san blas panama · 2016-09-19 · san blas – panama 9-day itinerary. ... a constant focus on...

Tropical Sea Kayaking – subsidiary to MrTico S.R.L. Multiday Sea Kayaking Trips in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica Tel USA: (719) 581-9891 | Tel CR: (+506) 2249-0666 [email protected] | www.tropicalseakayaking.com

© Tropical Sea Kayaking Rates and Information in this document are subject to change without notice 1

San Blas – Panama

9-DAY ITINERARY



PANAMA SEA KAYAKING ADVENTURE 9 Days San Blas Kayaking and Cultural Experience

Join us for a 9-Day escape kayaking the unknown San Blas archipelago existing of 365 tiny tropical

islands set in the Caribbean sea right off the coast of Panama. Experience the true meaning of

paradise while paddling from one deserted island to the other. Protected by the outer reef, we will

paddle the warm, crystal clear waters crossing canals, and along stretches of mangrove forests, and

into fresh water rivers flowing down from the jungle mountains that dominate the coastline. In a

single or double enclosed, sturdy kayak we’ll navigate through shallow parts, looking for passages in

between the reefs and corals.

We’ll meet the Kunas; an indigenous people who live in this politically autonomous reserve. You will

get introduced to one of their communities including the house of congress, school, churches, and

their homes.

Besides the cultural aspect of the trip, we will get to enjoy paradise as we’ve all imagined it!

Deserted islands with palm trees surrounded by white sand beaches and crystal clear waters;

swimming whenever you like, and snorkeling the incredible coral reefs located only steps from your

tent. Relax and read your favorite book from your hammock with the best views in the world. On

this trip you’ll simply forget anything outside this wonderland!

Tropical Sea Kayaking (TSK) is a grassroots sea kayaking company operating initially in Golfo Dulce,

Costa Rica. Due to our love for San Blas and its people, we also offer trips to this unique corner of

the world not many people have yet heard off. As a small company, we are capable of listening to

our travelers and taking their dreams of what they would like to see and experience on their trips

and making them a reality. We provide a true sense of personalized service; which in return provides

us with a sense of professional accomplishment. We operate our trips with small groups, top notch

equipment, highly experienced & knowledgeable guides, a constant focus on safety & health,

comfort, delicious nutritious meals; all while leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible.

Guiding Life’s Greatest Adventures in Costa Rica

At Tropical Sea Kayaking we strive for the greatest nature and adventure expeditions combined with

unique lodging, tasteful & natural food, and highly experienced guides. Friendly and professional trip

leaders, active adventures and some of the most incredible landscapes on earth are the framework

for our success. With a genuine belief that sea kayaking adventures are exceedingly worthwhile life

experiences, we have committed ourselves over the years to providing the best trips available,

always with an eye on safety and improvement.

Our team is professional and experienced in the field of adventure travel, no rookies here. All our

trips have professionally trained fully bilingual guides, who always carry comprehensive medical kits

and communication tools. With excellent on-water skills and experience, they will provide you with

great confidence, and a handy range of tips, advice and encouragement to ensure you thoroughly



enjoy your time paddling. Their wealth is of biological knowledge and understanding of our local

culture & environment, beautiful and sensitive flora and fauna and ecology, including our

spectacular marine wildlife.

Please use this document as a resource for general information on your Costa Rica adventure. The

information enclosed covers most everything you’ll need to know before your trip. Of course, if you

have questions that are not answered in this packet, we are happy to help! Simply contact us at

[email protected] with your questions or to schedule a phone call.

ITINERARY: 9 Days San Blas Kayaking and Kuna Culture Experience

9-Day Itinerary Overview (Panama City & 5 islands in San Blas) b=Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner Day 1 Arrival & transfer in. dinner & trip briefing. Stay at country inn & suites (L/D)

Day 2 traveling to san blas. Paddle & Kuna Intro. Stay at Digirdup Island (BLD)

Day 3 Paddle to Diadup with stops along the way. R&R. Stay at Diadup Island (BLD)

Day 4 Crossing the channel to sichirdup. Snorkeling. Stay at sichirdup island (BLD)

Day 5 paddle to mainland into river. Hike & bath. Snorkeling. Stay at Sichirdup (BLD)

Day 6 paddle to Bidirdup. Snorkeling, R&R.. stay at bidirdup island (BLd)

Day 7 paddle to dove island. R&R. celebration night. Stay at nube sibudup (BLD)

Day 8 travel to mainland and back to city. Optional dinner in old city ((B)

Day 9 transfer out to airport Pty. End of trip (B)

PROPOSED ITINERARY The following itinerary should be seen as an approximate guide only. We are on an expedition and

the weather conditions, currents and tides can cause alterations and delays to our itinerary.

