Shameless Advertising

I promised Mundo and Paolo I'd do this. Tourist coming to their pueblo is really the most significant form of earning dollars that the Kuna people have. They are concerned that they'll become over-run with tourists and further lose the grip they have on their traditional way of life so they maintain pretty tight control of who is allowed in. But they are among the nicest people I've ever met, and went far out of their way to make sure I was happy.

So if you every happen to find yourself in the San Blas islands in the puebo of Playon Chico and you need a place to stay, look up Mundo. Just ask around town for him, everyone knows him. He's been working at the local post office for 16 years and doesn't have any plans to go anywhere. Sure the odds that any of your are heading to Panama any time soon is slim, but even if one or two of you make it there it would make a huge difference in their livelihood.

Or if you like to plan ahead, call the pueblo at either:

011 507 299-91-17
011 507 277-91-68

Those are only two public phones in the pueblo, so likely someone will answer and you'll have to ask for Mundo in spanish. And then you'll hang up and call back in about 5 minutes, and hopefully by then they will have found him and he'll be waiting for your call. Just let him know that Kashif from Seattle sent you and they'll treat you right. For those of you who can't speak Spanish, there are a few people in the pueblo who speak English relatively well and I'm sure they'd be willing to help out with translations.

Or mail Mundo at:

Raymundo Gonzalez
Correos Playon Chico
Entrega General
Kuna Yala
Republic of Panama

The accomodations are nice although you do have to kinda enjoy roughing it. We wound settling on $20 a night which included 3 meals a day and for the last night several beers. It's definately an experience like no other.

If you are looking for a few more amenities in your accomodations I met Petita one of the nights while we were relaxing in the village, and her family runs a nearby hotel. It's website is http://www.kuanidup.pa.kz and they seemed like lovely people as well.