Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
land cemetery and hike (US$5 per person) and snorkeling Cayo Holandeses (US$50 per
person, four passengers minimum). Though service is good, the boating can be a bit fast.
Bottled water is included. They also offer camping (US$55 per person) with tent and
boat transfer included.
Hotel Corbiski
( 6708-5254;
www.corbiski.com
; r without bathroom per person all inclusive
US$65)
offers bamboo-walled lodging with laminated floors and neat, spacious rooms.
Clean shared bathrooms occupy cement stalls. Lodgings include purified water and trans-
portation to and from Cartí or El Porvenir. The owner, Elias Pérez, is the school princip-
al; travelers interested in volunteering at the school are encouraged to contact him.
Nalunega
POP 500
With a name that translates to mean 'Red Snapper Island,' it's no wonder that Nalunega's
inhabitants spend most of their days fishing the surrounding seas. However, tourism has
played an important role on this community island for decades, mainly because Nalunega
is home to the Comarca's oldest hotel.
Unfortunately, the 1972
Hotel San Blás
( 6705-3820; r without bathroom per person all
inclusive US$50)
has been temporarily closed but plans to reopen. Installations are pretty
basic. While this isn't a destination hotel, it is handy if you arrive too late for a boat
transfer further afield.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL IN KUNA YALA
When visiting the Comarca de Kuna Yala, consider how your visit may affect the
community. Tourism revenue can play a vital role in the development of the region,
particularly if you are buying locally produced crafts or contracting the services of
a Kuna guide. However, Western interests have already caused an irreversible
amount of damage to the region. Go aware of your surroundings, and sensitive to-
wards your impact.
One look at the paradisiacal setting, the rainbow flag and the distinctive Kuna
dress and you might feel transported into the pages ofNational Geographic. Don't
snap that shutter just yet. If the Kuna appear unfriendly, consider their predica-
ment. When cruise ships visit, the number of people on an already congested is-
land can triple. Nonetheless, nearly two-thirds of the populace (the tourists) turns
paparazzi on the other third (the Kuna). It's an unsavory scene repeated again and
again.
