No Pilates experience necessary!  Join Ash Salisbury for a 6 night / 7 day retreat to Bocas del Toro, Panama that will reconnect you to your center, community, and the rhythms of this beach and jungle paradise.

Our retreat begins on Sunday, March 9th where we will all meet at Bluff Beach Retreat, our stunning, private retreat center for the week. Roundtrip airport transfers will be included from Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport (BOC) to Bluff Beach.

You can expect 3 delicious, locally sourced meals each day from our fabulous private chef Nicole, a daily Pilates and Your Pelvic Floor class, afternoon meditation and breathwork, as well as plenty of time to relax, restore and adventure at will. 

We are also including one group Island, Boating & Wildlife excursion in your retreat package, so that you can get a feel for the magic and beauty that Bocas has to offer.

Your free time can be spent soaking up the sun on our near private beach, relaxing by the pool, getting a massage, biking to hidden beaches, exploring hiking trails around the retreat center, horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, and experiencing the local culture of Bocas del Toro. These are just a few of the many optional excursions available to you. Choose your own adventure and be as active or relaxed as you like! 

About Bluff Beach Retreat:

Our boutique retreat center is located in one of Central America's largest and most bio diverse rain forests and features a 65 foot lap pool, secluded beach, and nature reserve where you will see wild sloths, monkeys, toucans, horses and more. We will have exclusive use of the entire property, which includes 3 beach houses, all with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens for your use. Please see below for rooming options and descriptions. 

ALL PRICES LISTED ARE PER PERSON. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot on this retreat. The balance is due on November 1st, 2024. 

Please read on for important info on: What is Included, What is Not Included, Passport, Immunization & Covid-19 Entry Requirements, Our Cancellation & Refund Policy, and Required Travel Insurance.

What's Included

- 6 nights / 7 days of accommodations at Bluff Beach Retreat Center

- Daily Pilates and Your Pelvic Floor classes, yoga, and afternoon meditation and breathwork

- Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner prepared by our fabulous, private chef from healthy, locally sourced fruits, veggies and proteins. We can accommodate almost all dietary restrictions and allergies.

- One group Island, Boating & Wildlife Excursion in Bocas del Toro, including all transportation, guides and gratuities

- Roundtrip airport transfers from Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport (BOC) to Bluff Beach Retreat center

- All taxes + base gratuities

Not Included

- Flights from the United States to Bocas del Toro (BOC). This involves an international flight from your airport of origin to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama (PTY); as well as, a domestic flight on Air Panama or similar domestic carrier between Albrook Airport in Panama City (PAC) and Bocas del Toro Airport (BOC). NOTE: Specific FLIGHT PARAMETERS will be emailed to you once trip minimums are met. Please refrain from booking flights until then.

- Taxi ride between PTY and PAC airports. 

- Travel planning or support prior to arrival in Bocas Del Toro

- Optional Excursions and massages, all available for booking upon arrival at our retreat center

- Required Travel Insurance

Flight Parameters

Traveling to and from Bocas del Toro:

The best way to arrive at Bocas del Toro is to fly to Panama City International Airport, take a taxi/uber to Albrook Airport in Panama City downtown, then fly to Bocas del Toro Airport. Often this means booking two separate flight itineraries, each way.

**OPTIONAL GROUP DINNER IN CASCO VIEJO PANAMA CITY SATURDAY MARCH 8**

I recommend spending Saturday night in the delightful Casco Viejo ("Old Town") in Panama City, enjoying the sights and joining Ash for an optional group dinner.  Flights to Bocas Del Toro leave Sunday from Albrook airport, about 15 minutes from Casco Viejo.

RETREAT Arrival - SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH:

