From a wide range of majors in agriculture and life sciences looking for independent
internship opportunities. This Education Abroad program is designed to handle groups of 10-15 students.
Highlights:
- Practice your SPANISH skills as you immerse yourself in Panamanian culture with local family and farmers.
- Learn about Panamanian cultural heritage
- Discover one of the Wonders of the World: The Panama Canal
- Visit the oldest tropical research stations in the world managed by the Smithsonian
Institution called Barro Colorado.
- Learn how the emergence of Panama changed the world natural history 3 millions of years ago at the Biomuseo.
- Visit the first Spanish city founded in 1519 in the Pacific called Panama. Actually an archeological site considered Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO
- Support communities in conservation activities of species like Sea turtles, such as patrolling beaches, beach cleaning, counting turtle eggs and hatching, among other activities related protection projects.
- Learn about different types of mangroves, flora, birds and fauna in tropical forest.
- Study and conservations cetaceans, along the Pacific coast around the Coiba National Park, Natural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO.
- Meet the Embera ingenious community. Learn about their culture and natural tattoo.
DAYS 1 and 2: Exploring Panama City
- Day 1: Arrival in Panama, transfer to your hotel in Panama City, check-in, and have a light dinner.
- Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel, introduction to the program, visit to the Miraflores Panama Canal Visitor Center, lunch, visit to the Biomuseo, and tour the Amador Causeway, concluding with a group dinner featuring local cuisine.
DAYS 3 and 4: Indigenous Culture and Tropical Research
- Day 3: Breakfast, then depart for the Emberá Drua community on the Chagres River for a cultural immersion with dances, crafts, and traditional lunch, followed by a canoe tour and a visit to a waterfall. Free afternoon, dinner not included.
- Day 4: Breakfast, then depart for the Gamboa dock to visit Barro Colorado Island, a Smithsonian tropical research station, where you will learn about the local flora and fauna. Lunch at the institution’s cafeteria and dinner at the hotel.
DAYS 5 and 6: Historical Sites and Rainforest Expedition
- Day 5: Breakfast, visit the Panama la Vieja Archaeological Site and the Plaza Mayor Museum. Lunch, then a tour of Panama’s Old Town, with dinner on a terrace to enjoy the sunset.
- Day 6: Breakfast, then an expedition to Soberanía National Park to visit the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, where you can birdwatch with a specialist from a 32-meter tower. Snacks and dinner at the hotel.
DAYS 7 and 8: Trip to Veraguas and Sea Turtle Conservation
- Day 7: Breakfast at the hotel and a 6-hour trip to Mata Oscura, Veraguas, to learn about the importance of these coasts for sea turtle nesting.
- Day 8: Arrival in Mata Oscura and accommodation, lunch, welcome activity with the Foundation to learn about sea turtle conservation, dinner, and a bonfire on the beach.
DAYS 9 and 10: Turtle Project Activities and Local Culture
- Day 9: Possible release of baby turtles, breakfast, learning about sea turtle species, traditional cooking classes, Panama hat-making activity, rest time, dinner, and night patrol of the nesting beach.
- Day 10: Breakfast, support with sea turtle project work in the morning and afternoon, with lunch and dinner.
DAYS 11 and 12: Volunteering and Birdwatching
- Day 11: Possible release of baby turtles, breakfast, volunteer activities at FUNDAT-ECOTORTUGA (trail adjustments, signage creation, and informational guides), lunch, and free afternoon with dinner.
- Day 12: Birdwatching tour at the Heliconia Hotel Botanical Garden in Palo Seco, followed by a workshop on Azuero bird species.
DAYS 13 and 14: Community Life and Marine Exploration
- Day 13: Lunch in the Palo Seco community to learn about the work of the women’s fishing association, sightseeing in the Eco Ruta Tortuga project with meals and tours of the rural tourism circuit (waterfalls, mangrove trail, agrotourism farms), and dinner.
- Day 14: Travel to Punta Naranjo and Cerro Hoya National Park with a tour of the marine area, islands, and islets, including snorkeling and swimming, with meals and snacks.
DAYS 15 and 16: Beach Cleanup, Mangroves, and Outdoor Activities
- Day 15: Possible release of baby turtles, breakfast, beach cleanup experience in Mata Oscura, lunch, kayak tour through the mangroves, and dinner.
- Day 16: Breakfast, support with improvement works on the Eco Turtle Route and construction of the visitor center. Outdoor activities (beach volleyball or soccer), dinner, rest time, and night patrol on the turtle nesting beach.
DAYS 17 and 18: Agricultural Support and Free Time
- Day 17: Breakfast, support with local farm activities (planting, harvesting, milking, clearing plots, processing, landscaping), lunch, and support with improvement works on the Eco Turtle Route and construction of the visitor center. Dinner.
- Day 18: Breakfast, support with improvement works on the Eco Turtle Route and construction of the visitor center, lunch, free afternoon, dinner, and night patrol of the turtle nesting beach.
DAYS 19 and 20: Marine Conservation and Farewell
- Day 19: Possible release of baby turtles, breakfast, support with improvement works on the Eco Turtle Route and construction of the visitor center during the morning and afternoon, with lunch and dinner.
- Day 20: Breakfast, black shell and wetland tour of the Gulf of Montijo from Mariato, learning about the importance of the Gulf, lunch with fresh local seafood and farewell dinner with local dance performance.
