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Adventures and Activities

SUP and Surf

Explore the waterways of Panama on a Standup Paddleboard (SUP)

Most of ISTMOS week-long retreats include an Introductory SUP lesson at our local Playa Grande Beach.   This 2 hour long introductory class taught by owner, Sean Davis, is great for first-timers and beginners at SUP.

The class includes 45 minutes of guided practice stressing safety aspects and SUP techniques followed by 1 hr. and 15 minutes of supervised practice time.

The following are some of the additional SUP and Surf options we can include in your retreat package.  If will be participating in an upcoming retreat, let the retreat leader know if you are interested in one of these option.  

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Beginners SUP Excursion and SUP Yoga on a Cloud Forest Mountain Lake

A short 45 minute drive from ISTMO and you will find yourself on a beautiful Cloud Forest Mountain Lake.  Perfect for SUP Yoga, and a great location for beginners to try out their SUP legs for the first time.

This tour leaves ISTMO at 10am and returns around 3pm. 

Chame Mangroves SUP Tour in Panama
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SUP Mangrove Tour

Paddle to and around beautiful Pacific Farallon Island, nesting grounds for frigate birds and pelicans.  At lower tides, you can paddle through a cave that traverses the island.

This tour is only available from May through November, as December through April has unpredictable winds.

The tour includes a 1.5-hour paddle on the Pacific Ocean around Farallon Island and a 15 minutes drive each way.

Intermediate paddling experience required for this tour.

Panama Farallon Island Advanced Island SUP Tour
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Farallon Island SUP Tour

Our SUP Mangrove tour is one of the only and most intimate ways to experience this unique ecosystem and all of its beauty.  As you silently paddle through the mangroves you seamlessly become a part of the ecosystem, and experience its secrets.  This unique tour is tide dependent.  Although it is a low impact paddle, previous SUP experience is required.

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Surfing

We have partnered with the Panama Surf School, with over 10 years of extreamly passionate experience, to offer you the best surf classes and conditions available!

Thinking about planning your own retreat or friend/family Reunion? Include some of the above Excursions in your retreat package to create a customized experience for you and your community.

The best way to experience ISTMO is by booking a retreat with one of the amazing Retreat Leaders at ISTMO.  Many of the retreats include some of the above SUP and/surf activities, or have them available as add-ons.  Contact the retreat leader to get more details.

We look forward to sharing our slice of paradise with you!

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Adventures and Activities

Excursions

Experience the Diverse Isthmus of Panama!

Our location provides close access to Beaches, Jungles, Cloud Forests, Indigenous Tribes, Local Markets, Mangroves, Mountain Lakes, Tropical Waterfalls, Islands, even Panama City and the Panama Canal.

At Istmo you can do as little or as much as you desire.  Use the time between your retreat classes to explore Panama or spend your time lounging under a tree on the beach, the choice is yours.  Contact your Retreat Leader to see which excursions are included in your retreat and which one you may add on.  Some of the most popular excursions we offer are:

Waterfall Hike combined with a visit to an Local Artisan Market

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A short 45 minute drive and you will find yourself in the town of El Valle, located in the crater of an extinct volcano.  Here you can hike waterfalls, shop at a local artisan market or zipline through the trees.

For this excursion we leave Istmo at 10am and are back by 4pm.  This is one of our most popular excursions, and has something for everyone!

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Indigenous Village Tour

Ride down a beautiful calm river in a dugout canoe for an ethnocultural tour of an Embera Village.  At the village take a walking tour with the medicine man, enjoy a dance presentation and a traditional lunch, and get a traditional temporary tattoo.

For this tour we leave Istmo at 8am and return by 5pm.  The tour includes a 1 hour 45 minute car drive each way.  This tour is not to be missed!

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Credit: 100 Resilient Cities

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Excursion to Panama City and the Panama Canal

Come all the way to Central America and not visit the Panama Canal.  Impossible!!!  The dichotomy of rural natural Panama and the thriving metropolis of Panama City, the gateway to the world, is fascinating.

Our location just 1 hour 30 minutes away from Panama City makes it possible for you to experience ALL of Panama while on a Retreat. For our Panama City tour, we leave ISTMO at 8:00am and are back by 4:30pm.  Join this excursion and tick "Visit the Panama Canal" off your bucket-list.

Besides the above excursions, we can also arrange a tour to a local vegetable and fish market coupled with a cooking demonstration back at ISTMO.  Want to explore more local beaches?  We are happy to set up excursions to different beaches in the area.  Want to catch your own fish?  We are can arrange fishing tours to a neighboring island.  Water sports your thing?  Make sure to check out the SUP and Surfing Activities we offer.

We look forward to sharing our slice of paradise with you!

Thinking about planning your own retreat or friend/family Reunion?  Include some of the above Excursions in your retreat package to create a customized experience for you and your community.

The best way to experience ISTMO is by booking a retreat with one of the amazing Retreat Leaders at ISTMO.  Many of the retreats include some of the above SUP and/surf activities, or have them available as add-ons.  Contact the retreat leader to get more details.

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Adventures and Activities

Yoga and Massage

Take some time for yourself...

If taking a yoga class or getting a massage is your thing, we got you covered!  

Yoga Classes

Love Yoga?  We highly recommend you check out our Upcoming Retreat Calendar and join one of our amazing retreat leaders on a transformational journey.

Massage

Another great way to take some time for yourself during your retreat at Istmo is is to experience the benefits of a luxurious massage.  Our massage therapist are highly trained and will communicate with you to make sure they adjust the massage to your needs.  Massages at Istmo are $60/hour.


If yoga and massage is not your thing, we understand - no one is forcing you to take a yoga class or get a massage here at Istmo.

However, we do encourage you to take some time out for yourself, walk our humanity trail, take a dip in the ocean, walk down the miles of beach, lounge on a hammock, or spend just a little longer in meditation...

Host a retreat your students can't stop raving about 
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Request our Pricing, Availalbity, and Terms and Conditions of Service

treat yourself to one of our upcoming retreats
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Re"treat" yourself in Paradise! 

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