Fish School: learn to surf, fish, and cook in Panama

Day 1 (-/-/-): Arrive in the afternoon or evening to Panama's International Airport (PTY) and transfer to Magnolia Inn, our hotel in the old quarter, or Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo is a colonial jewel, perfect for strolling and architecture gazing. It's also a nightlife hot spot with dozens of incredible restaurants for any budget and bars a plenty. Enjoy your evening out. No meals included today. 

Day 2 (B/L/D): If you are arriving on a red-eye early in the morning you will be able to check into our hotel to get a bit of rest. Around 10 am we will head over to the Panama's famous fish market for a glance at the plethora of seafood on sale and for a ceviche tasting. Ceviche is a very popular Panamanian seafood dish, often eaten for lunch or a snack. It is raw fish prepared in lemon juice with onions and served with crackers. Nothing can be better with an ice cold beer. 

Around 11 am we will depart for the Azuero Peninsula in the Los Santos Province in Panama's vast interior. The whole drive is about 5 hours but we will break it up with a lunch stop at a yoga retreat center where will have a beautiful vegetarian meal. We will arrive to Eco Venao in time for a delicious dinner made with local ingredients. We'll check into our beach-side eco-cabins and enjoy the sound of the ocean at our doorstep. 

Day 3 (B/L/-): Wake up to the sound of the waves breaking at your doorstep. Build up your strength for surfing with an acai bowl then go for a stroll or job on the beach before it gets too hot. The morning is yours to relax. Hang out on the beach or walk to a waterfall hidden in the forest looking for monkeys along the way. This is a good time to schedule a massage at the on-site spa for later in the week. You can even grab your board and get a head start on the learning. You'll have access to a surf board the entire time. 

Today we will make our own lunch, with a lesson on seafood preparation from one of the top chefs in Panama. Jorge, was a contestant on Panama's TV Show Top Chef. He will teach us how to properly fillet a fish, how to select the best local ingredients and combine them into a wonderful lunch.  This will be a true highlight of the trip. 

Around 3pm we will begin the surf lesson. If you're a beginner the local pros will teach you the foundation in the Surf Dojo (positioning on the board, pop-up, balance) and then take you out to waves to apply what you've learned. You'll learn to paddle, catch waves, and stand up. If you're an intermediate, your teacher will help you work on catching waves and making turns. Even if you're an expert, a lesson with professional surfer Ana Chudnenko will help you advance. 

Day 4 (-/L/-): Head out early in the morning (6AM) to learn to fish with a local pro. You’ll try your hand at trolling for tuna as well as using a hand line (no rod) to fish for snapper. If luck is on our side, we will enjoy fresh catch as a sashimi appetizer for lunch! The main course for lunch will be an unforgettable whole fried fish a rural chef in an authentic, little-visited setting. On the way back we will cruise through a peaceful and beautiful mangrove forest. 

The rest of the day will be your to relax. You can always grab your board and surf, lay on a beach chair with your favorite book, or go for a stroll.  Dinner will be at leisure either at the restaurant at Eco Venao or one of several in nearby Playa Venao.

Day 5 (B/L/D): Rise early for your surfing lessons today to take advantage of the tide. Then relax the rest of the morning. For lunch we will learn to make fusion Italian and Panamanian food with two great chefs. The afternoon will be a good time to practice some more surfing, go for a horseback ride for sunset or get a relaxing massage. Another options is a dropping in for a yoga class. Dinner tonight will be an all-you-can-eat feast of local permaculture farm produce and fresh catch. 

Day 6 (B/L/D): Start your day right with a morning surf class and an acai bowl. After surfing we will head to a nearby beach for lunch and some calm water swimming. We will return in the afternoon for any number of optional activities that you may have not had a chance to do earlier. For dinner we will go to a local favorite - La Panga restaurant, featuring another of Panama's Top Chefs who prepares simple yet unforgettable fusion dishes. 

Day 7 (B/L/-): We will depart around 8am for Panama City, stopping along the way to eat authentic Panamanian food. We will also visit the Panama Canal, one of the most important places in the world, to marvel at the enormous ships going through a tiny passage.  We will arrive to Casco Viejo with time to relax before dinner. This time will also be a great opportunity to do some souvenir shopping.  

Day 8 (B/L/D): Today we will trace the history of Panama through the eyes of pirates like Captain Morgan who's story is woven into the history of this country. We will visit the ruins of the original Panama City, abandoned after it was burned by pirates in the 1500s. After lunch in a great local restaurant with an open kitchen we will go on a walking tour of Casco Viejo. In the late afternoon we will travel to the Smithsonian Nature Center to look for sloths and visit a fascinating frog exhibit. We'll have a farewell dinner at an amazing local tapas restaurant to end the day and bring the trip to a close. 

Day 9 (-/-/-):  Depart for the airport in the morning. No meals are included today. 

*Note: This itinerary is subject to change.

What You Will Learn

• How to catch the perfect wave

• How to catch the perfect fish

• How to cook the perfect fish

• How to relax perfectly

• How to pass a giant ship through a tiny canal

Amenities

At the beach, stay in one of the country's most sustainable eco-lodges in a private eco-cabin within a stone's throw of the water. In Panama City stay in a beautifully renovated colonial hotel in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Town. 

Group Size

6-10 people max