Ocean Lady's Travels: San Blas Islands to Colon

Dear all,

After a choppy 6 days from Bonaire to the San Blas Islands, we were delighted to be able to say “Land Ahoy”. Only it wasn’t just singular, we were arriving in the San Blas Islands and all we could see on approach is a mass of tiny islands covered in palm trees see photos. Some Islands are so small that they only have a single palm tree, idyllic. Pictures just can’t justify its beauty, but we can try, see pictures!

Its paradise beyond what we ever thought could exist. The Islands are inhabited by the Kuna Indians, there are over 365 Islands in total, some totally uninhabited and others with just one or two families. They live in bamboo huts put together by bits of string! They are very friendly people, and don’t mind you walking around their Islands. The Kunas are very traditional, and protect these traditions to the extent that although they welcome their visitors, they also ensure that they don’t stay long, and women aren’t allowed to marry outside of their race! Their lives seem so happy and completely idyllic! They travel between the Islands on dugout canoes that they call Ulu’s. The men are incredible fit, and on our first day a canoe full of Kuna men approached the boat offering to catch us lobster! How could we refuse! The lobster was cooked and BBQ’d by Alan and Stu and tasted delicious! We really are in paradise!

We took full advantage of the excellent snorkelling around the beautiful reefs in surrounding the Islands. We took the boat to a few Islands to go exploring, each time met with Kuna Women trying to sell you their embroidery! We snorkelled around an Island called ‘Dog Island’ as there is a freighter just 4 metres below sea level and a haven for beautiful fish! Stu and Laura saw a Barracuda…eek! We also explored

We found a really cute restaurant called ‘Bienvenidos’ We were the only guests and we ate the only dish on the menu chicken with lentils and rice! We were served by an elder lady who wore their traditional dress. Stu and Laura then took a walk around the Island Wichubhuala Island one of the only Islands without palm trees but made up of lots of bamboo huts to make up this bustling village! It was clean, friendly and such a great atmosphere! See photo of Stuart posing with the Island volleyball team, while we were there, it looked like some inter island volleyball tournament.

We sailed overnight to Colon, the entrance port on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. We have berthed in a marina called shelter bay, it is a 30 minute bus ride into the centre of Colon which is a busy run down city renowned for not being safe. Tomorrow our agent and the Canal authorities are coming to measure the boat and set us up for a transit through the canal planned for Thursday or Friday this week.

Hope everybody at home is well,

Love from Ocean Lady