PANAMA SURF CAMP With Sherry Ott & SUrf Sister
Progressive Surf & Yoga Retreat for Women
Join Sherry Ott and the Surf Sisters on an amazing women-only Surf & Yoga Retreat in beautiful Panama
Join Sherry Ott & Surf Sisters for an amazing Panama surf & yoga camp!
This surf & yoga retreat is for the discerning adventure traveller. The surf-focused itinerary is sure to get you stoked on surfing and give you the skills and confidence you need to get into the water on your own. Each day will be complemented by daily yoga practice, stretching sessions, and camaraderie. Sorry fellas, this trip is only for our intrepid sisters!
Imagine a retreat in a tranquil, off-grid, unspoiled, and authentic surf town. A place where nature meets the local culture. A place where you can really tap out from city life and completely decompress.
Daily surf + yoga will invigorate your mind and body. Feel nourished in the goodness of local fresh fruits and local organic seafood each day. Revel in the raw natural beauty of Panama, connecting with the community of genuine friendly locals and like-minded travellers. Return home feeling more relaxed + refreshed than you’ve ever been.
This Panama Surf Camp with Sherry Ott is best suited to those comfortable in the water, of moderate athletic ability, and of a beginner to advanced beginner level.
Read about Sherry Ott’s experience on her first Panama Surf Retreat – https://finisterra.ca/surf-retreat-sisterhood/
Panama Surf Camp with Sherry Ott & Surf Sister
During this Panama Surf Retreat, you will have the opportunity to participate in 4 yoga sessions, 5 progressive surf lessons, free surfs, free time for practicing your new surf skills, and training accompanied by 3 delicious meals per day. Enjoy this slice of tropical paradise with the wonderful camaraderie of other like-minded souls.
We start with proper surfing technique, etiquette, equipment, and ocean safety, and we leave lots of time each class to hit the surf to practice your new skills. As you progress through the week, experienced Surf Sister coaches will teach you all their secrets with the ultimate goal of riding a “green” peeling wave.
Please note that this Panama Surf Camp is geared towards women who love the water and are beginner/advanced beginner surfers.
Jan 12th – Arrival – arrive to Panama City (any time)
Jan 13th – Travel to Santa Catalina
Jan 13-18th – Surf, Yoga, Sun, Snorkel
Jan 19th – Depart Santa Catalina for Panama City Airport or option to extend to another part of Panama! (DO NOT book departure flights that leave before 1pm failure to do so will result in an additional charge)
SURFING
Surf Sister‘s professional certified surf instructors have partnered with local surfers to ensure that you have the best experience possible in Panama. Santa Catalina Retreat is right in front of Playa Estero.
Our lessons are held at the warm waters of Playa Estero. A quiet, super fun, and uncrowded beach break with a gentle sand bottom, breaking left and right – offering smaller more gentle waves for beginners on the south side and more challenging waves on the north. It is the perfect beach break to begin surfing. This is a little slice of paradise!
YOGA
Yoga is also a perfect complement to surfing – developing your strength, flexibility, and balance. Especially great for stretching out the shoulders, back and opening the hips after your surf session! Yoga is optional of course but is included in the package and excellent for flexibility.
GROUP
Small group min 6 to max 12 people.
SCHEDULE
Your days will vary depending on tides however the average day will look like…
Morning: Breakfast, Yoga, Surf Lesson
Noon: Lunch and rest
Afternoon: Free time to surf, activity, stretching
Evening: Dinner, evening activities
INCLUDED EXCURSION:
SNORKELLING: Coiba Island is one of Panama’s most beautiful places, a 1.5 hour fast boat ride from Playa Santa Catalina. Identified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2005.
The beaches are exquisite and the island and surrounding areas offer some of the most spectacular diving and snorkelling in the world, in fact, Coiba Island boats some of the largest marine biodiversity on the planet. You are likely to see everything from dolphins, turtles, manta rays, octopuses, sharks, and an abundance of beautiful tropical fish. And depending on the season, you will also catch the whale migration (snorkelling included, diving EXTRA).
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
Chill out on the beautiful and secluded white sand beach of Santa Catalina Island. With its calm crystal blue waters, it’s the perfect place to enjoy snorkeling around the reefs, beach-combing the majestic sands, or taking out a SUP board for a paddle
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Diving – must already be PADI certified
- Horseback Riding – $55USD (approx)
- Massages – $60USD (approx)
MEALS & BEVERAGES
- 3 delicious healthy meals per day, plus a welcome dinner on your arrival evening and departure morning breakfast.
- Guests will enjoy delicious healthy family-style meals with a local flare.
- Breakfasts include a mix of local fresh fruit salads, yogurt, granola, eggs/omelets, pancakes, whole wheat toast and fresh breads from our local bakery, gluten-free & vegan breakfast muffins, and tea, coffee, juices, and fruit smoothies.
- Lunches and dinners are primarily seafood given the abundance of fresh local organic seafood available – including red snapper, sea bass, tuna, mahi mahi, lobster, clams, and shrimp, all served up by our local resident chefs in their own unique and flavoursome 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.
