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Welcome to Kaya!

RATES:
Up to a 9% discount until November 30, 2024.

Private trip only:

  • 1 person: 850 USD per night

  • 2 people: 1000 USD per night

  • 3 people: 1150 USD per night

  • 4 people: 1300 USD per night

  • 5 people: 1450 USD per night

  • 6 people: 1600 USD per night

*Holiday rates: From December 20 - January 10, all rates have a 20% surcharge. 


THE BOAT:

This 40 ft. Nautitech, designed for charter activity, is a comfortable, spacious, and luminous catamaran.  

ACCOMMODATES:

6 guests

CABINS:

The boat has 3 double cabins, each with a fan, and 2 bathrooms, one in each hull.

FOOD:

We take pride in preparing delicious meals. We'll treat you to fresh and original dishes so you can savor the flavors of our journey. Join us in this incredible experience, where culture, adventure, and gastronomy unite on the waters of San Blas.  

LANGUAGES:  

Stef is fluent in Spanish and English and can converse in French, Portuguese, and beginner Guna. Marcelino speaks Guna and Spanish fluently.


BOAT AMENITIES:

  • Outdoor shower

  • Towels

  • 2 Bathrooms

  • Fishing Gear 

  • Hammock

  • 2 Stand-up paddle boards

  • Music and speakers

  • Kitchen

  • Power outlets

  • Dinghy with outboard motor

  • Snorkeling gear

The Crew

Captain Estefanía has been sailing in San Blas for over 12 years. She's the founder of I Travel By Boat, and you can read her story here.

Stef makes sure her guests genuinely connect with the islands and their people, the way only a veteran in the area who speaks the local language (as she does) can do. She's a storyteller who believes in a more just relationship with Earth. She found the Guna to live in harmony with their ecosystem, so she called this place her home. In her company, you'll see a side of San Blas that only a few privileged people get to. Stef only captains a few months of the year, so don't miss the chance to sail with her if you can! 
 

First mate Marcelino is a local Guna sailor, cook and captain.  He's one of the elite Guna sailors who started his career over 15 years ago and is now the mentor of many young local Guna sailors, including his own son. Marcelino loves to fish, so he'll take you snorkeling to the best spots with the most sea life while he fetches dinner and he'll entertain you with an abundance of stories of the Guna way of life and life at sea. His ceviche, lobster, crab, and roasted fish get rave reviews every single time!

Liz

Our family of five just spent 3 nights in paradise on the Kaya catamaran with Stef and Marcelino and had the most spectacular time! (Though we went during the rainy season, it didn’t matter as we received a lot of sunshine during our trip.) Stef and Marcelino are the most thoughtful, and accommodating hosts! The minute you step onto the boat, they welcome you with open arms and make you feel right at home. My husband and I arrived with our three children (ages 12, 9, and 5 years old). We wondered if 3-4 days without WiFi would get boring quick, but between swimming in the clear blue water, visiting local Guna families and going “shopping” for bracelets and Mola items, going paddle boarding, snorkeling, sunbathing, exploring islands, eating delicious fresh food, and star gazing, there was never a dull moment. The boat was more spacious than we thought, it was kept immaculate, and very comfortable for sleeping. Stef and Marcelino went out of their way to ensure we were comfortable and safe. For instance - closed the windows in our room and brought in our towels in the middle of the night if it started raining. Our girls loved meeting the local Guna families and learning more about their way of life. We were able to learn so much through our captain Stef. Stef is truly a one-of-a-kind, genuine, warm, inspirational, and passionate person. You can tell how much she truly cares about the Guna community. She once lived with a Guna family and even speaks the Guna language so she was able to educate us on the Guna history and culture. She made the trip so much fun for our family and was so understanding when our little one had a few melt downs on the boat. We always felt safe with Stef at the helm as she navigated the Caribbean with ease. She took us to the best spots in San Blas - almost secret like locations with no other tourists around. She knew all of the locals and communicated with the fishermen in Guna as she purchased fresh crab, lobster, and octopus for dinner. The meals Marcelino prepared were sooo delicious! We didnt know what quite to expect but each meal was more delicious than the next. While the kitchen in the boat is small, somehow Marcelino managed to make gourmet meals for our family of five. All of the fruits, vegetables, fish, and seafood were so fresh! Words can’t describe the beauty of the pristine San Blas Islands. It’s one of the few places in the world which hasn’t been overtaken by big resorts. There isn’t much on the islands, and that is what we liked most about them. Time slowed down for us during these 4 days. We hardly looked at our watches. We enjoyed a simpler life before returning to the hustle and bustle back in New York. Stef and Marcelino made this experience one of the most memorable ones our family has ever had. We’re so grateful to have met Stef and will leave Panamá with a new friend and a new appreciation for the beautiful Guna people and culture.

Ferry

After taking the taking the water-taxi to our Catamaran Kaya, we started our 2 day trip. We really felt welcome on board with our captain Estefania as a warm host and our co-captain and cook Marcelino who is the best guide and cook one can have. He served us fresh local dishes based on crab, lobster and fish which were excellent. He also showed us the wild life around the reefs which was a great snorkeling experience while Estefania introduced us to the local Kuna people. All in all a fantastic experience and well recommended also for families. We just hope the local authorities will keep tourism in check and will develop more initiatives to keep the islands clean from incoming plastic.

Sean Watkins

I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life on the Kaya with Captain Estefania. If you're considering this trip then do yourself a favor and book it. Book for at least 5 days as there is soooo much to do and see in San Blas. Estefania is an expert and really knows the locals well. The hospitality is amazing and this was one of the most special trips of my life. I will be headed down again next year. Paradise awaits.

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