Tourist places to see in India and in the world

Travel – Kuna Yala, Panama – inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people

Kuna Yala is a region in Panama which is inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people. The word Kuna Yala means Land of the Kuna. This region is bounded in the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the province of Panama, in the East by Colombia and in the west by the province of Colon. This region is spread over a land area of 3206 square km. Kuna Yala is an archipelago of 365 islands out of which 49 are inhabited. The population is approximately about 36,500. Agriculture, fishery and tourism industry form the main economic activities of the region. The crops of guineo, corn (maize), sugarcane and coconut are the main farming crops of the region. Kuna language is the local language here. El Porvenir is the capital of Kuna Yala. Mola is a tribal art form that is very popular here.

This region is divided into cities:
• Carti
• San Blas Islands
• Puerto Obaldia
• Rio Sidra
• Norgana
• Playon Chico
• Ailigandi
• Mamsucum
• Mulatupo o Sasardi
• Carreto

Ecotours, fishing, snorkeling, and touring of nearby villages are the main activities of the region. There are many beaches in the island of Carti, Ukupseni and Isla Pino.

Attractions of Kuna Yala and around:
• PEMASKY which means Proyecto de Estudio para el Manejo de Areas Silvestres de Kuna Yala: It is a bioreserve inside Kuna yala which started in 1983. This is a natural park near Nasugandi. This bioreserver preserves the heritage and marine and land ecosystems of Kuna Yala.
• The San Blas Islands are a group of 378 islands out of which only 49 are inhabited. It is an archipelago of Panama. These islands lie off the north coast of Isthmus. To its east is the Panama Canal. It has been home to Kuna Indians which are part of Kuna Yala tribe along the Caribbean coast of Panama. These tribes welcome tourists very warmly into their ancestral home. Their official language is Tule but Spanish is prevalent in schools. Tule is the spoken language of Kuna Yala tribes.
• Dog Islands: These islands are famous for snorkeling. One can find variety of tropical fish in these waters.
• There are tiny islands with beaches that are used for sunbathing or swimming.
• Isla Pelicanos: These island beaches are soft with white sand and clear with shallow water over a coral reef making it perfect for snorkeling. One can see tropical, colored fishes. The waves are calm and gentle here.
• The island of Achutupu: This Island has the best beaches for scuba diving. It is here that off of the coast one can see a shipwreck of a Colombian cargo boat which is a popular dive spot. The beaches have transparent turquoise waters.
• Kagantupu, Wichubwala, and Coco Blanco: These have secluded beaches with white sand and palm trees lined up.
• Thatched Hut Village: A tour through a Kuna village where one can see their huts, lifestyle, and costumes is a must do on these islands visit.
• Mola Shopping: The Molas that are created by The Kuna is great for look out as well for buying.
• Pargue Soberania: This is about 15 minutes away from Panama City and is a hiking place. The hiking trail goes through the rainforests with caves and lakes and bird watching, with fishing also being a part of it.
• The Panama Canal: This canal is about 77 km (48 miles). It is a shipping canal that is in Panama and this canal joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and has been the key for the maritime trade. The traffic is about 1000 ships in early days and present it is about 14,702 vessels a day. This canal has its own measurement system called Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) in tons. It is one of the largest engineering projects of the times. The alternate route is via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.
• Panama Viejo: This was once the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Presently there are ruins of the battles which were fought with the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. There is a museum with Spanish exhibits near the site. One need to know Spanish or take a guide for translation for understanding as most of the exhibits is in Spanish.
• Casco Viejo: This is an established Spanish colonial city of 1671. This city was established after the downfall of Panama Viejo in battles and until 20th century, this city was Panama City. Panama bay and other sites depict its history with Spain, France and United States.
• Panama Canal Rainforest: The Panama Canal rainforests are one of the pristine rainforests in the world. The Soberania National Park is about 30 minutes away from Panama City and 45 minutes from the international airport. This is a base for ecotourism.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit these islands is from April to June and November to December. This time of the year is great for snorkeling and scuba diving, as the water is warm, clear, and calm. From January to April is the dry season and a perfect time for sun bathing.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By plane: There are daily flight services from Panama City to El Porvenir via Air Panama. Air Panama also services Achutupu, Corazon de Jesus (Rio Diablo/Nargana), and Playon Chico.
By boat: There are boat options from Colombia.
Sailing boats are to/from Colombia/Cartagena.
Cargo boats leave to/from Carti Island and Porvenir Island (San Blas Island/Kuna Yala) to Puerto Obaldia into Colombia and motorized boats take only 5 to 6 hours.
By land: The road into San Blas Kuna Yala is vastly improving and is accessible all year round. A bridge has been opened, eliminating the need to cross the river in the vehicle. One can drive from Panama City to Carti in the San Blas Islands.

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at virtual panama
• Hotels at costaricahotels
• Hotels at costaricapages
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at you.travel

Blogs / Sites about Kuna Yala, Panama

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at travbuddy
• Blogs and reviews at the lonely planet
• Blogs and reviews at blogtopsites

Images and photos of Kuna Yala, Panama

• Images at google
• Images at travel-images
• Images at igougo
• Images at galenfrysinger

Videos of Kuna Yala, Panama

Kuna Yala Molas

Kuna yala

Kuna Yala montage

San Blas Panama , Kuna Yala

Kuna Yala (San Blas) Panamá por Marco Simionato (fotos)

