By Ramiro Del Rio · reviewed
San Blas Day Trip at Christmas, Carnival and Easter
At Christmas, New Year, Carnival and Easter the San Blas day trip runs the same way (pickup around 5:00 AM, back between 6:00 and 7:30 PM), but three things change: there are more people on the islands, seats sell out much sooner and there’s more traffic on the road. Book as soon as you have your date; cancellation is free up to 72 hours before.
The dates you’ll notice most
| Date | What makes it different |
|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year | Many Panamanians are on vacation and international travelers arrive, right in the dry season |
| Carnival | The days before Ash Wednesday, one of the most anticipated long holidays in the country |
| Easter week (Semana Santa) | The week of Easter, when lots of people take the chance to leave the city |
| National holidays in November | Several national holidays within a few weeks |
The dates of Carnival and Easter week change every year because they depend on Easter, so check the calendar before you lock in your trip. If what worries you is the weather month by month, that’s covered in when to do the day trip, month by month. This article is about something else: what to expect and how to book when half the country is on vacation too.
What changes on the islands
On a holiday, local travelers join the international ones, and you can tell. There are more boats and more people at the best-known spots, like the Piscina Natural or Isla Perro Chico. A free patch of shade is harder to find, and the empty-island photo is harder to get.
None of that ruins the day if your expectations are right: the water and the sand are the same. Two tips:
- Get in the water as soon as you reach each island. The first few minutes are usually the calmest.
- Don’t go chasing one particular photo. The captain decides the route based on the sea, and on busy days it’s better to enjoy what you get.
If you want genuinely quiet islands, the answer is a different date: a weekday outside the holidays.
What changes on the road
At the start and end of each holiday a lot of people leave and return to Panama City, and there are more vehicles on the mountain road to Cartí and at the comarca entry checkpoint. We explain the transfer in how to get to San Blas.
The tour schedule doesn’t change: pickup around 5:00 AM and back between 6:00 and 7:30 PM. On these dates, though, plan on the later end of that window. If you have a Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve or celebration dinner, book it for 8:30 PM or later, never 6:00 PM.
Book early: cancellation is free
Every departure has a set number of seats in the 4x4 and on the boat. On holidays they sell out sooner, especially on weekends. The sensible move is to book as soon as your travel dates are set.
Booking early doesn’t lock you in. You hold the date with a deposit, pay the rest on the day of the tour and can cancel for free up to 72 hours before; inside those 72 hours the deposit is no longer refunded. The step by step is in how to book the day trip with a deposit.
One detail matters more on holidays: changing your date is harder, because the days around it are full too. Put the day trip early in your stay, not on the last day before your flight.
If the weather changes the plan
Rain alone doesn’t cancel the day trip; the sea is what decides. The captain can change the route depending on conditions, and if an island can’t be visited it’s swapped for a similar one. If the sea makes the crossing unsafe and we call off the departure, you choose another date at no cost or a full refund of what you paid. More in what happens if it rains on your San Blas day.
Quick checklist for a holiday day trip
- Book as soon as you have dates, and pick a day early in your trip.
- Passport for the entry checkpoint, the comarca tax (cash or card, to the driver) and cash for extras: there are no ATMs on the islands.
- Sunscreen, water and a small backpack; the rest is in what to bring to San Blas.
- Celebration dinner at 8:30 PM or later.
- Patience: more people, the same sea.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I book the day trip for Carnival or Easter week? As soon as your travel dates are set. On holidays seats sell out sooner, and since cancellation is free up to 72 hours before, booking early doesn’t lock you in.
Are the islands busier at Christmas and New Year? Yes. Local travelers join the international ones, and the best-known spots, like the Piscina Natural, have more boats and more swimmers than on a normal day.
Does the day trip schedule change in high season? No. Pickup is still around 5:00 AM and the return between 6:00 and 7:30 PM, although with more traffic it’s wise to plan on the later end of that window.
Will I make it to a celebration dinner the same day? Yes, if you book it for 8:30 PM or later. You’re back at your hotel between 6:00 and 7:30 PM and will want time for a shower.
What happens if bad weather forces the day trip to be called off on a holiday? If we call off the departure for safety, you choose another date at no cost or a full refund of what you paid. During holiday weeks another free date is harder to find, so it’s best not to leave the day trip until the end of your trip.