Sansara Surf Yoga & Resort

Sansara is heaven on earth. The staff is incredible; so kind and accommodating, they really care about your experience. The food is incredible. It’s healthy, delicious, and it’s clear the kitchen staff prides themselves in curating a personalized experience. They are so thoughtful about dietary restrictions. Every day I felt nourished and the portions were perfect for an active week. I can’t say enough about this place. 10 stars and I’ll forever be back every year.

This is my fourth year leading a retreat at Sansara. I think it is an absolutely magical place. The staff is wonderful, the food delicious, rooms cozy with very very comfortable beds and the owners are superb!! I am so grateful to be here again this year and will continue to come back for as many years as I can!! Just cannot say enough good things about this place!!

I had travelled to Bocas 12 years ago and wanted to try something different with my family of 4 so we came to this intimate, end of the earth surf & yoga resort for our Christmas holiday Dec 24-28. Big mistake. Late December is "dry season" my butt. We barely spotted the sun and it poured on us incessantly at times. Canadian owners Mike & Janel were very friendly as were most of the staff (special shout out to Juan in the restaurant & Kate for yoga) and obviously they don't control the weather, but they should be better at reading the room and recognizing the utter despair of their guests day after day with no sun (even their own visiting family members were complaining). Throw your guests a bone for crying out loud. Charging ridiculous prices for sub-par, tiny portion, no choice Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners with needlessly slow service would have been bad enough. But the over-charging didn't stop there. There were literally No activities despite marketing-promises to the contrary. Jeep ride? Nope. Sunset cruise? Nope. Bonfire? Not so much. I tried yoga in desperation with my wife. Yep, they charged for that too. Our final evening, grasping at straws, I did a horseback ride in the pouring rain from which my clothes still have not dried. My daughter wanted to go surfing but the only way to the break (would have thought there was surf within walk of "surf resort" but anyway) was to pay for a shuttle and an over-priced lesson. And to add insult upon injury? Two full weeks after we escaped they had the gall to charge me for a lesson she didn't even take. I paid nearly $7,000 for this 4 night, 3 1/2 day stay and spent over 12 hours in a van going to and from Panama City (and 5/6 of the drive is dull). Save yourself the hassle. Don't overthink it. If you want to go to Panama, just go to Bocas as there are more luxury accommodations every year, far more activities and far more dining options.