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Paradise in Panama Wellness Retreat
Bocas del Toro, Panama City
9 Days
From $6495
Snorkeling, Kayaking, Wildlife, Culture
Paradise in Panama Wellness Retreat
Bocas del Toro, Panama City
9 Days
From $6495
Snorkeling, Kayaking, Wildlife, Culture
Trip Overview
Panama Island Adventure — Jungle Trails, Caribbean Waters, and Mid-Winter Rejuvenation
Escape the winter blues and immerse yourself in the remote beauty of Panama's Bocas del Toro archipelago. Tucked away along the Caribbean coast, this eco-adventure offers the perfect blend of active exploration and deep relaxation. With more bird species than the continental U.S. and miles of unspoiled shoreline, Panama remains a truly off-the-beaten-path destination—wild, vibrant, and welcoming.
Each day offers a mix of land and water-based activities: kayak through mangroves, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, hike through lush rainforest trails, and discover the rich biodiversity of this tropical paradise. Yoga, massage options, and nourishing meals add to the sense of renewal, while guided cultural experiences connect you to the spirit of the islands.
Whether you’re seeking adventure, serenity, or a little bit of both, this mid-winter escape is designed to awaken your senses and leave you feeling refreshed and inspired.
Maximum group size: 16
Highlights
- Visit an incredibly beautiful and eco diverse country that is still off the mass tourism radar
- Refresh your body and soul with healthy local food, fresh fruit smoothies, waterfront yoga, and massage
- Snorkel, swim, and paddle among colorful coral reefs and pristine mangroves
- Experience the rejuvenating properties of local ingredients through a Cacao ceremony and organic facial-scrub making session
- Keep your eyes peeled for dart frogs, sloths, and monkeys while hiking lush jungle trails
Inclusions
- 1 - 2 local guides and an AGC guides depending on group size
- Eight nights double occupancy lodging with some single supplements available for an additional fee
- All activities specified on the itinerary, kayaking, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, yoga, 1 massage, and hiking
- All transportation within Panama, including internal flights
- Meals as specified on the itinerary
- Gratuities for drivers and day guides
Not included: Travel to Panama city; AGC guide gratuities; alcoholic beverages; extra massage (1 included), and Travel Insurance.
Trip Info
This trip is rated both a 1 and a 2 and is an excellent choice for women who enjoy being active and trying lots of different activities, and who want to experience the incredible diversity of culture and natural history that Panama offers. Because we will be staying in one place, all activities while at Casa Cayuco are optional, hence the rating of a 1 is also appropriate. No previous experience in any of the activities is necessary. A rating of 2 is suitable for any woman who regularly walks at a brisk pace 3 to 4 days a week for 35 - 45 minutes. These trips typically involve 3 to 5 hours of daily activity.
Rating: 1 [2] 3 4 5
Curious about how we rate our trips and how to prepare for yours? Explore our AGC Fitness Guide for more details.
This trip includes swimming, snorkeling, hiking, yoga, cultural sightseeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and relaxing. No experience is necessary in any of them - your guides will teach you everything you need to know.
Wondering what kind of gear works well for our trips? Our AGC Gear Guide highlights some of our go-to favorites.
All participants are guaranteed their own bed. We stay the first two nights and the last night at a modern hotel in Panama City. The rest of the time we will be staying at a stunning eco-resort, Casa Cayuco. This stunning resort is right on the coast, nestled against a dense backdrop of verdant jungle. Each spacious accommodation offers an en suite bathroom, organic soap and haircare products, memory foam mattresses and high thread count linens so you can sleep comfortably as you enjoy the tropical breeze through your room. We'll have the entire resort to ourselves, with 3 to 4 people per cabin with five single supplements available for an additional cost. The Pelicano, Loro, and Estrella De Mar (3 King Rooms with en suites) are available as single supplements, check out all the details here: https://www.casacayuco.com/stay
See the FAQs below for more details about accommodation options.
Ready to picture yourself on this adventure?
