Mar 24 2009
Beach Hotels in Panama
Why did I start a post about hotels in Panama? Because I love the country. It’s still an undiscovered tourist destination. You will find in Panama: miles and miles of unspoiled, non-commercialized beaches, rainforests, the Panama Canal - that engineering marvel and very friendly people.
Panama offers eco tourism at its best, especially in such places as the San Blas Islands. This is my favorite place to go when I am in Panama. The San Blas islands are a group of 378 islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. They are owned and controlled by the Kuna Indians, the indigenous people of Panama. In about 1923, they revolted against the Panamanian government and the outcome of this was that the government of Panama gave them the San Blas Islands where they could live their traditional lives, hunt and fish and speak their own language and carry out their customs.
If you go to the San Blas Islands, you should make sure you arrange your trip with a travel agency that is familiar with what the San Blas Islands offer, what lodgings are available, etc., because if you are looking for luxury hotels in the San Blas Islands like what you are accustomed to in, say, North America or Europe, you are not going to find it.
The San Blas Islands, Panama, are best described as a tropical island paradise. The San Blas Islands hotels and resorts do not have 24/7 running hot water and electricity. You arrive in the San Blas Islands by way of airplane to an air strip called Achutupo and then will be taken by boat to whatever island you are staying on. Your hotel might be a sort of cabin over the water. You may or may not have a private bathroom. You will have a hammock where you can relax big time.
For these types of accommodations, you can pay anywhere between $80 to $300US+ per night. These hotels are quite rustic and wonderful and are run by the Kuna people. You will have peace, beautiful scenery, snorkelling, fishing, swimming, trips to other islands, fresh sea food for your meals and be able to visit a Kuna Village and experience the culture of the people.
It is a wonderful experience if you want to get lost on a tropical desert island, relax on the beautiful beaches and escape from it all.
