The beaches of San Blas are extravagantly beautiful and beckon the adventurer with several palm lined pristine secluded beaches, and hundreds of migratory birds. For Indiana Joe and Jane, San Blas’s coast boasts numerous virgin beaches, where the sand is every colour. Los Cocos and Platanitos are some of the most beautiful. The only down side to the beaches of San Blas are the je jenes (no see-ums) — tiny insects that feast heartily on tourists at the crack of dawn, and again at dusk. Bring insect repellent. No kidding!
San Blas is an old city with a different flavour and well worth the visit. The city is about five hundred years old, and several ruins and buildings of interest have a history dating back 250 years or more. The people are friendly, the shops unique, offering inexpensive wares.
San Blas is actually located in a swamp with jungle landscapes, mangroves, hundreds of birds and yes, very large crocodiles. La Tovara National Park is a side trip well worth taking. We took a taxi to the entrance of the park and hired a boatman who took us on a ride through mangrove lined canals filled with herons, turtles and some very special birds. Our boatman advised us that boa constrictors and jaguars shared this habitat but alas we were not fortunate enough to spot any. We ended our adventure with a trip to a crocodile farm and a refreshing dip in some natural springs, which we were assured were safe to swim in as the spring is gated off from the crocodiles.
While in San Blas we stayed at Los Flamingos, a beautiful higher end, hotel with luxurious accommodation and a grand pool — the perfect way to end a day of adventure!
