San Blas Indigenous part of Panama

This year for our birthday trip we decided to go explore Panama.  Panama did not disappoint.  I was very surprised to learn that Panama City was as advanced of a city as it was.  The skyscrapers were numerous and each more impressive than the next. It was very comparable to NYC or Miami and I would even say that it was even more metropolitan.  I'm not sure why but I was expecting Panama to be more like Costa Rica, more wild wild west.  It was a pleasant surprise.
We stayed at Dreams All Inclusive Resort, Playa Bonita which is part of the Unlimited Vacation Club.  It was the first resort we've stayed at that was family oriented and allowed kids.  You would think there were kids running around everywhere; however, there weren't many at all the week we were there. 
Now those of you who've been following our blog know that Kevin and I are usually beach bums for most of our vacations.  In Panama, we ventured out of the resort three times.  One day to the mall to do some shopping.  The resort provided a bus that shuttled guests to the mall and back and also to old Panama City.  This was super cool and the first time we stayed somewhere where they did that.  Another day we went to the Panama Canal and drove around Panama City.  That was awesome and we got to see a cruise ship go through the locks.  And finally the third outing was to San Blas.

San Blas was AMAZING!

We left the resort at 5am in jeeps and four by four vehicles and trekked through the mountains and jungles of Panama to a river marsh on the indigenous land.  Crossing into the Kuna people's indigenous land was like going through a boarder patrol stop when going to another country.  We arrived at the marsh and loaded up into large motor powered canoes skippered by two Kuna Indian men that didn't speak anything but Spanish (weak Spanish at that).  We navigated through the marsh and ended up in the beautiful clear blue water of the Caribbean ocean.

We went to the first island all the while passing Kuna people in rowing canoes and homes made of wood on small and large islands.  Later I learned that there are a total of 368 islands that are part of San Blas and only 48 are inhabited by the Kuna people.  At the first island, we snorkeled and marveled at the large star fish and lovely grounds.  We ate fried fish and a grainy rice with the Kuna people. They are beautiful people with amazing golden skin.  They look strong and healthy but also progressive and had television and mobile phones.  They dressing in beautiful bright color clothing and the children ran around laughing and happy.  The husbands take the wife's last name and they go live with their wife's family.  I found this very interesting and so counter our western way of life.  It was so amazing to experience their way of living for a day. 

We visited another island and I snorkeled some more and found amazing treasures.  I brought back a sand dollar found in the ocean and a number of beautiful shells.  We were asked not to take any pictures or video of the Kuna people and we complied.  We did take footage of our ride there and back.  Apparently, you can go and stay in San Blas up to 2 days in their solar powered huts/houses.  I would highly recommend it.  It was a once in a lifetime experience for us.  We were do amazed at the natural and beautiful way of life.

Pictures included here are official Kuna people approved pictures and not mine.