Hector's San Blas Experience
Traveler Reviews
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Mi experiencia con Hector en Guna Yala / San Blas fue inolvidable. Pasear por pequeñas islas con agua de color azul/cristal, tomar agua de coco en la playa, hacer snorkeling alrededor de las distintas islas, compartir una partida de volley con habitantes de las islas me encantó (y lo mejor es qué eso lo hicimos todo en un solo dia !). Luego, encontramos Kunas en sus communidades, nos explicaron mas sobre su historia y su cultura, una experiencia muy enriquecedora. Recomiendo muchísimo el tour organizado por Hector, por la autenticidad y la intensidad de la experiencia. Lo haria de vuelta con mucho placer. Muchas gracias !
Marc - Dec 11 2023
I did the 4 days experience San Blas with Hector from Colombia to Panama It was one of my favorite experience in Latin America Visiting all these beautiful islands was a dream, we were alone in all the place and the colour of the water was surreal Thanks to Hector who is a guide from the kuna community, we had the chance to meet the community, visit the islands, understand more about the culture and this was really interesting Also the food was delicious ! From breakfast, lunch and diner we had fresh food everyday and it was so good. Hector also takes care of all the meal restrictions for everyone and respect all the diet Hector is a fantastic person, very nice, smiling, humble, generous and it was amazing getting to know him and sharing all of his stories I recommend 1000% the tour. Don’t hesitate
Farah - Oct 10 2023
La experiencia con Hector fue increíble! Cada día era un encanto, más que los paisajes paradisiacos, vivimos una extraordinaria aventura humana. Compartir tiempo con Hector y los Kunas es aprender a vivir juntos y disfrutar de alegrías puras. Nunca olvidaré esos momentos mágicos en las islas San Blas ! Gracias amigo, te deseo lo mejor en ese proyecto fenomenal!
Liantsoa - Oct 10 2023
Traveling with Hector is intimate. Our group was very small and we really got to know him, our capitan (a lovely man named Albeiro), and the community. We had meals and conversation with more than a few of their friends, went to a wedding, danced and played with children, and went searching for food among the reefs together. If you are the kind of person who likes to travel like this — exposed and intimate with the people, cultures and environments you are visiting— I can't recommend Hector more. But that comes with the spontaneity and discomfort that is normal during travel of this kind. If comfort and control are important to you, you might want to look for a bigger, more conventional tour. Also if nobody in the group that forms speaks Spanish that make it kind of hard to communicate, but he told me that hasn't happened yet. I also want to mention that the stuff on the website about the money going to the Guna community is true. Hector is a very caring person who actively seeks out people in the community who are struggling financially to support. He distributes most of the cash that you pay for the tour to such a degree that it leaves me wondering what is left for him and Albeiro. I hear this is very different from the way other tour agencies function which operate with much higher profit margins. Overall, it was truly an amazing experience I will remember for the rest of my life and I am so so glad I found Hector and Albeiro. And I usually hate tours!
Aaron - Aug 17 2023
La traversée des San Blas avec Hector a été un moment incroyable, certainement notre meilleure expérience depuis le début de notre voyage (Avril 2023). Les îles ainsi que les communautés que nous avons rencontré ont été un moment inoubliable. Nous recommandons cette expérience avec Hector les yeux fermés. A bientôt pour de nouvelles aventures Hector 🤙🏻
Amelle - Aug 18 2023
Pasamos una viaje increíble con Hector y las comunidades. Magníficos paisajes, fantásticos encuentros y una comida deliciosa. Por seguro, ya tenemos recuerdos inolvidables! Muchas gracias amigo y suerte con tu lindo proyecto
Maxime - Oct 10 2023
This experience was amazing!!! This is definitely the best way to travel between Cental and South America, with Hector and his crew! We had a great time there, between the beautiful islands and the Guna culture, adventurous boat trips and a lot of fun. Hector gave us an improved and customized experience, which other companies don't do. He did all he could to give us this wonderful time, and surely succeeded! Thank you again Hector and the crew you are great human beings, I will never forget this adventure! Nuedi anai
Fred - March 23 2024
Extraordinary experience! Everything was perfect ! The landscapes are magnificent, the meeting with the communities incredible and the food excellent. Hector is a wonderful person and always caring 🥰
Yas - Oct 3 2023
The all trip was amazing ! 4 days and 3 nights of fun and adventures, we went on so many differents islands and meet so nice people. I can just tell you IT was worth it. Thanks to Hector and Albeiro, Gracias !The all trip was amazing ! 4 days and 3 nights of fun and adventures, we went on so many differents islands and meet so nice people. I can just tell you IT was worth it. Thanks to Hector and Albeiro, Gracias !
