Day 1
Early wake up and we were on the road at five o'clock already. Drive through San Blas hills was as horrible as I remembered! Proper roller coaster, up and down, holes on the road, bent after bent, Hardknott pass is peace of cake compared to this one. It didn't help that our driver only kept his other hand on the steering wheal cos he was busy changing cds or drinking at the same time. Seatbelts, out of question :) Anyway, got safely to the Kuna Yala where we paid the entry fee and lancha took us for our sailing boat where we met the other sailors (New York, Alaska, North-Carolina, East-German, North-German, South-German, 2x GermanPeruvians).
Our boat, Koala 1, was anchored in front of Chichime island. I had huge deja vu when we arrived, I was sure that I had been in this island before, 2012. It was still very pretty - turqoise water, palm trees, white sand beach, coconats,.. Like all the San Blas islands. Our crew Captain Fabian, Sebastian and Chef Daniel had prepared us a breakfast, soon it was lunch time and rest of the day we spent chilling in our hammocks, snorkeling and lying on a beach. After the sunset there was lobster dinner with coconut rice waiting for us.
Day 2
I was pretty happy to sleep till 6.30am :) jetlag almost gone! Even tough our cabin was bigger than I had hoped, it was still pretty hot and humid. Sunburn on my back didn't help me to stay still so we got up and went outside. Crew was still sleeping and it was actually really nice just sit still and watch the sea and palm trees moving along the wind. Breakfast was amazing with fresh fruits, cerials and granola, toast and pancakes!
We changed island to Wanedub, even smaller and more peaceful. All of us spent nice couple hours snorkeling and swimming around the island. Lunch was delicious mushroom pasta, I am very impressed how well Daniel manages to do all the food in that small kitchen with few ingredients! Afternoon we chilled on the beach, doing nothing except enjoying our life!
San Blas islands are separate country from Panama. Kuna Yala is owned by indigenous people who have their own law. Nobody can enter without their permission. Diving, fishing or picking coconut is not allowed without their permission. There are many sailing boats just anchored close to the islands, Germans, Italians, Spanish people enjoying their retirement days. And I can tell you that those boats were beautiful! We were lucky to experience caribbean style supermarket floating next to us. Fruits, veggies, beer, water, eggs, toiletpaper, petrol, your pick :) Second night we enjoyed amazing barbeque, followed buy Guatemalan rum, Ron Zacapa, best one what I know!
Day 3
Eagle rays jumping around our boat during the breakfast was pretty cool :D Dark clouds and gust wind meant little bit rain would come soon. When the rain started, I quickly changed into bikinis and went to stand front of the boat, shower time!! At dirty level I felt 13/10 when I woke up, but after that rain I definitely felt like 8/10 ;D
We had a first touch with sailing when we moved futher on San Blas. Waves were huge and only option not getting seasick was sit on the front deck and watching horizon. Later on Captain told us that we would postpone our leaving till tomorrow morning. It would be easier for us to travel during the daylight. First plan was to leave tonight and sail through the night but it has been too windy. So we anchored in front of Maya Caye.
Everybody was pretty much sunburned so shade places on boat were really wanted. Few locals came to offer us fresh fish (Urel, local tuna) and oh boy, how good it was! Never mind the sailing and awesome caribbean landscapes, just come for the food :D
Day 4
CAN NOT WRITE, HUGE WAVES!!
Day 5
Land ahoy!! After 32 hours seeing only water and huge waves it was a pleasure to see Isla Fuerte. I can tell you, I am not going to be sailor on these seas, I need a flat sea :) Friday morning when we left, it took 15 minutes for me and Rob move away from the front deck. It was pretty rocky waves immediately. Half an hour later and the first man was down. Second followed soon after and third American was down also soon. We were really riding on the waves. Dolphins followed us and we could see flying fish through our journey. That was amazing! Also the water!! I have never seen so crystal blue water before :) It was funny how the water kept changing color. When it was deep and no islands anywhere nearb it was so blue, when it got shallower it became to be greener and when we arrived to the island it was turqoise.
