The Ikigai Experience in Guna Yala
A small-group catamaran experience aboard Ikigai, shaped by sailing, freediving, yoga, breathwork, fresh meals, wild nature and meaningful connection.
Minimum stay: 3 nights · Recommended: 5, 7 or 10 nights · Max 6 guests · 3 cabins
Before choosing dates, cabins or itineraries, take a moment to feel what life aboard Ikigai is really about.
This is not just a place to visit. It is a rhythm to enter.
Life aboard
A rhythm of sea, breath, movement, simple living and meaningful connection.
Life aboard Ikigai follows the pace of the ocean.
Days unfold between sailing, freediving, movement, presence, shared meals and the untouched nature of Guna Yala.
The goal is never performance. It is to breathe better, listen to your body and reconnect with what matters when life becomes simpler.
And when it is time to return to land, you may carry some of that clarity with you.
20 August – 20 October
Between 20 August and 20 October, Luca may be ashore between voyages. In that window a relief skipper takes care of the sailing and the safety of the boat, so time on the water under sail runs as always. The practices Luca guides himself, freediving, yoga and meditation, are not offered while he is away. Sailing, snorkelling, island time and life aboard carry on. If those guided sessions matter to you, tell us your dates and we will confirm whether Luca is aboard for them.
Sailing training aboard Ikigai is not a classroom course — it's learning to sail by living aboard a real ocean catamaran, taking the helm and the sheets between the islands of Guna Yala.
Read more →
Learn freediving on a catamaran in the calm, warm waters of San Blas — AIDA & Apnea Total courses aboard a floating school, with yoga, pranayama, small groups and life at sea.
Read more →
Swimming and snorkeling aboard Ikigai aren't quick tourist stops — they're part of the daily rhythm at sea. Coral gardens, reef edges and drop-offs in warm, clear water, with all equipment aboard and freediving practice built in.
Read more →
Yoga aboard Ikigai is a way to return to the body — practised on the catamaran deck at sunrise and sunset, or on remote beaches with nothing but the sea and the wind around you.
Read more →
Meditation aboard Ikigai is a return to presence — shifting attention from thinking to sensing on the catamaran deck at sunrise, on quiet beaches and sandbanks surrounded by ocean.
Read more →
Janzu water therapy is a gentle form of aquatic bodywork: in warm, protected water the body is supported, moved through slow fluid movements and invited to let go. Guided by Luca, trained in Janzu and WATA / WaterDance.
Read more →
Functional training aboard Ikigai is not about performance — it's a simple way to wake the body, build strength and reconnect with movement on deck or on the islands of Guna Yala.
Read more →
Leave the boat by dinghy, ride upriver into the edge of the Darién rainforest, then walk two hours through living jungle to a freshwater waterfall — from turquoise sea to deep green forest in a single day.
Read more →
Cook with what the sea and the land give us — fish caught that morning, local fruit and vegetables. Hands in, learn a few boat-galley tricks, then everyone eats together.
Read more →
More than a tropical destination, Guna Yala is an autonomous indigenous territory where sea, community, nature and simplicity are deeply connected.
Guna Yala is not only one of the most untouched archipelagos in the Caribbean. It is an autonomous indigenous territory, governed by the Guna people according to their own traditions, rules and way of life.
To sail here is to enter a world where the relationship between people, sea, land and community still follows a rhythm very different from the one most of us know.
There are no large resorts, no crowded marinas, no mass tourism. Life is simpler, more communal and more closely connected to nature.
For many guests, this becomes one of the most meaningful parts of the journey: a chance to experience beauty, simplicity and community in a place where nature still sets the rhythm.
Not a standard charter boat, but an ocean-going catamaran designed to sail far, fast and safely.
Ikigai is not a standard charter catamaran.
She is a Catana 47, an ocean-going performance catamaran designed for long passages, real sailing and life at sea.
Light, fast and carrying a generous sail plan, Ikigai can move beautifully even with light wind. This changes the feeling of the journey: sailing is not just a way to move from one island to another, but an essential part of the experience.
On board, you feel the wind, the silence, the acceleration, the openness of the sea.
Ikigai is comfortable, but she is not a floating hotel. She is a boat with a soul, built to travel, cross oceans and become home for those who want to live the sea more deeply.
With only three guest cabins and a maximum of six guests, the atmosphere remains intimate, simple and connected.
