At Panama San Blas Tours, we believe travel should create lasting memories — and a positive impact. Our purpose is to offer authentic, community-led journeys that empower the Guna people and protect their islands for generations to come.
We operate with a 100% local team. There is no foreign ownership or intervention in our company, and every dollar you spend goes directly back into the Guna community. This approach lets us deliver unforgettable San Blas travel experiences while supporting the people who make the San Blas Islands so extraordinary.
Panama San Blas Tours was born from a moment of curiosity that became a calling.
After years of launching global brands like Old Spice and Gillette across Latin America, our founder, Marisol Thalia Echeverria Rios, pressed pause on her corporate career to focus on motherhood. Around that time, a friend asked for help planning her bachelorette trip, and mentioned a place Marisol had never heard of: the San Blas Islands, an untouched Caribbean archipelago protected by the indigenous Guna people.
What she discovered was remarkable:
Marisol travelled to San Blas and met Billy, Melguis, and Tony — three Guna leaders whose values and vision inspired her. What began with one boat and a few 4×4 vehicles has grown into a thriving local network: today, Melguis operates five boats and Billy coordinates a team of over 12 drivers, all proudly Guna.
Together, they built Panama San Blas Tours as a model of responsible tourism based on trust, respect, and true partnership.
We are proud to invest directly back into the Guna community through every tour we operate.
Visiting a Guna community is not a staged performance. It’s real life: children walking to school, women singing to welcome a newborn, or leaders meeting in the Congress House. If you’re lucky, you may witness a rare and sacred coming-of-age ritual, where families and neighbours gather to celebrate a girl becoming a woman with ancestral songs, dances, and a traditional corn drink called chicha.
When you travel with us, you help preserve the culture of the San Blas Islands, empower its people, and protect its future.
I’m Marisol, a Mexican industrial engineer, mother of two, and wife to a Frenchman. I split my life between Mexico, France, and Panama, but my heart always returns to the San Blas Islands.
Beyond leading Panama San Blas Tours, I serve on the executive committee of Marianne, an association that promotes female leadership, and I work in Mexico to support traditional female cooks in preserving their culinary heritage.
My purpose became clear after losing my mother. Knowing how rare unconditional love can be, I’ve committed to giving it back to the world, especially to those who need it most. I also know the tough choices women face between pursuing professional ambitions and being present for their children.
Women carry a natural spirit of care and generosity. That ability to give unconditionally is what fuels everything I do — as a mother, as a business leader, and as a partner to the Guna people.
When you choose Panama San Blas Tours, you’re choosing:
This is what community-led tourism looks like. Come discover the San Blas Islands — and become part of their story.