San Blas Over-the-water Cabin

The private cabins feature fans over each bed, private toilets and showers. Six cabins are built over the water and have balconies with access to the ocean while the cabins on land also feature private bathrooms and wooden floors.
Waili Lodge has an ocean front restaurant with its own salt water pool to keep fresh lobster, fish, snails and crabs for preparing our guests' meals.
Waili Lodge also has private rooms with wooden floor and private bathrooms

While San Blas is a beautiful island archipelago with stunning beaches and clear waters, it also has its downsides, for which we would like to make you aware off.

1) San Blas is very rustic without the amenities and standards you might be used to from home.

Compared to places such as Tahiti and Maldives that are managed by international hotel chains, San Blas has remained autonomous without the influence of outsiders. When visiting San Blas, it should be viewed as a cultural experience where guests live with the Kunas and respect their traditions and ways of living.

• No aircondition

• No Wifi

• No luxury facilities

• Electricity only available between 6pm and 6am

• Water is a precious commodity in San Blas. It is either brought in by boat or pumped from the island well. Oftentimes pumps can malfunction and cause water outages.

• Beds and mattresses can be uncomfortable

2) All services will all be handled by the indigenous Kuna. While Tao Travel 365 strives to provide the best service possible and train the Kuna in customer management, some of the below services are often out of our control.

• Car transportation (the ride to San Blas takes 2.5 to 3 hours, with 1.5 hours over slow, curvy roads with potholes. For those with motion sickness, please prepare accordingly)

• Boat transportation (depending on weather and ocean conditions, the 20-40 minute boat ride might be bumpy and wet with ocean spray).

• Island cabin management (cabins are very rustic and facilities, such as showers and bathrooms are often “home-made” with PVC pipes. Some guests have complained that sheets are old).

• Island kitchen (meal plans are repetitive and food might taste bland)

3) Trash is a worldwide problem and unfortunately San Blas has not been spared from the ever increasing issue. During certain tides and ocean and wind conditions plastic trash from throughout the Caribbean ocean accumulates on the beaches of San Blas. While the local Kuna are working hard to collect the constant trash washing up on their beaches, guests will nevertheless find evidence of plastic spread out on the island.

4) During the wet months (April - December) or during windless days, all of San Blas experiences sandflies, which are little blood-sucking flies that leave itchy marks. Please ensure to bring natural insect repellent and prepare to return to Panama City with a few itchy memories.

5) Due to the complexity of the logistics involved with each reservation in San Blas (arranging cars, boats, cabins and meals), we kindly ask our guests to adhere to the itinerary schedule sent to them in advance of their trip to San Blas. For any changes in schedule, you must first contact our office and we will attempt to accommodate your request. Please note that additional fees may apply.

We kindly ask our guests to lower their expectation when visiting San Blas and to focus on the beautiful paradise that San Blas has remained despite the effects that modern society has ceased to them. The Kunas are very gentle and kind people, but can also be somewhat shy at times. When approaching them with a smile and an open heart you will be guaranteed an innocent, happy smile in return.

The 3 hour journey to San Blas involves driving over bas roads with many potholes and off-road sections and requires a 4x4 vehicle. All other cars will be turned around at the border crossing.
We offer roundtrip transportation in a shared car (with up to 6 passengers) from Panama City for $55 per guest.