Luca & Paola
Ikigai is not run like a standard charter. The experience is shaped by the people who live aboard, welcome you, guide the rhythm of the days and take care of the atmosphere.
Skipper & founder
Luca is the founder of Ikigai Sailing, skipper, RYA Yachtmaster and Freediving instructor. His work on board brings together navigation, safety, breath, movement and ocean life through sailing, freediving, yoga, meditation, kitesurfing and Janzu. He creates experiences that help people slow down, reconnect with their bodies and return to what truly matters.
Chef & hostess
Paola brings warmth, care and presence to life aboard. Through food, hospitality and the small details of daily life, she helps transform the boat into a home. Meals become moments of sharing, conversation and connection.
Stays
The minimum stay aboard Ikigai is 3 nights. Shorter stays are intense and beautiful; longer stays let you settle into the rhythm of the archipelago, the sea and the experience.
3 nights
A short but powerful introduction to life aboard: turquoise water, snorkelling, simple practices, fresh meals and a first taste of the Ikigai rhythm. Ideal if you have limited time or want to fold San Blas into a wider Panama trip.
Best for: Short escapes, Panama travellers, couples or solo guests with limited time.
5 nights
The best accessible option for a complete sailing experience without the full ten nights. Five nights let us visit different anchorages, spend more time in the water, practise, share meals and enter the rhythm of the islands.
Best for: Guests who want a complete but compact experience.
7 nights
A deeper immersion into San Blas and life on board, with more space for sailing, freediving, yoga, island exploration, rest, silence and connection.
Best for: Travellers who want balance between time, depth and budget.
10 nights
Our most complete experience. Ten nights let you truly slow down, explore more of the archipelago and live the full rhythm of Ikigai: sailing, breath, movement, food, community, nature and presence.
Best for: Guests who want the deepest and most complete version of the Ikigai experience.
Aboard Ikigai
Ikigai has only three guest cabins and hosts a maximum of six guests. To keep the experience intimate and sustainable, bookings are based on cabins, not individual beds. A cabin holds one or two guests, and prices are per cabin — unless you choose a shared-cabin spot, which is priced per person.
For couples, friends or solo travellers who want more privacy.
$650 / night per cabin
If two guests share the cabin, it works out to $325 per person per night.
Total: $1,950
Two single beds in one cabin.
From $325 / night per person
Not available during Christmas and New Year.
Total: $975
For families, groups or custom dates.
Available on request
Private-boat pricing depends on duration, season, group size and the kind of experience you want.
Request a private boat quotePrices are shown in USD as the market reference for San Blas. For bank-transfer payments to our Italian account, the final amount is confirmed in EUR using Ikigai's current booking exchange rate at the time of confirmation. Payments are member contributions to Ikigai Sailing ASD, a CONI-recognised non-profit — not commercial fees.
Not sure which option fits you? Message us and we'll help you choose the best format for your dates, group and cabin configuration.
In pictures
Day by day
All itineraries are indicative. The final route depends on weather, sea conditions, safety, local logistics and the rhythm of the group.
Good to know
Exact inclusions vary with duration, season and the type of experience. Confirmed details are shared before booking.
Getting there
Most guests arrive at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. We recommend arriving at least one day before boarding and spending a night in Panama City, ideally in Casco Viejo. On boarding day a 4×4 leaves early and crosses the forest to the Caribbean coast, where a local Guna boat brings you to Ikigai — usually around 10:30 in the morning, depending on weather, sea and local logistics. Transfers are not included, but we help coordinate them with trusted local providers.
Logbook
What a lovely and crazy experience I had on board with this crew! You have all you need on this boat, it’s very confortable. And the most amazing part is the kindness of the crew. They want you to live the best experience ever. The Food is excellent! Sunset with whales 🐳 is unforgettable. Merci
Alice Modolo
Paris
I spent 6 nights in January on Ikigai – and I cannot think of a better start of my vacation/ sabbatical then this. First of all, San Blas Islands feel like paradise. Living on a boat and seeing different islands, waking up and going to bed to the sound of the waves and the wind is amazing.
And on top of this, there is the Ikigai experience with Luca as the captain and Paola as the chef. They form such a perfect team! Food and Italian Espresso is just – wow!! 😍 We did meditation, yoga and workouts together on the boat or on a remote island. Went snorkeling and got to know the specifics of San Blas.
I really didn’t want to leave after my initially planned time – and even for this wish Luca found a great solution. Grazie per tutto!
