Have you ever dreamt of being marooned on a deserted tropical island, Castaway-style?
Do you think you have what it takes to survive for days totally on your own—creating fire, building a shelter, and foraging for food?
We’ll spend the night in Panama City before heading to a picture-perfect uninhabited island for eight nights of adventure. The first five nights on the island are your training: you’ll be fed well, sleep in expedition hammocks, and have serious amounts of fun while learning the skills necessary to survive.
Then, just as you’re getting comfy you’ll trek through the jungle to another area of the island to begin your 72-hour survival challenge. With little more than a machete and the knowledge you’ve gained over the last few days you and your new tribe will put into practice your newfound skills and learn how to make it in the middle of nowhere!
After three days you’ll be “rescued” by a speedboat laden with cold drinks whisks you away to a 5-star hotel to celebrate your accomplishments together.
Join us in Panama for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure you’ll never forget.
WHEN: Early 2026 (Exact dates TBD)
WHERE: Undisclosed Island off of the coast of Panama (flying in/out of PTY)
PREREQUISITES: A willingness to get uncomfortable 😂
Table of Contents
The Mission
Step away from your daily routine and embrace an adventure that returns you to the essence of nature and self-reliance. During our survival experience,= you’ll dive deep into the art of bushcraft, learning essential survival skills amidst the unparalleled beauty of untouched tropical islands. The adventure is designed to challenge and inspire you, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world and unveiling your true potential. Here, it’s not just about surviving; it’s about thriving in harmony with nature, creating memories that last a lifetime.
With a small group of fellow castaways, you’ll experience 8 days on a secluded tropical island. Your adventure is divided into five days of intensive training, followed by three days of authentic survival living. This trip is designed to cater to all levels, from beginners eager to learn basic survival skills to seasoned enthusiasts seeking an intense challenge. Embrace this unique opportunity to test your limits, learn invaluable skills, and truly disconnect on an extraordinary survival adventure.
The Group
There will be up to 9 spots open for this experience on a first-come, first-served basis (an initial $1,000 deposit payment per trip secures your spot — see Pricing below).
Choosing to be marooned on a desert island is an excellent filter for cool people. You will all share the same appetite for adventure and the unusual, so make no mistake, by the end of the adventure you’ll have built up deep connections and made lifelong friends.
Most expeditions are typically attended by solo travelers from all over the world and of all ages (although partners and friends are welcome too). The gender split on previous trips is typically 30% female to 70% male, and the average age runs 35-45, but previous guests have run the gamut from 19 to 74.
Your Guide
Meet Tom Williams, the founder of Desert Island Survival, Alone UK TV show champion, and an expert instructor in the art of survival skills. With a passion for island life and adventure, Tom leads only a few expeditions personally each year, and we’re lucky to have him with us for the adventure.
His love for expeditions started in colder climates in 2010 when he won a 367-mile race to the North Pole and back. Since then he has cycled over the Andes, sailed over 8,000 miles across the sea, and is a snowboard instructor and dive master.
In 2023, Tom participated in the prestigious TV survival competition Alone, lasting the longest in the Canadian wilderness completely solo, with no food and only a handful of survival items.
And, of course, I (Scott) will also be participating! This trip has been a collaboration between Tom and me that is over five years in the making, and I’m super excited to make this finally happen in Panama with him and his team.
Itinerary
This Panamanian adventure will be split into four parts: arrival, training, survival, and celebration.
We’ll be together for eleven days total, including an arrival day, a departure day, and about a week on the island. Our last day/night will be spent at a proper five-star resort so you can celebrate your wins together in style.
For more information, a detailed tentative day-by-day itinerary can be found below.
Dates are set for Early 2026:
Day 01: Arrival to Panama
We’ll all arrive in Panama City, Panama via Tocumen International Airport (PTY). After arrival and pickup, we’ll wait for everyone to arrive before meeting your expedition guides for a trip overview and safety briefing, followed by dinner together.
Day 02: Welcome to The Island
After breakfast, we’ll head to the marina where we’ll board a 90-minute speedboat to your new island home. Upon arrival, we’ll explore the beach together, choose a spot to pitch our camp and string up our hammocks. We’ll begin our training this day, focusing on the four key elements of survival: shelter, fire, water, and food. After the first part of our training, you’ll be free to explore the island on your own or put your newfound skills to use. This evening, as with most evenings, we’ll gather for dinner and stories around the campfire.
Day 03: Training Day 1
We’ll continue your survival training in the morning, and have time for exploration/practice later in the day before gathering together around the fire once more.
Day 04: Training Day 2
We’ll continue your survival training in the morning, and have time for exploration/practice later in the day before gathering together around the fire once more.
Day 05: Training Day 3
Our last day of instruction before your main instructor parts ways! Make the most of your time and be sure to hone your skills in preparation for the next few days.
Day 06: Training Day 4
Our last day of instruction before your main instructor parts ways! Make the most of your time and be sure to hone your skills in preparation for the next few days.
Day 07: The Real Adventure Begins — Survival Day 1
Say goodbye to your lead instructor as you and the rest of the group head to a totally different part of the island to start anew. You’ll be left with only a machete, knife, basic fishing gear, medical kit, and emergency satellite phone. Beyond that, it will be up to you and the skills you’ve learned over the past 72 hours to establish your camp, build shelter, gather water, and hunt/forage for food over the next few days.
