7 Day Waluaa Surf and Yoga Retreat in Tropical Villas in Magical Santa Catalina, Panama
Elevated Surf and Yoga Retreat Panama
Choose Waluaa Surf and Yoga Retreat and step into an oasis of tranquility, where your private villa is nestled around a lush palm garden. Personalized surf coaching to achieve your surf goals, surf-enhancing yoga and meditation, and all the magic and adventure of Santa Catalina. A dreamy surf town far from the city lights. Uncrowded village and beaches, world-renowned surf, perfect waves for beginners and intermediates, and a laid-back vibe all in one of Central America's safest countries, Panama.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Personalized surf lessons with ISA-certified instructors
- Surf studio lessons
- Yoga classes tailored to your needs
- Breathwork, mindfulness, and meditation classes
- Surfboards available at leisure
- Delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every day
- 6 nights boutique villa style accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Yoga styles
6 days with instruction in English
Average daily hours of activity: 6
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Bar
- Concierge desk
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Luggage room / storage
- Meditation garden
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Restaurant
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Yoga deck
- Yoga shala
- Board rental
- Free bicycle
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Ironing / ironing board
- Laundry
- Parking lot
- Outdoor shower
A Tropical Escape
Accommodation and meals are at a charming boutique property in dreamy Santa Catalina. Tucked away amidst lush palm gardens, this unique property is locally owned and the perfect oasis for guests seeing an elevated retreat experience. Dive into a sublime 18ft infinity pool with daybeds aplenty for the perfect post surf chill, and just a stone’s throw to La Punta surf break.
Highlights
- Spacious and private villa style rooms with tropical outdoor garden showers, an oasis of tranquility and charm. Each room is carefully designed to offer an elevated atmosphere of peacefulness and comfort.
- Spacious 18ft infinity pool with sun loungers and day beds, hammocks and sofas sprinkled around the property. Relax in this natural paradise under a starlit sky to the sounds of the Pacific Ocean.
- Pool side cocktail bar, complimentary bikes and W-Fi. On-site bikini shop.
- Expect all the mod cons with AC, fan, memory foam mattresses, plush pillows, safe, fridge, ensuite with BPA free bath products and lush bathrobes. And your very own hammock, table and sun deck chairs on every garden patio.
Boutique villa style with a laid back ambiance
An intimate tropical oasis with an elevated feeling of calm and comfort to make your stay unforgettable.
All rooms have been designed with a natural palate and sustainability in mind. Each with their own unique personality and style. Spacious, light and airy, a true experience for all the senses. All furniture is made of teak wood and professionally handcrafted locally. Each bathroom has its own private garden shower, beautifully decorated with natural stone walls and tropical plants. And a private terrace with hammocks and deck chairs for you to relax amongst the lush gardens.
The vibe of this property:
- A boutique experience, you'll feel you’ve stepped into your own jungle oasis with lush palms, mango and banana trees. Panamanian architecture with professionally handcrafted wood work, native plants and flowers surrounding you.
- An intimate property with 12 rooms, welcoming to all. With plenty of space to come together and chill, or retreat to the haven of your private villa style room.
- Elevated, warm, personal. And a restaurant experience that comes alive at night with salsa sounds. Woven with a fine dining experience in a laidback ambiance.
Program
Come and experience the freedom and presence that surf and yoga offer, completely de-stressing, and finding a sense of balance and vitality to bring home with you. Step outside your comfort zone and let new experiences and the rhythms of nature take you to new heights. Waluaa has designed this experience to help you get the most out of your week off.
Immerse yourself in a culinary journey of Panamanian flavors, using local, natural ingredients to create an elevated dining experience that blends traditional cuisine with innovative culinary techniques. A dreamy retreat experience that is relaxed, welcoming and with a pampered touch.
Surf lessons
Personalized coaching in small groups with a max of 1-3 students to an instructor. Each lesson is at least 2 hours and is designed to be progressive. Your board, leash, wax, long-sleeved rash guard and shuttle transport to and from the beach are included, as well as GoPro video of your sessions. All the instructors are ISA certified and deliver a professional and effective surfing experience.
Surf studio lessons
Surf theory, technique, and video feedback with GoPro videos sent to your device daily.
Yoga
Yoga styles include Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Hatha, Yin and Nidra. You’ll receive your own premium yoga pack for the week including a Manduka PRO yoga mat, cork blocks, straps and blanket. All of the instructors are Yoga Alliance certified and will tailor the classes to your needs, all while practicing surrounded by nature in an oceanfront studio.
