Melanie Fawer

“I reached out to Jared for help planning a yoga retreat. I knew I wanted an island but somewhere a little different — off the beaten path, affordable, with interesting activities other than sun bathing for after yoga.Our retreat to Panama City and the Isle Colon, an archipelago off the mainland, were an ideal combination. Panama City melded gorgeous architectural history and cultural heritage with the ease of island life fun such as surfing, horseback riding, zip lining, coffee plantations and more.The hotel in the city was elegant, historical, hip, in the quaint part of the city — exactly what I would have chosen for myself had I known the city well. From our beach villa we could hear and see the waves crashing on the shore and to practice yoga outside each morning while monkeys swing from the trees was something quite special.Gondwana takes a unique approach to planning a trip and wants it to be not just a vacation but an exchange between cultures. One can take part in as much or as little of this exchange as one wants but Jared lays the foundation and makes it accessible and available. He puts his whole heart into each trip he plans which is why it came off without a hitch — and he made it look easy.It makes sense that Jared, at the helm of Gondwana, is a traveler at heart who knows personally where he is sending you. And it is comforting to know that his free spirit is balanced by good taste and a good head on his shoulders. Not to mention he knows his rum and now I do too!”