The San Blas islands are part of the Archipelago de San Blas, located in the Northwest of Panama on the Caribbean side.
The islands are inhabited and governed by the indigenous people of Guna Yala, who rebelled against the Panamanian government in 1925 and were granted full sovereignty over the land. Guna Yala is a sovereign nation and operate under their own constitution and government. Guna Yala is very protective of their culture and the islands they inhabit, strictly regulating tourism and flow of visitors.
Guna ferry passengers and supplies from the port and in between the islands using speedboats, expertly navigating treacherous waters are filled with palm stubs and previously sunken islands and boats.
Currently, the San Blas Archipelago is nearly at the water level and as the global shifts in temperature and rising sea levels accelerate, Guna people will have become climate refugees losing their well-preserved culture and homes to the sea.
In addition to climate change, Guna people face another issue, an ecological disaster, as there is no waste removal program and islands inhabited by locals are filled with rubbish. Being very conscious about the environment and its protection, Guna area contains plastic waste as much as they can, however, with every big wave rubbish washes it out into the open sea.
In contrast, islands designated for visitors are free of rubbish, it’s pristine white sand raked to perfection complementing the sparkly Azul Caribbean waves leisurely washing over… Blissful, tropical paradise sought by tourists.
In addition to climate change, Guna people face another issue, an ecological disaster, as there is no waste removal program and islands inhabited by locals are filled with rubbish. Being very conscious about the environment and its protection, Guna area contains plastic waste as much as they can, however, with every big wave rubbish washes it out into the open sea.
In contrast, islands designated for visitors are free of rubbish, it’s pristine white sand raked to perfection complementing the sparkly Azul Caribbean waves leisurely washing over… Blissful, tropical paradise sought by tourists.
Aga Szydlik
Aga Szydlik is a photographer whose primary focus is on cultural, documentary, and experimental photography.
She is passionate about exploring the world and through her travels in complete immersion in the culture she documents. Through her photography, she aims to tell the narrative of people she meets during her travels and the stories they tell her.
She is passionate about capturing emotions, rituals and everyday situations in different social contexts such focused on cultural, humanitarian and ecological issues impacting the environment and human life.