1. International flights all arrive and depart from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama (PTY). Search for flights to this airport from your departure airport.
2. You must then take a ground transfer (about a 30 - 45 min / $15 - $20 Uber) to Albrook Airport (PAC), in downtown Panama City, and catch a flight from Albrook Airport (PAC) to Bocas del Toro Airport (BOC).  See my Panama City Suggestions for ground transport options and other information.
3. Please leave a minimum of 3 hours from when your international flight is scheduled to land at PTY, and when your domestic flight to Bocas del Toro is scheduled to depart.
4. We recommend booking your domestic flight on AirPanama. DO NOT DILLY DALLY, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PER DAY AND THEY SELL OUT.  Leaving around 13:00 departure from PAC is the best flight, as you will arrive near check-in time, and still have time to settle in before an evening class OR land early and have lunch in downtown Isla Colon
   1. https://www.airpanama.com/en
5. Once you land at Bocas del Toro Airport, we will provide a taxi for you from the airport to Bluff Beach Retreat Center. This 20 minute taxi is included in your retreat package for the above listed flights, and taxi drivers will be arranged and waiting for you at this small, regional airport to drive you to Bluff Beach Retreat. You may take any of the flights mentioned above. Official check in is after 3pm, so early arrivals may store their luggage, and visit the nearby beach and restaurants! Additional fees may apply for taxi service if you are not on one of these three flights.

Departure - SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH:

1. Two departure taxi times from Bluff Beach Retreat to Bocas del Toro Airport are included in your retreat package for the following two flights. You may incur additional taxi charges if you choose to leave at a different time.
2. We recommend booking on AirPanama for the domestic flight back to Albrook (PAC) from Bocas del Toro (BOC), they currently offer 3 flights daily. Checkout at the retreat center is 11AM, and there will be two flights for which taxis are included:
   1. https://www.airpanama.com/en
3. Once you land in Albrook, you need to arrange a ground transfer to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama (PTY). Leave a minimum of 3 hours from when your domestic flight is scheduled to land at Albrook, and when your international flight home is scheduled to depart. See our Panama City Suggestions for ground transport options.  

ONCE YOU HAVE PURCHASED YOUR FLIGHTS, please forward your confirmation email(s) to: ash@springboardpilates.com

Tip for purchasing flights: Arrive early and/or stay an extra night!

As you consider your flight options given the above parameters, we understand that you may be left with less-than-desirable itineraries, be that due to tight connections/transfers times, long flight hours, long layovers, or any other number of factors. As such, we would like to share with you some of our favorite things to do in Panama City. The following Panama City Suggestions will help you navigate Panama City. By expanding your flight search to include some time there, you may find better flights, and better rates; as well as, find yourself also falling for spectacular Panama City!

PANAMA CITY SUGGESTIONS

Passport & Covid-19 Entry Requirements

You must have a valid passport to travel to Panama. Please check your passport expiration date and make sure it is valid for at least 3 months after the end date of your retreat.

As of September 22nd, 2022, all restrictions or requirements around COVID-19 have been lifted. No need to present negative test results, vaccination scheme or declaration form.

Stay up to date on Panama Entry Requirements here: https://pa.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

For a complete list of recommended routine vaccinations, please visit the CDC’s website for travelers visiting Panama here. We are not visiting any areas where malaria or yellow fever are of concern. 

Required Travel Insurance

The purchase of travel insurance is required for this trip.  

Most policies protect you against potential trip delays or cancellations due to airline issues, family emergencies, illness, injury, etc. The travel insurance will also demonstrate to the host country that you are able to pay for any emergency services which may be necessary during your stay.

This operator is not authorized to sell travel insurance. Any offer to purchase travel insurance that you encounter during the checkout process are third party offers. You are free to select your own policy provider. If you would like to review options in a convenient online marketplace, we like what www.insuremytrip.com has put together. We have also had great experience with Trawick International and their customer service, and heard very good things from AAA and AMEX Members who have purchased their travel insurance through those respective agencies.

We strongly encourage you to speak with a travel insurance agent to discuss your specific coverage needs, and to clear up any questions you may have relative to travel insurance coverage, including questions about COVID-19.

Please make sure you purchase a plan that includes coverage for COVID-19 related trip cancellations and trip interruptions as not all do.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

All retreats include a $500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit, which is required to hold your spot on the trip. Any balance payments made are also non-refundable / non-transferable.  This operator can only make an exception to these terms if:

1. The host government forbids us to visit as tourists.
2. The host government forbids our vendors from hosting us as tourists.
3. The US government forbids us to travel to the host country as tourists.

If this operator must further postpone or cancel the trip for any of the above reasons, all registrants will receive a refund of all deposits paid less $350.

If you refuse to comply with the entry laws of the host country, region, town, etc; this operator will not consider this a valid reason for receiving any refund. This operator will ensure to the best of their abilities that all registrants comply with all then current laws and regulations.