Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort
Fine-flowing yoga escape
Surf-lapped Los Santos
Although yogis in the know have been flexing their way to Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort since its 2015 launch, this wellness retreat and its Azuero peninsula setting have managed to retain a discreet, away-from-it-all feel that remains untamed by big-name chains and social-media crowds – a positive that’s only enhanced by the resort’s pared-down interiors and finessed focus on wellness. Anchoring the premise is an inviting thatched-roof yoga shala that’s done out in locally sourced wood and is catnip for all those hoping to slow down and enhance their breathwork – aspirations made easier by a permanent track of birdsong and waves. Though the day requires a tough core for backbends, downward dogs and cobra poses, it’s all counterbalanced by loose and easy evenings during which guests graze on farm-fresh fare and sip on local liquors, all done to a Pacific backdrop.
Facilities
Rooms
13, including five suites.
Checkout
11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
More Details
Rates include breakfast. Punchy dishes, such as the breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, creole sauce, black beans, avocado, chipotle aioli) inject a sense of joy and vibrancy into healthy eating.
Also
There are three guest rooms with wheelchair access.
Fitness Center
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Pet Friendly
Pool
On-Site Restaurant
Room Service
Spa
At the Hotel
Restaurant, bar, spa, fully equipped yoga shala, surf school, saltwater pool, bicycles, SUP boards, access to beach chairs, laundry service, free WiFi. In rooms: air conditioning, minibar, French press coffee, tea bar, Marshall speakers (in suites), essential-oil diffusers, locally sourced bath products.
Our Favourite Rooms
As every cabana is a standalone sanctuary, a sense of privacy pervades throughout Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort – Casa Zen, however, with its own kitchen and dining space, saltwater pool, tropical garden and staircase to the beach, is the key we covet most, thanks to its hideaway-within-a-hideaway feel. For those prioritising expansive space in which to stretch, Anahata, Ranchito and Hanuman each sleep up to four. And for a heightened sense of your surroundings (literally), the second-floor, tree house-inspired Cedro Espino has a raised view of the coast.
Poolside
Although it has direct access to the Pacific, Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort is also decked out with a circular outdoor saltwater pool.
Spa
There’s a spa area with an ocean view, and treatments run the wellness gamut from energy-healing to deep-tissue work; if you’ve taken a battering from the waves, try the signature massage, which focuses on your pressure points.
Packing Tips
A pair of fitted Derek Rose trunks and some Birkenstock slides should help you avoid the baggy surf shorts and flip-flops cliché.
Also
The Salt Shop Boutique sells locally handcrafted soaps, lotions, essential oils and body care products – take-home goods that will prevent your inner peace from evaporating as soon as you land back at the arrivals terminal.
Children
All yogis and surfers aged 14 or older are welcome (on request, younger guests can stay, at the manager's discretion only).
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Pull up a chair at one of the group tables – though you might be spending most of your days here seeking solace and inner peace, you may find the lively community feel equally nourishing.
Dress Code
In keeping with the lo-fi, easy-breezy spirit, try a neutral-hued Luca Faloni linen shirt that will keep you cool in the Panamanian heat.
Hotel Restaurant
Healthy eating has had a moreish makeover at the Buddha Bar, where the international menu has made waves for showcasing a pitch-perfect mix of discipline and indulgence. When fuelling for a day of surf and repose, try the tongue-in-cheek “om-elette”, made with three eggs, golden sauerkraut and charred tomatoes; lunchtime tacos of grilled local fish and braised adobo chicken have all the qualities worthy of a Oaxacan taqueria; and in the evening, we’re tempted by the grilled steak with vindaloo jus, blue cheese, and rosemary-and-lemon potatoes.
Hotel Bar
The resort bar deals in a form of wellbeing that refuses to trade pleasure for puritanical cleanses; health-focused elixirs, including juices and house-made kombuchas are staples, but more hedonistic creations – including signature blends such as a cinnamon-and-whiskey High Tide or gin-laced Point Break – are on a cocktail list alongside classics from Bloody Marys to mojitos via margaritas.
Last Orders
Breakfast is served 7.30am–10.30am; lunch, 12.30pm–2.30pm; dinner, 7pm–9pm.
Room Service
Room service is available during the restaurant’s opening hours, so you can counter the guilt of spending a lazy day in bed with a virtuous smoothie bowl.
Planes
Chitré Alonso Valderrama Airport is a two-hour taxi ride away – a round-trip transfer can be arranged with the hotel at extra cost.
Automobiles
For those wanting to hire their own wheels, there’s a private car park at the hotel with free valet parking.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
The plump beds at Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort are a hedonistic haven for tired travellers – but, beyond the high-thread counts, an early-morning yoga session will help refocus any jet-lagged heads. Retreats are held throughout the year, bringing teachers and meditation maestros from across the globe to this side of paradise, and there are also daily sessions outside the main schedule, including kundalini, which comprises chanting and repetitive movements, and the dynamic ashtanga, experiences made even more serene when looking out to the Pacific.
However, even though it’s mesmerising to ogle at while in the lotus position, guests are also encouraged to explore the ocean ahead – notably, the in-house surf school, which takes to the waves at Cambutal and neighbouring Guánico, has a comprehensive programme that welcomes all skill levels, meaning even the most nervous of novices won’t be left without a paddle. Beyond the board, local fishermen are on hand to ferry you to the water so you can net some mahi mahi and roosterfish; while away the hours with whale watching; or spend an afternoon casting an eagle eye for eagle rays. Or, you can go all Charlton Heston and take a horseback ride along the beachfront.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
