San Blas or the Exumas: Which Caribbean Charter Suits You
San Blas and the Exumas in the Bahamas are island chains made for boats. A fair comparison of comfort, culture, charter style and who each destination suits.
If you love the idea of a boat, a cooler and a day hopping between sandbars, two names keep coming up: the Exumas in the Bahamas and San Blas in Panama. Both are long chains of small islands. Both are best seen from the water. Both have sandbars where the sea is waist-deep and impossibly blue.
And yet they feel very different once you are there. This is a fair comparison, written by people who run private boats in San Blas and who would rather you choose the right place than the wrong one.
The short version
- The Exumas suit travelers who want a polished island charter: established marinas, resorts and villas, and a well-developed yachting scene.
- San Blas suits travelers who want something rawer: islands that are barely developed, an indigenous territory with its own rules and a private boat that takes you somewhere that still feels remote.
The Exumas, briefly
The Exumas are a chain of islands and cays in the Bahamas, famous for their clear water, sandbars and boating culture. They are well known for yacht charters and for a few iconic attractions, including the swimming pigs that have become a staple of travel photography. Visitors can stay in resorts or villas and spend their days on boat trips among the cays.
It is a mature tourism destination. Infrastructure, accommodation and services are well developed, and it is easy to build a comfortable trip there.
San Blas, briefly
San Blas, officially Guna Yala, is an island chain off Panama’s Caribbean coast. It is an autonomous territory governed by the Guna people, who decide how visitors are received and set the rules they follow. There are no large resorts. The islands are rustic, with sand, palms and simple Guna structures, and many are uninhabited.
Visitors usually reach it from Panama City. On our experiences, we pick you up at your hotel at 5:00 AM in a 4x4, drive the road to the coast and cross to the islands by boat.
Comparing them honestly
Comfort and infrastructure
The Exumas win. They offer the full range of accommodation, restaurants and services you would expect in a major Caribbean destination. San Blas is basic by design: no resort chains, no room service, limited electricity and connectivity on many islands. If you need those comforts, the Exumas will serve you better.
Culture
San Blas wins clearly. In Guna Yala you are a guest in a living indigenous territory. Our guides are Guna, and on the VIP Day you visit an inhabited community, see how its people live and meet the women who make molas, the hand-stitched textiles that are part of their dress. The territory’s rules are part of the experience: ask before photographing people, ask before flying a drone and respect what belongs to the community.
Sandbars and water
Both are superb. The Exumas are famous for their sandbars, and so is San Blas, whose best-known sandbar, the Piscina Natural, lets you stand in knee-deep water far from any island. In Guna Yala the clearest water tends to be at the outer cays: Cayos Holandeses on a private charter is our route for the most remote reef in the archipelago.
Charter style
In the Exumas, a charter often means a yacht with a crew, sometimes over several days. In San Blas, our private charters are a day on the water: a private boat for up to six guests, with a dedicated captain and Guna guide, lunch on the island with a drink and snorkel gear. The route is planned with you on the morning itself.
Crowds
This depends on the day and the place in both destinations. San Blas’s advantage is that many islands remain undeveloped and a private boat makes it easy to find a quiet sandbar. Our shared boats are capped at ten guests on the VIP Day and eight on Cayos Holandeses VIP, so even our group experiences stay small.
Wildlife
The Exumas have their famous pigs and a well-known marine ecosystem. San Blas has healthy reefs, starfish in shallow water and plenty of fish. Neither destination is a zoo, and in both the rule is the same: look, do not touch.
Who should choose which
The Exumas are for you if:
- you want a resort or villa base with every comfort,
- you are dreaming of a multi-day yacht charter in a well-developed market,
- iconic attractions are part of the appeal.
San Blas is for you if:
- you are already in Panama, or adding the country to a trip,
- you value islands that still feel undiscovered,
- you want a culture you meet rather than a show you watch,
- you are happy with rustic, as long as the boat is private and the water is clear.
Planning a San Blas charter
If San Blas is your choice, the essentials are simple. Choose between a private boat for up to six, a private day for two or one of our small groups. The Guna Yala entry tax is not included; the community charges it directly, around $22 for foreign visitors, in cash on the day. You are welcome to bring your own drinks in cans or plastic, never glass.
Write to us on WhatsApp at +507 6468-4720 with your dates and group size, and see the FAQ for practical details.
Frequently asked questions
Is San Blas similar to the Exumas? The scenery has similarities: small islands, sandbars and turquoise water. The experience is very different. San Blas is rustic, remote and governed by the Guna community, while the Exumas are a developed resort and yachting destination.
Can I charter a private boat in San Blas? Yes. Our private charters carry up to six guests with a dedicated captain and Guna guide, and there is also a private day for one couple.
Are there swimming pigs in San Blas? No. San Blas is about reefs, sandbars and Guna culture. If seeing the swimming pigs matters to you, that is a reason to choose the Exumas.
