OUR STORY
BRINGING EXCEPTIONAL SURF coaching & YOGA retreat INSTRUCTION TO A DREAMY SURF TOWN IN PANAMA
Welcome
Hola! We are Vickie & Sergio. Co-Founders of Waluaa Surf & Yoga. If you’ve come to reading about us you can probably resonate a lot with our story. I was an Advertising Account Director in New York and Sydney working with some of the world’s biggest brands. Sergio was a senior lawyer in the bustling city of Buenos Aires.
We both felt the grind, almost groundhog-like days of working in the city. We were both in our 30s and whilst in completely different parts of the world, questioning...there’s got to be more to life than this. Sergio brings experience and passion for surfing and I for yoga. We had each travelled to surf spots around the world and shared the big dream to quit our jobs and create a Surf & Yoga experience for people like us, in an untapped destination.
As we explored this, we found budget surf camps where the surf program was just about pushing you into waves and having fun. You’re left no more equipped to surf on your own than when you started. Retreats with a solid surf program but only two coaches for a large group which can be unsafe and ineffective. And on the other end, high-end surf retreats with a super high price tag. Although packed with incredible technology and expertise, these retreats were completely out of reach for most of us. We found yoga retreats and camps with junior teachers with little life experience or teaching credentials. Or luxury yoga retreats with bells and whistles that we just don’t need.
Our Philosophy
We believe the sport of surfing, the practice of yoga, and the mental and physical benefits should be accessible to everyone. And that exceptional quality, safe and effective instruction needn’t come with a high price tag.
How We Came to Be
Sergio first visited Santa Catalina in 2011. Falling in love with this secret, laid-back surf town. It was paradise on earth. An uncrowded world-class point break, the humility and friendliness of the locals, the vast farm landscape on one side, with serene untouched beaches on the other.
“I was in a little piece of paradise, surrounded by the serene secluded beaches of Santa Catalina, friendly people, and the freshest fruit and seafood I have ever had. The bliss of lying in my hammock at sunset always helped me surpass my nostalgia for the city. ”
It was in 2013 in Costa Rica that we met. It was a chance happening - our eyes met, and as they say, the rest is history. Two years later, together we launched Santa Catalina Retreats, now Waluaa Surf & Yoga. Our dream of combining work with our passions of surf and yoga, and leading a simpler, more balanced and healthy lifestyle had become a reality.
The daily practice of surf and yoga, and the space and raw beauty that only Santa Catalina can offer bring us joy and peace. To share this lifestyle with you and help you feel the same way - more balanced, healthy and happy, fuels our day. We know how precious your vacation days are, we’ve been there. This time is so important for you to be able to de-stress, get uplifted and find balance again. Now more than ever. We believe we have a winning combination here in our dreamy surf town of Santa Catalina. We can’t wait for you to experience it.
Sergio & Vickie
Waluaa was born from two magical words;
Wave ~ Tula
At Waluaa, we're all about learning to ride the waves—both in the ocean and in life. It’s about going with the flow, releasing attachment to outcomes, and being in harmony with Mother Nature.
Tula, meaning balance in Sanskrit, is our daily reminder of purpose: to live a happy, healthy, and balanced life where everything flows in harmony.
This is why we exist—to help you experience Waluaa through the practice of surf and yoga, set against the raw natural beauty of Mother Nature’s playground here in in Santa Catalina, Panama.
Local Matters
“We wanted to build a business that would serve the community, we made sure to partner with other Santa Catalina businesses to service our retreats. We began with selecting Hotel Santa Catalina as an accommodation partner and focused on building strong relationships with the staff. We also partnered with local village restaurants, boat captains, horse-riding guides and surf coaches (who also happen to be world-class pro surfers!). We love this business model because it serves the Santa Catalina community, while also offering our retreat guests an intimate and authentic experience. ”
