Boat rental in San Blas Islands · Lagoon — 55 (1992)

Overall, this was a 2.5 star experience. We were a group of four that wanted a private experience. We booked and confirmed for 6 hours. However, the transportation company that Elena arranged was over 2 hours late getting us to San Blas. No apology was offered. We were simply told to have patience. The description refers to superior gastronomy and mixology, neither of which we experienced. Elena did take into consideration that one person in our group couldn't have dairy or shellfish, but the food served was pretty mediocre. Despite asking us what we wanted to drink prior to us arriving (rum punch and margaritas), Elena ran out of limes and we only had two margaritas. We then switched to rum punch, which was very watered down. We asked for a second round of rum punch to be made with a double shot and we were met with questions and commentary about wanting such strong drinks. When, in reality, we just wanted regular (not watered down) rum punch. And because the transportation Elena arranged was so late, we only snorkeled in one place and visited one island. The water taxi arrived early to pick us up and Elena was hurrying us off the boat. Overall her demeanor was pretty lackluster. She didn't apologize at all for the transportation being so late nor did she bring a fun, vibrant attitude to try to make up for the 2+ hours we lost. I've rented private catamarans and yachts all over the world (Dubai, Belize, St. Martin, etc.) and this was, by far, my least favorite experience. The good parts were that it's a nice, clean catamaran and it's very spacious, especially for small groups. There is also a large speaker for you to play your own music. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good for me.

Elena and her crew are the real deal. From the welcome moment to the goodbye they will greet any request of yours with a happy smile and willingness to provide the best service. They even create a beach BBQ and bond fire on request!!! Gormet food and exquisite cocktails finish the circle with flying colors (Chef Lea is a true Pro)!!! You can’t go wrong with this choice. Ohhh. Did I mention that they are one of the few (I could find others for the time of my booking) that provide motor water sports beside SUP? Banana or water skies were a top pick for our holidays. If we do comeback to San Blas (Panama Maldives) we are sure to given them another GO!!! All the best

Elena and Lea were tremendous hosts. Before the trip even started Elena was incredibly helpful in organizing travel to and from the islands, which was not a simple task for our group of six (we drove and took a boat to meet them on the way there, and took a flight on the way back). Once on the boat it was clear that we made a great choice. Elena’s skill as a captain, her meticulous approach to maintenance/cleanliness and her incredible knowledge of the area made us feel safe throughout. Lea was magical in the kitchen morning day and night, with fresh, healthy, clean meals that wowed the family over and over again. I also have to give a shout out to our canine hosts (Nali and Maluka) who adopted us for the week. Great additions to the experience, added entertainment / security, and the kids adored them. Overall it was an amazing trip. Sailing around a beautiful, remote part of the world, in safe hands, great food, with lots of activities (swimming, snorkeling, spear fishing, water skiing, exploring uninhabited islands, visiting local Guna villages) to keep the family entertained, plenty of time to relax, etc. I highly recommend spending some quality time on the Flying Ginny w this amazing crew.

Fenomenal

While it’s always stressful to trust your vacation and dollars to a stranger, Elena does an incredible job of communicating and organizing her charters. Once on board she’s an amazing host and captain and shows you the islands and gives you the history in a way that’s incredible. And the food (every single meal) is incredible as well