THE TRAVEL YOGI
Panama Yoga Adventure
Trip in One Word: Vibrance
What You’ll Experience in Panama
On this yoga retreat in Panama, you’ll experience the vibrant flavors (culinary and otherwise) of Panama City and the easy remote-lux island life of Bocas del Toro. You’ll eat delicious tropically 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 to the lull of tropical sounds (or the chatter of the 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. From the sounds of wildlife to the warm ocean water on your skin to the unparalleled 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 by foot and taste buds, enjoying the local food and admiring its eclectic architecture. Feel the pulse of music in the street (and maybe even dance!) as sunset in Casco means the emergence of local bands. Next, you’ll travel to Bocas del Toro and 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 mangroves and azure reef waters, and visit the undeveloped and *sigh* gorgeous La Isla Zapatillas. Next on the agenda: nothing (or cervezas by the pool anyone?!). This is a trip that will change your life! (We’re not the only ones who think so—National Geographic Traveller voted this yoga retreat in Panama one of 50 Epic Adventures in 2018.)
How You’ll Feel When You Return Home
When you return home from this yoga retreat in Panama, you’ll bring the island life with you. You’ll let your hair flow au naturale and have muscle memory of relaxation and ease. You’ll have memories of adventuring with new friends on vibrant streets and tropically warm blue-green waters to keep you floating even in landlocked states.
Adventure Details
Panama CIty
Bocas del Toro
Cayo Zapatilla
Upcoming Dates
Melissa Barron
Melissa Barron
Melissa Barron is a huge fan of the transformative power of yoga, and she loves nothing more than showing her students how amazing this practice can be! Melissa’s warmth and encouragement (mixed with a healthy dose of southern charm) inspires students of all ages and abilities. Her popular classes are always uplifting, playful, challenging and thoughtfully designed with proper alignment and safety in mind. Melissa also believes that music can deeply affect the class mood and energy level, so she’s quite popular for curating the perfect playlist for each class!
Melissa began her yoga journey in 2005 with Bikram Yoga and used it to offset the physical strain from marathon and half-marathon running. After a knee osteotomy sidelined all running in 2011, Melissa immersed herself in Vinyasa-style yoga and never looked back. “I used to think I was fit when I could run 26 miles, but yoga transformed my body and mind in ways I could never imagine”, she says of her new-found commitment to the practice. “Seeing my body transform and doing things in my 30s and 40s that I could only dream of in my teens as a gymnast was so inspiring, and it continues to inspire me each day!”
Based in sunny Orlando, Florida, Melissa completed her RYT200 in 2017 and currently teaches at Orlando Power Yoga, the largest and most beloved studio in central Florida. Melissa has committed herself to practicing and studying with other wonderful teachers at workshops and retreats all over the world; she brings this knowledge to her studio classes, arm-balancing workshops, corporate yoga instruction and yoga retreats.
Get ready for adventure and prepare to smile, sweat and groove on an upcoming retreat with Melissa!
Amy Satterfield
Amy Satterfield
Amy Satterfield, Owner of Explore Yoga Studio in Troy, Michigan, is an anatomy inspired Yoga Therapist and E-RYT 500 Yoga Teacher. Amy’s inspiration for teaching is infused with a blend of traditional yoga, a thorough understanding of anatomy and movement principles, myofascial release and traditional Chinese medicine concepts.
Through her years of experience in working with hundreds of veterans, children, special needs adults, athletes and people with various injuries, Amy has come to know and teach yoga in a very unique way. Her trainings in multiple styles of yoga, certification as a Fitness and Exercise Trainer as well as being a Certified Yoga Therapist, lend to Amy’s classes being packed with information about muscles, movement and overall physical well being.
Karen Rider
Karen Rider
Karen is an E-RYT 500 Certified Yoga Instructor and Meditation Instructor. She initially came to yoga to get relief from sports injuries and back pain and quickly discovered the transformative healing powers that yoga had to offer. She learned to meditate as a teenager and found the added benefits of incorporating yoga into her life with meditation was very healing. She wanted to share the gifts of these practices and has been teaching for over 20 years including leading Yoga Alliance approved 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher trainings for the last decade. She has certifications in Vinyasa and Anusara yoga, as well as Restorative yoga, and has studied with Astangha and Iyengar master teachers. She is known for her clear language and alignment instructions and ability to teach all levels of students from dynamic flow classes to quiet restorative classes. She continues to be an avid student of anatomy and physiology, yoga therapeutics, philosophy and meditation.
