A much more comfortable voyage from Santa Marta towards the San Blas islands, a convenient call before transiting the Panama Canal.  ‘Comfortable’ because, although the wind and sea were still outside the port, we were ‘running’ with it, as opposed to across it.  Thus, with stabilisers deployed, we all, guests and crew had a comfortable night.  We arrived off the entrance to the San Blas islands at 10:15 and then negotiated the winding passage, between, islands, sandbanks and reefs, until we reached our anchorage position near ‘Isla Carti’. 

An overview of the San Blas geographical location

Our track through the passage

Our anchorage position off the islands

Our (new) tenders waiting for Panamanian clearance, before embarking guests

The first one alongside the tender platform

Inside a tender

Risking being swamped, locals come out in small canoes in the hope of selling, in this case it was a conch shell

I have been here several times before, of course, however the colours and uniqueness of the surrounds lure me ashore for a while.  Loaded with $1 bills for the subjects of any photograph I may take of them (and there are plenty of subjects, children with pets, children with parrots; wizened old ladies and coloured material everywhere).  The following photos are of the islands as we pass in the tender………

Our tender landing pier

 So ashore, it is muggy, but not too hot, overcast skies and the occasional drizzle, however not too heavy to distract one.

 Now, just time to post, before I have to go to the Bridge for departure.  We sail for the Canal, our entry time through the Cristobal breakwaters is 0600 (Eastern) or 1100 UK; Gatun locks 7:30 a.m.;Pedro Miguel locks 14:15 and Miraflores locks 15:20.  They all have CCTV cameras, we’ll give you a wave!

Don’t forget you can ‘click’ on any photo to get a larger, hi-res, view  🙂