Full Itinerary starts on next page



DESCRIPTION/ACTIVITY LODGING & MEALS Day 1

Welcome to Tropical Panama!!! Upon your arrival to Panama City Airport, you will be met by a Tropical Sea Kayaking representative who will provide private transportation to a comfortable hotel in Panama City (30 minute drive), right on the banks of the entrance of the Panama Canal. Either in the afternoon or early evening you will be meeting your guide who will take you to a nice restaurant for a local dish and the trip briefing.

Country Inn & Suites (or similar)

Meals included today: Lunch or Dinner

Day 2 Early this morning right after breakfast, we’ll leave the city and cross the Continental Divide to San Blas (2,5 hour drive). You are now in the semi-autonomous territory of the Kuna People; the remoteness of the location and authentic culture will give you the feel of a National Geographic expedition. From there we will hop into our support boat for a drive to our first island. The remainder of the day, you will become familiarized with your kayak by paddling along the rainforest mainland, and perhaps we’ll enter a cute little river if time and water level allows. This way we get the opportunity to test and adjust our boats and make sure we feel comfortable before we commit to any long stretches of paddling on the days to come. In the later afternoon we’ll walk into the Kuna village for an introduction to their culture, and get to meet the women who will be showing their traditional outfits called ‘Molas’. During our walk we’ll be greeted by the many cute, ever smiling Kuna kids. In the evening we’ll have our first Kuna dish where after they’ll perform a local dance in the moonlight. Surely we’ll all be ready for our first night sleep in the cozy tents with comfortable mattresses.

Digirdup Island Tent Camping Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 This morning after packing our camp, we begin a 4-5 hour paddle to the uninhabited island of Diadup. The paddling includes two open channel crossings. Our motorized support boat will carry our dry bags (luggage) and camping equipment, so our kayaks will be light and maneuverable. Additionally our support boat can assist paddlers in need or if tired. We’ll stop on a pleasant island somewhere along the way for lunch where after we’ll continue to today’s destination: a marvelous little island with just a local family living on it.

Diadup Island Tent Camping Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner



The afternoon will be at leisure to relax in your hammock or play in the ocean. We provide a hammock for each of the participants.

Day 4 Today we break camp and paddle along sand cays and across open channels to the magical uninhabited white sand island of Sichirdup. This small island will be our home for the next 2 nights. The coral reef surrounding the island offers amazing snorkeling opportunities. Be sure to bring your snorkel and mask! (We have masks and snorkel available, however we encourage you to bring your own).

Sichirdup Island Tent Camping Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Layovers are great!! This morning sleep-in, you do not need to pack your tent and your belongings, instead relax! At mid-morning, we are taking a day trip to the nearby mainland, where we will paddle our kayaks upstream through the gentle Rio Paloma looking for wildlife and the best swimming holes. This is a wonderful opportunity to bathe in the fresh clean river water. Once we can’t paddle any further upstream, we will continue our exploration on foot on the trails parallel to the river. On our way back we will stop for a picnic lunch at the shore of the river! After lunch we’ll paddle back to Sichirdup for an afternoon snorkeling session along the ‘wall’; a drop outside the reef offering spectacular marine life sightings!

Same as Above Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Today we set off on another amazing stretch of tropical sea kayaking to reach the amazing Island of Bidirdup. The 3-4 hour paddle necessary to get there will have us initially island hopping and eventually making one open crossing. Bidirdup is a small island, perhaps with the acreage of a football field, and with only one native family being the only inhabitants and caretakers of the island, so the fine white sands, turquoise water and picture perfect setting will likely be yours, and yours alone during your visit. Great snorkeling here too!

Bidirdup Tent Camping Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 This morning we will jump in our kayaks and head west with the predominant wind and current, for approximately 3 hours, island hopping our way to Nube Sibu Dup (or Dove Island), another tropical atoll paradise. This beautiful island evidences our transition from the remote areas of the Guna Yala Archipelago, to the areas slightly tainted by the recent growth of tourism spurred by the paving of the road leading to the area. Formerly a footpath, and for many years a 4x4 challenge, this paved road provides the only vehicle access to Guna Yala.

