A Brief Overview of Your 10 Day Retreat (Friday – Sunday)
One-on-one Connection Call
Before the retreat, you’ll have a private phone call with one of our facilitators so we can really get to know you—your story, your current challenges, and your hopes and dreams for the future. Together, you’ll clarify your intentions and personal goals for the retreat, so when you arrive, we’re already on the same page and ready to support what matters most to you.
Please note that if you are a chronic drinker that may require a medical detox this retreat is not for you. Unfortunately we do not have the medical expertise to detox people and withdrawal can be very dangerous.
Group Connection Call
A week or two before the retreat all participants will be invited to a group Zoom call to get to know one another and answer any questions that may arise.
Arrival
Participants will arrive in Panama City Tocumen Airport on Friday, will be picked up by our driver and will enjoy a leisurely plus/minus 2.5 hour drive to El Valle de Anton, an extinct volcano crater surrounded by gorgeous mountains and an elevation of 600 meters or around 2000ft.
Please plan on arriving in Panama City no later than 3pm on Friday. If your flight gets in after 3pm you will need to arrive a day earlier. If you need to spend the night in Panama City, the Crowne Plaza Hotel is close to the airport and the driver will pick you up from there at 3pm on Friday before picking up the rest of the gang.
*We recommend either United or American Airlines from the USA.
On arriving at the retreat center we will settle into our rooms, have a delicious ketovore dinner and do an orientation that will explain what our 10 days ahead will look like. Please be advised that there will be no alcohol allowed on the retreat premises.
Departure
On Saturday afternoon you will depart on the bus for Panama City where you will spend the night (we have arranged everything and paid for your room) so that you will be sure to make your flight on Sunday. Many times driving the 3 hours from El Valle to Panama City there are traffic delays so leaving the day before assures your connection on Sunday.
The Retreat Center
This is a wonderful boutique hotel nestled in El Valle and surrounded by gorgeous tropical gardens, a swimming pool, meditation spaces, game room and a 5 star dining experience. Each room has 1-2 queen beds and a private bathroom.
Itinerary
Our days start off with a 30 minute guided meditation followed by 30 minutes of stretching and yoga out on the retreat premises (weather permitting), and then a delicious ketovore breakfast to start the healing process and get you ready for the days adventures.
Each day will be different, but optional activities during the day include: hiking in nature (see sloths, toucans, parrots and other magnificent birds and creatures), swimming in waterfalls, creativity workshops, visiting the butterfly farm/golden frog sanctuary, energy/sound healing, ceremonies and integrating what we’ve learned.
Integration
For 3 months after your retreat we will be integrating everything that you learned. There will be a 30 minute Zoom call once a week that all participants will be invited to.
About El Valle de Anton
El Valle de Antón, often simply called El Valle, is a lush, mystical town nestled in the enormous crater of an extinct volcano in the heart of Panama’s Coclé province. It’s a place where nature whispers from every corner—steep ridges shrouded in mist, ancient trees cloaked in moss, and streams that gurgle through emerald valleys.
Imagine waking up inside the second-largest inhabited volcanic crater in the world. El Valle rests 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) above sea level, which gives it a refreshingly cool climate—especially welcome in tropical Panama (82-85 degrees during the day – mid to upper 60’s at night). The crater, once a blazing cauldron, is now a green bowl ringed with jagged peaks like Cerro Gaital and La India Dormida, the latter shaped like a sleeping woman. Locals love telling the legend behind her silhouette, a tale of love, betrayal, and a grieving princess turned to stone.
El Valle feels like a giant terrarium. The flora is wild and abundant—giant ferns, orchids, and towering trees. Wildlife abounds, from colorful toucans to elusive golden frogs (rana dorada), which are sacred to the region. Hikers can wander cloud forest trails, bathe in waterfalls like El Macho, or marvel at the square trees—a local oddity where trunks are unnaturally angular.
Thanks to its volcanic past, the valley is rich in geothermal activity. Locals and visitors alike soak in the thermal pools, smearing their skin with iron-rich volcanic mud believed to have healing properties. Not far from the town center lies La Piedra Pintada, a massive rock etched with ancient petroglyphs whose meanings are still a mystery, inviting your imagination to wander back to pre-Columbian times.
On weekends, the town pulses with life as the famous El Valle market blooms with handmade crafts, colorful textiles, tropical fruits, and fresh produce. The scent of tamales, grilled meats, and sweet cocadas fills the air. You’ll find local artisans, Panamanian folklore dancers, and old men playing dominoes in the shade.
Despite being a nature lover’s paradise, El Valle remains serene and unhurried. You can zipline over canyons, visit a butterfly haven, or retreat to yoga lodges nestled in the forest. Many travelers come for a day, but stay for a week—or longer—swept up in the valley’s dreamlike calm.