Day 08: Survival Day 2
Wake up with the sun, go for a dip in the ocean, try your hand at catching fish or foraging for sustenance, and enjoy being a part of the natural cycle of nature on your own private island paradise.
Day 07: Survival Day 3
Almost there! Only 24 hours of blissful “survival” on the island before your castaway lifestyle comes to an end.
Day 10: Rescue + Celebration
Speedboats will be sent to “rescue” everyone this morning, whisking you away from the island you by now thoroughly know and love, and transporting you to a nearby beach for a proper brunch. After arriving back in mainland Panama in the afternoon we’ll check into a fancy hotel where you’ll be able to properly celebrate your wins together in style.
Day 11: Departure
After breakfast, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your onward flight. Bon voyage!
Pricing
The pricing for this adventure is set at $5,690 per participant for the 11-day adventure.
$1,000 deposits are required to reserve your place — first come, first served. Only eight spots are available.
Single supplement upgrades for the first and last night at the hotels are available for an extra $490/person.
Included:
- Airport pick-up/drop-off
- Two nights of hotel accommodation (one pre- and one post-island adventure)
- Double occupancy in twin bed rooms (or double bed if you are traveling as a couple) for the two nights in hotels on land. If you are not traveling with a companion you will be matched up according to gender unless you opt for the single traveler supplement.
- Private island rental
- Speedboat transfer to/from the island
- 5 Days of guide services and training on the island
- Basic survival gear (hammock, camping gear, machete, etc.)
- 3 meals per full day (besides the survival period of 72 hours where you are on your own)
- Water and limited alcoholic drinks
Not Included:
- Flights to/from Panama (PTY)
- Travel insurance (required — we recommend Squaremouth)
Payment Methods:
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Chase QuickPay/Zelle
- Credit/Debit card
Cancellation Policy and Terms of Service may be found here.
Weather & Packing
We will be there during the dry season, so you will enjoy wall-to-wall blue skies with a very low probability of rain. Temperatures are warm (25-29℃/77-85℉), but the humidity is not too punishing. There will be a consistent sea breeze that helps lower the temperature, humidity, and insect prevalence. The UV index is very high and the sun should be avoided during midday.
As far as packing goes, we will send out a comprehensive list of things to bring with you to the island.
Safety
You can’t eliminate risk in life, but we can look to mitigate risk through training, planning, and prior research. Before being selected, each island is evaluated for its level of risk, and an evacuation strategy is drawn out, should an injury occur.
Our amazing instructors are all Wilderness First Aid trained and renew their certification with refresher courses every two years. We bring with us a comprehensive medical kit and have a remote doctor on 24-hour standby should their opinion need to be called upon or should medication need to be administered.
We operate by a system of informed consent, whereby we have the responsibility to make you aware of the risks you might encounter in advance of your adventure and you knowingly choose to attend (or not) from an informed position.
The following are risks you could encounter on your expedition:
- Injuries (cuts, coral scrapes, falls, etc.)
- Animals (jellyfish, stingrays, small sharks, lionfish, insect bites, etc.)
- Falling debris/coconuts
- Tropical diseases/rabies
- Poisonous plants
- Sun exposure/heat stroke/dehydration
- Food poisoning/diarrhea
- Transportation accidents (car/boat)
For a more detailed list of potential risks, please see here.
Getting There
The airport you will be flying into is Tocumen International Airport (PTY). From there it’s a short taxi ride to the first night’s hotel. The next day, we will shuttle everyone to the pier, where you’ll board a boat to get to the island.
Coming back at the end of the trip, you’ll again board a boat that takes you to the mainland, and then a shuttle will take you to the hotel. On the last day
Visa
There is no visa required for U.S. citizens traveling to Panama. For all other nationalities, please consult this website.
Immunizations
Panama doesn’t really have any more communicable diseases than many of the other developing spots you may travel to. There are no immunizations required to visit Panama.
There is a risk of malaria, however, so please talk to your travel medical specialist if you would like to bring anti-malarial medication with you (there are a few different types, but they all have their side effects.
As far as immunizations go, just make sure you are up-to-date on your usual foreign travel recommendations — tetanus/diphtheria, typhoid, Hepatitis A/B, etc.
Please consult your medical professional regarding all of the above suggestions.
Disclaimer
This is travel, and unexpected things may happen. Although we will do everything in our power to assist if something goes wrong, you get sick, etc., I am not in any way legally responsible for your well-being during the duration of the trip. By signing up for this trip you are acknowledging this fact. Medical facilities for routine visits, prescriptions, etc. are few and far between in remote Panama, so you may want to buy travel medical insurance (and think about the emergency evacuation option possibly) just in case something more serious befalls you.
This also goes for the itinerary as listed above. Although we are pretty set as far as the schedule because hotels are pre-booked, there may be things we may not get to see because of weather or unforeseen incidences.
Sign Up
This is a first-come, first-served opportunity. We only have eight spots for the adventure and once those are gone we are not planning on adding any additional spots.
Secure your spot by clicking the button below and then filling out the form, after which you need to send the initial payment of USD$1,000/per person (payment details to be provided upon submitting the form).
Once we reach the maximum number of people the trip will be closed to new sign-ups, although you can be added to a waitlist if you wish.
Questions?
If you have any questions please send me an email through my Contact Page.