Nora - Aug 21 2023
Wowie! So amazing, we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Hector and Albeiro (capitan). The food was freshly caught seafood almost every meal, and some of which were cooked by Hector and Albeiro themselves, so yummy! They did an excellent job showcasing the culture and wildlife of the Guna Yala with coral reef snorkeling during the day and evenings within communities. Seeing the community life of each island was a huge bonus of this tour over others! Especially because Hector was great at answering questions and explaining all the different parts of their culture. (Also it's best if you have your own snorkel gear, but they had some to use most days for us). Though the days were packed there was plenty of time to relax in the Hammock (they brought two for our group) after the morning boat rides which were never more than an 1.5 hours. The one recommended action I have which probably applies to all the tours is to prepare for the car ride before hand. There is about 1 - 1.5 ish hours of pretty intense curvy dirt roads to get to the Guna Yala port so if you get motion sick, it's good to know beforehand. The total drive from Panamá city to the port was maybe 4ish hours. Make sure you bring enough water for 4 day, you can buy some in the towns but it's much easier to bring bottles and keep them in the boat, keep in mind a drink is included with every meal. You can be sure also that the money for the tour is well spent, because it includes 1. Transportation from Panamá city into the port 2. the tax to get into the port, 3. Colombia Visa tax 4. All the profits really do go back to the communities as the meals come from local restaurants and the sleeping quarters are hotels and cabanas of locals. The only additional cost we had to consider was the water taxi from Sapzurro to Capurgana once in Colombia, which was 5 dollars each. Anyway, such an amazing experience! Highly recommended, Salud!
Juliana - Sep 9 2023
Después de muchas travesías puedo asegurar que he encontrado "El Viaje". Junto a Joan, Servet, Yanis, Lea, el capitán Albeiro y el Marinero Héctor hemos conocido y compartido una parte muy importante de nuestra vida y experiencia. Ellos dos nos han cuidado y mimado como a su familia y amigos mas queridos y nos han regalado la oportunidad unica de conocer un poco de su maravillosa cultura que rebosa de Humanidad.
Nadie en este planeta debería dejar de conocer estas maravillas naturales y humanas.
Gracias GENTES de Guna Yala.
Vicentico - Aug 11 2023
I will confess, when I heard that I was going to be the only one doing the trip from Panama to Colombia with Héctor's San Blas Experience, I was a little nervous. But in the end I had the best time and I'm so glad I did travel with Héctor.
I spent two nights on very pretty islands, enjoying amazing sunsets, sunrises, excellent food, beautiful beaches, and making friends with other tourists. The third night I spent with Héctor in his own Guna community, Armila. Hector is very kind, attentive and interested in you having a good time. He really made an effort to show me around his village. We went canaletear (= canoeing in the traditional wooden boats), watched the girl’s volleyball team play, I got to wear the traditional clothing, and join the congreso, where the leaders sing to their people in the evening. The next morning we went fishing and after breakfast Héctor accompanied me to Capurganá in Colombia.
Hector’s San Blas Experience really lets you catch a glimpse of the Guna's culture and way of life! Asi que estuvo un viaje increíble y te lo agradesco muchísimo, Héctor!!!!
