Christmas and New Year in Paradise
Christmas and New Year in Paradise
Archipiélago de San Blas, Panamá
Up to 6 in group
December 21 - 27, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- You’ll find yourselves immersed in one of the last untouched paradises of the Caribbean.
- Sunrise & sunset breathwork, yoga and meditation on deck
- Freediving theory & practice sessions directly from the boat
- Swimming with nurse sharks and (sometimes) dolphins
- Groups of maximum 6 people
- Janzu aquatic sessions for deep relaxation and emotional release
- Daily island hopping aboard a fast, comfortable Catana 47 catamaran
- Learn the basics of sailing or simply relax while island cruising
- Sleep anchored under starry skies, in remote and silent bays
- Visit sacred and wild Guna islands, mostly uninhabited
- Discover traditional Guna culture through respectful encounters
- Daily nourishing meals prepared with fresh local fish, vegetables, and tropical fruits
- Raw food experiences: ceviche, carpaccio, sashimi
- Cooking rituals and group meals that foster community
- Shared dinners and bonfires with local fishermen and families
- Beach picnics, volleyball, and storytelling under the stars
- Comfortable and high-performing catamaran.
- Certified instructor: AIDA International (Freediving), Yoga Alliance (Yoga), IKO (Kitesurf). Skipper certified as Yacht Master.
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Professional skipper, has achieved the Rya Yacht Master Offshore certification and is recognized as a sailing instructor by Coni Italy. Luca is also a Yoga teacher certified Yoga Alliance and Freediving instructor certified AIDA / Apnea Total.
As an enthusiast of aquatic therapies, he actively participates in first-level Janzu & Wata courses, enabling the blending of the passion for water with the art of caring for others.
With a professional background in the catering industry and a love for fine food and hospitality, he takes pleasure in pampering guests by immersing them in the "Dolce Vita" of IKIGAI, a project founded alongside friends in 2022 to promote a life in harmony with nature, distanced from the induced needs of modern society.
Since then,he has been living full-time in the elements, sailing across the vastness of the ocean and delving into its depths to explore the world and discover himself.
Details of this retreat
Over these 7 days, we’ve distilled the most powerful practices we love, tools that have proven truly transformative over time.
What makes this retreat truly unique is the presence on board of multidisciplinary instructors certified by international organizations such as Yoga Alliance, AIDA International, Apnea Total, and IKO International.
This ensures the highest level of expertise and safety in every activity, from yoga and breathwork to freediving and kitesurfing. Our certified RYA Yacht Master skipper navigates our performance catamaran, a Catana 47, ensuring thrilling journeys and secure passage through this aquatic paradise.
Combined with the energy of the elements, outdoor living, and the healing power of water, these practices create an experience designed to deeply restore your physical and mental well-being.
With our all-inclusive, worry-free formula and high-quality food, every detail is handled, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Here, in this lost paradise which feels like a true parallel dimension you’ll have the chance to live in harmony with nature, far from the Matrix and the noise of modern civilization. A rare opportunity to reconnect with what is essential, authentic, and alive.
Immersed constantly in the elements and far from the noise of modern society, we are naturally drawn to stay connected to the present moment..
Then the mind that deceives grows quiet and with it, its noise.
The boarding experiences on Ikigai are designed to offer you far more than just an exotic vacation.
We want you to fully experience the physical and mental benefits that this lifestyle can bring reconnecting with yourself and with nature, while creating space for what truly nourishes you and makes you feel good, in a safe, healthy, and judgment-free environment.
What makes this retreat truly unique is the presence on board of multidisciplinary instructors certified by international organizations such as Yoga Alliance, AIDA International, Apnea Total, and IKO International.
This ensures the highest level of expertise and safety in every activity, from yoga and breathwork to freediving and kitesurfing. Our certified RYA Yacht Master skipper navigates our performance catamaran, a Catana 47, ensuring thrilling journeys and secure passage through this aquatic paradise.
Combined with the energy of the elements, outdoor living, and the healing power of water, these practices create an experience designed to deeply restore your physical and mental well-being.
With our all-inclusive, worry-free formula and high-quality food, every detail is handled, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Here, in this lost paradise which feels like a true parallel dimension you’ll have the chance to live in harmony with nature, far from the Matrix and the noise of modern civilization. A rare opportunity to reconnect with what is essential, authentic, and alive.
Immersed constantly in the elements and far from the noise of modern society, we are naturally drawn to stay connected to the present moment..
Then the mind that deceives grows quiet and with it, its noise.
The boarding experiences on Ikigai are designed to offer you far more than just an exotic vacation.
We want you to fully experience the physical and mental benefits that this lifestyle can bring reconnecting with yourself and with nature, while creating space for what truly nourishes you and makes you feel good, in a safe, healthy, and judgment-free environment.
Schedule
Every day, we’ll wake up in a new corner of paradise… along our route:
Cambombia – Chichime – Cayo Holandés – Coco Bandero – Isla Verde.
All activities are strongly recommended, but never mandatory. You are invited to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and strengthen your self-discipline but always while listening to your body and its needs.
This experience is designed to help you rediscover balance between commitment and letting go, between discipline and freedom. There are no expectations, no performance required—just the chance to reconnect with the natural rhythm of life, the people around you, and yourself.
