By Ramiro Del Rio · reviewed
San Blas Piscina Natural: The Last Swim of Your Day Trip
The Piscina Natural is a sandbank in the open sea where clear turquoise water comes up to somewhere between your knees and your waist, and where you’ll often spot starfish on the bottom. It’s the last stop on every one of our day routes: you get there around 3:30 PM, swim, take your photos, and the trip home starts from there.
What exactly is the Piscina Natural?
It’s a shallow patch of sand in the middle of the sea, between the islands. There’s no beach, no palm trees, nothing to stand on above the water: the boat stops and you step straight down onto white sand. That sand reflects the light and gives the water the pale turquoise you see in every photo of San Blas.
The depth isn’t the same everywhere. In the shallowest part you can stand with the water at your knees or waist; as you move away, the bottom drops and it stops being a pool. So the basic rule is simple: stay where you can stand, and stay close to the boat.
What time do you get there, and how long do you stay?
It’s how the day ends. Here’s where it fits in a day trip:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5:00 AM | Pickup at your hotel in Panama City, 4x4 to Cartí |
| ~8:30 AM | Boat to the first island |
| Midday | Islands on your route, snorkeling and a typical lunch on one of them |
| ~3:30 PM | Piscina Natural: last swim |
| 6:00–7:30 PM | Back at your hotel |
The captain decides how long you stay: enough for an unhurried swim and your photos, but timed around the sea conditions and the fact that you still have the boat back to Cartí and 2 h 30 on the road.
Keep in mind, too, that the route can change on the day because of weather or the sea. If conditions aren’t right, the captain may shorten or change this stop, just as with any island on the route.
Which tours include the Piscina Natural?
Every one of our day routes ends there, so you don’t need a special tour to see it. Three examples of how you get there:
| Tour | Islands before the Piscina Natural |
|---|---|
| Getaway Deal: 2 Islands + Piscina Natural | Isla Perro Chico and Isla Pelícano |
| Panoramic Tour of the Limones Cays | Isla Perro Chico, Isla Diablo and Isla Pelícano |
| Photo Tour: The Postcard Keys | Isla Chichime, Isla Estrella and Cayos Coco Bandero |
The Getaway Deal is the route with the fewest islands, two before the sandbank; the Photo Tour is built for people who come for the pictures, and it ends with the final shot on the sandbank. If you’re still comparing options, our overview of trips to San Blas will help you get your bearings.
Starfish: look, don’t lift
You’ll often see starfish on the sand. Look at them and photograph them in the water, but don’t touch them or pick them up. Out of the water they start to suffocate almost at once and can die hours or days later, even after you put them back. And don’t hold one in your hand for a photo, even if you see other people doing it.
What to bring for the Piscina Natural
- Sunscreen applied early, before you board the boat rather than in the water, so it soaks in instead of ending up floating over the sand. At 3:30 PM the Caribbean sun is still strong.
- Water shoes, optional. The bottom is sand, but if you have sensitive feet they’ll make you more comfortable.
- A waterproof phone pouch, with a strap for your wrist or neck.
And look after the place: there’s marine life around the sandbank, so step only on sand and take nothing from the bottom. The full list for the day is in what to bring to San Blas.
How to get the best photos
- The classic: standing in the middle of the sea, water at your waist, boat in the background. Ask your guide or someone in the group.
- With the sun behind you, the water looks more turquoise and without glare.
- Starfish underwater, without moving them: bring the phone in its pouch to the starfish, not the starfish to the camera.
Safety: currents, kids and non-swimmers
- Even though the water is shallow, there can be a current. Stay where you can stand and don’t drift away from the boat.
- Kids wear life jackets at all times: the boat carries them on board. More ideas in San Blas with kids.
- If you can’t swim, you can still enjoy it with a life jacket; we explain how in San Blas if you can’t swim.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Piscina Natural in San Blas? It’s a sandbank in the open sea, between the islands, where the water is clear turquoise and comes up to between your knees and your waist. There’s no beach: the boat stops and you step straight into the water.
What time do you visit the Piscina Natural on a day trip? It’s the last stop, around 3:30 PM. After that the trip home begins, and you’re back at your hotel in Panama City between 6:00 and 7:30 PM.
Which tours include the Piscina Natural? Every one of our day routes ends there, from the Getaway Deal with Isla Perro Chico and Isla Pelícano to the Photo Tour through Isla Chichime, Isla Estrella and Cayos Coco Bandero.
Can you touch the starfish? No. Look at them and photograph them in the water, but don’t touch them or take them out: out of the water they suffocate and can die even after you put them back.
Is it safe for kids or for people who can’t swim? Yes, with precautions: the water is shallow, but there can be a current and the bottom drops as you move away. Children should wear a life jacket the whole time, and non-swimmers can wear one too.