By Ramiro Del Rio · reviewed
Cash, Signal and Wi-Fi on a San Blas Day Trip
For a San Blas day trip, bring in cash, as a rough guide, $20–40 per person for extras, in small bills. The comarca tax ($22 if you’re a foreigner, $7 if you’re Panamanian or a resident) is paid to the driver, in cash or by card. There are no ATMs on the islands, mobile signal comes and goes, and there’s no Wi-Fi you can count on.
Are there ATMs in San Blas?
No. There are no ATMs on the islands, so get your cash in Panama City, ideally the afternoon before. There’s no time on the morning of the tour: pickup is around 5:00 AM and the 4x4 heads straight for the mountains.
Plan as if everything you spend on the islands will be in cash. That way you don’t depend on anything — not a machine, not a signal, not someone having change.
How much cash do you need for one day?
| Item | How much |
|---|---|
| Comarca tax (or by card) | $22 foreigners · $7 Panamanians and residents · kids 0–9 free |
| Extras (drinks, crafts, tips) | about $20–40 per person, your call |
| Tour balance, if you booked with a deposit | whatever your booking shows |
The tax is the only fixed, mandatory cost of the day. It’s collected by the Guna authorities at the comarca checkpoint, on the road before the port of Cartí, and no tour includes it; on ours you pay it to the driver, in cash or by card. We explain why in the Guna Yala tax.
The $20–40 for extras is a suggestion, not a fee. Some people spend nothing; others come back with two molas. If you already know you want to buy crafts, bring more.
If you booked with a deposit, the rest of the tour is paid on the day: add it to your total and let us know beforehand how you’ll pay it.
What’s already paid for, and what isn’t
A lot of people carry too much because they don’t know what the tour covers. The day-trip price (from $114) includes:
- Door-to-door 4x4, both ways.
- Boat between islands with life jackets.
- A typical lunch on an island (fish or chicken, rice and patacones) with one drink.
- A guide from the Guna community.
- Snorkel gear, kayaks and paddle boards on the islands.
Outside of that there are just three things: the tax, extra drinks and tips. For everything else, your wallet stays in your bag.
What does the cash go on?
- Drinks beyond the one that comes with lunch, especially on a long, hot day.
- Molas and Guna crafts. You buy them straight from the people who make them, and the price depends on size and workmanship. Without bills in your pocket, that purchase just doesn’t happen.
- Tips for the captain and the guide, if you’d like to leave them. They aren’t included and they’re voluntary.
Bring small bills ($1, $5, $10 and $20). A $50 or $100 note can be hard to break on an island.
Is there phone signal in San Blas?
On and off. On the mountain road and on some islands there’s patchy coverage; on others there’s none at all. It varies with the day’s route and can’t be promised island by island. Don’t count on video calls, uploading videos or keeping up with work.
What about Wi-Fi?
There’s no Wi-Fi you can count on during a day trip. The safest assumption is that you’ll be offline from the moment the 4x4 heads into the mountains until you’re back in the city. For plenty of people that’s exactly the point: a whole day with no notifications. If that’s what you’re after, the relaxed day trip to Isla Aroma is built around staying longer on each island rather than hopping from one to the next.
How to prepare for a day off the grid
- Tell people at home and at work. Let them know you’ll be out of reach from the morning on and back at your hotel between 6:00 and 7:30 PM.
- Download offline maps of Panama City and the area before you leave, plus music or podcasts for the 2 h 30 on the road.
- Charge your phone to 100% the night before and bring a charged power bank. It’s the reliable way to still have battery for the Piscina Natural shot at 3:30 PM.
- Switch to airplane mode when there’s no signal: hunting for coverage drains the battery.
- Protect your phone from water and sand with a waterproof case or dry bag. The full list is in what to bring to San Blas.
If you genuinely need to be reachable all day, factor that in when you pick your date. To compare formats and routes before you decide, have a look at trips to San Blas.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash should I bring for a San Blas day trip? As a suggestion, about $20–40 per person for drinks, crafts and tips; if you plan to buy molas, bring more. The comarca tax ($22 if you’re a foreigner, $7 if you’re Panamanian or a resident; kids 0 to 9 are exempt) can be paid to the driver in cash or by card.
Are there ATMs on the San Blas islands? No. Get all your cash in Panama City before the day of the tour, because pickup is around 5:00 AM and there’s no time to stop.
Is there Wi-Fi or phone signal in San Blas? Signal is patchy: there’s coverage on and off on the road and on some islands, and none on others. There’s no Wi-Fi you can count on during the day trip.
When will I be reachable again? Count on being back in touch once you’re back in the city: drop-off at your hotel is between 6:00 and 7:30 PM.
Which costs aren’t included in the tour? Just three: the comarca tax, extra drinks and tips. Transport, the boat, lunch with one drink, the guide and the snorkel gear are already in the price.