FAQ
Before booking and being part of this trip of a lifetime, you and everyone from your group must understand what San Blas Adventures offers. It’s a wild adventure through some of the most beautiful remote islands in the Caribbean.
There may be bad weather, rough sea, you’ll probably get wet, there will be limited privacy, bucket showers, rustic accommodations, sleeping in hammocks, engine failures, mosquito bites, sunburn… While discovering a new world anything can happen!
Are you up for it!?
How to book
To make a reservation we take a deposit of $70 USD per person through our online booking system.
Select your departure date at :
www.sanblasadventures.com/calendar/
Once we receive your deposit you will receive a booking confirmation + our FAQ in PDF.
After reading send us an email:
“I confirm that I understand, accept and agree with the information in the San Blas Adventures FAQ”
Your place on the trip is not confirmed until we receive this!!
By booking a tour through San Blas Adventures S.A, you confirm that you have read and fully understand, accept and agree our FAQ, terms and conditions, and our Liability Release.
Confirm your booking
CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING 5 DAYS BEFORE THE TRIP
– If you have booked more than 5 days in advance please –
CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING BY SENDING US AN EMAIL: ¨I WILL JOIN THE TRIP¨
As we have only collected a deposit from you, and also for organization purposes, it’s very important we have contact with you and an e-mail confirmation that you will definitely be joining the trip. Just like checking in for a flight, if we do not receive confirmation by email, it’s possible that your seat(s) can be resold, so make sure you get in touch!
Once you are booked please send us:
- The email of everyone in your group
- Full name (as it shows on the passport)
- Nationality
- Date of birth (day – month – year)
- Passport #
- Any special dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, allergies, food intolerance, etc.)
- Occupation
- Hostel/hotel name
Panama to Colombia
Please read carefully through our FAQ page and our Summertime segment. Please don't book any flights for after the trip (December to April) before reading our summertime segment & FAQ page. We recommend to allow 4-5 days after the expected trip end date for scheduling flights or commitments.
Summertime… and the livin’ is breezy! “Summer” in San Blas is from December to April and means blue skies, hot days and strong winds. Due to weather conditions at this time of year there are a few things we do differently that you need to take into consideration before booking with us. Weather : During these months there is a strong wind that comes almost constantly from the north-east. This means that the sea can be rough, sometimes too rough to travel in. For the same reason, at this time of year, few sailboats travel to Cartagena as the open ocean stretch can be too rough, particularly outside Cartagena. Our trip is along the coast, mostly within the protection of islands and reefs, however there are sections where we are exposed to rough seas. We operate at this time of year with extreme caution. Safety always comes first and it’s possible we may delay or cancel a trip, before or during the trip. We will always keep you up to date and informed on sea conditions and possibility of delays or cancelation. Differences to be aware of: Voyages: Due to the winds our travel times can take longer and you’ll get wet. Delays and flights: It’s important that you do not have a flight or anything pressing at the other end. The trip could be delayed before it begins or we may have to wait a day or more on one of the islands to let weather pass (this can be a great extra experience, if you’re not in a rush, more time on the islands!). The longest we’ve been delayed in the past is 4 days. Deposit is refundable in the case of delay. Extra costs: if we do get stuck on the islands there will be an extra cost of $30 a day for food and accommodation. We suggest you bring around $150 extra money on top of the recommended amount, in case there are delays. Book early: Being high season and windy season together there are many travelers and few boats so get in sooner rather than later!! To give you an idea of the frequency of delays, in general we are delayed 2 – 6 times throughout the entire high season and delays in the past have been anywhere from 1-4 days. Cancellation: (This is extremely rare, however we have to have a policy) If the trip is cancelled due to weather before the trip we will refund your deposit. In the very unlikely event that the trip is cancelled during the trip and we have to return we will refund $80 per day for the days of the trip remaining and provide transport back to the start point. Once the trip has started there are NO REFUNDS If you decide to cancel/leave the trip, during the trip, because of a delay or any other reason there is no refund and you will need to pay for boat transport back to the start/end point. We will warn you before the trip of the likelihood of delay. If you’re worried about a flight after the trip it’s better to cancel and take another transportation.March/April – November/December
Generally known as the rainy season it’s actually a very comfortable time of year to travel in San Blas. The seas are calm and when it rains it generally only lasts a short time and we generally always have some sunshine. Our trip depends on the weather so keep in mind that the itinerary can change at any timeDecember – March/April
For these months there is a strong wind almost constantly from the North-East. In general the sea is rougher and sometimes we may have to delay. On the upside it is the Caribbean summer and because we travel along the coast a lot of our trip is mostly protected by islands and reefs. Read more about our Summer Time & High season Remember: We can't control the weather, but we can control our attitude!WE ORGANISE A MEETING AT 11.00AM THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIP AT LUNA'S CASTLE HOSTEL IN THE OLD TOWN ¨CASCO VIEJO¨, PANAMA CITY
In this way we can brief you fully and make sure you are totally ready for the trip. This meeting is really important so please be there if you can!! It’s a good chance to see Casco Viejo (old town) at the same time.