Waves were 6-7meters high some even 10 meters!! I have never seen so nig waves, I was thinking that how can this boat stay up?! I sat the whole day in the same spot, I was scared if I would move or go down I would feel sick. Some of the waves flushed through the boat, getting everybody completely wet. Night was mas o menos, so hot cos we had to close all the windows that the water couldn't come inside. Pills pump broke down middle of the night and the water just kept coming inside. It took 3 hours to fix it. We actually managed to get some sleep and I felt fine in the morning but when I went to pick my shirt from inside, it hit me. I had to bend over and feed the fish, disgusting! Luckily it was only that one time and I felt great after. 8/13 were seasick! Captain said that it was a bad wind and we were very unlucky.
From Isla Fuerte it is still almost 12 hours to Cartagena. We stopped for food, little freshing up and cleaning. Daniel has been amazing! I can't even imagine how horrible it has been inside when he has been cooking breakfast and lunch for us. Fabian and Sebastian have been pretty awesome themselves also. Even they have been sick toob they have looked after us the whole time. We have had amazing crew!! :)
Day 6
It is 11pm and we are finally at the hostel!! We were suppose to leave last night but wind got bad again so we postponed it till morning. No clouds anywhere to be seen, it was going to be hot day! I think I got a sunstroke or then I just had had enough. It was so hot, no breeze, I felt disgusting being all swetty and sticky from the sunlotion and seawayer. It took 13 hours to Cartagena, wind got rough again and at some point our speed was only two knots, we were hardly moving at all.
Putting feet on steady ground has never felt so great. It was funny how it felt like waves were still rocking us. Shower has never felt so good in my life! It was cold but I didn't mind.
Sailing trip from Panama to Colombia was experience and I loved it! It is definitely not for everyone. Small toilets, no shower. Have to hold on all the time that you won't fall. Being sticky from seawater and breeze all the time. Living in a small boat with 12 others and sharing everything for one week. Eat when 10 meter waves are hitting the boat. See other people getting sick,.. That is not all though! Caribbean islands, clear water, palm trees, fresh fish and lobster, reggae music, snorkeling, relaxing, wonderful people! Thank you Sailing Koala 1, Fabian, Sebastian and Daniel.
Early wake up and we were on the road at five o'clock already. Drive through San Blas hills was as horrible as I remembered! Proper roller coaster, up and down, holes on the road, bent after bent, Hardknott pass is peace of cake compared to this one. It didn't help that our driver only kept his other hand on the steering wheal cos he was busy changing cds or drinking at the same time. Seatbelts, out of question :) Anyway, got safely to the Kuna Yala where we paid the entry fee and lancha took us for our sailing boat where we met the other sailors (New York, Alaska, North-Carolina, East-German, North-German, South-German, 2x GermanPeruvians).
Our boat, Koala 1, was anchored in front of Chichime island. I had huge deja vu when we arrived, I was sure that I had been in this island before, 2012. It was still very pretty - turqoise water, palm trees, white sand beach, coconats,.. Like all the San Blas islands. Our crew Captain Fabian, Sebastian and Chef Daniel had prepared us a breakfast, soon it was lunch time and rest of the day we spent chilling in our hammocks, snorkeling and lying on a beach. After the sunset there was lobster dinner with coconut rice waiting for us.
Day 2
I was pretty happy to sleep till 6.30am :) jetlag almost gone! Even tough our cabin was bigger than I had hoped, it was still pretty hot and humid. Sunburn on my back didn't help me to stay still so we got up and went outside. Crew was still sleeping and it was actually really nice just sit still and watch the sea and palm trees moving along the wind. Breakfast was amazing with fresh fruits, cerials and granola, toast and pancakes!
We changed island to Wanedub, even smaller and more peaceful. All of us spent nice couple hours snorkeling and swimming around the island. Lunch was delicious mushroom pasta, I am very impressed how well Daniel manages to do all the food in that small kitchen with few ingredients! Afternoon we chilled on the beach, doing nothing except enjoying our life!
San Blas islands are separate country from Panama. Kuna Yala is owned by indigenous people who have their own law. Nobody can enter without their permission. Diving, fishing or picking coconut is not allowed without their permission. There are many sailing boats just anchored close to the islands, Germans, Italians, Spanish people enjoying their retirement days. And I can tell you that those boats were beautiful! We were lucky to experience caribbean style supermarket floating next to us. Fruits, veggies, beer, water, eggs, toiletpaper, petrol, your pick :) Second night we enjoyed amazing barbeque, followed buy Guatemalan rum, Ron Zacapa, best one what I know!
