Arrive To: Arrive at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama.

Participants arriving on the group flights will meet the local Road Scholar representative once they clear Customs and leave the airport's restricted arrivals area. The representative will be holding a Road Scholar sign.

Transfer to the hotel.

Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled on this day. Hotel check-in usually begins at 3 p.m.



Lodging: Amador Country Inn & Suites

Panama City -
Historic Casco Viejo/Introduction to the Panama Canal

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Program orientation.

Field trip to the Pacific Canal Commission Compound.

Excursion to Casco Viejo, the historic colonial center of the city of Panama, with site lecture.

Panama City's old historic quarter (a.k.a. Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo) dates back to the 1670s, when the destruction of Panama Viejo made relocation a necessity. Casco Viejo’s parks and narrow streets are lined with colorful buildings representative of Spanish, French and early American architectural styles. This eclectic collection of architectural styles 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 France Plaza.



Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Field trip to the Panama Canal Museum, which showcases the American era of the Panama Canal.

Excursion to the French Square, a monument to the French builders who began the Panama Canal.

Lecture: The Panama Canal in the New Millennium

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Amador Country Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Panama City -
Miraflores Locks and Madden Dam/Las Cruces Trail/French Cemetery

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Field trip to Miraflores Locks to view ships passing through the first series of locks in the canal.

Visit the interpretive museum.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Field trip to the Chagres River and Las Cruces Trail.

Las Cruces Trail once served as the primary artery for sending most, if not all, of the gold brought from the Incan Empire to port for shipment back to Spain. Because so much gold traveled the same route, just about every enterprising pirate sought access to this trail. Today, Las Cruces Trail is the primary feature of a 4,000 hectare national park that provides an ecological corridor between two other national parks, the Metropolitan Nature Park and the Soberania National Park.

Visit the Lake Alajuela/Madden Dam.

Lake Alajuela was "created" in 1924 with the construction of the Madden Dam. The dam's reservoir maintains the water levels in Lake Gatun and provides primary supply of drinking water along the canal. Lake Alajuela is surrounded by a 129,000 hectare national park of primary rainforest.

Enjoy a visit to the French Cemetery that honors the many lives lost during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Dinner: At a restaurant in Miraflores, with views of passing ships in the Canal.

Lodging: Amador Country Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Early morning transfer to the port. Board the boat that will take you on a full transit of the Panama Canal.

Breakfast on board the boat.

Morning: Full day transit through the Panama Canal.

This transit leaves at 7:30 a.m. through the Pacific entrance of the Canal, just outside Flamenco Island. Here you will wait for the Panama Canal Commission Pilot who will guide you through the transit. Follow your companion vessel for the transit of the Miraflores locks (by Canal standards, we are a small vessel, so we rarely transit the locks alone).

The transit will take you through Miraflores Lake, Pedro Miguel Locks, Gailard Cut, Gamboa, and Gatun Lake. You will exit the canal on the Atlantic side and dock at Cristobal.

Throughout the transit there are numerous opportunities to see dolphins, birds, monkeys and crocodiles. The whole experience will take about 10 hours.

Lunch: Lunch on board the boat.

Afternoon: Continue with the Canal transit.
Disembark in Colon.

Colon was originally an island, separated from the mainland until 1852 when the U.S. began building a railroad across the isthmus. Contemporary Colon is known for its status as a Zona Libre, a free trade zone. Next to Hong Kong, Colon is the largest free-trade zone and marks the northern terminus of the Panama Canal.

Transfer to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Sol Melia Panama Canal

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast depart to New Locks Visitor Center to learn about the new canal expansion, including a video on the expansion program and new locks construction in addition to pictures of development at various stages. After a nature hike, the visit will end at the view point to observe the work being done at the new lock from afar.

Return to the hotel.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Free time at the hotel to enjoy the amenities. The rooms will be available until the transfer time to the train station.

Train ride excursion to Panama City via the isthmus.

Arrive in Panama City and check-in at hotel.

Dinner: Farewell dinner with Panamanian music.

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for flight to San José, Costa Rica.

Upon arrival in Costa Rica it will be necessary to proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. When exiting the restricted arrivals area, please leave through the door on the right. The local program representative will be waiting outside the exit door, holding up a Road Scholar sign.

Transfer to the hotel.

Enjoy a brief program orientation followed by a lecture. Lecture: An Overview of Costa Rica.


Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Excursion to the Gold Museum with a site lecture.

This interesting museum has a large collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts (approximately 1,600 pieces) dating from 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D. The first section of the museum presents an introduction to the Pre-Columbian cultures of Costa Rica; their social and cultural evolution and their progress in metallurgy. The second section contains beautiful displays showcasing the museum’s collection of gold artifacts. Accompanying descriptions explain the meaning and use of each piece.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Balmoral

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Sarapiqui.

Situated in the Caribbean lowlands, 40 miles from San José, Sarapiquí is one of the richest sites for birds in Middle America with well over recorded 400 species. Nearby, the La Selva Protection Zone and the Braulio Carrillo National Park form the only significant corridor of forest on the Caribbean slope linking the highlands with the lowlands - a corridor crucial to birds and animals that undertake seasonal altitudinal migrations.

Arrive in Sarapiqui and check-in at the lodge.

Orientation to the lodge.


Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: Field trip to a local pineapple plantation.

Examine the environmental and economic impact of growing pineapples in Costa Rica, one of the top ten producers of pineapples in the world.

Return to the lodge.

Snacks and local music on the patio.

Lecture: Introduction to the Rainforest.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Lodging: Selva Verde Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Early morning bird walk around the lodge.
Breakfast at the lodge.

Morning: Enjoy a boat ride on the Sarapiqui River in search of local wildlife.