Additionally, Karen is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach and a Certified Ayurveda Wellness Counselor. She fully believes that our bodies, minds and souls have an innate ability to heal given the proper guidance and tools. Karen fully enjoys sharing the healing benefits of yoga, meditation and wellness coaching to guide her students to feel their optimal best.
Leslie Sikes
Leslie Sikes
Leslie Sikes is a Cincinnati yoga instructor with over 15 years of teaching in studio, institutional, and private settings. She recently participated in a Travel Yogi trip to the Galapagos Islands. It truly changed her life in many ways.
Leslie teaches yoga studies for The University of Cincinnati. This curriculum allows college students to access yoga and meditation through their college career. She was the driving force behind the creation of a yoga studies certificate that consists of coursework from yoga classes through the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Medicine, and the College of Arts & Sciences – a first of its kind at the University. She also teaches yoga for the UC men’s basketball and UC women’s volleyball teams.
Leslie’s yoga training consists of 200 YTT in Ashtanga Yoga, 300 YTT in Rocket Yoga and certifications in Yin Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Mindfulness. She recently completed her 500 YTT at Modo Yoga Nicaragua and currently teaches hot yoga and workshops for Embra Yoga Cincinnati.
When it comes to teaching, Leslie’s goal is to help students use yoga to stay connected both spiritually and physically, on and off their mats. She loves music and is constantly creating new music playlists to match her teachings, which she subsequently shares with her students. Leslie currently lives in Clifton with her husband and two girls, Lila and Rose.
Leslie’s Galapagos Story
I found The Travel Yogi through the Yoga Journal as a sweepstakes to win a free yoga retreat to Iceland. While I didn’t win, I reached out to the company to see what they were all about. I’m a 42 year old yoga instructor who lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two kids, ages 14 and 11. The Galapagos Island trip had been on my bucket list since I was a little girl. I knew this was the right time in my life to travel again. I decided I should travel as a student first to see the experience from that side. I was completely blown away by my experience! The food, culture, hospitality, yoga practice, local guides of the island, and time to detach from everything at home was crucial for my mental health. I returned home recharged with a fresh outlook on life, and couldn’t wait for the next trip. I made a new group of friends as the Travel Yogi trips seem to attract open-minded, non-judgemental, diverse and friendly people! This is what inspired me to host my own yoga retreat in Panama, the beach lover’s vacation. If you’re looking for a way to detach and “replenish your soul”, come meet me in February 2024. You’ll feel recharged and full of life inside and out.
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What's Included
- Yoga each morning & evening (excepting Panama City arrival and departure)
- 2 nights accommodations in a Panama City historic hotel (arrival and pre-departure night)
- Guided city walking & foodie tour of Casco Viejo – a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Welcome dinner in a Casco Viejo restaurant
- Group flights from Panama City to Bocas del Toro
- 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 a crystal-clear water snorkeling & exploration day
- Oceanfront cabana living
- Daily cooked breakfast & local fruits
- Evening dinners on the beach
- Transportation to and 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 a 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 of 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 on this yoga retreat in Panama.
Bocas del Toro
Get ready for barefoot elegance, island style on this yoga retreat in Panama. 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 breezes keep you cool) and a zen style that eases you into ‘island time’. Please note that hairdryers are persona non grata on Bocas so be prepared to let your locks flow au naturale mid-week.
Itinerary
On this yoga retreat in Panama, teachers will set their yoga schedule, generally mornings and evenings, prior to departure. Schedules will go out with the final Panama yoga retreat information.
