Yandup Island Lodge

Family-run overwater bungalows near Playón Chico, reached by small plane and boat

About Yandup Island Lodge

Yandup Island Lodge is a family-run lodge with 10 rooms on a small island near Playón Chico, in eastern Guna Yala. Its overwater bungalows have private bathrooms and balconies, and the power is solar. You fly about 45 minutes from Albrook airport in Panama City to the Playón Chico airstrip, then take a short boat ride.

Yandup sits on a small island close to Playón Chico, on the eastern side of Guna Yala, the autonomous Indigenous territory also known as San Blas. The lodge is owned by a family and run by people from the local community. Guests sleep in overwater bungalows, each with a private bathroom and shower and a balcony for watching the sun come up.

The lodging is simple, and the lodge is open about it. Electricity comes from solar power, so phones and cameras are best charged in daylight. Fresh water is used sparingly. Wi-Fi is limited and mostly found in the shared areas. The island has no pharmacy, and the archipelago has no ATMs.

Getting here is part of the trip. Small planes fly from Albrook airport in Panama City to the Playón Chico airstrip in about 45 minutes, and the lodge team meets you for a short boat ride across. Days follow the water and the Guna community: reef mornings, walks with a Guna guide who explains medicinal jungle plants, and a visit to Playón Chico village. Whole-island buyouts are also available for groups.

At a glance

• Size: 10 rooms
• Airport (PAC): about 45 minutes by small plane from Albrook airport to Playón Chico, then a short boat ride

Perfect for

• Couples and honeymoons
• Beach time
• Nature and wildlife

On the property

• Guna-guided excursions: Guides from the community explain the medicinal uses of jungle plants.
• Island buyouts: Groups can reserve the whole lodge and have the island to themselves.
• Solar power: Electricity is solar; the lodge asks guests to charge devices by day.
• Wi-Fi in shared areas: Connection is limited and mostly found in common spaces.

Good to know

• Small planes serve Playón Chico and the lodge typically allows 25 to 30 pounds of luggage per person, so larger bags can stay at your Panama City hotel.
• Bring cash in small bills and any prescription medicine: the island has no pharmacy and the archipelago has no ATMs.
• Reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes and a small dry bag for boat rides are on the lodge's packing advice.

Questions travellers ask

How long is the flight to Playón Chico?

The flight from Albrook airport in Panama City takes about 45 minutes. A lodge team member meets you at the airstrip for the short boat ride to the island.

How much luggage can I take?

The small aircraft have strict weight limits, typically 25 to 30 pounds per passenger. Pack light and leave larger suitcases in Panama City.

Will I be able to get online?

Wi-Fi is limited and mostly available in the common areas. Plan on a quiet few days away from screens.

What should I wear in Playón Chico village?

Swimwear is fine on the island and the boat. In the village, a T-shirt and shorts or a sarong is the respectful choice, and it is polite to ask before photographing people.

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