Panama Wellness & Surf Retreat
October 23–30, 2027

The Panama Wellness & Surf Retreat combines accredited CME education, daily surf instruction, wellness programming, and beachfront accommodations in Playa Venao, Panama. Designed for medical professionals and adventure-minded travelers, the retreat provides opportunities to earn CME while participating in surfing, yoga, meditation, kayaking, and other wellness-focused activities.

Based at Beach Break Surf Camp, participants will engage in daily surf lessons with local instructors, evening medical education sessions, and a variety of included activities throughout the week. The curriculum focuses on tropical, marine, wilderness, and remote medicine topics, while the schedule allows time for recreation, relaxation, and community building.

Participants may earn up to 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and eligible FAWM credits while experiencing one of Panama’s premier surf destinations.

If you've been looking for a CME experience that combines ocean adventure, meaningful education, wellness, and genuine community, this may be exactly what you've been hoping for.

This retreat is designed for medical professionals, wilderness medicine enthusiasts, and adventure-minded travelers who want to combine CME education with surfing, wellness activities, and a week of beachfront living in Panama. Participants should be comfortable with an active itinerary that includes daily movement, outdoor activities, and group-based experiences.

This is a tight-knit, small-group experience built around mutual respect, shared effort, and teamwork. Participants often form lasting friendships and return for future expeditions.

If you value challenge, camaraderie, and learning by doing — you’ll fit right in.

This is more than a surf trip and more than a CME conference — it’s a week of surfing, wellness, medical education, and connection on Panama’s Pacific coast. Based in Playa Venao, you'll spend your days in and around the ocean, learning new skills, exploring the coastline, and participating in practical medical education with a community of like-minded travelers. The experience is intentionally designed to balance adventure, recovery, learning, and time to simply enjoy being present in an incredible setting.

One of the most unique aspects of this retreat is the combination of daily surf progression, wellness practices, and wilderness medicine education in a single immersive environment. Rather than separating learning from the experience, the setting becomes part of it, creating a week where participants can engage with both personal and professional growth while living steps from the ocean.

Educational sessions focus on tropical, marine, wilderness, and remote medicine topics relevant to healthcare professionals who work, travel, or recreate in austere environments. Instruction is delivered in a relaxed, small-group setting that encourages discussion, practical application, and collaboration with faculty and fellow participants. Participants may earn up to 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and eligible FAWM credits throughout the retreat.

The schedule is designed to create a balance between activity and recovery, allowing participants to fully enjoy the destination while engaging in meaningful education and shared experiences throughout the week.

Beyond CME credits, you’ll leave Panama with:

8 Days / 7 Nights
Panama City Playa Venao Panama City

This retreat combines surfing, wellness programming, tropical medicine education, and beachfront relaxation on Panama’s Pacific coast. Participants will spend the week at Beach Break Surf Camp while earning CME, enjoying daily activities, and connecting with fellow travelers.

Panama City Playa Venao

Playa Venao

Playa Venao Panama City

Participants are responsible for arranging their own flights to and from Panama. Group transportation is provided between Panama City and Beach Break Surf Camp as part of the retreat package.

Delegates should be vaccinated appropriately - Please see CDC recommendations for visiting, click here.

Trip preparation resources:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

    •    ACCME Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society and Wild Med Adventures, LLC. The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    •    The Wilderness Medical Society designates this educational activity for a maximum of 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    •    All educational content presented in this activity has been reviewed and validated as appropriate in keeping with sound scientific principles.

Contact our team for the current trip leader information.

Educational instruction is provided by the Wild Med Adventures faculty, who are responsible for the medical education and CME components of this course.

Travel logistics and leadership are provided by the Wild Med Adventures team. Wild Med Adventures faculty are not guides and are not responsible for participant safety during surfing, transportation, recreational activities, or other adventure-related portions of the retreat. Participants are responsible for their own decisions, personal safety, and appropriate use of equipment throughout the trip.

Instructors and faculty may change based on availability.

Full payment is due 90 days prior to the course start date.
A $500 late fee will be added for payments received after this deadline, or your spot may be forfeited.

Participants must carry:

Trip insurance is strongly recommended to cover delays, missed flights, weather interruptions, or trip disruption.

Rescue insurance is required. We recommend Global Rescue, or an equivalent provider.

Participation in this retreat involves surfing, yoga, kayaking, paddle activities, beach recreation, transportation by vehicle, and travel in a tropical international environment. Activities may involve changing ocean conditions, waves, currents, weather, physical exertion, wildlife encounters, transportation delays, and limited access to medical care compared to an urban healthcare setting. Such activities inherently involve risk, including but not limited to personal injury, illness, property damage, equipment loss, evacuation delays, and travel disruption.

Wild Med Adventures provides medical education and trip coordination associated with the CME program. Surf instruction, activity supervision, accommodations, transportation, and other adventure-related services may be provided by local operators, instructors, guides, or vendors. Participants are solely responsible for their own decisions, conduct, physical participation, and use of equipment during all activities. Wild Med Adventures and its faculty are not responsible for ocean conditions, activity-related risks, equipment operation, participant behavior, or decisions made by third-party operators.

Participants are responsible for evaluating their own physical condition, swimming ability, and medical readiness prior to participation. While surf instruction is available for beginners, participants should be capable of participating in daily outdoor activities that may include surfing, kayaking, yoga, walking, and other movement-based experiences. Participation may not be appropriate for individuals unable to safely engage in moderate physical activity or tolerate tropical environmental conditions.

Participants should maintain personal medical insurance valid for international travel. Travel insurance is strongly recommended to protect against illness, injury, cancellations, missed flights, weather disruptions, travel delays, and other unforeseen circumstances. Rescue and evacuation coverage is also recommended. Participants are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining appropriate insurance coverage for the duration of the trip.

Participants are responsible for securing all required travel documentation prior to departure, including a valid passport and any visa or entry requirements applicable to their nationality. Entry requirements may change without notice, and participants are responsible for verifying current requirements with the appropriate authorities before travel.

By enrolling in and participating in this retreat, participants acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with surfing, ocean activities, wilderness recreation, international travel, transportation, and outdoor adventure activities, and agree to assume responsibility for their participation.