Breathwork, meditation and mindfulness classes
Learn practical tools you can take home to manage stress, get better sleep and improve your health.
Schedule
This is just an example day. Each day can vary, as Waluaa bases the schedule on the tides to set you up with the best surf conditions possible during your stay. Your schedule will also vary if you book an extra surf or yoga lesson each day.
Waluaa carefully plans your week for you; however, everything is entirely up to you. You do you! Feel free to participate in as much or a little as you like.
- 07:00 Coffee, teas, seasonal fruit
- 07:30 Morning Vinyasa / Hatha yoga
- 09:00 Breakfast
- 10:30 Surf lesson
- 13:30 Lunch
- 14:30 - 17:00 Free time (activities or simply relax)
- 17:00 Studio surf lesson (theory, technique, video feedback)
- 19:30 Dinner
Included excursions
- Nothing tops off a week by the ocean better than a beach bonfire under the starlit sky and shared with new friends
- SUP experience at Santa Catalina Island, with a delicious lunch on the white sand beaches. Enjoy SUP boarding, swimming, chilling, and exploring this secluded island.
Instructors
Sergio Bryksa
Sergio Bryksa is from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has been a resident of Santa Catalina, Panama, since 2012. He is an ISA Level 1 and 2 Surf Coach, ISA Surf Supervisor, and the Waluaa Co-Founder and Head Surf Coach.
Jean Carlos (Oli) Camarena
Jean Carlos (Oli) Camarena is from Santa Catalina, Panama. He is a 4-time National Panama Champion, and he placed 2nd at the ISA World Surfing Games 2018 and 2nd at the Pan American Surfing Games 2022. He is an ISA Level 1 Surf Coach, and he is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English.
Neftali (Casey) Caceres
Neftali (Casey) Caceres is an ISA-certified surf instructor.
Gayle Worth
Gayle Worth is from California, USA, and has been a resident of Santa Catalina, Panama, since 2020. She teaches Power yoga and yoga Nidra, and she is a Meditation and Mindfulness Facilitator, NLP Life Coach, and Reiki Level I and II.
Elena Fairall
Elena Fairall is from Oregon, USA, and has been a resident of Santa Catalina, Panama. since 2012. She teaches Ashtanga / Vinyasa yoga. She is a traditional Thai massage practitioner, and she is certified in Thai yoga massage.
Vickie Mogensen
Vickie Mogensen is from Sydney, Australia, and has been a resident of Santa Catalina, Panama, since 2015. She teaches Vinyasa and Katonah yoga. She received Vedic meditation training in Sydney, and she is the Waluaa Co-Founder and Yoga Director.
Retreat location
Santa Catalina
It’s the town you see in the surf movies—an adventurous far-off place that’s hard to get to, but so worth it. It’s the town you imagine visiting and getting lost in, when everywhere else feels overcrowded and impersonal. A remote beach town on the Pacific Coast where local fishermen and their families gather every day to enjoy the sunset, surfers ride on skateboards to the beaches, and families commute by horseback for the school drop-off. This is Waluaa's home of Santa Catalina, where the ocean is their second home.
Why you will love Santa Catalina
Laidback village lifestyle
- No Starbucks or burger chains in sight, just locally owned low-impact businesses.
- Small, uncrowded and safe community - around 500 locals and only 50 or so expats.
- Slow living is at the heart of this community. Your days will begin and end with the sun, with an early-to-bed and early-to-rise lifestyle. The sunrise at Playa Estero is one you don't want to miss.
World-class surfing and diving
- A world-class wave for advanced surfers at The Point
- A gentle wave and uncrowded beach break for beginners to intermediates at Playa Estero
- World-class diving and snorkeling at nearby Coiba National Park
Wellness
- Plenty of fresh organic fish and seafood caught by the local fisherman and local produce from neighboring farms in Chiriquí
- Wellness awaits - when it’s time to get out of the sun and surf, you retreat to yoga and massage
Remoteness
- A 5.5-hour drive from Panama City keeps all the minivan tourist buses at bay. Here you’ll truly find time and space to tap out from your city life. The drive is long but trust Waluaa, it is worth it.
Distances
- Village center - 10 minutes on foot
- Playa Estero - 10 minutes on foot (shuttle included for surf lessons)
- La Punta Surf Break for intermediate to advanced surfers - 5 minutes on foot
Food
You will enjoy delicious healthy meals with a local flare. Lunches and dinners are primarily seafood, given the abundance of fresh, local, organic seafood available, brought in daily by the local fisherman—including red snapper, sea bass, tuna, mahi mahi, lobster, clams and shrimp, all served up by the local chefs in their own unique and flavorsome way.
