To those who have not surfed, the sport is just another water activity. A leisurely, recreational, or sometimes competitive pursuit, like skateboarding, snowboarding, or wake boarding for that matter. It’s just another kind of board.

Surfing, however, at least to me and to many practitioners, is on a whole ‘nother level.

I tried surfing for the first time in the Dominican Republic on a spring break trip. Like anything I do for the first time, I was terrible at it. My teacher literally pulled me and pushed me until I barely stood up on a moving wave and promptly fell over. An hour-long lesson…2 seconds of upright "surfing". Boom! I was hooked.

There is something about an activity so challenging but with very noticeable progress that makes surfing so addicting. Each little progression, each time you do something new, you feel like a champion. The first time you stand up, the first time you catch a wave yourself, the first time you make a turn, the first time you catch a big wave, the first time you catch a really big wave, with your eyes wide and your heart pounding out of your chest, the first time you get “tubed”, when you are literally inside the breaking wave… and countless tiny steps in between. The reward of just a few seconds of riding a wave is unlike anything I have experienced elsewhere.

But there is another, deeper, element of surfing that makes it different from all other sports. When you surf, you are literally on the same wavelength as the ocean, as nature itself. You sit in the water on your board waiting for the next set of waves to come in, and with each little wave that passes underneath your board you move up and down. Maybe the sun is setting and bathing the ocean in a pink and orange hue, maybe a pelican passes an inch or two above the surface looking for its dinner, maybe you forget about your work, your responsibilities, really everything other than where you are at that moment. Surfing is spiritual and meditative unlike any other sport I’ve tried.

If you haven’t tried it yet, needless to say, I highly recommend it.

Here is your chance: From June 28th to July 7, Learn from Travel is hosting Fish School in Panama. You will learn to surf! AND ALSO how to fish and how to prepare seafood recipes.

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Panama is one of our favorite countries. It is literally the crossroads of the world, has both Pacific and Caribbean beaches, and, compared to it's neighbor to the north, is relatively undiscovered. Here are just five of the things that make it a really special place to visit.

5. Old Quarter
Panama City is one of the oldest colonial cities in the West, dating back to 1519. The colonial heart of the city was recently renovated, featuring incredible world cuisine, nightly live music, craft beer, and of course stunning colonial architecture. It is one of the most pleasant places to go for a stroll, day or night.

4. Panama Hats
The heart of Panamanian culture is in Los Santos Province, located on the Azuero Peninsula. The largely agricultural area hosts Panama's biggest Carnaval parade and features authentic rural fashion, like these hats. They are made from grass painstakingly woven together into thread and then sewn, all by hand. One hat can take up to two months to make and costs about $300!

3. Sea food
With so much ocean around it, no wonder sea food is a real treat in Panama. Whole fried or grilled red snapper is a common dinner menu find, while ceviche, raw fish cooked in lemon juice and mixed with vegetables, is a healthy lunch option available at all convenience stores. By the way do you like octopus? That's pretty common too!

2. Surfing
Warm water, frequent off-shore wind, almost no hazards like rocks or current, and year-round waves make Panama one of the best places to learn to surf. Some of the best breaks are in the Azuero Peninsula in the Los Santos Province.

1. Monkeys
Panama is home to a variety of species including an endemic spider monkey and the howler monkey, pictured here. Howlers eat leaves but when you first hear them, that's not what you think. Somewhere between a bark and a roar, the howler monkey will make you shake in your socks just by saying hello.

Ready to experience Panama for yourself?

Learn from Travel brings you an educational adventure like no other: Fish School in Panama June 30 - July 7. Learn to surf, fish, and prepare local recipes in one of Panama's most stunning locations: the Azuero Peninsula. You'll be surrounded by howler monkeys, practice yoga, and stay in an environmentally friendly eco-lodge with a permaculture farm and a reforestation project. Take advantage of discount pricing before April 15th.

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We specialize in responsible, culturally-immersive, educational travel. You'll meet amazing people, go way off the beaten path, and never forget this travel experience. Go! Learn!