San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands (Spanish Archipelago de San Blas ) are located in the Caribbean Sea, forming an archipelago of 365 islands ( the main island of El Porvenir ).

Location

The San Blas Islands are part of the comarca of Guna Yala ( formerly known as San Blas ) east of the Panama Canal, an autonomous region which stretches along the Panamanian Caribbean coast of El Porvenir up to the Colombian border.

Flora and Fauna

The majority of tropical, palm-fringed islands is protected by coral reefs. Since the underwater world is still intact, this archipelago is rich in corals, crabs, lobsters, clams, and fish.

Population

The San Blas Islands are about 25,000 Kuna ( Cuna also, in Colombia Tule ), an indigenous ethnic group in Panama, inhabited and self-administered. They inhabit 57 islands belonging to 36 comunidades (the island Ustupu is divided into two comunidades, and the remaining 13 comunidades lie on the mainland). San Blas is called by the Kuna in their own language " Guna Yala ".

History

The Kuna fled due to the Spanish invasion in the 17th century on this archipelago and fought against the Spaniards on the side of other colonial powers later. Finally, they successfully resisted Government of Panama in bloody conflict could start in 1930, the autonomous region Kuna Yala.

Originally the indigenous people of the San Blas Islands did little clothes and decorated their bodies with colorful ornaments. Missionaries animated but then to wear clothes so that they eventually designed their clothes, the Molas with the patterns of their body painting.

The community of Kuna living in the matriarchy. So, for example, lives the husband after marriage in the family of the woman. The Kuna have a separate tribal language and a banner on which a swastika symbolizes the octopus that created the legend of the Kuna according to the world.

Economy and Tourism

To date, the Kuna live mainly on agriculture and fishing. You trade with fish, lobsters, giant prawns and coconuts. In addition, they distribute their colorful molas, which exceed the limits of Panama away are famous far and where up to six months working. This artful form of embroidery application developed at the beginning of the 20th century.

Tourism plays compared to other Caribbean islands in the San Blas Islands, a smaller role and is not designed for mass or luxury tourism. On the main island of El Porvenir find a landing strip for small planes from Panama City, Palm Beaches and a hostel. By boat you can go from there to the island Wichub - Wala. The islands Sapibenega and Okuptupu have a small tourist infrastructure, while the islands are tourist not yet developed to the south of the archipelago (eg Ukupseni ).

The San Blas Islands are popular with Weltumseglern due to its natural beauty and the friendliness of its inhabitants.

Islands

• Isla El Porvenir
• Isla Wichubualá (aka Wichub Wala or Huala )
• Isla Ukuptupu
• Isla naranga
• Isla Corazón de Jesús