How to prepare | Hector S San Blas Ex

Prepare for your tour

Everyone wants to feel ready and well-prepared before going on a multiple day tour. That's why we wrote a checklist for what to bring and we help you get to and from the magical land of Guna Yala!

What to bring?

All the essentials listed

Except for all the clothes and things you will already bring, we made a list of things that can be important to buy before entering Kuna Yala.

Remember, you are entering remote places and the things available in shops here are limited.

Big 5L water bottle. You will get coffee and juice with meals from us, but water is on own cost. You can buy small bottles anywhere in Kuna Yala, but it will be a lot cheaper to buy a big 5L bottle in Capurgana - and better for the environment!
We offer enough food and snacks, but if you want to have some backup peanuts or cookies, it will be cheapest and easiest to bring them from Capurgana
If you want to drink alcohol, it is recommended to bring any type of spirit, like rum, because you will only be able to get beer on the islands, which will cost you $2 per can. With a bottle of rum you will the most popular person on any island ;)
There will be electricity to charge your phone overnight on the islands. If you want to charge more often, bringing a power bank is recommended
Mosquito spray for the evenings
Enough cash, because there are no ATMs in Capurgana or anywhere in Guna Yala! There are two ATMs in Necoclí. You can get cash in Capurgana at certain shops with a 5-15% interest rate. You can only pay for this tour in cash ($425), so make sure you bring enough! The jeep ride between the port of Carti and Panama City will also have to be paid in cash for the standard price of $30. Apart from those expenses, you might want to buy extra snacks, coconuts, beer or other drinks at the islands, so bring some extra money if you want to have this flexibility.

How to get to Capurgana and Sapzurro

Start your journey from Colombia to Panama

This hidden gem is off the beaten track, but offers the best diving and most beautiful and quiet white sand beaches in Colombia. You can get to Capurgana by bus and boat or by flight from Medellín and Cartagena. There are no good roads that connect Capurgana to the rest of Colombia!

Bus to Necoclí

If you want to go by bus, you will have to get to Necoclí, from where the boat to Capurgana leaves. Buses from Cartagena to Necoclí will cost you around 100.000 COP and take 7 hours. You might have to transfer in Montería. Just ask for Necoclí at the bus station in Cartagena and people will help you out.

In Necoclí we recommend staying in Hostal La Mariapolis (+57(321)5593560 they speak English). If you want to stay here longer, you can, it is a great place to chill!

Boat to Capurgana

From there you will have to take a 2 hour boat to Capurgana. We strongly recommend reserving your 8 AM boat latest the day before, which can be done through us, by the hostel Mariapolis or directly through the boat company. If you don’t book in advance, you might end up waiting for hours at the chaotic port. It is important to cover ALL your bags with trash bags or other plastic bags, because they will most likely get splashed with seawater a lot. They sell bags at the port so you can get them when you go on the boat. Save the bags for later when you get to Capurgana, because you will need them for our journey too! We recommend keeping valuables like passports, computers, and cameras with you in a smaller bag.

The day before the tour

The day before the tour starts, we will have to get the stamp for leaving Colombia together, because the office is only open on specific hours and we leave very early in the morning on the day our tour officially starts. After stamping out, officials give us 24 hours to get the next stamp into Panama, which is only a 30-minute boat ride away from Capurgana. We will have a briefing in Capurgana and get the stamp together, and we will help you out with all the administration needed for the border crossing! The days before your tour, Hector will contact you directly to discuss the time and location where we meet.

If you don’t need any time in Capurgana, you could take the 8 AM boat from Necoclí on the day that we meet and you will be in time for stamping out of Colombia together. However, Capurgana is worth staying a few days as well, so feel free to hang around there until the day of our trip.

After arriving in Panama City, you will be dropped off at the hostel where you want to stay, so that part is easy!

That would be all. We hope you arrive excited in Capurga (how the locals call it) and feel free to contact us in case you have any more questions.

How to get to Panama

Start your journey from Panama to Colombia

Getting to Panama City is easy, as it is the capital of Panama. Our jeep drivers will pick you up from your hostel at 5 AM (very early!) on the day that the tour starts. This assures that we arrive early enough at the islands to enjoy our time there.

The jeep ride to the port of Carti is around 2 hours. The road is windy, so if you struggle with car sickness, we recommend taking medication for (mainly the last bit of) the drive. You will have to pay the driver $30 in cash. You will spend a total of $455 on our tour, of which $30 has to be paid to the taxi driver and the other $425 to the guide.

From Carti, the boat journey to the first islands will be less than an hour, and as soon as you've stepped onto the boat you will start feeling the island vibes!

After arriving in Capurgana, we will help you with everything you need to know to get to Cartagena or Medellín. The total costs of transportation from Sapzurro or Capurgana to Cartagena will be around 200,000 COP, which is around $50, but you can stop in many beautiful places along the way, which surely makes this journey worth your money and time! If you want more information on this journey, you can read about this in reverse in the column above this one.

Terms and conditions

The full price for the tour has to be paid in US dollars in cash to the tour guide. By paying, you agree with the terms and conditions described below.

Terms and conditions:

I understand that Hector’s San Blas Experience is not responsible for, nor will I attempt to hold either of them liable, for any injury, damage or loss I may suffer.
I understand that in the rare case that we can not leave an island or location because of extremely bad weather, I will pay $30 extra for one night of accommodation and food that Hector’s San Blas Experience will provide.
I understand that I am responsible for bringing a valid passport with a valid visa and I am sure I am allowed to enter both Panama and Colombia. When in doubt, it is my responsibility to contact the embassies to obtain entrance requirements. Hector’s San Blas Experience will try to provide assistance in case of any problems, but will not be liable for any problems at border control or any extra costs for transportation back in case I am not allowed to enter the country.
I understand that the transportation and consumption of drugs is strictly prohibited. Not only are drugs illegal in both Panama and Colombia, we will also cross military checkpoints with dogs upon entry as well as exit of Guna Yala.