Grit and Glory: Exposing the Panama Canal

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. There will be a Road Scholar notice board in the hotel lobby. See your program’s "Getting There" section regarding transfers. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: 6:00 p.m. Orientation at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Meals will feature local cuisine. Travel and transfers will be via air-conditioned bus (about 5 steps at entrance/exit) unless specified otherwise. The bus does not have a restroom on board; however, there will be stops at least every two hours for program activities, meals, and/or basic rest stops to break up longer travel times. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel, we'll have a welcome meal

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 35 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles; paved, mostly flat surfaces; some stair climbing and standing. Water bottle, wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, tennis shoes with ankle support recommended. Closed-toes/heel shoes are mandatory when visiting Panama Canal installations.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Early, at the hotel, we will attend an expert presentation on the past, present, and future of the Panama Canal with a special look at its administrative models and economic impacts. Then we’ll board our Road Scholar bus and ride to the historic colonial center of the city of Panama, Casco Viejo, for a walking field trip led by our Group Leader. Casco Viejo dates back to the 1670s and showcases the multicultural history of Panama. Parks and narrow streets are lined with colorful buildings in a breath-taking mix of Spanish, French, and early American architectural styles. This eclectic display reflects the city's role as an international trade center and cultural melting pot that began well before the building of the Canal. Some of Casco Viejo's must-see sites include the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Municipal Palace, the National Theater, the Panama Canal Museum (originally the Grand Hotel), the French Embassy, and the Plaza de Francia. Next, we'll head to the Panama Canal Museum to learn about the American era of the Panama Canal and explore the second-floor exhibits dedicated to its history from beginning to completion.

Lunch: At a restaurant.

Afternoon: We will board the bus and ride on to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Upon arrival we will accompany our Group Leader on an informative walk through the museum’s exhibits before visiting one of the observation terraces to witness the locks and motorized mules at work.

Dinner: At a restaurant.

Evening: After the bus drops us off at the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 133 miles, approximately 4 hours total riding time throughout the day. Walking up to 2 miles during the day on mostly flat, paved surfaces; some steps.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After boarding the bus, we’ll ride across the Bridge of the Americas to reach the Mirador de las Americas and the Chinese Monument. We'll disembark at the mirador and accompany our Group Leader on foot to explore the monument and learn about the role of Chinese immigrants in helping build the country’s infrastructure. Then we’ll get back on our bus and ride on to the Panama Canal Administration Building. Once there, we will follow our Group Leader up the staircase and into the building to learn more about the Canal construction through the vibrant murals by William B. Van Ingen that illustrate different stages of the project. Our visit will conclude with a stop at the marble monument dedicated to the canal’s chief engineer George W. Goethals. Next, we'll ride northward to Lake Alajuela for a quick stop to view and learn about Madden Dam. While there, our Group Leader will tell us about the impact of Lake Alajuela/Madden Dam on the lives of people in the region and in the daily operation of the Panama Canal. We’ll then head to the New Locks Visitor Center/Agua Clara Locks to learn about the expansion of the Canal. Our Group Leader and a center representative will lead us through exhibits, including a video on the expansion project and construction of the new locks, and photos documenting various stages of the construction. The project cost an estimated $5.25 billion to add a third lane with larger locks, thus making it possible for bigger container and cargo ships to make use of the shortcut. We’ll make a stop at the Center’s viewing platform before returning to the bus and riding across the scenic Atlantic Bridge on our way to the Gatún Dam, power-generating plants and spillway. The cable-stayed bridge was completed in 2019 and extends 1.75 miles over the Canal's Atlantic entrance. Afterwards we will continue our journey to Fort San Lorenzo - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch: At Fort San Lorenzo, picnic-style.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll accompany our Group Leader on a walking exploration of Fort San Lorenzo. As we examine the historic ruins and learn about the fort’s strategic location, we’ll gain a better understanding of its importance as a primary defense point in the Caribbean from the Colonial Era through World War II. The original fortifications were erected in 1595, but were rebuilt and modified a few times over the centuries due to attacks from pirates and other countries. In fact, the neo-classical military architecture seen today is what remains of the final round of rebuilding that took place during the late 18th century. The historic stronghold is now part of a larger protected area known as San Lorenzo National Park and includes forests, mangroves, and wetlands on the western banks of the Panama Canal. Next, we’ll reboard the bus and begin our journey back to our Panama City hotel. We’ll make a brief stop at Las Cruces Trail to see the trailhead and learn about the historical connection between the trail and the California Gold Rush. The bus will deliver us to the hotel so we can drop off our gear and freshen up before reconvening for dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, located a short walk from our hotel.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check out and departure early in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off bus; about 50 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Full transit through Panama Canal can take between 12-13 hours depending on ship traffic.

Breakfast: Aboard the boat.

Morning: We'll check out then ride to the port for embarkation. We will be ready to start our Canal adventure after the Panama Canal Commission Pilot, who will guide our vessel throughout the transit, comes on board. During our full day transit through the Panama Canal, we’ll be accompanied by a Canal expert who will enhance our experience with historical insights and detailed explanations of the transit process. By Canal standards, we are aboard a small vessel, so we will travel in tandem with a large ship. This saves water as the canal opens and closes the gates. The transit will take us through Miraflores Lake, Pedro Miguel Locks, Gailard Cut, Gamboa, and Gatun Lake.

Lunch: Aboard the boat.

Afternoon: We will continue transiting the Panama Canal until we reach Colon. After disembarking at Colon, we'll take a bus ride to Gamboa and check in at our hotel. The small town of Gamboa is located on the Chagres River, less than 20 miles from Panama City. It is an area graced by wetlands and tropical rainforests that support great biodiversity. These lush forests also provide water to Gatún Lake and the Panama Canal's Atlantic locks.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare a day pack with personal items you may need during the day and have the rest of your luggage ready for transport to the hotel in Panama City.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Getting in/out of motorized boats; navigating approximately 20 minutes each way. Walking up to 1.5 miles, approximately 2.5 hours on mostly flat, unpaved terrain, potential mud. It is not mandatory to bring anything to donate to the village; however, anyone wishing to do so might consider bringing school supplies such as pencils and erasers, coloring pens/pencils, books in Spanish, etc. to donate during the visit.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we’ll accompany our Group Leader on a nature walk on the hotel grounds. During our explorations we will examine native flora and search for birds and other wildlife that inhabit this forested area along the Chagres River. Then we will check out, ride the bus to a local dock and board motorized boats that will take us on a scenic journey up the Chagres River to an Embera village. After being welcomed ashore by members of the community we'll meet the village chief who will talk to us about the history of the Embera people, their way of life, culture, and handicraft traditions. We will walk through the village to learn about their homes, communal spaces, and botanical garden.

Lunch: At the village, traditional lunch prepared by the Emberá women.

Afternoon: We will have a bit of independent time to see Emberá handicrafts such as woodcarvings and woven baskets. The sale of their products benefits the village and helps to pay the school fees for the children. Those who like can also get a temporary Emberá tattoo painted on their arm or leg (lasts about 2 weeks). The blue-black stain used to create the traditional geometric tatoos is made from unripe jagua fruit (Genipa americana) that grows in abundance in the area. We'll say farewell to the village as we board the boats and make our way back to where the bus awaits to take us to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel. While we dine, a folkloric dance group will give us a performance in traditional Panamanian dress. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our last evening together.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 noon. See your program’s "Getting There" information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel, depending on flight times. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!