San Blas Private Chef Experience in Panama

In the San Blas Islands, “luxury” isn’t defined by gold fixtures or marble lobbies. It’s defined by access—access to 365 private islands, pristine reefs, and a culinary experience so fresh, its ingredients were swimming just hours before.

Many charters offer an “all-inclusive” menu. On the Nomade, we offer a culinary journey.

Our “private chef” isn’t just on the boat; they are of the islands. Their menu isn’t planned weeks in advance; it’s written by the sea each morning. This is the story of food in Guna Yala—a story that begins and ends with the Guna people.

The “Guna Yala Catch”: The Secret to Our Five-Star Menu

Your day on the Nomade doesn’t start with a buffet line. It starts with the gentle splash of a paddle. You’ll watch from the deck, coffee in hand, as a Guna fisherman glides up to our catamaran in his traditional ulu (dugout canoe).

What’s on offer? Whatever the sea provided. Giant Caribbean spiny lobsters, sweet red snapper (pargo), or a prized grouper. This is our “supply chain”—a handshake and a smile with a fisherman we know by name.

This connection extends to the land. Our chef sources what they can from Guna farms on the mainland—sweet plantains, coconuts, yucca, mangoes, and cacao.

This is the Nomad Sailors Difference: Our chef doesn’t just cook for you; they source for you. This creates a direct, sustainable, and respectful link between your plate and the local community.

A Day in the Life of Your Private Chef: What Will You Eat?

Sunrise Breakfast: A vibrant platter of fresh-sliced pineapple, papaya, and passionfruit, served with yogurt and local Panamanian coffee. You’ll eat this as we navigate to a new, pristine anchorage for the day.

Mid-Day Lunch: Light, fresh ceviche made from that morning’s catch, tossed with lime and cilantro. Served with crispy plantain chips after your first snorkel in the “Holandeses Cays.”

Sunset Appetizers: The “magic hour.” You’re anchored off a one-palm-tree island. Our chef presents a beautiful spread: a homemade savory tart, fresh-cut mango, and craft cocktails

The Main Event: Dinner Under the Stars: This is the moment. The Guna Yala Lobster, grilled to perfection with garlic-lime butter. Or the Red Snapper, filleted and served over a bed of coconut rice. You’ll dine on the open-air deck, miles from any restaurant, under a blanket of stars.

“At a resort, you book a table. Here, I build the menu around you—and around the fresh, beautiful ingredients the Guna bring us each day. It’s a partnership, and it’s an honor to cook this way.”

More Than a Meal: A True Cultural Connection

• This culinary journey isn’t separate from the culture; it is the culture.
• The food is a gateway to understanding the Guna’s sustainable, centuries-old way of life.
• By sourcing directly, we are active, respectful partners in their economy—a core part of sustainable tourism.
• This is why a simple meal on the Nomad Sailors tour becomes the centerpiece of a truly authentic Guna Yala tour.
• It’s a complete, 360-degree experience. The food, the culture, and the paradise are all one.

Taste the Real San Blas

You can have an “all-inclusive” meal anywhere. But you can only have a true Guna Yala culinary journey here. Stop dreaming about the menu and come taste the adventure.

Book Your Culinary Journey HERE