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Dugout cayucos pulled up on the shore in Guna Yala, San Blas

Practical Info

What to Pack for San Blas

Small boats, no shops, and little to no power — what to actually bring

Photo: Ben Kucinski (CC BY 2.0)

Quick Info

Cash

USD only, no ATMs once you're in the islands

Mosquitoes

Strong repellent + after-bite gel, worse on an island stay than out on a boat

Power

Bring a power bank — charging is limited to none on most islands

Sun

Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, shade is scarce on the water

Connectivity

Little to no wifi or phone signal, plan to be offline

How to Pack

A soft duffel or dry bag, not a hard suitcase — you'll be lifted in and out of small boats

San Blas doesn't have shops beyond a few small tiendas, and there's no laundry, no reliable power, and often no cell signal once you're out on the water. Whatever you bring is what you have for the whole stay. None of this needs to be complicated, but a few things genuinely matter more here than on a typical Panama trip.

The San Blas Packing Essentials

Cash in small USD bills, there are no ATMs once you're in the islands
Your passport, needed at the Guna Yala entry checkpoint, and again if you're continuing on to Colombia
Strong mosquito repellent, plus something for the bites you'll get anyway
Reef-safe sunscreen, the reef here is some of the healthiest in the Caribbean
A dry bag or large ziplock bags for your phone, passport and electronics during boat crossings
A headlamp or flashlight, and a fully charged power bank, electricity is limited to none on most islands
Travel-sickness tablets if you're prone to motion sickness, take one before the drive starts, not once you're already on the road
Any medication you need for the trip, nothing is sold on the islands

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Worth the extra bag

A proper dry bag earns its keep here. You'll be climbing between boats at the Cartí launch and again at your island or charter, sometimes through light spray.

What to Wear in San Blas

Swimwear and light, quick-dry clothing, you'll likely wear the same few things on repeat
Water shoes or sturdy sandals, for getting in and out of boats over rock and coral
A light long-sleeve layer, useful against both sun on the water and mosquitoes at dusk
A light rain layer if you're visiting outside dry season (December to April)
A hat and sunglasses

Small Extras Worth Bringing

A book, cards, or something offline, wifi is little to none
A reusable water bottle
Snacks, if you're a picky eater, meals are whatever your hosts or boat are serving that day
Earplugs, if you're a light sleeper

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Good to know

Every island belongs to a self-governing Guna community, not a resort. Keep noise down near villages, ask before photographing people, and pack out every bit of your trash.

What to Leave at Home

A hard suitcase, pack in a soft duffel or dry bag instead, it's far easier to load in and out of small boats
Valuables you can't risk getting wet or losing to salt air
Any expectation of laundry, hot showers, or reliable power, pack knowing you may have none of them