Meals are served with a variety of healthy sides, including rice, plantains, yucca, various salads and soups, quinoa, beans, and fruit. A delicious variety of vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free meal plans are readily available. Meats and chicken are also available on request.
Breakfasts include a mix of local fresh fruit salads, eggs, beans, corn tortilla, yogurt, granola, pancakes, whole wheat toast, tea, coffee, juices, and fruit smoothies. Natural fruit smoothies and locally sourced coffee from Boquette are served every morning. The tap water in Waluaa hotel is safe and delicious to drink.
A cocktail for your arrival evening and a complimentary glass of house wine or local beer is included with each evening meal.
You’ll also visit a local restaurant or two during your week to enjoy their incredible cuisine, included with your retreat.
Important: Please let Waluaa know if they have any food allergies or dietary preferences you would like them to be aware of.
For any additional drinks or food you would like, beyond what is served during the meal service, just order at the bar. You can pay as you go or closeout by credit card or cash at the end of your stay.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Lacto-ovo Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Seafood
- Lactose Free
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
Extra surf and yoga
Want to dive deeper into your yoga practice or further advance your surfing? Add on an extra daily surf or yoga lesson to your stay.
Horseback riding
- 1 hr, 40 USD
Let Santa Catalina’s local horseman take you on a wonderful ride through Santa Catalina’s fincas (pastures) and beaches. They’ll begin with an easy ride through the fincas to take in stunning vistas, then finish with a breathtaking ride along Estero Beach for sunset. Suitable for all levels.
Coiba National Park: snorkeling or diving
- 8 hrs: snorkeling 80 USD, diving 160-190 USD
The archipelago of Coiba, one of Panama’s most beautiful places, is a UNESCO World Heritage and is only a 1-hour boat ride away from Santa Catalina. The beaches are exquisite and the island and surrounding areas offer some of the most spectacular diving and snorkeling in the world. You’re likely to see everything from dolphins, turtles, manta rays, octopus, sharks, and an abundance of beautiful tropical fish. And depending on the season, the whale migration.
Guided nature walk
- 2 hrs, 20 USD
Spa treatments
Massage
Completely unwind with a massage session by the range of certified therapists. Treatments include Thai yoga massage, deep tissue, Swedish relaxation. To be booked separately.
What's included
- 6 nights boutique villa style accommodation
- 5 2-hour surf lessons
- Board, leash, wax, and long-sleeved rash guard
- Shuttle transport to and from the beach
- 2 surf studio lessons
- 6 75-minute yoga classes
- Premium yoga pack including a Manduka PRO yoga mat, cork blocks, straps and blanket
- 2 60-minute breathwork, meditation and mindfulness classes
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, including arrival evening dinner and departure morning breakfast
- Fruit smoothies and coffee
- High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the property
What's not included
- Flights to and from Panama
- Private group shuttle transfers to and from Panama City
- Travel insurance
- Meals and drinks during your transfer to and from Panama City
- Add-on activities
- Massages
- Gratuities
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer available for additional US$ 100 per person
Tocumen International Airport
260 km away from your destination
Arrival by airplane
The closest international airport in Panama City is Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Transfers from the airport are available at additional cost.
If you are coming from the US, Copa Airlines (Panama’s National Airline) and United have direct flights from NY and LA, starting with as little as 500 USD return. Waluaa loves Copa Airlines as the service on board is always great, and it includes a hot meal with beverages and onboard entertainment. From Europe, Lufthansa flies direct from Frankfurt, and KLM direct from Amsterdam.
Waluaa can pick you up in their private shuttle at Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) at 08:00 on your retreat start date or at 09:00 in front of the Central Hotel in Casco Viejo. You will arrive at Santa Catalina with their private shuttle at around 3 p.m. on your check-in day. Check out on your last day at 9 a.m., and they will have you back in Panama City at around 15:00 on your final retreat day. Waluaa can return you to the airport if you have an evening flight home or to your hotel in Panama City. The cost is 90 USD each way. Alternative travel options include public transport which is safe, easy and cost effective or rent-a-car, or ask Waluaa about private charter planes!
Arrival by taxi
Taxis are easy, safe, and abundant. There is an authorized taxi stand outside the main exit of the airport. If traveling alone, expect to pay up to 35 USD to Casco Viejo. You can also agree to wait for other passengers and split the fare to make it cheaper. The drive into town is about 30 min, give or take some traffic. Uber is also available in Panama. The rates are the same, if not lower than taxis. You can also pay a small surplus and select an English-speaking driver.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 15 days before arrival.
Reviews
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