Anja Rolfes
We truly felt lucky when, not long ago, a dear friend of ours met Luca on a beach in Los Roques. From that moment, we discovered the Ikigai Sailing project. Even before taking part in this incredible experience, we were watching this crew of dreamer sailors from afar. Shortly after, we found ourselves on board the catamaran with them. Lucky indeed!
My partner and I enjoyed every single moment of this unforgettable journey. We discovered the beauty of being able to trust someone. Luca guided us with professionalism, safety, and calmness toward new activities: meditation, yoga, freediving, and spearfishing. We pushed beyond our physical and mental limits, learned to slow down, and to look within. We felt renewed and stronger.
Surrounded by the unique atmosphere of the Caribbean Sea, the Ikigai crew is a perfect blend. We cannot fail to mention Paula’s sweetness and Luca’s passion for cooking. Together, they pampered us every day with delicacies from the sea. We felt at home.
We discovered places that moved us to tears, shared emotional moments at sunset, and met the Guna people, resilient and deeply connected spiritually with nature. We fully immersed ourselves in this adventure, felt part of the Ikigai Sailing “family,” and at the same time so small in front of the vastness of the San Blas Islands’ nature.
I don’t think we will ever truly be able to put it into words. This is only a goodbye for now, we will meet again in the new world. Ikigai has captured our hearts!
Arianna
A floating home with strangers that became friends. That was my experience on Ikigai boat. A dream coming true, where I was all the time next to the sea, with all the comfort I love to have in my daily life; I´m talking about waking up in the middle of paradise, jumping in the water, visit the reef, having a double espresso, do my work out, jump in the water again, have a delicious breakfast, water again, delicious lunch, freediving, watching the sunset, delicious dinner, watching the stars and repeat! Plus a lot of sea adventures here and there…
Carla Garcia
Mexico
I spent 21 days aboard the Ikigai. Fantastic, you say: on a boat, in the San Blas Islands, Kuna territory. It’s easy to imagine it being fantastic. First of all: to find the San Blas Islands, you have to get there and “adapt”. And you also have to respect the Kuna and their territory: movie-like beaches and atolls. This, thanks to Luca, seems like a natural occurrence aboard the Ikigai. From the moment you cross your legs at the bow for meditation as soon as you wake up, to the last star you turn off (even at the stern, if you like) before going to sleep, you live in a simply more adapted way. Without giving up anything…not even a good espresso and bread. Adapting, however, means a lobster barbecue, which the Captain never fails to provide.
21 days without shoes or flip-flops, completely barefoot…and you’ve probably never been there since you’ve been wearing them…and you don’t even realize it.
Claudio Montibelli
Siamo stati a San Blas con Ikigai per una decina di giorni. L’arcipelago è bellissimo, ancora protetto dai locali da un turismo di massa. Una vacanza fuori dal tempo in uno scenario naturale bellissimo: isolette selvagge, locali ospitali, barriera corallina, squali, delfini, sole e vento… Ikigai è un catamarano molto confortevole, su cui non manca nulla. Luca e Paola ci hanno viziati ed accuditi con ottima cucina, attività fisica, meditazioni, chiacchiere e ottima compagnia. Luca è l’amico che ha il coraggio di fare quello che tutti sognano di fare, con grande energia e entusiasmo. Grazie e… buon vento!
Cristiano Talpo
We stayed with Luca for six days in January of 2026 sailing through the SAN Blas Islands in Panama and had an amazing experience. The snorkelling was the best we’ve ever seen. We saw sharks, puffer fish, dolphins and so much more! Luca kept us busy everyday with exploring different Islands and snorkelling areas. Food on board was absolutely amazing and included lots of seafood. The boat was clean and really nicely setup. I will be booking again!
Donna Schuelle
Salire a bordo del catamarano Ikigai e navigare tra le isole incontaminate delle San Blas è stato molto più di una semplice vacanza: è stata un’esperienza profonda, fuori dal tempo, capace di arricchire profondamente e di rimanere impressa ben oltre il rientro a casa.
L’arcipelago è di una bellezza disarmante: isolette selvagge, mare cristallino, barriera corallina viva, squali, mante, vento e sole. Un luogo ancora protetto e autentico, dove la popolazione locale dei Guna Yala accoglie con gentilezza e semplicità, rendendo tutto ancora più speciale.