- Beverages include natural fruit smoothies with breakfast, natural fruit juices with lunch (all using local tropical fruits), and natural juice infused soda with dinner. For any additional food/ beverages guests desire beyond what is served at each meal, they can order and pay directly at the restaurant. We also have a bar available should any guests like to purchase wine, beer, or cocktails at any time.
- Coffee, teas, and fresh fruit are served every morning before the breakfast service. We have a chilled filtered water station for guests use at their leisure.
Surf Sister was founded in 1999 to promote women’s surfing in Tofino and worldwide. Surf Sister’s goal is not to exclude men from our lessons, rather it’s to make sure that women feel included when trying surfing in Tofino for the first time.
All Surf Sister instructors meet the requirements for safety and training as determined by the British Columbia Association of Surf Instructors (BCASI) and hold certificates for Standard First Aid, CPR, and Lifesaving. We are also the only surf school in Canada to be accredited by the National Surf School and Instructors Association (NSSIA) which is the highest governing body in the surf instruction industry in North America.
So what are you waiting for? Join us for the experience of a lifetime. We’ll be out there having a blast, sharing our passion for waves.
Exclusions
- International flights (can be arranged through us nicola@finisterra.ca)
- Mandatory travel medical insurance and optional cancellation insurance (for a free quote click HERE)
- Services not specified, meals not specified
- Please note that NO ACCOMMODATION is included on Jan 19
- Expenses due to mishaps
- Tips for surf instructors, local guides, service staff, drivers, housekeeping, etc
- Alcohol, laundry or other personal expenses
- Departure taxes (if applicable)
Price DOES NOT include: Airfare and mandatory travel insurance (available through nicola@finisterra.ca or click HERE for travel insurance.
Air Travel
Flights are not included in the tour price. DO NOT purchase any airline tickets until the trip is confirmed to take place. Pre and post-tours can be arranged through available at an additional charge. Once the trip is confirmed, you may book your flights, but make sure your departure on the last day is AFTER 1PM – failure to do so will result in extra charges for transportation. Please contact Finisterra Travel for further details info@finisterra.ca
Visa & Passports
Travel Visa requirements and passports are the responsibility of the participants. Please note that most countries require passports to be valid for 6 months from the date of your return flight. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa, or other travel documentation (vaccinations, Covid PCR tests, etc).
Travel Insurance
Cancellation, Travel, Flight, and Health insurance are required and are the responsibility of the participant to research and secure the appropriate coverage. Click HERE for a Travel Insurance Quote or please email nicola@finisterra.ca for a quote.
Check with your local travel agent /insurance provider/health plan for advice about traveling overseas.
Waiver Form
All participants will be required to sign a Waiver Form prior to departure.
About Sherry Ott of Ottsworld
I quit my corporate IT job in 2006 and said goodbye to blackberries (no smart phones yet in 2006!), meetings, and New York City. My original intention was to simply take a career break and come back after a year and determine next steps. I traveled around the world to 23 countries, finding a new exciting world outside of my office walls. My eyes were opened to possibilities and the beauty of simplicity; I didn’t want to go back to my old corporate existence. Instead I sold my possessions and relocated to Vietnam for one year in order to keep traveling. To make money I taught ESL, sold photography, and started really working at building a blogging and writing presence, including launching my other career break travel website, Meet Plan Go!
Since leaving Vietnam in 2009, I have stayed on the road and have built up the Ottsworld Travel Blog, built a freelance writing/photography career, do public speaking, and consult/participate on social media marketing campaigns.
While doing all of this, I wandered around the world solo without a home – no kids, husband, boyfriend (they would all just slow me down!) and spent 13 years living out of a suitcase and experiencing the world through housesitting, volunteering, writing assignments, and anything else that sounded exciting and came with a bed.
In 2017 I finally settled into a home base again in Denver; my nomadic lifestyle needed to come to an end.
I continue to travel from my home base in Denver. And when I’m home, I foster kittens.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Even though we wish you a flawless trip, things can happen, especially nowadays. Make sure you are prepared with a Travel Insurance policy that is right for you. Finisterra recommends Manulife Insurance or John Hancock Please feel free to ask us about Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance, Cancel for Any Reason Policies, Travel Medical Insurance, or any other questions you may have.
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR CANADIANS
Travel with confidence knowing that you’re covered with Manulife Insurance.
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR AMERICANS – JOHN HANCOCK
Explore the world, stress-free, when you book travel insurance with John Hancock International.
WHY TRAVEL WITH US?
At Finisterra Travel we help you discover, push personal boundaries, and explore the unknown.
We are super passionate about sustainable, transformational, and adventure travel. Definitely not “armchair travellers”, we have firsthand experience of where you’ll be heading.No one wants to feel like a tourist which is why when we plan a custom travel experience for you, we strive to make your adventure as authentic as possible. We offer an array of Small Group Adventures & Custom Trips, and have something for every type of traveller.
Our unique itineraries are designed to best showcase some of our favourite destinations around Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. All itineraries are fully-customizable.Not your typical online travel agency, nor are we quite a tour operator, we are international travel designers with a flair for unique experiences. We’d love to hear from you!
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