Family Retreats in Panama: Adventure, Connection, Time Together

What Is a Custom Family Retreat?

It's a family vacation turned into something more: a week built around connection, adventure and time that actually means something.

Your family gets its own all-in-one getaway: a beachfront casita, chef-prepared meals, transfers from Panama City, and adventures chosen around your kids' ages and interests. We plan it all, so you can just be together.

Come as one family, bring another, or gather the whole extended crew and have the Hideaway to yourselves.

Adventure brings families here. The time together is what brings them back.

“We were spoiled here in our favorite ways - family friendly EVERYTHING, farm to table meals, whale watching on a panga, a cooking class, family yoga, a cacao ceremony, s'mores & bonfire, live DJ & drinks… All in paradise with the sweetest, down to earth people ever”

— TripAdvisor, 2025

Why Families Love Catalina’s Hideaway

  • Private & Secure

    Just 11 casitas, tucked between jungle and ocean outside Santa Catalina. Kids have room to roam, with beach volleyball, a stargazing platform and a clubhouse full of games, and parents can actually relax.

  • Room for Everyone

    Our Beachfront and Garden Casitas have lofts the kids will claim in seconds, with plenty of space for teens, grandparents and everyone in between.

  • Adventures for Every Age

    Snorkel in Coiba National Park, learn to surf, kayak to nearby islands, chase waterfalls and spot wildlife. Go big, or keep it easy.

  • Food the Whole Family Loves

    Fresh, chef-prepared meals with options for everyone, from picky eaters to adventurous ones, made with local ingredients and fruit from our gardens when it's in season.

  • We Handle the Details

    Transfers, activities, timing: we plan it all around your family. We're parents too, so we know what makes a trip with kids actually work.

  • Nowhere Else to Be

    The best moments often aren't on the itinerary: beach bonfires, long dinners, sunset walks, and finally having nowhere else to be.

Created by Parents, Designed for Families

We're Ryan and Anthea, ex-bankers turned hotel owners and parents raising our two kids right here at the Hideaway.

We always loved the ease of all-inclusive vacations, but we missed the culture, connection and adventure that make a place truly special. So we built both: the comfort of a resort, with the freedom to really explore Panama.

Our kids learned to surf on these waves. They help with beach cleanups, know the wildlife by name, and spend their days running free between the jungle and the ocean. There's a freedom here that's hard to find anywhere else, and we love watching visiting kids discover it too.

About Us

Make it Your Own: Optional Add-Ons

  • Panamanian cooking class with our chefs (plus mocktails for the kids)

  • Isla Santa Catalina adventure with a hike and picnic lunch

  • Waterfall adventures (seasonal)

  • Mangrove Wildlife tours 

  • Fishing trips

  • Horseback riding

  • Whale watching (July–October)

Your Family Retreat Includes:

✓ A family-friendly casita with a loft for the kids
✓ Roundtrip transfers from Panama City or another destination
✓ Chef-prepared meals with options for the whole family
✓ Family yoga overlooking the ocean
✓ Private surf lessons with bilingual instructors, plus GoPro footage
✓ A day in Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
✓ Cacao Family Connection Ceremony with Mama Tara
✓ Beach volleyball, stargazing, clubhouse games, beach bonfires with marshmallows, and plenty of nature to explore

What Families Are Saying

  • "We came back for a Christmastime visit to the hideaway and were deeply happy to return, four years later. The first time, we were a squad of 9, this time a group of 17. We loved our time together; we had planned activities together and tonnes of unplanned unplugged time too. Anthea, Ryan, Olga, Nick … the whole crew made sure we were having the best possible family retreat experience, from age 10 to age 77. Cacao ceremony, yoga, surfing, Coiba, karaoke, bonfire, fireworks, relay races … and just being in each other’s presence was the best Christmas present.

    Laura O. 2026

  • "They (our kids) literally left the place crying… the children spent hours in the extraordinary pool sharing games with other children, sharing laughter and feeling safe… adults can relax and read a book without worries."

    - April 2025, Google Review

  • "They went out of their way to make us feel welcome and were incredibly sweet to my daughters (ages 4 and 7), treating them with genuine care."

    — Andres, 2025

  • “There was also plenty to keep the kids entertained, which made the stay even more enjoyable for the whole family.”

    — Guest Review Planet of Hotels

  • We have traveled a great deal with our four-year-old and one-year-old, but Catalina's Hideaway is the only place my four-year-old has ever cried leaving because she loved it so much (and that includes Disney World!). It's the perfect place for a family, small enough to easily walk around but large enough to not feel bored… There was no stress, just enjoyment!"

    Guest, 2025

  • "We found it super welcoming and family friendly from the start... Anthea and Ryan were wonderful hosts, and Olga, Nick, Camila, and the rest of the team were all so kind and helpful. They really made an effort to make sure the kids were happy, having fun, and always taken care of. They even organized an Easter egg hunt for the kids over the holiday weekend. Would definitely recommend for families."

    Chad K. 2026

Family Accommodations at Catalina's Hideaway

From toddlers to teens (and grandparents), we'll help you find the right mix of rooms for your family.

Best for: Families with kids 6 and up.

 Wake up steps from the ocean. A private loft with two twin beds gives kids their own space, while parents relax on the patio or in the hammock.

Beachfront Casitas

Garden Casitas

Best for: Families with younger kids

 Surrounded by tropical gardens with ocean views, with an open-concept loft that keeps little ones close. Private patios and outdoor garden showers set the slow, easy pace.

Best for: larger families, grandparents, and great value

 Four rooms overlooking our freshwater pond, on the quieter side of the Hideaway. Choose a Luxe room with an outdoor garden shower or a Standard room with an indoor shower.

Treehouses

Best for: Grandparents, or parents who want their own jungle hideaway

Perched in the jungle canopy with indoor and outdoor showers and wildlife right outside your window. Our most unique rooms, and a favorite for the grown-ups in the group.

Bellwoods Inn

Explore Our Accommodations

Ready to Plan Your Family Adventure?

Celebrating a milestone, reconnecting after a busy year, or just craving a different kind of family vacation? We’ll design it around your crew. Tell us a little about your family, and we’ll take it from there.