San Blas Catamaran Charter

Season 2025/26 · 9°33′N 78°57′W · Guna Yala, Panama

San Blas Catamaran Charter

A San Blas catamaran charter aboard our Catana 47 — per-cabin sailing through the Guna Yala islands, with freediving, yoga and Janzu aboard, warm anchorages and every meal cooked at sea.

In pictures

Life aboard in San Blas.

The season in full

Life in San Blas, day by day.

A concentrate of authentic, essential, rejuvenating life

Imagine a place where time has stood still — no globalisation, no consumerism, no phones, no news. Where people still live in harmony with nature and with themselves, and for that are serene, joyful, grateful for what they have.

Now imagine that place is an unspoiled paradise: over 360 white-sand islands, turquoise water teeming with life, endless coconut palms. Somewhere you can truly live in tune with nature — a life that is essential and authentic.

And now imagine being part of it. You live it aboard a high-performance catamaran, sailing island to island, cradled by wind and sea — a rhythm built around your well-being in body, mind and spirit, with fresh, local, wholesome food at every meal.

We imagined it. And because of that, we made it real.

Why San Blas

The Guna Yala archipelago — San Blas on the maps — is more than 350 islands scattered across a turquoise sea, inhabited and protected by the Guna people. It’s one of the last places on Earth where nature and ancestral culture still live side by side.

We settle here from December 2025 to June 2026, pausing our continuous sailing, because:

  • Time slows down — days follow the sun, the tides, the wind.
  • Beauty is essential — no resorts, no marinas. Palm trees, sand, stars, silence.
  • Respect is fundamental — the Guna live by community rules, deeply tied to land, sea and spirit. A vision close to our own.
  • There’s space for community — time to build real relationships and share the wisdom of life aboard.

Thanks to the abundance of fresh fish, tropical fruit and local vegetables, we eat the way the environment intends — a return to simplicity.

What we do aboard

This isn’t a fixed-programme retreat — everyone aboard takes part, and the days fill with whatever the group and the weather invite. Mornings often open with yoga, meditation and conscious breathing at sunrise, then the water: freediving, snorkelling over reefs no day-tour reaches, and Janzu in the stillest lagoons.

Most days hold a workout too — functional Tabata training on deck or the beach: 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, with resistance bands, TRX, kettlebells and your own bodyweight, no machines in sight. And because Ikigai is a sailboat first, there’s real sailing training — hands on the helm and the sheets, learning to read the wind.

Between it all we explore deserted islands by kayak and paddleboard, run a cooking class with whatever the sea and the islands give us, sail to remote anchorages, and visit Guna communities to hear their stories. In the water you meet dolphins, nurse sharks and the quiet wonders of a reef left alone.

What you take home

The memory of a simple, intense life — and a clearer compass to navigate even on land. It’s not just an escape. It’s a return to yourself.

Logbook

Voices from aboard.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How does a per-cabin catamaran charter work?

You book a single berth, not the whole boat. The crew, the route and the other guests are already there — you join, settle into the rhythm, and sail the San Blas islands without needing a group of your own.

What's it cost, and why is it lower than the agencies?

It's a member contribution to Ikigai Sailing ASD, a CONI-recognised non-profit — your money runs the boat and the experience, not a broker's 15–30% cut. Everything's included — meals, every activity and the gear, with no add-ons. Agency San Blas charters start far higher. See the season page or message us on WhatsApp.

When can I sail San Blas?

We're anchored in San Blas from December 2025 to June 2026 — the calm Caribbean season. After that the boat moves on toward the Pacific, and the same per-cabin model travels with it.

How do I get there?

A 4×4 from Panama City over the Guna Yala ridge, then a short panga to wherever Ikigai is anchored. We arrange the whole transfer once you've booked.

Most voyages start with a message.

We are a non-profit amateur sports association: payments are member contributions, not commercial fees.

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