Located 15 kilometers to the east of Carti, Rio Sidra is a highly congested island town located in the San Blas Archipelago. It is a densely populated town featuring a higher degree of urbanization and westernization compared to the other islands. Local tours involving walking through the mainland to the beautiful waterfalls, watching birds, and learning about medicinal plants and Guna legends on the way are conducted by the indigenous historian Lisa Harris, who is also a very famous ‘mola’ maker in the town.
Although there is not much to see in the town of Rio Sidra itself, it serves as a convenient access point to a number of nearby and far-flung islands. Tourists can take an easy boat ride from here to Naranjo Chico, Salardup and De Mar Achu. The town also finds itself relatively close to some of the major remote islets in the province named Cayos Los Grullos, Holandeses, Ordupuquip, etc. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the important islands that tourists can access from the town of Rio Sidra.
Achudup
Achudup (also called De Mar Achu) is a beautiful palm-forest island located in the area of Rio Sidra.
Cabanas De Mar Achudup
The island offers high-value, well-spaced, neat and tidy cabin choices for both families and couples. The lodging features newly-constructed concrete bathrooms and provides regular electricity supply thanks to the solar panels on the roof. Guests can play volleyball or relax in hammocks suspended between the palm trees. Campsites are all-inclusive and available at acceptable prices. The hosts also organize excursions to the nearby islands of Isla Pelicano and Salardup. Guests here can engage in snorkeling, fishing, swimming, sightseeing and other exhilarating activities. Community trips to the Rio Sidra waterfall can also be arranged.
Salardup
Salardup or Isla Estrella is a charming island in Rio Sidra, featuring beautiful beaches with white sand and widespread coconut trees facing both the sea and the mainland. Huge starfish can be seen in the waters here; tourists are, however, discouraged from handling them. The island provides exhilarating opportunities for swimming and snorkeling. Cultural tours to the Rio Sidra mainland, traditional Guna legends, and waterfalls are also organized by the hosts.
Camping
The only accommodation on this scintillating island is the Camping Salardup. Visitors have to bring their own camping gear to the site. Transport from Carti is a separate charge from the camping fee at $30 USD per round trip. Lalo Gonzales is the contact for camping, and for transport from Carti, the contact is Leon Marino.
Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared by the family members in charge of the island. Dishes mostly feature seafood.
Isla Senidup
This beautiful white sand area accounts for half of the famous Franklin’s Island, separated by a chain-link fence. The island features picturesque white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, widespread palms, and rustic straw huts. It is the perfect destination for backpackers and families wanting to enjoy in solitude without spending a lot of money. There is plenty of space available for tourists to enjoy the surroundings. Lying in the hammocks, tourists can collect their thoughts or just enjoy the beautiful views by raising a tent under the shady palm trees. Guests are offered easy boat trips to the nearby islands and good rustic cabins in which to stay. The extensive marine life that thrives here is a joy for visitors. The island also offers a party atmosphere with good music and fun hosts.
Cabanas Senidup
Cabanas Senidup is a popular thatched lodging option on the island, owned and managed by Sr Sugu. It offers two types of rooms: cabin bedrooms and private cabins with shared bathrooms. Visitors can access various beach games, play volleyball or engage in snorkeling using the snorkel gear available there. A restaurant serving seafood is also available on site. Hosts can also arrange round-trips to Carti for guests at $20 USD per hour.
Naranjo Chico
Naranjo Chico, Little Orange, or Narascandub Pipi is a populated island located 3 kilometers northwest of Rio Sidra. This semi-developed island lies somewhere between a basic community island and a luxury resort island. Although the island is well inhabited, some spots for spending time in solitude are also available on its beaches.
Accommodation
The island offers a couple of very good lodging options that are on par with each other with respect to the facilities offered.
Cabanas Naranjo Chico
Cabanas Naranjo Chico offers six peaceful cabins with beautiful views and a lovely beach for swimming. The old cabins constructed on the beach feature shared bathrooms and the new ones built on stilts floating over the water have private bathrooms. Solar power is the only source of electricity in all the cabins. The del Valle family are great hosts who always serve up prompt responses on reservations. American breakfast is served every morning. Tourists can also discover the surrounding areas and indulge in fun activities. Transport from the Carti port can also be arranged by the staff.
Cabanas Miro
This basic accommodation is perfect for stoppers not looking for luxuries and who want to save more. Continental breakfast is served every morning in this B&B. Tourists can dine at the picnic tables outdoors and enjoy the views and interact with fellow travelers. Transport from Carti can be arranged and charged separately. A terrace is available and snorkeling tours are conducted in close proximity to the cabins. Seven new cabins are under construction.
Cayos Los Grullos, Holandeses, and Ordupuquip Cays
The triangle formed by the virtually unsettled islands of Los Grullos, Holandeses and Ordupuquip is the uncontested treasure of the San Blas Archipelago. Cayos Los Grullos, located 10 kilometers northwest of Rio Sidra, occupies the southwestern end of the triangle. The Dutchmen Keys occupy the northern tip and the eastern corner comprises the Ordupuquip Cays. Cayos Holandeses is best known for snorkeling in the archipelago while lush green tropical forests, diverse marine life, and colorful coral reefs can be witnessed all around the cays.
Around 100 meters north of the Cayos Holandeses is the Wreck Reef, which is known for having swallowed a number of ships and vessels over the years. The ocean floor here can miraculously rise by about 100 meters in a matter of seconds. A famous incident happened at the reef in 1995 when a smugglers’ ship carrying TV sets got smashed here. The way this enabled the Guna tribes to catch up on their daily soap operas free of cost is a funny story that you can ask the local community there about.
Conclusion
Above is all about the town of Rio Sidra and the beautiful islands surrounding it. All of the islands offer majestic experiences for visitors to indulge in snorkeling, swimming, sightseeing or relaxing in the beautiful hammocks and lovely cabins constructed on stilts. Rio Sidra is a great launching point for all of these masterpieces, offering you the experience of a lifetime.
What’s Nearby?
