Waluaa Surf & Yoga - Santa Catalina, Provincia di Veraguas

Charishma Kothari

Waluaa Surf and Yoga was one of the best organized retreats I have ever attended. The surf instruction was top notch. The instructors were super experienced at surfing and coaching! In our group we had 2 surfers per teacher so it was super personalized and attentive to each surfers needs. Plus we got great video footage and analysis of our surf session. The yoga teachers were just lovely.. different styles, but each their own way to completely captivate the audience. At the end of each session , I felt so nourished and grounded. But beyond all that, the thing that stands out to me is Vickie, the owner… she made sure that every single detail of my trip was personalized to my needs and desires. She was so accommodating to last minute changes and always found a solution no matter how challenging the request was. And most importantly, she always did it with a smile. She has a huge heart and just wants her travelers to have the best experience possible and she makes sure that happens. I am so grateful for this trip! It was my first time surfing , and I am happy to say, thanks to the Waluaa, I was able to stand up and stay standing on the board on Day 1!!! Can’t wait to go back!!

Jenny

Loved the whole experience! Very professional surf classes - you will improve a lot! Amazing yoga classes for body, mind and soul. Delicious fresh food and very clean /safe accommodation. Went during rainy season and it wasn't a problem at all, plenty of sunny days. Everyone at Waluaa makes you feel right at home and they take care of everything. Wonderful people creating a wonderful & unforgettable experience!

Raulito

Booking a Waluaa retreat is one of the best decisions you will ever make.
Waluaa is a deeply human experience - crafted with real care, and full of Panamanian soul. I arrived as a total beginner to surfing, and came away feeling supported, invigorated and empowered.
The Waluaa surf and yoga retreat is a life changing experience. Incredible food, gorgeous atmosphere, wonderful surf lessons, run by a loving family in a slice of paradise.
The village of Santa Catalina is worth the long trip down, and the people there are fantastic. There is true magic here... You will see and feel things that will stay with you forever.

Candace Wiese

Our week at Waluaa Surf and Yoga was amazing! Vickie and Sergio have the retreat organized so well, the only downfall is you wish the time would slow down! Vickie has planned a retreat with the perfect balance of activity and downtime to relax and enjoy, every detail has been thought of! The surf instructors were awesome...patient, encouraging and extremely knowledgeable. Sergio's passion for sharing his love surfing and the country of Panama is very evident. The food was healthy, filling and delicious. Vickie even packed us a homemade lunch for our snorkelling day trip to Coiba (which you MUST do, it was stunning!)! Can't wait to go back!

Curt Esteb

We spent just over a week surfing and practicing yoga with Waluaa February 2022. What a wonderful experience. Vickie and Sergio run a first class business. I was primarily there for the surfing and my wife for the yoga. What a perfect time for both of us! The surf instruction and video was top notch. I started out as a beginner and ended the week getting up and even making some turns. These are professional people that run a clean top notch business. We even had a yoga retreat blended in with surfing. Yoga seems the perfect experience to warm up or end the day after surfing. My 56 year old body was talking to me, but I loved every minute of it. You should know going in these are highly educated professional people that speak good english and strive to provide a great experience! We highly recommend this organization.

Emily Dudley

Waluaa surf and yoga retreat was an amazing solo trip. Super long review ahead, but in summary, It’s the perfect trip for someone who wants equal parts adventure and relaxation. Vickie and Sergio are awesome humans and you can really tell they love what they do (and they’re great at it!).

Vickie makes trip planning so simple. She reached out right after I booked to check if I had questions and sends an email with all the info you need for getting to Santa Catalina, what to bring, what to expect, etc. Super well organized! One awesome thing about this retreat is that the shuttle from Panama City to Santa Catalina is pre booked and included in the costs of the retreat - again super easy.

Once in Santa Catalina Vickie greeted us and gave us a run down of the retreat schedule (all optional, but you’ll find yourself wanting to do everything b/c it’s so fun!). I’ve never had to use my brain less on a vacation. Vickie and Sergio really thought of everything. Because of the tide schedule our surf lessons occurred before breakfast. A typical day included: waking up, surfing and instruction for ~2 hours, delicious breakfast, down time or scheduled activity, lunch, free time, yoga, free time, dinner. We also had the option of going to Santa Catalina island and Coiba National park without missing a surf session.

In Santa Catalina you’ll find a good mix of tourists from around the world and locals. Lots of cute restaurants/bars/shops within a walk from the hotel to go explore on your free time.

Another thing I really appreciated about this retreat is that the surf instructors are from Panama and the yoga instructor is a WOC. It can be difficult to find a retreat that’s not super American/white centric and I know Vickie and Sergio put some thought into who they chose to hire.

Surf instruction was incredibly detailed and personalized. I came to Santa Catalina having never caught a green wave and was catching them on day 1. I learned so many details about surfing that I never would have thought of that made a huge difference in my abilities and confidence.

Yoga classes perfectly complimented surfing. The teacher, Candace, is in amazing teacher with years of experience who understands and teaches much more than just asanas. My body felt amazing after her classes and helped me loosen up for the next days surfing lesson.

I booked this trip last minute and I’m so glad I did. If you’re interested in improving your surfing and yoga, relaxing, exploring and learning about Panama I wouldn’t hesitate to book this retreat!

Lauren Vanderbilt

My 9 year old did a drop in surf lesson with Casey. We couldn't have asked for a better instructor. He was so kind, patient, and energetic. He explained things clearly and was extremely knowledgeable. The perfect instructor. We even got some gopro footage from the session. Also, Santa Catalina was the perfect spot for a beginner to learn. Highly recommend!

Brynn Brothers

We had such a great time during our surf and yoga retreat. Great quality boards, nice accommodations and delicious food. The property is beautiful too!

Vickie and Sergio made us feel comfortable on land and in the water. Both me and my husband’s surfing improved so much over the course of the week! He is intermediate and I am an experienced beginner so we wanted to find a place that would work for both of us - Waluaa was perfect! The surf instruction was so good and encouraging. The video footage and post surf feedback was so well done.

I highly recommend!