Paradise in Panama - Island Yoga Adventure
To book this retreat with a $500 deposit, click here.
What You’ll Experience in Panama
On this yoga retreat, you’ll experience the vibrant flavors (culinary & otherwise) of Panama City and the easy remote-lux island life of Bocas del Toro. You’ll eat delicious, tropical fresh fruit, snorkel mangroves, spot sea turtles, lounge on a catamaran, visit the pristine islands of Bastimentos National Park and enjoy unparalleled sunsets. You’ll practice yoga poolside and palapa-style and sleep soundly lulled by the tropical sounds (or the chatter of local monkeys!). From the hum of the city to the soothing rolling of the tide, explore all the sensory delights of this yoga retreat in Panama. Your senses will be enlivened with the sights & sounds of wildlife, the warm ocean water on your skin & feet in the sand, and the beauty of the sunsets… a world away from the world awaits.
How You’ll Experience Panama
Start your trip in the historic, boutique Central Hotel located in the old quarter of Casco Viejo in Panama City. Stroll the city with food and taste buds, enjoying the local food and admiring its eclectic architecture. Feel the pulse of music in the streets as the sunset in Casco means the emergence of local bands. Next, you’ll fly to Bocas del Toro and experience a slice of island life and barefoot elegance. You’ll journey away from the hum of town to a pristine beach hideaway for perfect sand-in-your-toes relaxation. Your abode features open-air bathrooms and pool-facing patios and the background sounds of the surf. Practice yoga under the poolside palapa, listen to monkeys, and laugh with new friends. During the day, you’ll sail turquoise waters on a catamaran, snorkel in the mangroves and azure reef waters and visit the undeveloped and gorgeous La Isla Zapatillas. Next on the agenda: Relax by the pool, horseback ride through the rainforest jungle, or rent bikes and check out the town… the choices are yours to make. This is a trip that will change your life says-National Geographic Traveller who voted this retreat in Panama one of 50 Epic Adventures in 2018.
How You’ll Feel When You Return Home
When you return home, you’ll bring the island life with you. You’ll have sweet memories of adventuring with new friends on vibrant streets and beautiful tropical warm blue-green waters.
What’s Included:
* Yoga each morning & evening (except Panama City arrival & departure)
*2 nights accommodation in a Panama City historic hotel (arrival & departure night)
*Guided city walking & foodie tour of Casco Viejo- a UNESCO World Heritage site
*Welcome dinner at Casco Viejo restaurant
*Group flights from Panama City to Bocas del Toro & back to Panama City
*Transfers to and from the Albrook airport by pavement and dirt road to relaxation paradise
*5 nights beachfront Eco-Lux accommodation
*Group catamaran sail and snorkel
*Boat day out to Las Isla Zapatillas for crystal-clear water & snorkeling exploration day
*Ocean-front cabana living
*Daily cooked breakfast & local fruits
*Evening dinners on the beach
*Transportation to & from Panama City (PTY) airport (on arrival & departure days only)
What’s Not Included
*Airfare to Panama City
*Additional Excursions
*Lunches
*Alcohol or items of personal nature/ souvenirs
*Travel Insurance (recommended)
*Gratuities
Yoga Retreat in Panama Accommodations
Panama City
Deplane in comfort at the Central Hotel in the old quarter of Casco Viejo. This historic boutique Lux hotel bookends our island time with all the comfort and amenities you can expect: delicious food, luxuriously appointed rooms, and the best location in Panama to stroll and take in this beautiful city. Enjoy top-notch service and all the flavor of Panama City right outside your door.
Bocas del Toro
Get ready for barefoot elegance, and island style. Each Island Plantation room is designed and decorated with natural comfort in mind. All rooms have gorgeous open-air bathrooms, front pool-facing patios, overhead fan for evening comfort (though the ocean breeze keeps you cool), and a zen style that eases you into ‘island time’.
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Itinerary
Day 1
*Arrive (ideally by 1pm, but before 3pm) to participate in 4:30pm walking tour) into Panama City with transfers to the hotel- (about a 45min drive). If you have a later arrival you will still be picked up, but will miss the early evening fun.
*4:30pm Meet up in the lobby for a history, culture & food walking tour of the Old Quarter
*7:30pm Welcome dinner in town
Day 2
*Breakfast at the hotel and get ready for flight to the islands
*Group transfer to Albrook airport for a short (1 hr) flight to Bocas
(Remote is the name of the game so be prepared for approximately 25min of travel on a dirt road to reach our beach paradise)
*5pm Early evening yoga
*7:30pm Welcome dinner island style
Day 3
* Sleep in a little…8am Morning yoga by the pool & a jungle breakfast
* 9:30am Enjoy getting on Island Time. Today is yours to spend taking a dip in the pool, getting a massage, or wandering the jungle or the beach. For those that want to take a nice walk, La Piscina is well worth the good stretch for the legs.
*5pm Early evening yoga with the sun setting over the jungle- relaxing & beautiful.
*Island dinner
Day 4
*Morning yoga & breakfast
*9-3:30/4pm Get your sea -legs on as we head out for a full day on the Caribbean waters- Captain’s Choice
- Sail through Dolphin Bay
- Warm water snorkeling in Cayo Coral & exploration swimming/ snorkeling around Zapatillas Island
- Casual Lunch in Cay Coral
“After lunch, we’ll head to “Hollywood” for some super big starfish & then off to Sloth Island to catch a glimpse of the slow dudes
*5pm Early evening yoga
*7:30pm Island dinner
Day 5
*Sleep in a little… 8am Morning yoga & breakfast
*9:30am Today is free to catch up on your reading, enjoy a drink by the pool/beach, go for a swim, walk/ run on the long 4 miles stretch of beach, stroll down to La Picina if you are craving more adventure you can book an excursion or head into Bocas- for a townie- style diversion (cheap bike rentals are a good way to explore).
*5pm Evening yoga
*7pm Island dinner
Day 6
*Morning yoga & breakfast
*9-3:30/4pm Today’s leisurely sail will be dictated by your Captain (& the winds) but you can expect to head in the direction of Starfish Beach. You’ll spend the day cruising the waters jumping in for a swim &/or a snorkel, and enjoying a chilled-out lunch on board
- These pristine islands are part of the Bastimentos National Park & are completely undeveloped
- Snorkel the crystal-clear water reefs & marvel at Mother Nature
*5pm Evening yoga
*7:30pm Bocas farewell dinner
Day 7
*Morning yoga will be dictated by the Air Panama flight time
*Final island breakfast
*Transfer to the Bocas airport for our flight back to Panama City
*Back in the city, the afternoon is yours to grab any last photographs or souvenirs. Stroll the local craft market for handmade Panamanian products, shop along the promenade above the old pirate walls, or head to the local fish market for a refreshing drink and fresh bites. Fresh fruit juice & people watching in the square is always a fun afternoon.
*7pm Meet in the lobby for the Final group dinner in historic Casco Viejo
Day 8
*8am Fuel up for a travel home day with the breakfast buffet in the historic Central Hotel
*Transfers to the Panama City airport based on departure time
- Later flights have a few extra hours to explore & play in Casco