Download the detailed trip summary for a closer look — daily highlights, travel notes, and everything you need to know before you go. It’s the perfect way to dream, plan, and share with a friend!
Itinerary
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
DAY 1
Welcome to Panama! Plan to arrive at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) by 4PM for the 4:30PM group shuttle to the hotel. We'll have our first group meeting in the hotel lobby at 5:30, followed by a delicious group welcome dinner.
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Radisson Hotel Panama Canal (or similar)
Daily Activities: Welcome Dinner
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Radisson Hotel Panama Canal (or similar)
Daily Activities: Welcome Dinner
DAY 2
Travel upriver by dugout canoe and step into the heart of Panama's rainforest for a rare, respectful visit with an Emberá village. Guided by a Certified Interpretive Naturalist Guide, we’re welcomed not as tourists but as guests. Through shared stories, music, food, and art, the Emberá people offer insight into a way of life deeply rooted in tradition and harmony with the natural world. This authentic cultural exchange is a highlight of meaningful travel—one that fosters connection and honors the community's rich heritage.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Radisson Hotel Panama Canal (or similar)
Daily Activities: Canoeing
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Radisson Hotel Panama Canal (or similar)
Daily Activities: Canoeing
DAY 3
This morning, we will have an early start for a boat ride in the Panama Canal/Gatun Lake before catching a domestic flight to Bocas, gateway to the Caribbean. The Bocas del Toro area of northwest Panama is a place that looks exactly like a picture postcard of paradise. Pristine white sand beaches, brilliant blue waters, and small islands that seem as if they were made by the hand of a talented designer all add up to immediate relaxation. The archipelago contains 68 different islands, and all of them are open for exploring, bird watching, swimming, or just enjoying as you sit on the sand and soak up the sun. Upon arrival, we will take a water taxi to our home for the next few days, a truly unique self-sustaining ecolodge, Casa Cayuco. After an organic lunch, we'll settle into our home for the week and offer some time to relax and take your first dip into the tempting Caribbean waters. If time allows, we'll have an opportunity to stretch our legs and explore the property and its many friendly tropical inhabitants with a hike on the Casa Cayuco Sendero, a loop through the jungle surrounding the lodge. After a full day of travel and adventure, we'll be ready for a healthy and hearty meal...and thankfully, we're in the right place! Casa Cayuco receives rave reviews for their food and each day we'll enjoy a chef-prepared breakfast, lunch, and 3-course dinner utilizing local ingredients and primarily plant-based cuisine with the addition of locally caught fresh fish.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Boat ride
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Boat ride
DAY 4
This morning—after an opportunity to grab some coffee, of course—we'll ease our tired traveling muscles with a restorative yoga class (all levels welcome) on the Casa Cayuco dock, taught by a local certified instructor. A morning stretch surrounded by miles of turquoise Caribbean water as far as the eye can see? Yes please! After a delicious breakfast we'll depart on a short boat ride to two nearby uninhabited islands surrounded by coral reef, Isla Zapatillas. These are considered to be the best conserved coral reefs in the Caribbean coastline. Experience this magnificent national marine park and its sandy beaches, clear turquoise water and abundant fish activity up close while snorkeling. Be on the lookout for angelfish, groupers, parrot fish, butterfly fish, lobsters and moray eels. Upon our return the afternoon is yours to read, relax, and enjoy the calm waters in front of the lodge where you are invited to swim, paddle, and snorkel to your heart's content. Happy hour at Casa Cayuco means time to enjoy a daily healthy tropical smoothie and afternoon snack on AGC. We'll also sprinkle a complimentary massage for each participant throughout the week - perhaps this afternoon will be your turn!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Yoga, Snorkeling
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Yoga, Snorkeling
DAY 5
