Discover Responsible & Community based Tourism
with San Blas Adventures
At San Blas Adventures, we believe in tourism that truly respects and benefits the places we visit. Here’s how we put responsible tourism into practice:
Community-Based Tourism:
Our tours are designed to enhance local communities, integrating seamlessly with island life and ensuring that tourism supports and respects the people of San Blas.
Local Expertise:
Most of our team members are local islanders, offering you an authentic experience deeply connected to the San Blas culture.
Diverse Encounters:
Travel alongside both islanders and international staff, enjoying a rich, multicultural experience that fosters genuine connections.
Active Community Engagement:
We are committed to giving back by restructuring schools, sponsoring volleyball teams, building parks for kids, and supporting holiday celebrations in San Blas and Capurgana. Your travel helps fund these meaningful community projects.
Join us for an adventure where your journey makes a positive difference.
What is responsible tourism & community based tourism at San Blas Adventures?
For San Blas Adventures, responsible and community-based tourism are core principles that guide how we operate and interact with the San Blas Islands and its communities.
Responsible Tourism at San Blas Adventures
Minimizing Impact: Our tours are designed to respect the natural beauty of the San Blas Islands with minimal environmental impact.
Cultural Respect: We honor and preserve the unique cultures and traditions of the local islanders.
Economic Fairness: A significant portion of tourism revenue benefits local communities, enhancing their quality of life.
Sustainable Practices: We implement eco-friendly practices in all aspects of our business.
Community-Based Tourism at San Blas Adventures
Local Involvement: Most of our team are local islanders, ensuring authentic experiences and community involvement.
Direct Benefits: Tourism revenue supports local projects like school renovations, sports sponsorships, and holiday celebrations.
Cultural Exchange: We create meaningful interactions between travelers and islanders, fostering mutual understanding.
Community Support: We contribute to projects such as building parks for kids and enhancing holiday celebrations.
By embracing these principles, San Blas Adventures ensures that your travel experience is both memorable and positively impactful.
Why should we all be interested in responsible & community based tourism?
Meaningful Impact
Travelers want to make a positive difference through their trips, supporting local economies and sustainable practices.
Authentic Experiences
Guests seek genuine connections with local cultures and people, offering a deeper understanding of traditions and lifestyles.
Environmental Conservation
Eco-conscious travelers prefer options that minimize their ecological footprint and help preserve natural landscapes.
Ethical Travel Choices
Travelers are interested in supporting businesses that operate with integrity, respect, and fair practices.
Personal Satisfaction
Participating in responsible tourism gives guests a sense of purpose and satisfaction, knowing their activities benefit local communities.
Building Connections
Guests value the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with local people, enhancing their travel experience.
Supporting Local Initiatives
Travelers are eager to support local projects and see the tangible benefits of their contributions to community development.
Travel Responsibly :
How do we practice responsible tourism on the San Blas Islands?
At San Blas Adventures, we’re committed to responsible tourism that makes a positive impact. Our tours are crafted to minimize environmental impact while respecting the natural beauty and local cultures of the San Blas Archipelago.
We ensure that a significant portion of our revenue benefits local communities, supporting vital projects like school renovations, sports sponsorships, and holiday celebrations. Our team, made up primarily of local islanders, provides authentic experiences and ensures that tourism supports their way of life.
We also create opportunities for meaningful interactions between travelers and islanders, fostering genuine cultural exchanges. By implementing sustainable practices and actively participating in community projects, we contribute to the positive development and well-being of the San Blas Islands.
Join San Blas Adventures for an unforgettable experience that supports local families and promotes sustainable tourism!
We build relationships with the local people
At San Blas Adventures, we are proud to be a team that feels like a big family, made up of Kuna local islanders and international members working together. We deeply respect the Kuna people, the indigenous inhabitants of the San Blas Islands, who have a rich history and vibrant culture. This close connection ensures authentic and respectful interactions with the community.
Over the years, we have built strong relationships with the Kuna, seeking their input and understanding their concerns. This ongoing dialogue ensures that our guests’ activities are respectful and considerate. Our Kuna team members play a vital role in bridging cultural gaps and fostering meaningful connections, allowing us to offer a deeper, more authentic San Blas experience.
Meeting the Kuna is a key part of any visit to the San Blas Islands. Our unique relationship with the locals and our team’s local insights allow us to take guests to special parts of the islands that others can’t or don’t know about.
Cultural sensitivity is at the heart of what we do. We strive to be unobtrusive and brief our guests on local customs to ensure our presence is respectful. We maintain open communication with the Kuna community, encouraging them to voice any concerns directly.
Our mission is to create meaningful interactions that honor the Kuna way of life. We are committed to respectful practices and always invite the Kuna to share their perspectives.
Join our San Blas island-hopping trips at San Blas Adventures for a journey that embraces the Kuna culture, integrates local islanders, and promotes responsible tourism in the San Blas Islands.
You and Us directly support the Local Kuna community
At San Blas Adventures, It’s essential that the local community profits from tourism in the San Blas Islands. While building strong relationships is crucial, we believe it’s a no-brainer that a fair share of the profits from tourism should go to the local inhabitants.
We achieve this by engaging in fair business exchanges rather than handouts—paying the Kuna for their produce and services. Unlike many competitors who have guests sleep on sailboats, we stay in Kuna-made huts, immerse our guests in Kuna settlements, and provide meals sourced from local Kuna suppliers. We also encourage our guests to purchase drinks and handmade goods directly from the Kuna.
We have negotiated fair rates for all services, ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism are shared with the local community. This commitment to supporting the Kuna will always be at the core of how we operate.
Together with the Kuna: Building Community Initiatives
Being outsiders allows us to bring new perspectives, knowledge, and skills that benefit the Kuna community in the San Blas Islands. This is why San Blas Adventures actively engages in community projects, sharing our expertise to help the Kuna learn and grow. The Kuna have formed a dedicated committee, reaching out to us when they have new initiatives, and we are always eager to support.
We provide the Kuna with essential tools, resources, and valuable insights, helping to improve their quality of life in the San Blas Archipelago. Our commitment to responsible tourism and community involvement is a reflection of the trust they’ve placed in us by welcoming us into their home. Together, we work to ensure a positive impact on the islands and their inhabitants.
Fresh from the islands :Kuna farming and fishing traditions
We are committed to supporting the Kuna economy by sourcing our food directly from the local islanders, contributing to their growth in a sustainable, long-term way. To further this goal, we are actively organizing farming training and providing resources for Kuna locals interested in cultivating their own food.
While the Kuna are already skilled fishermen, we consistently purchase fish from them, ensuring they receive a fair price for their catch. By choosing to buy locally, we aim to empower the Kuna community and foster a thriving, self-sufficient economy on the San Blas Islands.
Responsible approach to waste and recycling
There is no centralised waste disposal system in the San Blas Islands and there can be
some similar infrastructural problems. As such, we are very careful about the impact we
have on the environment. We are careful about the amount of plastic we bring with us and
we take all of our waste with us.
We will always improve our responsible tourism practices, allowing them to evolve over time. We hope anyone reading this blog has learned lots about responsible tourism and why some companies (like us) are putting so much time and money into it. Ultimately, we wouldn’t exist as a business if the San Blas Archipelago wasn’t such a paradise, and we want to do everything we can to ensure they stay that way. It’s good for us, it’s good for our customers, and it’s good for the local communities. If you’d like to know more about our island-hopping experiences, check out our Panama to Colombia and our Colombia to Panama San Blas trips!
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