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SAVE THE RAINFOREST Panama
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Day 1 Arrive to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Transfer to Soberania National Park. Night at Ri Chagras Field Station. Day 2 Briefing and introductions. Exploration of rain forest at La Bonga Trail in Soberania. Night at Rio Chagras Field Station. Day 3 Travel to historic ruins of Portebelo and to the Smithsonian's Galeta Marine Research Center. Night at Rio Chagras Field Station. Day 4 Panama Canal Jungle Boat Adventure and tour of Summit Gareen's Harpy and Tapir exhibits. Night at Rio Chagras Field Station. Day 5 Travel up the Chagras River to Embera Village. Spend the day and overnight. Night at the Embera Drua Village. Day 6 Day of explorations in and around the village. Afternoon retun to field station. Night at the Chagras Field Station. Day 7 Morning tour of Miraflores Locks and Amador Casueway. Lunch at Niko'sCafe. Midday flight to Bocas del Toro. Afternoon briefing and time to relax. Night at Boca Inn. Day 8 Colon Island rain forest and Boca del Drago Beach. Night at Bocas Inn. Day 9 Tour of Bastimento Marine National Park with coral reef snorkeling. Night at Bocas Inn. Day 10 Four of Popa Island and mangrove snorkeling. Night at Bocas Inn. Day 11 Community or field work morning. Afternoon at leisure. Night at Bocas Inn. Day 12 Tour mainland Bocas del Toro for nature encounters. Night at Bocas Inn. Day 13 Morning flight to Panama City. Tour of colonial city and time for shopping. Farewell dinner. Night at Country Inn-El Dorado. Day 14 Departure. Transfer out (participants will need approximately $20 for airport departure tax) List of things to bring: Light clothing, rain gear, hat, hiking or rubber boots, sandals or thongs, swimming suit, towel, mask/snorkel/fins*, sun lotion, insect repellent, day pack, water bottle, notebook/pencil, personal toiletries, snacks, and camera and binoculars if possible. *these items can be rented on Bocas for about $12 day Plan on packing light for incountry flight to Bocas del Toro (25 pound duffle bag recommended). ANCON will store your extra gear in their Panama City offices. |
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ANCON, Panama's leading conservation group hosts this course at its Rio Chagras Environmental Education Center in the Canal Zone next to the 50,000 acre Sobernia National Park. In addition to studying the rain forest students visit and learn about the Panama Canal; its history, current usage and the importance of the forest watershed that supplies the water needed to operate the locks. A highlight of this part of the course is an overnight stay in an indigenous Embera village.
The second half of this course takes place on the charming little island of Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean which is reached by a one hour plane flight from Panama City. ANCON'S station here is right on the waterfront and is only five minutes by boat from Bastimentos Marine Park. Coral reefs, sea turtles, beautiful beaches and mangrove estuaries are among the many things students will see and learn about while boating and snorkeling throughout the park. Accommodations at both stations are very comfortable and modern. ANCON also offers trip options to the Darien, Coiba Island and Punto Patino. Further information on these options are available upon request.