Today we'll spend a half day exploring the rugged and beautiful Pelicano Trail. Following breakfast we will start with a walk through Salt Creek, an indigenous village that is home to all of the ecolodge's employees and their families. A visit to the Salt Creek village is one of the most exciting and important aspects of Casa Cayuco's eco-experience and we will make sure the group has an opportunity to explore this special place before heading into the rainforest terrain with our local guide. We'll hike up and over a hill to reach the gorgeous Los Pelicanos beach on the eastern coast of Isla Bastimentos, and have the opportunity to go for a swim before continuing along the beach trail to complete the loop back to Casa Cayuco. It wouldn't be a trip to paradise without spending a generous amount of time each day in the water, so after lunch we will round out the afternoon with an AGC guided paddling lesson on the calm waters in front of Casa Cayuco. Choose your vessel - Casa Cayuco offers a variety of kayaks and paddleboards and with the lodge to ourselves, they're all ours!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking, Water Activities
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking, Water Activities
DAY 6
It's another beautiful day in paradise, and today we'll embark on a unique snorkeling adventure - this time to a pristine mangrove ecosystem only 25 minutes from the lodge. We will spend the morning snorkeling through this colorful reef filled with beautiful soft corals and sponges. We may see octopus, crabs, starfish and many varieties of fish while in this underwater garden. Keep a lookout for pods of dolphins on the boat ride back to the lodge! After almost a week of travel and exercise on both water and land, this evening we'll treat ourselves to some creativity and pampering! We'll enjoy a glass of wine or healthy non-alcoholic tonic while creating our own organic facial scrubs using local botanical ingredients. Casa Cayuco will provide the materials, containers, and a demonstration and we'll be left with a unique souvenir to take home with us from our travels.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Snorkeling, Face Scrub Class
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Snorkeling, Face Scrub Class
DAY 7
We'll start our last full day in Bocas with a second morning yoga class out on the dock. Is there anything better than sun salutations as the sun itself rises over the Caribbean? After breakfast you'll have some time in the morning to choose your own adventure. Perhaps a deck chair is calling your name, one last snorkel in front of the lodge, or a guided excursion to the legendary bat caves of Bastimentos. This tour is not for the faint of heart as it involves spelunking, or cave exploration. You may be wading through water up to your waist (depending on your height!) and climbing up and over boulders, all while lighting your way with a headlamp under your helmet. You'll be accompanied by your AGC guide and a local team of guides the whole way. In the afternoon we'll celebrate our time at Casa Cayuco with everyone's favorite tropical ingredient: chocolate! We will reconvene for a Cacao ceremony where we will learn how to prepare ceremonial cacao, how to cook with cacao, and how to use chocolate as a superfood. Bean to bar taste-testing required in this multi-sensory experience! We'll end the day with another delicious community meal.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Yoga, Optional Bat Cave Tour, Cacao Ceremony
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Casa Cayuco (or similar)
Daily Activities: Yoga, Optional Bat Cave Tour, Cacao Ceremony
DAY 8
It's our last chance for a yoga class or snorkel and beach activities before packing up for an afternoon flight back to the capital. Sigh, our time in this sandy paradise is coming to an end. After a last delicious meal at the ecolodge, we'll boat back to Bocas and then hop on our domestic flight. Once settled back in our hotel in Panama City, we'll gather for a farewell dinner, toasting our accomplishments, the beauty of Panama, and the fun we had together.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:Bristol Hotel (or similar)
Daily Activities: Yoga, Snorkeling and/or Beach Activities
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:Bristol Hotel (or similar)
Daily Activities: Yoga, Snorkeling and/or Beach Activities
DAY 9
This morning, we bid a fond farewell to Panama. Fly out anytime after 12PM, with one group shuttle included at 9:30AM.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Meals: Breakfast
Reviews
4.6
(35 reviews)
5
(23)
4
(11)
3
(1)
2
(0)
1
(0)
*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "What made this trip special for you?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.
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Most Recent
High-Low
Low-High
Jean W.
1 month ago
Some of the people and the location. The resort was quite lovely.
Lori V.
