Jan 4, 2025 to Jan 11, 2025: Sailing in San Blas with Ansel and Amelia

We spent a week aboard the VIP ONE with captain Yuri, first mate Bali and chef Isabel. 

Starting off Sunday at 7am we took a car to Albrook airport just outside of Panama City and hopped on a very small plane for a 40 minute flight to the Caribbean side of Panama. 

Flight was very smooth in this 4-seater

We jumped into the dingy with Bali and took the short ride over to the VIP ONE where Isabel had a full breakfast ready for us.

On the way to VIP1

After breakfast we anchored in green island cove and tested out the refreshing water for the first time before lunch. 

Lunch on board VIP1

After lunch, Yuri suggested a walk on the island so we jumped into the sea and swam to the island. 

On the shores of Green Island

After walking around a bit we swam back and enjoyed our afternoon in the sun and then sailed (really motored) to cambomba island where we anchored for the night. Dinner was pasta with very fresh crab- muy delicioso. It was a great first day.

Crab featured in our pasta dinner

Monday morning was rainy so we relaxed on our back deck while we powered to a new island. In the afternoon, Bali and Yuri climbed into the dingy with a speargun and drove off.  About 30 minutes later they were back with 3 lobsters and we enjoyed lobster ceviche as our starter that evening. 

We anchored in-between two small islands, watched a beautiful sunset and flew the kite- and for the first time we flew the kit as high as it would go.

The tiny spec in the middle of the picture is the kite

Isabel continued to impress us with her Guna cuisine. 
Dinner was Octopus, guacamole and french fries

Tuesday morning we went for a quick swim before breakfast and snorkeled after breakfast along the reef by the island. After snorkeling we were on our way to the next island and we finally put the sails up. 

Filip demonstrating his sailing skills

We arrived at Miria Diadup around 2 and had lunch. After lunch we played on the paddle boards, walked around Miria Diadup and enjoyed the shade that Bali constructed for us on the front of the boat.

Ansel testing the paddle board

Ansel having mastered the paddle board

On Wednesday we were able to put the sails up again - quickly realizing that sitting in the front of the boat under our manufactured shade was the best spot. 

Many beautiful white sand beaches in San Blas

When we got our anchor-spot, we swam to the closest island and tried walking around it, but it was too densely populated with trees to get all the way around. We cut through some of the bush and found trees growing out of coconuts that had rooted into the ground.  

We also found an unbelievable number of plastic water bottles and old shoes, definitely inspiring us to avoid plastic water bottles. 

On Thursday morning we opted for the non-crowded sandbar and had some fun playing in the surf. 

We then sailed on to our next spot- yet another white sand beach island with palm trees. We left Ansel and Amelia on the boat and successfully circumnavigated the island.  We had a great time watching the pelicans dive and flying the kite. 

Just when we were getting ready to swim back we noticed a lot of activity on the boat. Everyone seemed very focused on something in the water. 

Everyone on the boat was very focused on something in the water.

Ansel and Amelia were sending us hand signals- large sharks! We opted to have Bali come pick us up in the dingy.  When we got back to the boat four very large sharks were circling our boat waiting to be fed.

4 Sharks and their remora circling our boat- exactly where we had jumped into the water

Conch for our ceviche on Thursday

Friday was our last full day of sailing. We stayed very close to the boat - too nervous about sharks. We spent most of the day eating, drinking and reading our books. 

In all, the San Blas sailing trip was excellent. We were a little nervous as for the first time our limited Spanish was better than our hosts' English, but that only added to the charm and adventure. 

Map of our sailing trip

Port labels from map above