1
DAY ONE
- Arrive into Panama City with transfers to hotel
- Meet up in the lobby for a walking tour of our historic Panama home
- Pirates, treasure, canals and more…
- Welcome dinner dining out in the historic quarter
- Enjoy the evening out or stroll back to the Central and chill
2
DAY TWO
- Breakfast at the hotel and get ready for our flight to the islands
- Group transfer to Albrook airport for our short 1hr flight to Bocas
- ‘Remote’ is the name of the game so be prepared for approximately 25min of travel on a dirt road to reach beach paradise
- Early evening yoga under the poolside palapa
- Welcome dinner island style
3
DAY THREE
- Morning yoga and breakfast
- Spend a leisurely day by the pool, on the beach or just sitting back and listening to the monkeys
- Early evening yoga in the jungle yoga studio
- Evening dinner and laughs
4
DAY FOUR
- Rise and shine morning yoga and breakfast
- Get your sea-legs on as we head out for a day on the water
- Hop on the catamaran for a day of natural beauty
- Sail through Dolphin Bay (guess why it has that name…)
- Snorkel the mangroves and spy for a sea turtle
- Back home in time for evening yoga in the jungle yoga studio
- Delicious group dinner island style
5
DAY FIVE
- Morning yoga and breakfast
- Today is free to catch up on your reading, enjoy a cervesa pool/beach style or stroll down to La Piscina
- Early evening yoga poolside
- Evening island dinner
6
DAY SIX
- Wake up yoga and breakfast
- Out on the water today heading to La Isla Zapatillas
- These pristine islands are part of the Bastimentos National Park and are completely undeveloped
- Snorkel the crystal clear water reefs and marvel at Mother Nature
- Evening yoga
- Sand-in-the-toes Bocas farewell dinner
7
DAY SEVEN
- Morning yoga will be dictated by the Air Panama flight time
- Final island breakfast and Bocas goodbyes
- Transfer to the Bocas airport for our flight back to Panama City
- Final group dinner in historic Casco Viejo
8
DAY EIGHT
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfers to the Panama City airport based on departure time
- Later flights have a few extra hours to explore and play in Casco
TESTIMONIALS
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
Frequently Asked Questions
US citizens will need a passport to visit Panama, but no visa is required at this time. All passports will need at least three months validity beyond the date of entry and at least one blank page for entry stamp. As this information can change, for up to date entry requirements please visit the State Department’s Panama page. Nationals of all other countries should check travel requirements with their government well in advance of travel.
Please fly into the Panama City international airport (PTY). Transfers will be arranged from the airport on arrival and departure days only. Arrival transfers will only be offered for flights arriving before 3pm on arrival day.
The Travel Yogi has you covered when it comes to your domestic flight! We’ll get you all to the Albrook airport for the quick 50-minute flight to Bocas del Toro. From there it is approximately a 30-minute drive to our location. We’re giving you the best of city life as well as the secluded charm of the island. Only about 15 minutes of the drive is on a paved road, with the last half going a bit slower on a dirt road with the ocean on your right and tropical lushness on your left.
Our awe-some Bocas beach paradise has your yoga retreat needs covered. Blocks, mats and straps are all supplied and ready for you to breathe into your practice this week.
Naturally! Of course, there is the gorgeous Caribbean with options ranging from surf waves and rolling waters to the still bath-like waters of La Piscina. Or, if you want to forgo the ocean exploration, you can relax just outside of your room at the pool.
Absolutely. Dietary requests can be accommodated provided that you notify us at least four weeks in advance. There will be vegetarian and non-vegetarian options at each meal, so you can choose your own culinary adventure.
Whether your decide to surf all week or gallop off on a steed, there is more than enough time to book these excursions when you arrive. There is so much to absorb that it’s best not to book before arrival and, especially for the surf, you’ll want to get the local report first. See what you feel like when you reach the good life and don’t forget to block off some chill time.
Our friends down south utilize the same plug and voltage as the United States and Canada. If you are coming from another part of the world, a plug adapter and/or converter may be necessary. Please note that our island location has their own power grid and hair dryers and similar small appliances are not allowed as they’ll (temporarily) blow the system. Take these few days to embrace the au-natural look and spend that would-be hair-prep time swimming, exploring, relaxing or expanding your practice.
Like all beautiful tropical location, yes, there are bugs. While we do recommend that you take a mozzie spray, the natural ocean breeze generally keeps these guys at bay.
Although we don’t recommend you book excursions ahead of time, you’ll want to think ahead a bit when it comes to packing. Treks and horseback riding will require close-toed shoes (ie, not flips or sandals) and a few pairs of long pants won’t go amiss. Your essentials will be your yoga clothes and bathing suit with the rest depending on your appetite for adventure. Quick dry clothes will work best and we will, of course, send out a packing list prior to departure. Remember, as noted above, leave those hair dryers at home!
Bocas has it’s own microclimate that can be quite different from other areas of Panama. The trade-off for some of the rains is also a green, tropical lushness that is unique to these islands. The average daytime temperature is almost always in the low to mid 80s with evening temperatures consistently staying in the low to mid 60s. The ocean temperature is also consistently, and beautifully, in the low 80s (nice!). November, December and January are the wetter months while September leads off as the driest month followed by October, February and March.
