San Blas Islands, Panama

© bgremler/Shutterstoc

A blue-tiful island. San Blas Islands, Panama

Nestled off the northern coast of Panama, the San Blas Islands are an archipelago of more than 360 islands in the Caribbean Sea. Known for their clean, calm waters, they are the perfect place for adventure sports such as snorkeling, surfing, and diving. Staghorn and pillar coral are among the species found in coral reefs surrounding the islands, which teem with marine life. The islands are inhabited primarily by Gunas—people indigenous to Guna Yala—who preserve their way of living with vibrant, traditional clothing, thatched-roof huts known as 'bohíos,' and intricate, handcrafted mola textiles.