Sophy - Sep 1 2023
Hector is an amazing guide who knows a lot about Guna culture and tells the most interesting stories. I didn't have to worry about my allergies and being vegetarian, all the food got taken care of. Thank you for the fantastic experience!
Jet - June 10 2023
We loved the 4 days we spent with Hector on the San Blas Islands. The experience is 100% authentic and perfectly combines meeting the Kuna community and discovering heavenly beaches. We recommend it!
Damien - July 25 2023
I absolutely loved it. As soon as I stepped into their village, I was blown away by how nice everybody was to us. Their sense of community is something we can all learn from. All the best to you and your family, Hector!
Joshua - May 23 2023
Nuestro viaje con Hector San Blas Experiencia fue EXELENTE!!! Hemos pasado 3 dias y 2 noches en la Isla Kuna donde vive Iron y sus companeros. Todo fue muy bonito : habitación autentica y comoda, la comida fue ricissima, y la organisacion estaba perfecta (transferencia desde Panama city con jeep y lancha) 👍 Recomandamos Hector San Blas Experiencia para organisar su viaje autentico 💯
Antonio - Sep 9 2023
Extraordinary experience! Everything was perfect ! The landscapes are magnificent, the meeting with the communities incredible and the food excellent. Hector is a wonderful person and always caring
Yas - Sep 9 2023
Ayoub y yo llegamos bien a Cartagena hoy. Queriamos agradecerte por los dias increibles que pasamos en Guna Yala y especialmente en Armila, por la amabilidad de toda tu familia y el tiempo pasado con Alvin y Hilde. Nos encantó nuestra estancia y ya extranamos Guna Yala y tenemos los Gunas en nuestro corazon ! Gracias por organizar todo eso y permitirnos conocer mejor tu cultura. Te deseamos lo mejor !!
Mathilde y Ayoub - Dec 21 2023
This crossing from Colombia to Panama was an unforgettable experience. Hector is a caring guide, with exceptional sympathy who makes us live for 4 days to the rhythm of the waves, local communities and heavenly beaches. I recommend this stay with my eyes closed, which was a milestone in my trip in South America!
Jan 21 2024
The 4 days with Hector were incredible! We were able to discover the Guna culture, see some splendid scenery (these are the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen in my life) and we also ate superbly! It's the kind of experience you can't really describe, you have to live it.
Jan 21 2024
Francais
"Ce nest pas la destination qui compte mais le voyage". Nous devions rejoindre la Colombie depuis le Panama et la traversée que nous avons vécue avec Hector et hermi en est une belle illustration. Hector nous a fait voyager entre les îles et au coeur de sa culture Kuna. Chaque arrêt est une surprise , une sensation de bout du monde, où vous attendent une case simple et propre, des sourires d'enfants, du poisson grillé et des histoires kuna. Hector et son capitaine sont aux petits soins, toujours de bonne humeur, heureux de partager leur culture.
English
“It’s not the destination that matters, but the journey.” We had to reach Colombia from Panama and the crossing that we experienced with Hector and Hermi is a beautiful illustration of this. Hector took us between the islands and into the heart of his Kuna culture. Each stop is a surprise, a feeling at the end of the world, where a simple and clean hut, children's smiles, grilled fish and Kuna stories await you. Hector and his captain are attentive, always in a good mood, happy to share their culture.
Alice - March 30 2024
Francais
Ce voyage d’îles en îles parfois désertes, parfois habitées avec chaque fois un petit coup de cœur fut une belle découverte qui n’aurait sûrement pas été la même sans Hector qui nous a permis de connaître quelques éléments de la culture guna qu’il aime tant partager et le fait si bien. Muchas gracias Hector
English
This journey from island to island, sometimes deserted, sometimes inhabited, each time with a little crush, was a great discovery which would surely not have been the same without Hector who allowed us to know some elements of the Guna culture that he loves to share so much and does it so well. Muchas gracias Hector
Alain - April 2 2024
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