Il catamarano Ikigai è estremamente confortevole e curato in ogni dettaglio: a bordo non manca davvero nulla. Dalla macchina per l’espresso al forno per il pane, fino al barbecue, ogni comfort supera le aspettative. Il mio posto del cuore? Senza dubbio le reti a prua: perfette per rilassarsi, leggere o semplicemente lasciarsi cullare dal mare.
Le giornate scorrevano in un equilibrio perfetto tra avventura e relax. Yoga e meditazione al mattino, allenamenti strutturati e sessioni di boxe su spiagge bianchissime, partite di pallavolo, snorkeling e immersioni. L’introduzione all’apnea è stata per me un’esperienza viscerale e potente. Imparare a respirare,ascoltarsi,un’immersione non solo nel mare ma anche dentro me stessa, accompagnata da emozioni così intense e profonde.
L’atmosfera a bordo è stata straordinaria: sorrisi, risate, condivisione, confronto tra lingue e culture diverse. Un clima umano e autentico che ti fa sentire parte di una piccola famiglia. Gran parte di tutto questo è merito di Luca e Paola: due persone speciali che ci hanno accolti, accuditi e viziati con naturalezza, energia ed entusiasmo. Conoscerli come persone, oltre che come professionisti, è stato un vero privilegio e ne sono davvero grata.
E poi il cibo… semplicemente eccellente. Colazioni sempre curate, pranzi e cene a base di pesce fresco appena pescato, piatti creativi e sapori autentici. Dalla carbonara preparata a regola d’arte da Luca,alle aragoste,al sashimi di pesce appena pescato,fino alla torta di compleanno preparata a sorpresa da Paola. Ogni pasto é stato un momento di piacere condiviso e di vera connessione.
La sicurezza a bordo è stata impeccabile. La navigazione è sempre stata gestita con grande attenzione, professionalità e attrezzature adeguate. Mi sono sentita costantemente in mani esperte, libera di godermi ogni momento in totale serenità.
Nuotare con gli squali, osservare le aquile di mare a pochi metri, meditare al tramonto, ballare sotto un cielo stellato attorno al fuoco,vivere la semplicità della vita in mare con persone speciali che condividono le tue stesse passioni,hanno reso questo viaggio indimenticabile.
Consiglierei questa esperienza senza alcuna esitazione. Ikigai non è solo un catamarano, ma un luogo dell’anima: uno spazio in cui ritrovare equilibrio, energia e il senso delle cose importanti.
Grazie di cuore a Luca e Paola 💙 Un viaggio che porterò per sempre con me…e che spero di rifare al più presto.
Elisa
Good to know
Private-cabin prices are per cabin, not per person. Each cabin holds one or two guests. Shared-cabin spots are priced per person and are available only when a compatible cabin match is possible.
Yes. Solo travellers are welcome. You can request a shared-cabin spot from $325 per night per person, subject to matching, or book a private cabin for yourself.
If no compatible match is available, you can take a private cabin, choose different dates, or join the waiting list for future shared-cabin availability.
The minimum stay is 3 nights. We recommend 5, 7 or 10 nights depending on your time, budget and the depth of experience you're after.
Yes. The experience is modular. The minimum is 3 nights, while 5, 7 and 10 nights are the recommended durations. Longer stays let us go deeper into the archipelago and into the rhythm of the experience.
No. You don't need sailing experience. Before departure we explain the basic safety rules and how life on board works.
No. The introductory freediving and breathwork sessions suit beginners. Safety, relaxation and awareness always matter more than performance.
No. Activities are invitations, not obligations. We encourage you to take part, but you're always free to listen to your body and your needs.
Ikigai has Starlink on board, subject to service availability. That said, part of the experience is the chance to disconnect from everyday noise.
Transfers to and from Panama City are not included, but we help coordinate them with trusted local providers.
The itinerary is always flexible and safety comes first. Routes and activities can change with the weather, the sea and local logistics.
Yes. A private cabin is ideal for couples — one cabin holds two guests.
Yes. Families, groups of friends and retreat facilitators can request a private-boat experience. Pricing is available on request.
Plan your voyage
Tell us your dates, how many nights, and how you're travelling. We'll reply with availability, route options and the best cabin solution for your dates.
Tell us your preferred dates, how many nights, and whether you're travelling solo, as a couple, with a friend or as a private group. We'll help you choose the best option for availability, route and cabin configuration.
At a glance
Minimum stay: 3 nights
Private cabin: $650 / night per cabin
Shared cabin spot: from $325 / night per person
Private boat: available on request
