sailing + embroidery in
panama
January 16 - 20, 2025
sold out
January 21 - 25, 2025
sold out
$2,750 USD per person, shared cabin
$3,600 USD per person, private cabin
Travel with us to the cerulean waters and pristine beaches of the remote Guna Yala coastal region of Panama for an immersion into the autonomous area’s vibrant, mythological Mola textile tradition.
Our trip begins in the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City where we’ll settle into boutique accommodation for a night. Here, we’ll explore the candy-colored Caribbean barrio before taking a 4x4 the next day, bound for the Guna Yala islands. We’ll spend the next 3 days and nights living on a sailboat, visiting the well-protected archipelago while connecting with the local community and immersing ourselves in heritage textile traditions.
When we're not working on our embroidery projects, we'll have downtime for sailing, snorkeling and relaxing on the small tropical islands.
guna people
The Guna (pronounced "Kuna") peoples are a sovereign indigenous group living in Panama and Colombia. In Panama, they live both on the mountainous coastal mainland in the southeast, filled with virgin rainforest, as well an archipelago of over 350 pristine islands just off the coast.
The Gunas are among the few tribes who’ve managed to preserve their culture closed to outsiders through the passage of time. Though this is rapidly changing, life on the islands is still reserved to the few Guna families that live on them tending to coconut plantations. The men spend their days fishing, free-diving or clearing brush; the women do the house-keeping and sewing of their timeless mola – a multi layered, skillfully sewn cloth depicting sometimes abstract, sometimes real visions and dreams of the Guna women.
the islands
Known as the San Blas islands, this pristine coral reef archipelago lies along the Caribbean coast of Panama, in Central America, and it belongs to the indigenous reserve of Guna Yala. Guna Yala translates to "land of the Guna" and refers to both the mainland jungle region and the archipelago in which the community lives.
Guna peoples grow coconut palms on the islands, making the collective islands the largest coconut farm in the world. Families spend the majority of their time living on three main islands closest to the mainland, taking turns living on the coconut-filled islands for several months at at time to tend their crop.
If you didn't know this paradise existed, it’s because the Guna people have kept the islands out of reach for the better part of the last century, and thus they have stayed well preserved and unspoiled.
mola textiles
Guna women are known and respected for making multilayer embroidered fabrics called mola textiles.
Molas have their origin in body painting. After the Spanish colonized and missionaries infiltrated, the Guna started to transfer their geometic designs onto fabric, first by painting directly on the fabric and later by using the embroidery technique of reverse appliqué.
Designs used to be more geometric but in the past 50 years have expanded to include both more realistic and abstract designs.
Molas are traditionally worn as part of a Guna woman's blouse, but you can now find them used in many other ways.
Not all moles are created equal. To the untrained eye, the effort may look similar, but the amount of colors and design intricacy demonstrate a more complex pattern.
f e a t u r i n g
mola workshops
Spend time with master craftspeople in the Guna community to learn about the groups cultural heritage via the medium of mola textiles. Students will have the opportunity to create a small piece of your own. All experience levels welcome.
boutique hotel accommodation
We will lodge in Panama City's Casco Viejo neighborhood on our first night, in one of the tropical neighborhood's most well-designed boutique hotels.
water time
While lodging on a sailboat, free time will be spent on islands or in the water. Opportunities for both swimming and snorkeling the reefs if weather permits.
sailboat accommodation
Immerse yourself in nature by getting in tune with the rhythms of the tropics. Onboard lodging, with meals on deck and time in the water and on small islands.
The boat is a catamaran with double bed cabins. If you are opting for shared room accommodation, you *must book with a friend or partner who you will share the room with.
“Traveling with Thread Caravan to Panama was one of the most unique and rewarding travel experiences of my life! A very intentional group paired with empowering local indigenous craft. Truly unforgettable experience. Accommodated all food needs as well”
Pallavi Sarup
" It's so nice to know you are in good hands, with insider knowledge and expertise provided, transportation and meals planned, and the perfect mix of time to do your own thing and be with the group.'
"I learned so much about a remote and little-known culture with a bold history. The islands are the kind you thought only existed as computer screensavers and the snorkeling is like being inside of an aquarium.'
