to an Indian community, of two uninhabited islands and an island inhabited by a family of Kuna where we will prepare a lunch of coco rice and barbecue with them. It includes more or less (depending on conditions) 10 hours of sailing and snorkeling on different reefs everyday.
7 days "Discovery" Tour
Same as the 4 days tour but better! This itinerary adds two other beautiful islands and the visit to a Kuna traditional community. The pace is also much slower than the 4 day tour and we have much more time to discover the Kuna Indians and to fish and buy crabs and lobsters.
10 days "THE TOUR"
The complete tour of the San Blas islands from Porvenir to Corazon. On this tour you will see all the interesting places, snorkel the best reefs and have the best seafood the San Blas can offer. For those interested we can organize a walk to the Mermaid Fall, discover a Kuna cemetery and have an approach of the primary rain forest and its fauna and flora. This tour is the perfect balance to really enjoy the full array of activities San Blas can offer.
14 days "Enhanced" Tour
This tour is aimed at the sea lovers so that we can spend much more time with the Indians, or fishing, or snorkeling, or swimming. For those really interested by the Kuna culture we can go to see the most traditional villages (conditions permitting).
21 days "San Blas/Cartagena Blue Water" Cruise
For the sailors and the discoverers: 8 days in San Blas, 2 days sailing to Cartagena/Colombia, 3 days dedicated to visit this beautiful city, 2 days sailing back and 6 days in another part of San Blas. Only available from April to November.
Please click on the maps to see a larger image.
NOTE: These itineraries apply for trade wind season, more or less November till April. These are suggested itineraries and can be adaptable according to weather, sailing conditions, availability, and the traveler's wishes.
A Socially and Environmentally Responsible Company
JB Journeys takes pride in dealing with a broker who is dedicated to offering crewed charters in remote places of the Republic of Panama.
Of particular note is the fact that the sailboats are skippered by their own owners (except just 2 of the 14 yachts): it is kind of a "guest house” where one can hire a single cabin as well as a whole private boat.
Their philosophy is to conduct fair business and help to preserve the eco-system (so fragile in the Caribbean) and help the islanders to stay on their islands instead of migrating to the cities.
For these reasons, they have a special method to supply the boats: they eliminate the unnecessary packaging (plastics, foam, etc..) in Panama City and transfer them in re-usable Ziploc type bags.
Also they are working on a program to stop using plastic water bottles: they are planning to purify the river waters onboard through a ultra violet system.
In San Blas, they support a program of trash recovery and burning as well as a foundation protecting the turtle and a new ONG, "Mar y Hombres" (“sea and men”) which will promote programs to assist children to go to school and to help with the foundation of new Indian communities. In the very short term, each guest will systematically contribute to this foundation (about 2% of the package price) and some could even become more generous donators.
Every guest will have the opportunity to check on site of the money spent in his name.
Locally they apply the "local preference"; by buying locally when possible, instead of "importing" from the City even if the prices are much higher. This helps the small local Indian business.
Last but not the least, they are proud to be members of one of the most ecologist communities: the "Sailing Circumnavigator."
