Testimonials Ikigai Sailing - Hear from Our Ikigai Sailing Family

It's not just a trip or a cruise; for me, it's been an experience I'll never forget. It's not just the staff's professionalism and hospitality, but the combination of everything that touched me deeply. The place is magical, the ship is comfortable, and the people are lovely. The activities and food are focused on physical and mental well-being. I can only be grateful to the Ikigai team 🫶🏻

Lucky!
We felt truly fortunate when, not long ago, a dear friend of ours met Luca on a beach in Los Roques.
From that moment, we learned about the Ikigai Sailing project. Even before taking part in this incredible experience, we watched this crew of dreamy sailors from afar. Shortly thereafter, we found ourselves aboard the catamaran with them. Lucky!

My partner and I enjoyed every single moment of this memorable journey.
We discovered the beauty of being able to rely on someone. Luca guided us with professionalism, safety, and tranquility toward new activities: meditation, yoga, freediving, and spearfishing. We surpassed our physical and mental limits, learned to slow down, to look within. We felt regenerated and stronger.

Surrounded by the unique atmosphere of the Caribbean Sea, the Ikigai crew is a perfect mix.
We cannot fail to mention Paula's sweetness and Luca's passion for cooking. Together, they pampered us, preparing delicacies from the sea every day. We felt at home.
We discovered places that made us cry, we shared emotional moments watching the sunset, we met the resilient Guna people, with a deep spiritual connection to nature. We immersed ourselves completely in this adventure, we felt part of the Ikigai Sailing "family" and nothing compared to the grandeur of the nature of the San Blas Islands.
I don't think we'll ever be able to put it into words.

Ours is just a goodbye; we'll meet again in the new world; Ikigai has stolen our hearts.

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We felt truly lucky when, not long ago, a dear friend of ours met Luca on a beach in Los Roques.
From that moment on, we learned about the Ikigai Sailing project. Even before taking part in this incredible experience, we watched this crew of dreamers from afar.

My partner and I enjoyed every single moment of this memorable journey.
We discovered the beauty of being able to trust someone. Luca guided us with professionalism, confidence, and calmness toward new activities: meditation, yoga, free diving, and spearfishing. We pushed past our physical and mental limits; we learned to slow down and look within ourselves. We felt regenerated and stronger.

Surrounded by the unique atmosphere of the Caribbean Sea, the Ikigai crew is a perfect mix.
We simply must mention Paula's kindness and Luca's cooking passion. Together, they prepare delicious seafood dishes every day. We felt right at home.
We shared emotional moments watching the sunset, we met the Guna people, with a deep spiritual connection to nature.

We immersed ourselves completely in this adventure; we felt like part of the Ikigai Sailing family.
We'll meet again in the new world.

I went with my wife, my two daughters, four cats, and my parakeet. We really enjoyed the experience; everything was excellent! 10/10

We spent about ten days in San Blas with Ikigai in January. The archipelago is beautiful, still protected by the locals from mass tourism.
A timeless vacation in a breathtaking natural setting: wild islands, hospitable locals, coral reef, sharks, dolphins, sun, and wind...
Ikigai is a very comfortable catamaran, with everything you could possibly need.
Luca and Paola spoiled and looked after us with excellent cuisine, exercise, meditation, conversation, and wonderful company.
Luca is the friend who has the courage to do what everyone dreams of doing, with great energy and enthusiasm. Thank you and... fair winds!

It has been a month since my return, and only now am I beginning to put into words a bit of what this amazing experience aboard IKIGAI has meant for me.

Immersed in the practically unspoiled paradise of San Blas, on a beautiful boat, surrounded by special souls, for 10 days I breathed in rhythm with the wind and the waves, flooded with light and blue.

I could tell many unique and unforgettable things about this journey: the warm welcome and authenticity of the Guna people, the incredible colors of the coral reef, the hundreds of small islands laden with palm trees and the astonishment in front of each one of them, the night skies overflowing with stars, the heart-to-heart talks with Paola, the silent smiles from David, the joy of spotting dolphins or the exhilaration of being visited by sharks, the mystical and spectacular encounter with a giant ray while snorkeling, the real connections with the guests on board, the joyful dances to the rhythm of salsa (or maybe it was bachata?!), the special taste of honey in coffee every morning, the feeling of total freedom each time the sails are raised, the delicious authentic food prepared with care and love (raw fish carpaccio, handmade bread, octopus salad, grilled barracuda etc etc ... and the BEST carbonara of my life!)