Nube Sibudup Tent Camping Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8



PRICING & RESERVATIONS

The above itinerary for 9 nights/10 days is US$ 2499 per person (based on double occupancy).

Private trip supplement 10% surcharge.

Reservations

A down payment is required at the time of reservation. We charge a down payment of $500 per

person and the balance 60 days prior to your arrival date. We accept International Bank Wire

Transfers as well as credit card payment and Paypal payments.

Included in Your Trip Cost

Bilingual Sea Kayaking Guide

Kuna Guide

Local support staff

2 nights hotel in Panama City with breakfast included

6 nights camping in Guna Yala

Most meals as outlined in the itinerary

All activities and equipment as outlined in the itinerary

All transportation from arrival on day 1 through departure from Panama City on day 9

Not Included in Your Trip Cost

International flights to and from Panama

Single supplement $230

Insurance of any kind, including travel or mandatory medical evacuation insurance

Alcohol and personal items (an equipment list will be provided)

Early morning, we will leave our kayaks and hop on a motorboat and motor to the road access to meet our comfortable 4x4 vehicle, which will drive us back to Civilization (a.k.a. Panama City), where we should arrive by midafternoon. Once we get to your hotel, you will check –in and say goodbye to your guide! You have the option to enjoy one last dinner with your guide in the old city of Casco Viejo, which we highly recommend you visit.

Country Inn & Suites (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 All good things must come to an end, and this day we have arranged for your transportation to the international airport in Panama City to catch your flight home. You will leave Panama with a new understanding of the tropics and with a unique insight into the simple lifestyle and worldview of the Kuna People. To you we say “nu-edi,” or thank you in the Kuna language.

N/A Meals included: Breakfast

END OF YOUR ITINERARY



Guide gratuities

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Meeting Place & Time

For travelers arriving on day 1, a Tropical Sea Kayaking (T.S.K. from here on) representative will meet

you at the Tucumen Airport in Panama City (PTY) and provide a transfer to our hotel.

After Your Trip

On the final day of your trip, you will be transferred to the international airport of PTY 3 hours

before your outbound flight departure time. Travelers who wish to continue their journey in Panama

can have their transfer to their next destination arranged by T.S.K. for an additional cost.

Pre- and Post-Trip Accommodations

This trip includes hotel accommodation and camping for each of the 8 nights. If you plan to arrive

early or stay late, please contact our office if you would like assistance in booking pre- or post-trip

accommodation at one of our hotels or lodges. We recommend you make reservations well in

advance in order to guarantee lodging.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Reservations and Deposits

A $500/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to

trip start date.

Cancellations and Refunds

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation

fee after you’ve made your deposit can range up to the entire trip cost, based upon the number of

days prior to your trip that we receive your cancellation notice. We regret we cannot make

exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge you to investigate trip

insurance (for more info see Insurance below).

Date of Cancellation Cancellation Fee

90 days or more prior to your trip $250/person

89 - 60 days prior to your trip $500/person

59 - 30 days prior to your trip 50% of the trip price/person

29 – 0 days prior to your trip 100% of the trip price/person

Medical

Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you

should have no problem enjoying a T.S.K. trip. People with medical conditions, including pregnancy,

should have a physician’s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.

Insurance

We require that you purchase emergency medical evacuation insurance to participate in this



expedition. Call Travel Insurance Services at 800-937-1387 or visit

www.travelinsure.com/what/imedhigh.asp for inexpensive options that cover this requirement. We

also strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the

purchase of a travel insurance plan. A travel insurance plan covers your non-refundable payments in

most cases, should you have to cancel your trip due to illness or injury—yours or that of an extended

family member—even at the last minute. Check that the plan you choose includes the required

emergency medical evacuation coverage mentioned above. Evacuations can be prolonged, difficult,

and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and T.S.K.

accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen property.

Liability Release

Everyone is required to sign a standard liability release form before the trip, acknowledging

awareness that there are inherent risks associated with the trip. Due to the nature of the activities, a

condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip

begins. T.S.K. will send you this liability release form by e-mail after booking.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for inquiries & reservations at

[email protected]

“We’d love to have you join us on this spectacular adventure!”

The Tropical Sea Kayaking Team

mailto:[email protected]

san blas panama · 2016-09-19 · san blas – panama 9-day itinerary. ... a constant focus on...

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