Return to the lodge.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: Visit to Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center (SCLC) to meet with locals and Charla.

In Spanish "charla" means "chat." During this informative session led by a local community member, you will learn about life in Sarapiqui. Topics include local ecosystems, immigration, domestic life, and local artisan work. A question and answer session concludes the activity, fostering international communication and understanding.

The Sarapiqui Learning Center (SCLC) is a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to help communities and local conservation efforts through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiqui region. Programs include environmental education, ecotourism activities, English classes, an ecology club, community outreach, a women's group and many others.

The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. Take this opportunity to cool off in the lodge's pool, go birdwatching, or indulge in the sounds of the rainforest from the comfort of your hammock.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Dance presentation by local school kids.

Lodging: Selva Verde Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the lodge.

Morning: River rafting excursion on the Sarapiqui River.

Return to the lodge.



Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: Transfer to Arenal.

Arenal was once Costa Rica's most active volcano and a main draw to the town of La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano National Park. The volcano lords over the countryside with its perfectly conical shape and occasional smoke and gas emissions. While minor activity excites visitors, they are rarely acknowledged by the locals who have learnt to accept the antics of the volcano as part of their daily lives. The thermal waters emanating from the volcano, the clean air and the energy associated with Arenal, makes this a favorite destination for health spa enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Arrive at the hotel and check-in.

Time at leisure.

Lecture: The Arenal Volcano.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Arenal Paraiso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arenal -
Arenal Volcano National Park/Hanging Bridges/La Fortuna Town

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Field trip to Arenal Volcano National Park with site lecture.

The Arenal Volcano National Park, located in the central region of the country, protects a number of important life zones. The park also encompases the Arenal Volcano and the extinct Chato Volcano. Although clouds often obscure the peak of the volcano, during clear days it is possible to see gases and steam rising from the cone. It is interesting to see how the periodic lava flows have contributed to the erratic growth of vegetation in the areas around the volcano. The hilly terrain is littered with volcanic rocks. Park trails traverse old lava fields and secondary forest.

Excursion to Arenal Hanging Bridges.

Arenal Hanging Bridges is a private nature reserve in La Fortuna de San Carlos. The site features a network of standing bridges, hanging bridges, and trails that crisscross 250 hectares of tropical rainforest. The park’s mission is to provide natural history education in a responsible and sustainable way. Visitors are able to view the rainforest from different angles and heights, from ground level to canopy level, learning firsthand about this fascinating and biologically diverse environment.



Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Time at leisure to enjoy the hotel's hot springs.

Early evening excursion to the town of La Fortuna.

The small and painteresque town of Fortuna has changed quite a bit from the village that witnessed the eruptions of Arenal Volcano in 1968.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Arenal Paraiso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Monteverde.

Enjoy a scenic boat ride across Arenal Lake (45 min - 1 hour) before boarding vans to complete the final stage of your transfer, driving uphill to Monteverde (1 hour).

Lunch: At a local coffee plantation.

Afternoon: Field trip to local coffee farm with site lecture.

Learn the about harvesting and processing of coffee as well as the history of this crop from its beginning in the Arabic countries and Ethiopia. Discover the importance of the golden bean ¨grano de oro¨ and its impact on the social, cultural, and economic development of Costa Rica.

Arrive at the hotel and check-in.

Time at leisure.

Lecture: The Quaker Story.


Dinner: At a local home - Quaker style.

Lodging: Hotel Montaña Monteverde

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Monteverde -
Cloud Forest Reserve at Monteverde/Local Cheese Factory & Bakery/The Quakers of Monteverde

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Field trip to a cloud forest reserve at Monteverde with site lecture.

The edges of this rich forest system, often cloaked in clouds and blowing mist, are home to more than 350 avian species and a myriad of other creatures and critters. The Monteverde area is perhaps most famous for breeding Resplendent Quetzals, Three-wattled Bellbird, and Bare-necked Umbrellabird. While these charismatic species can be elusive, a host of other cloud forest birds and amphibians are found in the area.

Return to the hotel to change and freshen-up.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, visit a local cheese factory, bakery and the cooperative of artisan women's shop.

In 1951, a group of American Quakers, fearful of their nation’s growing militarism, fled the United States. The Quakers found Costa Rica, a nation without a military, to be the most inviting nation for their pacifist beliefs. This group settled Monteverde and intended to transform the area into profitable farmland. The Quakers developed a fairly successful cheese industry but they also recognized the delicate nature of the land and helped establish the area’s first wildlife sanctuary.

Return to the hotel.

Lecture: Conservation and Development of the Monteverde Area.


Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Montaña Monteverde

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Morning visit to the Monteverde Butterfly Garden and Arthropod Education Center.

Jim Wolfe and his wife Marta Iris opened the Monteverde Butterfly Garden in 1989. The couple has been hand raising butterflies for many years and has come to learn their individual preferences and habits. These fragile creatures require extreme care as they develop and every species feeds on a different variety of plants. Unlike most butterfly gardens, which buy their butterflies as chrysalides, all the butterflies you will see here were bred and raised on the premises.

Transfer to San José.

Lunch: At a local restaurant en route to San José.

Afternoon: Excursion to the crafts town of Sarchi where ox carts, traditional furniture, and other handmade artifacts are created.

The town of Sarchi, just a few miles from Grecia, is well known for its centuries-old tradition of making oxcarts. The brightly colored and intricately decorated carts are a national symbol and can still be seen in use in rural communities. Sarchi is also known for its handcrafted furniture and wood housewares.

Arrive in San José and check-in at the hotel.

Time at leisure.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Wyndham San José Herradura Hotel & Convention Center (previously a Ramada property)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport for flight to the U.S.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.

Breakfast: At the hotel (dependent on flight times).

Meals Included: Breakfast