1 month ago
I loved the Casa Cayuco experience (once I got used to sharing our room with geckos!): the food, the smoothies, the varied excursions and awesome morning yoga!!! It was wonderfully restorative to be on the water every day and have the opportunity to see sloths, monkeys, dolphins and beautiful coral.
Pamela M.
1 month ago
The guides, fellow travelers, Casa Cayuco. & their staff as well as all the activities.
Doris U.
1 month ago
The peacefulness and beauty of Casa Cayuco. I enjoyed spending time with the fun, vibrant ladies on this trip. I like the ability to choose activities at my own pace. The Casa Cayuco staff were friendly and the food was absolutely great.
Catherine N.
1 month ago
There were many good parts to this trip. The food was great, and I really enjoyed all the activities/adventures that were included.
Nancy C.
1 month ago
The variety of activities were well planned, interesting and fun! Connie was the perfect guide too.
Nancy A.
1 month ago
Learning about the indigenous communities from our very knowledgeable guides. The selection of lodging, for me, personified the three huge cultural influences (building of the Panama Canal, the indigenous tribes, the new wealth of Panama) that make Panama the country it is today.
Diane H.
1 month ago
The food and the adventurers. I love the water and sand, warm temperature and super companions.
Luise M.
1 month ago
Nancy B.
1 month ago
Excellent guide. Nice accommodations. Nice variety of activities. Good food.
Maria P.
5 months ago
I enjoyed the activities, including the yoga in the morning and the snorkeling and the very good food (except for the last night). I very much enjoyed meeting the indigenous communities.
Carol S.
5 months ago
Great accommodations lodge
Joanne B.
5 months ago
It was a small group and we all got along really well. I felt that we really got to know one another, as much as you can in a week. There was no drama between anyone. It was a very relaxing trip. Plus the snorkeling was fantastic. The eco lodge was beautiful and the staff was friendly and helpful.
Carole G.
5 months ago
Kaitlyn is just the very best guide. I liked the opportunity to choose what activities were available. Kaitlyn also arranged a personal guide for a birding trip that turned into a botany trip, my choice. This was an extra cost but I enjoy visiting with the local people and learning about their lives. I loved going to the local villages and being with the people. So many times we hike from point A to point B and don't stop to enjoy the surroundings. This trip gave us this opportunity. The resort's manager was always ready to help and suggest activity. I highly recommend this trip.
Rebecca H.
1 year ago
The beauty and history of Panama, plus the best AGC guide and group of women to experience it with!
Judith B.
1 year ago
The trip itself...the activities...was excellent. I loved the wildlife, the hikes, the cultural experiences, and beauty of Panama.
Molly R.
1 year ago
The location, amenities and warm hospitality at Casa Cayuco. Also the amazing fun and adventurous women in our group. Special kudos to Emily Stardust, our guide for making each event enjoyable. Also our hosts at Casa Cayuco, We felt welcomed and appreciated.
Nola N.
2 years ago
Ronette K.
2 years ago
Casa Cayuco was indeed Paradise in every way.
Barbara B.
2 years ago
The location of the Casa Cayuco lodge was superb. The setting was pristine and beautiful, the lodge blended in nicely with the sea and the jungle and the staff members were attentive. The food was outrageously good! It was truly a wellness retreat with a good mix of activities and wonderful women to enjoy them with.
Elizabeth R.
2 years ago
Great company. Emily was an awesome and very patient guide. The part in Bocas del Toro was absolutely amazing and exceeded my expectations. Loved it.
Lori L.
2 years ago
Carolyn M.
2 years ago
The experience at the lodge was incredible! Morning yoga, delicious food, visiting Salt Creek, sloths, watching sea turtles hatch and head toward the sea, snorkeling, the bat cave, and just being near the ocean and away from the fast paced energy of the city.
Maryjane L.
2 years ago
Allison S.
4 years ago
Lainie was fantastic at every step of the way from helping us get checked in to helping me manage my anxiety during snorkeling.
Katharene S.
