Cartí Airport (CTE)

Cartí Airport is the main air gateway to the San Blas Islands, a chain of small islands in Panama's Guna Yala region. The airport sits on the mainland, roughly 2.7 kilometres southwest of Cartí Sugtupu island, and primarily handles domestic flights linking the archipelago with Panama City.

The facility is a small regional airport with a single concrete runway of about 495 metres. Scheduled services are operated mainly by Air Panama between Cartí and Panama City's Albrook Airport, making it possible to reach the islands by air in well under an hour instead of the longer road and boat journey.

Travellers arriving by air connect with local transport options, including 4x4 vehicles, taxis and organised transfers that link the airstrip with the Cartí pier and surrounding island communities. The road from Panama City to the Cartí area normally takes around two and a half to three hours, followed by a short boat ride to the islands.

Although facilities are basic, the airport plays an important role for local residents and visitors travelling to the Guna Yala region. Its small terminal building offers a waiting area and simple check-in arrangements, serving as a practical entry point for exploring the San Blas archipelago.