But there is so much, much more. IKIGAI is above all a profound experience for the soul.

On board, the mind ceases to think and makes room for life.
Enchanted by the beauty all around, in complete silence, practicing meditation and yoga, one lives a visceral experience that brings you back to who you really are, what you really want, perceiving yourself inside the world, and in harmony with it.
Eliminating all false urgencies and distractions, only what matters remains. A brutally beautiful inner exploration, in which you face your vulnerabilities and accept them, learning that you can also go beyond yourself, trusting someone, and discovering a strength you didn’t know you had.

The deep peace, clarity, and trust felt during the free diving experience, when surrounded by all that blue, are surreal… as is the ecstasy that follows it!
I truly learned how to breathe (and how not to breathe!) during these days, cradled by the waves and the wind, with my eyes full of blue.

The pulsating heartbeat of IKIGAI is Luca. Captain, yoga master, freediving instructor, friend, cook, brave and unconventional man, dreamer, and perpetually evolving soul. Luca literally takes you by the hand, with great skill and care, and allows you to accompany him for a little piece of his dream, gifting you with a different and enlightening perspective from which to view the world and yourself, as well as filling your eyes with beauty and intensity. Thank you for dreaming so strong and sharing it!

You return home changed, at peace with yourself, aware that the world is an incredible place, and deeply grateful to have the privilege of being alive.

Of course, getting off IKIGAI is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I believe that an invisible thread made of sea, silence, and pure beauty will always keep me intimately connected there.

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~

Ci siamo sentiti veramente fortunati quando, non molto tempo fa, un nostro caro amico ha incontrato Luca su una spiaggia a Los Roques.
Da quel momento abbiamo conosciuto il progetto di Ikigai sailing. Ancora prima di prendere parte a questa incredibile esperienza, guardavamo da lontano questa crew di velisti sognatori. Di li a poco ci siamo ritrovati bordo del catamarano con loro. Fortunati!

Io e il mio compagno ci siamo goduti ogni singolo momento di questo viaggio memorabile.
Abbiamo scoperto la bellezza di potersi affidare a qualcuno. Luca, ci ha guidato con professionalità, sicurezza e tranquillità, verso nuove attività: la meditazione, lo yoga, l’apnea e la pesca in apnea. Abbiamo superato i nostri limiti fisici e mentali, abbiamo imparato a rallentare, a guardarci dentro. Ci siamo sentiti rigenerati e più forti.

Circondati dall’atmosfera unica del Mar dei Caraibi, la crew di Ikigai è un mix perfetto.
Non possiamo non citare la dolcezza di Paula e la passione di Luca per la cucina. Insieme ci hanno coccolato preparando ogni giorno prelibatezze prese dal mare. Ci siamo sentiti a casa.
Abbiamo scoperto posti che ci hanno fatto piangere, abbiamo condiviso momenti emozionanti davanti al tramonto, abbiamo incontrato il popolo dei Guna, resilienti, e con una profonda connessione spirituale con la natura. Ci siamo immersi completamente in questa avventura, ci siamo sentiti parte della “famiglia” di Ikigai sailing e un niente davanti alla grandezza della natura delle Isole San Blas.
Non credo sapremo mai raccontarlo a parole.

Il nostro è solo un arrivederci, ci ritroveremo nel nuovo mondo, Ikigai ci ha rapiti il cuore!

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We felt truly lucky when, not long ago, a dear friend of us met Luca in a beach in Los Roques.
From that moment on, we learned about the Ikigai Sailing project. Even before taking part in this incredible experience, we watched this crew of dreamers from afar.

