“Sansara, Panama
Those chasing the waves on the country’s Pacific coast often make a beeline for the party town of Playa Venao, but very few head an hour south-west to the blink-and-miss-it village of Cambutal – really just a quiet stretch of road between a sweep of deserted black sand and jungle. The lo-fi vibe is precisely what drew Canadian photographer and surfer Mike Phillips and his yoga-teacher wife Janel to pen Sansara here in 2015. They host yoga and surf retreats throughout the year; visiting instructors include American performance artist MC Yogi, whose yogic-themed verses set to hip hop play out during uplifting vinyasa sessions. Meanwhile, other guests can drop into daily classes – ashtanga, kundalini, meditation – in the ocean-facing shala and take surfing lessons at nearby Playa Guanico, a palm strewn bay with consistent breaks (first-timers begin with an in-depth talk onboard control to boost confidence before stepping into the shallows).
The 12* lemon-scented, cream coloured cabañas are separated by wooden walkways, with Balinese-style furniture and handcrafted tree-truck bedheads (the best standalone Casa Om, with its private pool). Buddha statues are dotted among the lush greenery. There’s a round saltwater pool, white hammocks hung from trees and a pair of bamboo-and-thatch** treatment rooms for massages. Rent stand-up paddleboards or borrow bicycles to pedal along the beach, and sign up for four-wheel-drive trips to the natural pools at Punta Blanca or treks through the rainforest that end with cliff-jumping off a waterfall. Evenings are spent at the buzzing open-sided restaurant tucking into beetroot flatbreads and peanut-crusted sea bass drizzled with mango and sweet-chilli sauce. An off-the-beaten-track find for a feed-good kick.”
Written by Emma Love for Condé Nast
Excerpt from“The best wellness hotels in the world” by Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveller, December 2024
Two kids from Saskatchewan, dreaming big. That’s where this all started.
We never imagined that our dream of creating a small, soulful retreat center in Panama would one day lead to this: Sansara has been nominated by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the Top Wellness Hotels in the World.
To see our name alongside places like Six Senses, and the Ritz-Carlton… it’s wild to us. It feels surreal.
But more than an accolade, this is a reflection of the power of dreams, hard work, and the incredible people who have supported us along the way.
Our Sansara family – our team, our guests, and our community – have poured their hearts into making this place more than just a hotel. Together we’ve created a space where people come to breathe, connect, and transform.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the awards. It’s about the energy that fills this space, the laughter, the stillness, and the moments of pure joy shared here. But today, we’re taking a moment to honor this recognition and feel deeply, deeply grateful.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this wild, beautiful ride.
With Love & Gratitude,
Mike & Janel