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The Guna Yala Comarca is an indigenous territory in the Republic of Panama, inhabited by the Guna ethnic group. Formerly the region was called San Blas until 1998 and as Kuna Yala until 2010. Its capital is El Porvenir (Gairgigordup). It limits to the north with the Caribbean Sea, to the south with the province of Darién and the Emberá-Wounaan region, to the east with Colombia and to the west with the province of Colón.


What is the GPS location?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7TMTzjukaUYeGfoX7


Describe of the place: 
Guna Yala is an indigenous territory governed by the Guna people. The territory consists of a narrow strip of land on the Caribbean side of the country, as well as an archipelago of 365 islands, of which only 50 are inhabited by the Guna. The Guna Yala Islands are also known as the San Blas Islands, which are considered a top destination in Panama due to their well-protected natural beauty, managed by the Guna indigenous people.

you will be able to explore local customs and cuisine. Please note that there is no internet access or credit card payments and the US dollar is the only accepted form of payment.

Accommodations are thatched-roof cabins without hot water or you can take a camping tour and rent tents or hammocks. However, one of the most popular places to stay is aboard a sailboat: this option will allow you to sail from island to island, rather than choosing just one.

The Guna Yala Archipelago (Guna Yala Islands) is a long, narrow strip of tropical paradise that extends for 5,571 kilometers2 along the Panamanian Caribbean coast and has 365 small islands with white sand beaches. In total there are 51 communities and generally each one is inhabited by a single community, with its own autonomy and leader.



Five interesting facts about the place:

The Guna natives are famous for their molas: mola is a traditional textile art form, they are sewn into panels with complex, multi-layered designs using a reverse applied technique and are available on the islands.
In the Guna language (dulegaya), mola means “clothes” or “blouse.” The complete dress traditionally includes a skirt (in Dulegaya: saburet), a red and yellow head scarf (dulegaya: musue), bracelets for arms and legs (in Dulegaya: wini), a gold nose ring (in Dulegaya : olasu), and earrings (in Dulegaya: dulemor).

The molas originated with the tradition of Guna women painting their bodies with geometric designs, using the natural colors available. After Spanish colonization and subsequent contact with missionaries, the Gunas began transferring their traditional geometric designs onto fabrics, first by painting them directly, then using the reverse appliqué technique. It is not known with certainty when this technique was first used. They assume that the oldest molas are between 150 and 170 years old. In addition to their geometric inspiration, the gunas in the last 50 years began creating realistic and abstract designs of flowers, animals, birds and the sea.

Another of its most preserved traditions is the nose piercing party or the hair cutting ceremony.
This piercing party takes place when girls are small and their nasal septum is pierced by placing a ring that is replaced by larger ones as the girl grows. During this ritual, the population that attends receives soup and other foods.
As for the hair cutting ceremony, it is increasingly in decline due to the great cost it entails. And it is a celebration that lasts 3 days, in which a girl of about 8, 9 or 10 years old has her hair cut while receiving a name.
And his family must get food to make soup for the entire community.

Historical memory locates the origins of the Kuna people in the plains of Bajo Atrato. From where they emigrated to other tributaries of Ogigidiuar (Río Atrato) as a result of the constant clashes with neighboring towns, the epidemics that hit the region and the pressure from the Spanish in the 16th century.

At the time of the Spanish conquest, our elders inhabited the Darién rainforest. There they faced for more than 250 years the pressure of Spanish attempts to colonize the Darién, extract gold from the area and subject the Kuna to their political control. Despite this, our grandparents entered the 19th century, with large areas of the Darién region under their control. This territorial control and independence of the Kuna dule was largely due to the cultural, social and political cohesion of its populations, expressed through knowledge of its history, the will, capacity and ability to modify its society in the face of adversity and alliances with European pirates (English, French, Dutch and Scottish.

Kuna Yala does not have districts, but it does have four townships. These are: Ailigandi, Nargana, Puerto Obaldia, Tubuala.
The Economy of the Kuna Yala Region is mainly dedicated to agriculture, fishing, craft production, and tourism. The type of agriculture practiced in the Kuna Yala Region is for subsistence purposes. The traditional products are bananas (now Chinese bananas), corn and sugar cane.




How do you get to the place? 

*BY LAND
From Panama City, you can take an SUV to Cartí, the main port of the San Blas Islands. The 2.5-hour trip will take you on a scenic journey through the central mountain range. From Cartí, you can reach each island by boat in about 20 minutes.
On the access road to Puerto de Cartí where the bus will leave you to the port itself, there is still a distance of 40 kilometers, so it is necessary to take a new means of transport.

There are private drivers who give shared rides twice a day, in the morning and early afternoon. It costs approximately $50 per person


*BY AIR flying to one of the islands that have landing strips.

*BY WATER
Since San Blas is a typical stop for sailboats that make the journey from Colombia to Panama, although it is also possible to do the reverse route, leaving from Portobelo (although you have to have time and flexibility, since they do not have defined departures).


What other interesting places are nearby? 

Dog Island: It is also famous for its sunken ship, very fun to explore with snorkelling, it is the most touristic island of the Achudub archipelago, as it is called in the Guna language, its beaches are very popular, the island offers its inhabitants accommodation in simple cabins and space to camp at night, you can also visit during the day.

Iguana Island: Aridub is the name in the Guna language, this island offers an environment of extreme relaxation, beaches covered in white sand, its warm and crystalline waters, the island offers accommodation.

Gaigirgordub: It is the capital of the Guna Yala indigenous region, it is one of the few islands in the group that has an airport for small planes.

Chichimé: Chichimé Island is located at the end of Cayos Limones, 40 minutes from the port, near the coral reef barrier and crystal clear waters. It is one of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago. It offers accommodation in traditional cabins with sand floors, private or group, and with shared bathrooms.




Cartí: It is a well-known place. From the port of Cartí, residents can take the boats that will take them to the different islands. It is important to know that you cannot travel by road at night and the departure gate closes at 5:00 pm since this is the arrival point to the region, when one goes to Guna Yala by road.

Narganá: this town is made up of two islands, Narganá and Corazón de Jesús, connected by a long bridge. It is a tourist place and ideal to appreciate the life of the Gunas indigenous people.

Aguja Island: Due to its proximity to the coast, it is one of the most touristic islands, ideal for swimming and resting, to visit with friends, families and couples for a day, you can also camp or stay.

Holandeses Cays: it is a set of approximately 20 uninhabited islands, which is located two hours from the port, or these distant cays are rarely visited by tourists, it is one of the most pristine places in the archipelago. In the Guna language they are called “Gaimaudubgan”.



Does it cost money to visit this place? 

At the entrance, you will have to pay a fee of $5 if you are Panamanian, $25 if you are a foreigner.

Is there a best time of year or day to visit?

The months of December to the end of April draw the most crowds due to the dry weather. From May to August it is calmer and the weather is still very pleasant. September can bring rain depending on the year.

Is the place safe to visit alone? 

San Blas is a totally safe sailing destination and unlike the other Caribbean islands, there are no threats to consider.

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