My partner and I enjoyed every single moment of this memorable journey.
We discovered the beauty of being able to trust someone. Luca guided us with professionalism, confidence, and calmness toward new activities: meditation, yoga, free diving, and spearfishing. We pushed past our physical and mental limits; we learned to slow down and look within ourselves. We felt regenerated and stronger.

Surrounded by the unique atmosphere of the Caribbean Sea, the Ikigai crew is a perfect mix.
We simply must mention Paula’s kindness and Luca’s cooking passion. Together, they preparing delicious seafood dishes every day. We felt right at home.
We shared emotional moments watching the sunset, we met the Guna people, with a deep spiritual connection to nature.

We immersed ourselves completely in this adventure; we felt like part of the Ikigai Sailing family.
We’ll meet again in the new world.

The first word that comes to mind after this 10-day experience aboard Ikigaisailing is THANK YOU. Thank you for bringing us back to the natural rhythms of life, with so many new experiences for me, such as meditation, yoga, and diving, which allow you to reconnect with your body and mind. A fundamental disconnect from the "matrix." Thank you for your professionalism, but above all for the empathy you managed to establish from the first time. Your ability to listen and share your stories on board, even over a good glass of wine. See you soon again.

Un'esperienza unica. Un viaggio affascinante, in primis dentro se stessi. Dal primo passo a bordo si percepisce la passione che spinge il progetto Ikigai Sailing e questo rende tutto magico, ogni giorno di più. Ci si sente a casa a tal punto da dimenticare di dover andare via.
La cura, le attenzioni e l'entusiasmo ti travolgono in ogni singola attività.
Ci si conosce da ospiti, ci si saluta da amici. Grazie di cuore a Luca e alla crew per aver reso questi giorni semplicemente indimenticabili.

Es una manera diferente de vivir Guna Yala a bordo de un Catamarán. Más intencional.
A bordo del Ikigai, te llevas más que unas vacaciones, una rutina que poco a poco resetea tu estilo de vida, un regalo que te llevas a casa. Vivir a bordo se sentía cómo en casa, cada día una hermosa sonrisa y energía de la tripulación. Amé esta experiencia. Amé la manera cómo viví San Blas esta vez! Gracias equipo Ikigai ✨

We spent three unforgettable days in San Blas aboard the Ikigai catamaran — without a doubt, the best vacation of my life.
My wife, my eight-year-old daughter Laura, and I enjoyed every single moment of this unique experience. The scenery is simply breathtaking, with crystal-clear waters and paradise-like islands, but what truly made it special was the complete experience both on board and on the islands.
A special highlight goes to Captain Luca. Extremely experienced, attentive, and always in a great mood, he leads the boat with confidence and provides a remarkable sense of safety and calm. More than an excellent captain, he is a natural host — always focused on creating the best possible experience, choosing perfect spots to anchor and making every moment memorable.
The crew was outstanding. Paola and Davi were amazing at all times — attentive, helpful, and always bringing a positive energy that made everything even better. Their teamwork creates a light, welcoming, and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the entire trip.
Another highlight of the trip was the workouts we were able to do, both on the islands and on the catamaran. Training surrounded by such stunning views, with the sound of the ocean and an incredible atmosphere, turned a simple routine into something truly special. It was the perfect balance between relaxation and activity.
And the food… absolutely outstanding. Every meal prepared by Luca, Paola, and Davi was a unique experience, made with great care and full of flavor.
In the end, it’s hard to fully describe it. This is not just a trip it’s something you need to experience for yourself. Without a doubt, these were the best days of our lives, and we are already looking forward to coming back.

No es un viaje o un crucero, para mí ha sido una experiencia que no voy a olvidar nunca. No solo por el trato y la profesionalidad del equipo, es por el conjunto de cosas que me hicieron sentir de forma profunda. El lugar es mágico, el barco es confortable y las personas son adorables. Actividades y comida enfocadas al bienestar físico y mental. Solo puedo estar agradecida al equipo Ikigai 🫶🏻

The experience with Ikigai Salining was phenomenal. Great crew, healthy food and life changing activities and excursions. This is a trip I want to repeat with Ikigai Sailing. The treatment and way of working gives you a feeling of being home with your family. Special thanks to Luca, Paola and Hanan for this experience.