Day 3
Eagle rays jumping around our boat during the breakfast was pretty cool :D Dark clouds and gust wind meant little bit rain would come soon. When the rain started, I quickly changed into bikinis and went to stand front of the boat, shower time!! At dirty level I felt 13/10 when I woke up, but after that rain I definitely felt like 8/10 ;D
We had a first touch with sailing when we moved futher on San Blas. Waves were huge and only option not getting seasick was sit on the front deck and watching horizon. Later on Captain told us that we would postpone our leaving till tomorrow morning. It would be easier for us to travel during the daylight. First plan was to leave tonight and sail through the night but it has been too windy. So we anchored in front of Maya Caye.
Everybody was pretty much sunburned so shade places on boat were really wanted. Few locals came to offer us fresh fish (Urel, local tuna) and oh boy, how good it was! Never mind the sailing and awesome caribbean landscapes, just come for the food :D
Day 4
CAN NOT WRITE, HUGE WAVES!!
Day 5
Land ahoy!! After 32 hours seeing only water and huge waves it was a pleasure to see Isla Fuerte. I can tell you, I am not going to be sailor on these seas, I need a flat sea :) Friday morning when we left, it took 15 minutes for me and Rob move away from the front deck. It was pretty rocky waves immediately. Half an hour later and the first man was down. Second followed soon after and third American was down also soon. We were really riding on the waves. Dolphins followed us and we could see flying fish through our journey. That was amazing! Also the water!! I have never seen so crystal blue water before :) It was funny how the water kept changing color. When it was deep and no islands anywhere nearb it was so blue, when it got shallower it became to be greener and when we arrived to the island it was turqoise.
Waves were 6-7meters high some even 10 meters!! I have never seen so nig waves, I was thinking that how can this boat stay up?! I sat the whole day in the same spot, I was scared if I would move or go down I would feel sick. Some of the waves flushed through the boat, getting everybody completely wet. Night was mas o menos, so hot cos we had to close all the windows that the water couldn't come inside. Pills pump broke down middle of the night and the water just kept coming inside. It took 3 hours to fix it. We actually managed to get some sleep and I felt fine in the morning but when I went to pick my shirt from inside, it hit me. I had to bend over and feed the fish, disgusting! Luckily it was only that one time and I felt great after. 8/13 were seasick! Captain said that it was a bad wind and we were very unlucky.
From Isla Fuerte it is still almost 12 hours to Cartagena. We stopped for food, little freshing up and cleaning. Daniel has been amazing! I can't even imagine how horrible it has been inside when he has been cooking breakfast and lunch for us. Fabian and Sebastian have been pretty awesome themselves also. Even they have been sick toob they have looked after us the whole time. We have had amazing crew!! :)
Day 6
It is 11pm and we are finally at the hostel!! We were suppose to leave last night but wind got bad again so we postponed it till morning. No clouds anywhere to be seen, it was going to be hot day! I think I got a sunstroke or then I just had had enough. It was so hot, no breeze, I felt disgusting being all swetty and sticky from the sunlotion and seawayer. It took 13 hours to Cartagena, wind got rough again and at some point our speed was only two knots, we were hardly moving at all.
Putting feet on steady ground has never felt so great. It was funny how it felt like waves were still rocking us. Shower has never felt so good in my life! It was cold but I didn't mind.
Sailing trip from Panama to Colombia was experience and I loved it! It is definitely not for everyone. Small toilets, no shower. Have to hold on all the time that you won't fall. Being sticky from seawater and breeze all the time. Living in a small boat with 12 others and sharing everything for one week. Eat when 10 meter waves are hitting the boat. See other people getting sick,.. That is not all though! Caribbean islands, clear water, palm trees, fresh fish and lobster, reggae music, snorkeling, relaxing, wonderful people! Thank you Sailing Koala 1, Fabian, Sebastian and Daniel.
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| Our cabin |
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| Floating supermarket |
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| Daniel cooking |
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| Seasick people |
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| You can't see how big the waves were but they were huge! |