By Ramiro Del Rio · reviewed
San Blas Day Trip Cost: What You Really Pay
A San Blas day trip costs from $114 per person. Most routes are $135, and the VIP Package, with four islands and a visit to a Guna community, is $149. On top of that comes the comarca tax — $22 per foreigner and $7 per Panamanian or resident — which is not part of the tour price and is paid separately on the day.
How much each day tour costs
| Tour | Price per person | What you visit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getaway Deal | $114 | 2 islands + Piscina Natural | First-timers on a tight budget |
| Standard routes (13 to choose from) | $135 | 3 islands + Piscina Natural | Anyone who wants to pick an area or theme |
| VIP Package | $149 | 4 islands + Piscina Natural + Guna community | People going once and wanting to see it all |
What changes between prices is the number of stops, not the quality of the day: pickup, 4x4, boat and lunch are the same. The Getaway Deal does two islands instead of three, with more time at each. The VIP adds a fourth island and the Guna community.
At $135 you’re choosing an area: the shipwreck at Isla Perro Chico, the cays around Isla Chichime, Cayos Holandeses, El Porvenir and Narganá… A typical example is the Isla Perro Chico and shipwreck day tour.
What the price includes
- Door-to-door 4x4, both ways: pickup at your Panama City hotel around 5:00 AM, back between 6:00 and 7:30 PM.
- Boat between the islands with life jackets and a sun canopy (no toilet on board; the toilets are on the islands).
- Typical island lunch: fish or chicken, rice and patacones, plus one drink.
- A guide from the Guna community.
- The islands on your route and the Piscina Natural, with the last swim around 3:30 PM.
- Snorkel gear, kayaks and paddle boards on the islands.
What’s not included, and why you need cash
- The comarca tax: $22 per foreigner, $7 per Panamanian or resident; children aged 0 to 9 don’t pay. It’s charged by the Guna Yala comarca and paid on the day, in cash or by card to the driver. Full details in the Guna Yala entry tax.
- Extra drinks (the one with lunch is included).
- Tips, if you’d like to leave them.
There are no ATMs on the islands and phone signal comes and goes. For extras, bring cash in small bills.
Example: what a couple pays in total
Two foreign travelers on a $135 route:
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tour | 2 × $135 | $270 |
| Comarca tax | 2 × $22 | $44 |
| Total for the day | $314 |
With the Getaway Deal it would be $272 (2 × $114 + $44), and with the VIP, $342 (2 × $149 + $44). If you’re both Panamanian, the tax drops to $14 in total and the same $135 route comes to $284.
How you pay: deposit now, the rest on the day
You don’t pay everything up front: a deposit holds your date, and the rest is paid on the day of the tour, with free cancellation up to 72 hours before. The comarca tax is separate from both. The step-by-step is in how to book the day trip with a deposit.
Why to be wary of a much lower price
A low price isn’t a trap in itself, but it often leaves out things you’d assume are covered. Ask:
- Do they pick me up at my hotel, or do I get myself to the port of Cartí? The mountain road is the hardest part to arrange on your own.
- Is lunch included? There are no shops on the islands.
- How many islands, and is the boat between them included? A very cheap offer can mean a whole day on a single island.
- Is the tax included or not? If they say it’s included, make sure you won’t be asked for it again at the checkpoint.
- How much do I pay on arrival? “Pay it all at the port” with no booking tends to end at a different price.
Compare the total: if transport, boat, food and tax add up to the same or more, cheap wasn’t cheap.
Which one to choose
- First time, tight budget: the Getaway Deal. The same full day with fewer stops.
- You want to pick an area or theme (snorkeling, photos, culture, relaxing): any of the $135 routes. They’re all compared on the prices page.
- You’re only going once: the VIP, which adds the fourth island and the community. If Guna culture is what draws you, also look at the Guna Yala day tour.
Sleeping on the islands is a different trip with a different budget; this article only covers the day, and if you’re unsure the day is worth it, read is a San Blas day trip worth it?.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a San Blas day trip cost per person? From $114 with the Getaway Deal (2 islands and the Piscina Natural). Most routes are $135, and the VIP Package, with 4 islands and a visit to a Guna community, is $149. The comarca tax is paid separately.
Is the comarca tax included in the price? No. It’s $22 per foreigner and $7 per Panamanian or resident, and children aged 0 to 9 don’t pay. It’s paid on the day of the tour, in cash or by card to the driver.
Do I have to pay everything when I book? No. A deposit holds your date and the rest is paid on the day of the tour. You can cancel for free up to 72 hours before.
Why does the VIP cost more than the Getaway Deal? It’s the stops: the Getaway Deal covers 2 islands and the Piscina Natural; the VIP covers 4 islands, the Piscina Natural and a visit to a Guna community. The pickup, 4x4, boat and lunch are the same.