Aquatic Retreat · Sea & Jungle
A four-night water-practice edition in Guna Yala, aboard two catamarans sailing in flotilla — co-hosted with Colectivo Agua Internacional.
14–18 August 2026 · Guna Yala (San Blas), Panama · with Colectivo Agua Internacional
In pictures
The journey
A four-day immersion in the pristine waters and living culture of the indigenous reserve of Guna Yala, Panama.
We live aboard a flotilla led by our sailing catamaran Ikigai, moving from one island to the next with the wind and sleeping at anchor in settings found nowhere else, suspended between sky and sea.
We slip into turquoise water over white-sand seabeds, where time slows and the body finds its natural rhythm again. Along the way we practise Janzu, water dance and freediving — exploring the sea not only as a place, but as a space for listening, presence and deep connection.
This seascape then gives way to the intense colours and scents of the land — the rivers and waterfalls of the Darién forest, one of the wildest and most preserved ecosystems in Central America.
Finally, we have the chance to visit a few villages and meet the Guna people, touching a vision of life deeply connected to nature and a model of community that is simple, authentic and surprisingly harmonious.
On board
Four days of slowing down between sea and jungle. The practices are optional and suited to every level — you choose how much to do and how much to simply be.
Janzu is an aquatic journey in which the body is supported and accompanied between surface and immersion, through fluid movements that invite deep relaxation and letting go. In the silence of the water, breath, trust and presence meet — creating an intimate space of listening, lightness and reconnection.
Water Dance is a practice where two or more people explore movement in the water, staying in continuous contact and using each other's bodies as support and leverage. Through play, listening and the fluidity of water, it nurtures presence, creativity, trust and authentic connection — with yourself and with others.
An introduction to breath-hold techniques and the mental calm of descending underwater, led by AIDA and Apnea Total certified instructors.
Morning movement and breathwork on deck and on the islands, to land in the body before the water sessions.
Drift over coral reefs and clear shallows straight from the boat — turtles, rays and the colours of the Caribbean, at your own pace.
We travel up a river by boat, then continue on foot into the forest of the Darién — one of the most preserved areas of Central America. Rivers, trees and the deep quiet of the mainland.
Time among the islands of the Guna people, in one of the most pristine reserves in Central America.
Hands on the helm as we move between islands with the wind — trimming sails, standing a watch, logging real miles aboard the Catana 47. No experience needed, only curiosity.
Fresh, simple meals cooked on board — fish of the day, fruit and vegetables, natural nutrition that keeps body and mind light between water sessions.
One of the most pristine reserves in Central America
Guna Yala — the San Blas archipelago — is the autonomous territory of the Guna people: hundreds of islands of white sand and turquoise water in the Panamanian Caribbean.
There are no resorts here, only small communities, palm islands and sheltered anchorages. It is one of the last places where you can still feel the sea as it once was.
Two catamarans, sailing in flotilla
Ikigai is a Catana 47 — a fast, stable 14-metre cruising catamaran built for life at anchor and long ocean miles. Wide trampolines, a shaded cockpit, spacious double cabins, fresh-water showers and Starlink on board.
For this edition a second catamaran joins us, so the group sails in flotilla between the islands — up to twelve guests in all, six per boat.
On board
The hosts
A floating home, sailing toward what matters
Ikigai left Italy in 2022 with a simple idea to sail around the world, stopping in the places that resonate with our way of living.
We are not a standard charter and not a resort. We are a small non-profit sailing project built around the practices we love: yoga, meditation, freediving, movement, ocean sports, simple living and natural nutrition. The sea is not just the backdrop of the journey. It is the teacher, the playground and the place where everything becomes more essential.
Our goal is to bring people back to what truly matters: breath, body, nature, community, presence and the freedom of living closer to the elements.
Somatic meditation in water
Colectivo Agua Internacional is a collective built around one practice: meeting yourself in water. Its co-founders Marco and Iby — between Argentina, Belgium, Chile and Mexico — have spent decades in Janzu, aquatic bodywork and Water Dance, and run the Casa de Artes Acuáticas in Mexico.
In Guna Yala they bring that work to the open sea. Held at the surface and moved gently between air and water, the body lets go, the breath slows, and listening takes over. No experience needed — only willingness to float.
Who guides it
Founder · Skipper · Yoga & Freediving · Janzu · Italy
Founder of Ikigai Sailing, living and sailing aboard Ikigai for years. Yoga Alliance certified teacher, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore skipper, AIDA International and Apnea Total freediving instructor, and Janzu facilitator.
Co-founder, Colectivo Agua Internacional · Argentina / Belgium
Over twenty years in the art of massage. Janzu instructor and facilitator, freediver, and companion of transformation through water and somatic movement.
Co-founder, Colectivo Agua Internacional · Chile / Mexico
Co-founder of Colectivo Agua Internacional and the Casa de Artes Acuáticas in Mexico. Janzu instructor and facilitator, Qi Gong practitioner, and guide of group reconnection through water, art and spirituality.
Glimpses
Investment
Ikigai Sailing is a non-profit sports association. Guest contributions help sustain the boat, the project and the experiences we share on board.
Practicalities
The balance after your deposit is settled in cash on board — please bring US dollars, as cash is hard to find in Guna Yala.
Getting there
The whole journey is organised by us with trusted local contacts, for a smooth, safe transfer from start to finish.
Good to know
No. The sessions suit every level and are optional. Our instructors are certified and qualified to guide you safely and supportively.
A maximum of twelve guests across two catamarans sailing in flotilla (six per boat), plus the crew and facilitators, to keep the experience intimate and authentic.
Yes — it's important to be comfortable in the water. No sporting experience is required, but you should feel at ease in the sea.
Fly into Panama City (PTY), spend a night there, and the next morning a private 4x4 jeep takes you to the coast (about 2.5 hours), where a local boat brings you to the catamarans around 10:30. We organise the transfers.
Probably not — a large catamaran is very stable and the anchorages are sheltered. If needed, seasickness tablets work well and the body usually adjusts within a couple of days.
Yes, the boat has Starlink satellite internet.
Yes. Bring US dollars for Panama City, souvenirs, and the balance of your booking, which is paid in cash on board.
Life aboard is minimal — swimwear, light clothes, sun protection, a hat, sunglasses, a light windbreaker for night sailing, flip-flops and a towel. Please bring a soft bag, not a hard suitcase or trolley.
Reserve
To hold your place we ask for a deposit. You can settle the balance in cash on board — our preference, since cash is hard to find in Guna Yala — but it isn't required: you can also pay the full amount now by bank transfer or PayPal.
