A humble canoe, a sailboat made from discarded fabric, disperses indigenous shipments of lobsters and cambombia crabs which they have dived for without special masks. That is the San Blas Archipelago, a beautiful destination, fascinating, mysterious and captivating, where hundreds of islands with white sand border the 130-mile coast of what is now known as Kuna Yala. Sunsets are not glow green but red sunsets, as red as the delicious snapper trapping tourists, and the waves lie in natural soft white sand, a gift of nature .

If you like diving or snorkeling, there is nothing more exciting and enjoyable than to watch hundreds of colorful fish swim to the underside of surface rocks that provide shelter for marine species as well as the warm sun. Escape the heat with a refreshing dip in any of the beaches. Voyagers to the Dutch Keys will delight in this trip perfectly suited for adventurers, those who enjoy sun, sea, fresh air, fishing for grouper and sierra, and for those who love to discover indigenous cultures that remain unchanged over the centuries. One way to experience the Dutch Keys is to tour the coast of Panama on a yacht or boat.  Sail boats and huge yachts anchor around the Dutch Keys for the purpose of fishing and so their passengers can enjoy the turquoise waters. 

Important details:
• Established by law in 1938, the Kuna Ayala extends from the border with Colombia in the Gulf of Mandinga, in the Caribbean. It has an area of 2,357 square kilometers. It is divided into Tubuala, Narganá Ailigandí and El Porvenir, which is the head of the region. It is an independent autonomous government with their own politics and laws. Kuna Yala is known as the Archipelago of San Blas in which there are 365 small islands.
• The huts are of wild cane and thatched roofs. Its main towns are: Narganá, Heart of Jesus, Wichubwala, Nalunega, Rio Sidra, Carti-Sugtupu, Ailigandí and Achutupo. They offer rustic cabins for lodging.
• For the Kuna Indians it is very important to care for the environment because they consider the earth the "great mother."
• In the region there are 9 villages.
• Kuna Indian culture is best known internationally for its famous molas, one of the most highly valued indigenous crafts.
• Each year in February recalls the 1925 revolution when the Kuna Indians took up arms to prevent the population from being integrated into the rest of the country.
• The economy of this region is based on the sale of coconuts, mainly to Colombian vessels. Coconuts are exchanged for food at a going rate of $.25 each (2010).

 
How do I get to the Cayos Holandeses or Dutch Keys?
• To enter the county must pay a tax currently at $6 (2010). You must pay for the photos you take of the Kuna ($1 each).
• In El Porvenir, tourists must notify their arrival at the police station. By Road, you sign in at a checkpoint in Chepo and your passports are revised again inside the Comarca before arriving at the river.
• The traditional dances of the Kuna are called Noga Koppe. They dance to the rhythm of bamboo musical instruments, maracas, thin pumpkins, and plant seeds.
• Aeroperlas flights arrive to El Porvenir, Carti, Heart of Jesus, Rio Sidra, Ustupo, Mulutapu. Manitupu and Playon Chico. They travel every day at six in the morning. They return at 7 in the morning. The ticket prices range from 60 to 72 dollars each way.
• Aviatur has daily flights to 20 islands. Prices range between 30 and 46 dollars.
• Panama Yacht Brokers rent yachts of 42 and 62 feet and cross the San Blas Archipelago of Narganá, through the Dutch Keys.

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