This meeting is made for you to get a full briefing from the guide in order to be fully prepared for your departure the next day, and get to know the other people of the group. Also after the briefing the remaining balance should be paid and $30 USD for the shared 4x4 car to the port.
WHAT IF I MISS THE BRIEFING?
Read our FAQ twice!
There is all the information you need to be totally prepared for the trip. In that case you will
pay the remaining balance before the trip in the morning of the departure to your guide.
We strongly recommend you to attend the briefing to avoid any misunderstanding or surprises and to answer any of your questions!
Colombia to Panama
Please read carefully through our FAQ page
and our Summertime segment. Please don't book any flights for after the trip (December to April) before reading our summertime segment & FAQ page. We recommend to allow 3-5 days after the expected trip end date for scheduling flights or commitments.
Summertime… and the livin’ is breezy!
“Summer” in San Blas is from December to April and means blue skies, hot days and strong winds. Due to weather conditions at this time of year there are a few things we do differently that you need to take into consideration before booking with us.
Weather : During these months there is a strong wind that comes almost constantly from the north-east. This means that the sea can be rough, sometimes too rough to travel in. For the same reason, at this time of year, few sailboats travel to Cartagena as the open ocean stretch can be too rough, particularly outside Cartagena. Our trip is along the coast, mostly within the protection of islands and reefs, however there are sections where we are exposed to rough seas. We operate at this time of year with extreme caution. Safety always comes first and it’s possible we may delay or cancel a trip, before or during the trip. We will always keep you up to date and informed on sea conditions and possibility of delays or cancelation.
Differences to be aware of:
Voyages: Due to the winds our travel times can take longer and you’ll get wet.
Delays and flights:
It’s important that you do not have a flight or anything pressing at the other end. The trip could be delayed before it begins or we may have to wait a day or more on one of the islands to let weather pass (this can be a great extra experience, if you’re not in a rush, more time on the islands!). The longest we’ve been delayed in the past is 4 days. Deposit is refundable in the case of delay.
Extra costs: if we do get stuck on the islands there will be an extra cost of $30 a day for food and accommodation. We suggest you bring around $150 extra money on top of the recommended amount, in case there are delays.
Book early: Being high season and windy season together there are many travelers and few boats so get in sooner rather than later!!
To give you an idea of the frequency of delays, in general we are delayed 2 – 6 times throughout the entire high season and delays in the past have been anywhere from 1-4 days.
Cancellation: (This is extremely rare, however we have to have a policy)
If the trip is cancelled due to weather before the trip we will refund your deposit.
In the very unlikely event that the trip is cancelled during the trip and we have to return we will refund $80 per day for the days of the trip remaining and provide transport back to the start point.
Once the trip has started there are NO REFUNDS
If you decide to cancel/leave the trip, during the trip, because of a delay or any other reason there is no refund and you will need to pay for boat transport back to the start/end point.
We will warn you before the trip of the likelihood of delay. If you’re worried about a flight after the trip it’s better to cancel and take another transportation.
March/April – November/December
Generally known as the rainy season it’s actually a very comfortable time of year to travel in San Blas. The seas are calm and when it rains it generally only lasts a short time and we generally always have some sunshine. Our trip depends on the weather so keep in mind that the itinerary can change at any timeDecember – March/April
For these months there is a strong wind almost constantly from the North-East. In general the sea is rougher and sometimes we may have to delay. On the upside it is the Caribbean summer and because we travel along the coast a lot of our trip is mostly protected by islands and reefs. Read more about our Summer Time & High season Remember: We can't control the weather, but we can control our attitude!
IMPORTANT: You must be in Capurgana the day before the trip. That means leaving Cartagena, Medellin (or any other town/city) 2 days before the trip.
MEETING AT 12.00pm MIDDAY THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIP
AT OUR SAN BLAS ADVENTURES INFO POINT BY THE DOCK IN CAPURGANA
This meeting is really important so please be there. If you are coming from Necocli and your boat is late, don’t worry, we’ll wait for you.
This meeting is made for you to get a full briefing from the guide in order to be fully prepared for your departure the next day, and get to know the other people of the group. Also after the briefing the remaining balance should be paid and $30 USD for the shared 4x4 car from Carti to Panama city.
WHAT IF I MISS THE BRIEFING?
Read our FAQ twice! There is all the information you need to be totally prepared for the trip. In that case you will pay the remaining balance before the trip in the morning of the departure to your guide.
We strongly recommend you to attend the briefing to avoid any misunderstanding or surprises and to answer any of your questions!