"Besides getting this incredibly intimate experience with the beautiful and impressive women of Guna Yala, the sailing lifestyle is something everyone should experience at least for a moment in time; it's truly freeing. I can't stop raving about this trip, and it has set the bar high for all future travels!"
Brianna George
TRIP
DETAILS
DATES:
January 16 - 20, 2025
January 21 - 25, 2025
PRICING:
$2,750 shared cabin, per person
$3,600 private cabin
*If you are opting for a double occupancy room, beds on the boat are shared and you must book with someone else you know.
*If you are booking as a solo traveler, you must select the single occupancy option.
A non-refundable deposit it required in order to reserve your space on this trip. The remaining balance can be made at your convenience on this page at least two months prior to the trip.
When making a reservation, there is the option to Pay it Forward. These contributions are directed exclusively towards our Artisan Exchange Program, in which we invite our indigenous craft collaborators to participate in retreats in other regions, thus weaving a larger web of this global artisan community.
COST INCLUDES:
In-Country Transportation: You get to the Panama City airport and we'll do the rest. Airport taxi pickup, a 4x4 truck, a water taxi and a sailboat will be our modes of transport.
Accommodation: Boutique hotel accommodation in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City, followed by 3 nights sleeping on the sailboat. If you are opting for a double occupancy room, beds on the boat are shared and you must book with someone else you know. If you are booking as a solo traveler, you must select the single occupancy option.
Alcoholic Drinks: Enjoy an optional white wine or a nice cold cerveza at the end of each day on the islands
Art Education: A fair wage to Guna artisan instructors who will teach us about the mola-making craft, as well as a financial contribution to their artisan organization, providing a safe place for women to gather and make molas.
Supplies: You will be provided with the necessary materials to practice mola-making with the locals.
Support: A local and foreign guide will accompany the group, offering participants their combined knowledge of the region while making sure everything runs smoothly. In addition, Thread Caravan and I Travel by Boat staff is available to answer questions and assist with trip preparations.
Gift: Special arrival gift to help you enjoy the experience.
Carbon Emissions Offset: We’ve partnered with Trees for the Future to plant 50 tress on your behalf in order to offset the carbon emissions of your travel to Panama. Please contact us if you’d like us to plant additional trees on your behalf.
NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare: We've found that flights from the U.S. range from approximately $300-$700 depending on the airline and how far in advance you book. We are happy to help you arrange flights or put you in touch with a travel agent.
Personal Travel Insurance: We require all participants to have personal travel insurance. This will cover things like illness, flight cancellations, theft, etc. We can help you arrange insurance with a provider.
Alcoholic Drinks in Panama City
GETTING THERE AND AWAY:
This trip starts and ends at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. You get there and we'll handle the rest. If you need help booking a flight, please contact us.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
This trip is for intrepid travelers. The price point does not reflect luxury, but rather the opportunity to visit a remote and sovereign indigenous community. While the islands are visited by travelers, this is an extremely rare opportunity to connect with Guna people intimately in their homes and for them to share their mola textile traditions with visitors. This trip has been built in partnership with the local Guna community.
While we have a tentative itinerary, the remoteness of the region, indigenous sovereignty and dependency on nature means that all details are subject to change. Sailing will be dependent on the weather and boat conditions, meals will be dependent on what the fishermen catch that day and itinerary will be dependent on the local communities.
Sailboat accommodation requires guests to be comfortable in close living quarters.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Vaccinations: Routine vaccinations, Coronavirus, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid are suggested by the Center for Disease Control.
VISA: If you are a U.S. citizen and traveling to Panama for under 180 days, you do not need a Visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you may need a Visa. You can check on this website.
Passport Validity: In order to enter Panama, your passport must be valid for at least 90 days following your departure date. You must also have at least one blank page in your passport.
Special Needs: Due to the nature of this trip, we are able to accommodate some but not all special mobility needs and dietary restrictions. If you have any questions, please contact us in advance.
BOOKING TERMS + CONDITIONS
Travelers must agree to Thread Caravan's Booking Terms and Conditions in order to join this experience.