4 years ago
Our guide was fantastic and very attuned to the needs of the group and group dynamics. I loved CasaCayuco especially the accommodations, staff, and quality of the food. Snorkeling was wonderful and opportunities for kayaking on my own at CasaCayuco were my favorite.
Diana K.
4 years ago
The snorkeling was magnificent, the camaraderie of the group was super fun, and the vibe from the resort where we stayed was special.
Nancy N.
4 years ago
I especially enjoyed the Casa Cayuc eco lodge with excellent food and helpful staff.
Liz F.
4 years ago
Being among the many recent widows. We all looked out for each other.
Kim C.
4 years ago
Casa Cayuco Eco Lodge was really nice. All of the people there were great and the food was fantastic. It was cool to snorkel in the mangrove forest, it looked other worldly. It was also fun to see the Panama Canal and to kayak at Lake Gatun.
Gayla P.
4 years ago
The time on the island and the snorkeling.
Alaina W.
4 years ago
I really enjoyed getting to do this trip with my mother. Also, Laine Reisman was absolutely THE BEST guide I could ever have hoped for. Her patience, professionalism, and general can-do attitude was everything we needed and more.
Julia G.
4 years ago
The women, the trip leader and the snorkeling.
Judith B.
4 years ago
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip! I grew up in San Juan and being in Panama brought me back "home". The beautiful scenery and wonderful people of Panama were very special to me.
Catherine B.
4 years ago
A good variety of activities, the nature and wildlife, the remoteness of and very good accommodations at the eco-lodge, the healthy food, the awesome guide, Lainie, for AGC. Also, the diversity of interesting co-travelers. And, the history and culture, and local people. The local guide in the city was also very knowledgeable. Very much enjoyed kayaking and snorkeling.
Dates & Prices
| Year | Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2026 |
October 24 to November 01 |
Available |
$6495.00 |
|
|
2027 |
February 06 to February 14 |
Available |
$6895.00 |
|
|
2027 |
October 23 to October 31 |
Available |
$6895.00 |
Year
2026
Departure Date
October 24 to November 01, 2026
Availability
Available
Price
$6495.00
Year
2027
Departure Date
February 06 to February 14, 2027
Availability
Available
Price
$6895.00
Year
2027
Departure Date
October 23 to October 31, 2027
Availability
Available
Price
$6895.00
Make It Your Adventure
Turn any trip into a private experience for your group, or let us design a custom itinerary just for you! Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, we’ll make your journey unforgettable.
Common Questions
All participants are guaranteed their own bed on our trips.
A Single Supplement (SS) means you will have your own room with your own bed, and no other participants will share that room with you. Single supplements are limited, offered at an additional cost, and will appear as a booking option at the time of registration if still available.
A Double Accommodation means you will share a room with another participant. You will still have your own bed. Shared beds can be requested but cannot always be accommodated depending upon the property.
Bathrooms: Bathroom arrangements vary depending on the trip and lodging. A single supplement guarantees your own sleeping space but may still include a shared bathroom. Double accommodations typically share a bathroom with a roommate and sometimes additional participants, depending on the property. Private or ensuite bathrooms will be noted in the trip details when available.
While in Panama City, breakfasts will be at our hotel. Lunches and dinners will be either in the hotel, in local restaurants, or a picnic lunch. While at the eco-lodge, all of our delicious, locally sourced meals will be eaten on site
During travel and in Panama City, vegetarian options for this trip are available but may be more limited than you are used to. At Casa Cayuco, a wide variety of plant-based cuisine and locally caught fresh fish is served throughout, meals and snacks can be curated to any dietary restriction. If you are concerned about having enough protein during your trip, plan to bring some plant-based protein sources such as nut butter, instant dried hummus, or high-protein energy bars. If you cannot eat gluten or if you have other dietary restrictions i.e. vegan, you will need to bring some supplemental food with you.
This is the perfect trip for both new and experienced kayakers and paddle boarders. We will give detailed demonstrations and lessons so you feel comfortable during water activities.
Delightful! Days are typically in the 70s and 80s.
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