KUNA YALA an ECO EXPLORER TOUR

Molas Kunas San Blas Islands Panama

Travel – Hora Sfakion – located in the southwest of Crete

Hora Sfakion is located in the southwest of Crete. It has a tiny harbor and has about 475 inhabitants, and from the population size, you can see that it is a very small place, but well known. It is the capital of Sfakia region, situated to the south coast of Crete. There are many beaches like Ilingas, Filaki and Sweet Water Beach.
Attractions of Hora Sfakion:
• Sweet water beach or Glyka nera: Sweet water in Greece means Glyka. Under the beach there is always drinkable water. One can reach there using a small boat “Delfini” which takes 15min and about 45 minutes by feet. A small tavern is also present for those who like some refreshment.
• Filaki beach: This is a beautiful beach that is near the naturist hotel.
• Hotel Vritomartis: This is the only naturist hotel (where people like to be in the same state as they were when they were born, without clothes) in all of Crete and also in all of Greece.
• Frangokastello Orthi Ammos beach: This beach is about 12km to the east of Chora Sfakion. There is a village named Frangokastello which is 500m to the east from the castle.
• Marmara beach: Marmara beach is about 20 minutes from Loutro and is towards the end of Aradena gorge. By walk it takes 50 min.
• Agios Pavlos beach: This beach takes about an hour by feet from Agia Roumeli and about 2 hours from Agios Ioannis. From Loutro it takes about 3-4 hours. It is a long and almost deserted beach.
• Diving: One can snorkel along the plunging coastline of Sfakion which has small shoals, octopus etc. There are scuba diving, cave diving and night diving available at this place. There are diving excursions to the Gavdos and Gaydopoula islands.
• Agios Nikolaos (or Aghios Nikolaos) is a city or a coastal town on the island of Greek of Crete. The city lies to the east of the capital, Heraklion and to the north of lerapetra and to the west of sitia. This town is the capital of Lasithi. The three faces to the sea of this town are The Lake & port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina.
• Lake Voulismeni (Límni Voulisméni): This is a small lake which connects to the sea. It is situated at the centre of the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The diameter of the lake is about 137 m and depth is about 64 m. This lake is connected to the harbour of the town with a channel. There is a small park around it. This lake is popular for its fireworks celebrations on Orthodox Christian Easter day.
• The Cretan diet: This is a traditional local diet of the Mediterranean island of Crete, also called “Mediterranean diet” which is very popular in the place.
• Chrissi Island: For enjoying the quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches, one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island.
• Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga Island: There are Kritsa’s tourist shops from where one can buy some local hand woven linens, rugs, tablecloths and handicrafts.
• The Katharo plateau above Kritsa and the Lassithi Plateau: This is known for its climate, topography and geology.
• Elounda: It is a town which is a fishing port and has several sandy beaches from the centre square. This port offers boat trips to the island of Spinalonga.

The following can be reached by walking or as below:
• Imbros Gorge:
Chora Sfakion to Imbros (bus) – 30 minutes
Imbros Gorge – 2 hours 15 minutes
Bottom of gorge to Chora Sfakion, via Komitades – 1 hour 10 minutes

• Loutro and Sweet Water Beach:
Chora Sfakion to Loutro (ferry) – 20 minutes
Time in Loutro
Loutro to Sweetwater – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time at Sweetwater
Sweetwater to Chora Sfakion – 1 hour (or boat)

• Askyfou Plateau
Chora Sfakion to Askyfou by KTEL bus – 40 minutes
Askyfou Plateau – Variable, depending on detours and refreshment breaks. (Allow at least 2:30 to 3 hours)
Askyfou to Chora Sfakion – 40 minutes by KTEL bus

• Askyfou, Asfendou gorge and Agios Nektarios
KTEL bus Chora Sfakion to Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares – 40/45 minutes
Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Agios Nektarios – 2 hours 15 minutes
Agios Nektarios to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 20 minutes

• Loutro, Marmara, Agios Pavlos and Agia Roumeli or Samaria
Chora Sfakion to Loutro by ferry – 20 minutes
Loutro to Marmara by boat – 20 minutes (or walk – 50 minutes)
Marmara to Agios Pavlos – 2 hours 30 minutes/45 minutes
Agios Pavlos to Agia Roumeli – 1 hour 15 minutes
Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Niato and Trikoukia, in the village of Askyfou
KTEL Chora Sfakion/Chania bus to Ammoudari/Askyfou – 40 minutes
Ammoudari to Niato – 2 hours
Niato to Trikoukia – 30 minutes
Trikoukia to Imbros – 1 hour 45 minutes
Lunch in Imbros. KTEL bus Imbros to Chora Sfakion

• Old village Anopolis and return via
Chora Sfakion to Anopolis – 2 hours 30 minutes
Time in Anopolis
Anopolis to Loutro – 2 hours
Loutro to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Kalikratis gorge, near of the village Frangokastello
KTEL Chora Sfakion / Chania bus to Kares – 45 minutes
Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Kallikratis – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time in Kallikratis
Kallikratis, via Gorge, to Patsianos – 2 hours 15 minutes
Patsianos to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 25 minutes

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. One can expect showers between October and April. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can drive over the mountains from the north coast on a good road and some public buses are also available from Agios Nikolas.
Agios Nikolaos (Crete) is about 40 miles from Herakleion Airport (HER). The journey takes about 45 – 60 minutes by car or taxi.

By Bus: There are local bus services available in the place.

By Ferry:
Ferry services run to Agios Nikolaos from Athens (Piraeusport), Rhodes, Chalki, Karpathos and Kassos.
Major ferry lines operate to the port of Herakleion with buses connecting at the main bus station near to the port. Ferries run directly to the town via LANE lines from Pireaus and Rhodes.

By plane: The distance is 40 miles from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos.

Get around:
By Bus: Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion (and from there, Knossos), Malia and Hersonnisos are accessible with a regular bus service.
Among other methods of commute are taxis, scooters, rent car facilities available in the place.