🌅 Daily Routine
🕐 Morning (about 1.5 hours):
Each day begins with a guided session that may include conscious breathing techniques, dynamic or restorative yoga sequences, seated or moving meditation, and—on rotation—Tabata-style bodyweight training or basic boxing elements. The content of each session will vary depending on the group and weather conditions.
🌇 Evening:
To close the day, we offer a session dedicated to introspection, relaxation, and regeneration. Sunset yoga, meditation, silent or shared reflection circles—guided according to the group’s energy and the anchorage setting.
🕊️ Free Time:
Between activities, time is intentionally left unstructured so you can rest, read, swim, nap in a hammock, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all. There’s nothing you have to do—only the chance to be fully present.
🍽️ Life on Board & Food
Cooking and shared meals are a central part of life on board. The food we prepare is a celebration of what the sea and local people offer us daily: fresh lobster, tropical fruits, and locally grown vegetables. Whenever possible, we fish ourselves, transforming the catch into sashimi, tartare, carpaccio, or simply cooked with creativity and simplicity.
Meal preparation is often communal. If you’d like, you can join in cleaning fish, preparing dishes, or experimenting with flavors. It’s all done in a spirit of joy and participation—never obligation.
Cambombia – Chichime – Cayo Holandés – Coco Bandero – Isla Verde.
All activities are strongly recommended, but never mandatory. You are invited to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and strengthen your self-discipline but always while listening to your body and its needs.
This experience is designed to help you rediscover balance between commitment and letting go, between discipline and freedom. There are no expectations, no performance required—just the chance to reconnect with the natural rhythm of life, the people around you, and yourself.
🌅 Daily Routine
🕐 Morning (about 1.5 hours):
Each day begins with a guided session that may include conscious breathing techniques, dynamic or restorative yoga sequences, seated or moving meditation, and—on rotation—Tabata-style bodyweight training or basic boxing elements. The content of each session will vary depending on the group and weather conditions.
🌇 Evening:
To close the day, we offer a session dedicated to introspection, relaxation, and regeneration. Sunset yoga, meditation, silent or shared reflection circles—guided according to the group’s energy and the anchorage setting.
🕊️ Free Time:
Between activities, time is intentionally left unstructured so you can rest, read, swim, nap in a hammock, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all. There’s nothing you have to do—only the chance to be fully present.
🍽️ Life on Board & Food
Cooking and shared meals are a central part of life on board. The food we prepare is a celebration of what the sea and local people offer us daily: fresh lobster, tropical fruits, and locally grown vegetables. Whenever possible, we fish ourselves, transforming the catch into sashimi, tartare, carpaccio, or simply cooked with creativity and simplicity.
Meal preparation is often communal. If you’d like, you can join in cleaning fish, preparing dishes, or experimenting with flavors. It’s all done in a spirit of joy and participation—never obligation.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
IKIGAI SAILING, Archipiélago de San Blas, Panamá
Directions
You will most likely arrive at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, where one of our trusted contacts will be waiting to take you to the hotel of your choice. We recommend spending the night in the historic district of Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can enjoy a pleasant Latin evening filled with history and music.
The next morning, a taxi will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Carti, on the Caribbean coast, arriving around 8:30 AM.
Once in Carti, a lancha (a typical local boat), which has been reserved for us to reach Banedup Island, where Ikigai will be ready to begin the cruise.
The next morning, a taxi will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Carti, on the Caribbean coast, arriving around 8:30 AM.
Once in Carti, a lancha (a typical local boat), which has been reserved for us to reach Banedup Island, where Ikigai will be ready to begin the cruise.
Accommodation
The boat has 2 double cabins (configurable with 2 single beds or 1 large double bed each) and 1 cabin with a double bed. Enjoy a large bathroom with a panoramic shower and 2 electric toilets, one on each hull. We prioritize your comfort and will ensure that cabin allocations are made in a way that everyone feels happy with.
Shared cabin
Private cabin
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Your home will be a beautiful 47 foot catamaran called Ikigai, meaning "deep satisfaction for living", which will provide you with the daily luxuries for adventuring in comfort.
Ikigai is a high performance catamaran, able to maintain high speeds during long crossings and to move easily even with little wind while the spacious interior ensures comfort in all weather conditions.
Ikigai is a high performance catamaran, able to maintain high speeds during long crossings and to move easily even with little wind while the spacious interior ensures comfort in all weather conditions.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
On board you will find healthy and organic products also coming from local gardens. During the retreat we offer vegetarian cuisine and for those who want local fish, probably caught by us.
What's Included
- → 1 week accomodation on board Ikigai
- → Skipper, certified instructors & retreat facilitators
- → 3 delicious daily meals (vegetarian & fish options), snacks and beverages
- → Daily yoga, meditation and breathwork
- → Janzu Sessions (water therapy)
- → Discovering Freediving practice
- → Intro to water dancing practice
- → Access to all onboard equipment; Yoga mat, Kayak, SUP
- → Freediving and Snorkeling equipment
- → All boat related costs (marinepark permits, fuel, marinas, immigration fee final cleaning,etc.)
- → Excursions on land,
- → High performance satellite internet connection
- → Three meals will be enjoyed ashore in local restaurants
- → Transfer between Panama City and boat
What's Not Included
- → Flights to and from Panama City - (we recommend opting for flexible/refundable tickets if you can)
- → Hotel in Panama City (optional)
- → Travel Insurance
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