Panama

Rainforest Explorers: The Best of Panama With Your Family

Program No. 23615RJ
Search for tropical wildlife alongside your family in Panama while also meeting members of an indigenous tribe, venturing through the jungle and voyaging part of the canal together.

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At a Glance

Did you know that Panama has over 975 different bird species, more than the U.S. and Canada combined? And that’s just one reason why this awesome country is perfect for every wildlife lover. On this exciting adventure with your family, journey into the jungle and rainforest to search for awesome animals like sloths, monkeys and iguanas. Along the way, get a temporary tattoo from an indigenous tribe, learn cool pirate history and spot marine life through your snorkeling mask as you make lifelong memories in this tropical paradise.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles daily over uneven terrain; getting in and out of canoes/kayaks/motorboats; ascending/descending an 86-step canopy tower; snorkeling; some city walking and intermittent standing.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Experience a partial transit through the legendary Panama Canal and search for wildlife as you pass through its many lakes and locks.
  • Take your learning nice and slow at a sloth sanctuary where you’ll get up close and personal to these gentle creatures.
  • Enjoy a boat ride to an Emberá village – one of seven local indigenous tribes – to play fun games and learn about their traditions.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Year
2024
  • 2024
Date
Aug 08 - Aug 17
  • Jul 25 - Aug 03
  • Aug 08 - Aug 17
  • Dec 20 - Dec 29
  • Dec 26 - Jan 04
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
Aug 08 - Aug 17
  • Jul 25 - Aug 03
  • Aug 08 - Aug 17
  • Dec 20 - Dec 29
  • Dec 26 - Jan 04
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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10 days
9 nights
26 meals
9 B 8 L 9 D
DAY
1
Arrive to Panama City, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Panama City
D
Radisson Hotel Panama Canal

Activity note: 3:00 p.m. hotel check in. Participants must book flights arriving no later than 4:30 p.m. on this day if planning to attend the 6 p.m. Orientation. Some Road Scholar gateways require the use of overnight flights in order to arrive by the suggested time. Please contact your Road Scholar Program Provider at 1-800-866-7111 or roadscholarprograms@holbrooktravel.com if you plan to arrive a day early and need assistance booking a hotel. See your program’s Getting There note regarding transfers.

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 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. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. 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. Get a good night's rest in preparation for our morning activities.

DAY
2
Casco Viejo, Panama Canal Museum, Free Time
Panama City
B,L,D
Radisson Hotel Panama Canal

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 22 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time throughout the day. Walking up to 2 miles on mostly flat terrain, sidewalks, cobbled stones, some steps. Field trip to the Panama Canal Museum will only include the second floor exhibits.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll learn about the importance of water conservation in Panama during an expert presentation at the hotel. Then we'll board the bus and ride to Casco Viejo, the historic colonial center of the city of Panama, in preparation for a walking field trip led by our Group Leader. A visit to the Panama Canal Museum will cap the experience as we learn about the history of the canal through permanent and visiting exhibits. Casco Viejo showcases the multicultural history of Panama dating back to the 1670s: parks and narrow streets are lined with colorful buildings in a mix of Spanish, French, and early American architectural styles, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Municipal Palace and the National Theater. This eclectic display reflects the city's role as an international trade center and cultural melting pot.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Casco Viejo.

Afternoon: Returning to the bus, we will ride to the Miraflores Visitor Center at the Panama Canal. Once there, we'll accompany our Group Leader on an interpretive walk to experience the center's interactive displays and see the canal locks at work from an observation deck. Concluding our activities we'll ride back to the hotel and have a bit of downtime to cool off at the pool, catch up on your reading, or perhaps rest up before meeting for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Get a good night's rest in preparation for tomorrow's early start.

DAY
3
Partial Canal Transit, Disembark at Gamboa, Summit Garden
Panama City
B,L,D
Radisson Hotel Panama Canal

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time through the day. Partial transit through the Panama Canal lasts approximately 4.5 hours. Walking up to 2 miles on mostly flat, paved paths and sidewalks; some steps. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, sunscreen, repellent, hat.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After an early morning pick up at our hotel we will ride to the Flamenco Marina, located near the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The Group Leader will then direct us to our boat and assist with embarkation procedures. Once we're comfortably settled aboard, the boat will begin a 4.5-hour-long partial transit from Panama City to Gamboa. Our transit will be led by a Canal Commission pilot who will narrate the experience and point out relevant features along the way. In order to conserve precious water resources, our smaller vessel will follow a companion ship through the locks. The transit will take us through Miraflores Lake and Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks, and Gailard/Culebra Cut, before disembarking at Gamboa.

Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: Our bus will waiting to pick us up at Gamboa at the end of the cruise. From the port we will ride to Summit Gardens to visit its Harpy Eagle Center. Our Group Leader will offer expert commentary as we set off on foot to view exhibits showcasing Panama's endangered Harpy Eagle as well as other native wildlife. Before becoming a public park in 1957, Summit Gardens was a tropical botany and horticulture research garden administered by the US Government. Since then, Summit has evolved into a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and education center as well as a botanical garden. In fact, one of the park's star attractions is its Harpy Eagle Center devoted to Panama's national bird. The Harpy (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest raptors in the world, with wingspans measuring up to 6.5 feet and strong claws that can grab and carry prey weighing as much as its own body weight! It has been suggested that a Harpy Eagle served as inspiration for the feisty hippogriff featured in the popular Harry Potter films. After seeing the exhibit, what do you think? After concluding our activities at Summit, we will board the bus and ride back to our hotel for free time. This might be a good time to relax by the pool, take a stroll along the water front, or do some independent explorations.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare luggage for check out and transfer the following day.

DAY
4
Amador Causeway, Biomuseo, Punta Chame, Stargazing
Punta Chame
B,L,D
Hotel Punta Chame Villas

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 70 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time throughout the day. Biking on a paved causeway about 3.5 miles, approximately 20 minutes cycling. Walking up to 2 miles on mostly flat, paved surfaces; some steps. Wear comfortable clothes, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, repellent; bring a water bottle.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we'll take a short ride to a local bike shop, select our gear and accompany the Group Leader on a biking field trip to Punta Culebra via the Amador Causeway. This raised road passes in front of our hotel and connects the mainland to three small islands in the Bay of Panama: Naos, Perico, and Flamenco. The causeway serves as a breakwater that helps to break and deflect waves entering the Panama Canal from the Pacific. An interesting historical fact: during WW II, the U.S. military used the causeway's strategic location to stage anti-aircraft artillery and fend off potential enemy attacks on the Canal. Once we reach Punta Culebra we will head to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), park our bikes, then set off on foot with our Group Leader and a Smithsonian staff member on an interpretive walk through the research station exhibits. During our visit we'll become familiar with the marine environments found in Panama and learn about the migration of species between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. We'll also stop to check out remnants of U.S. military installations left behind on Punta Culebra after WW II. At the end of our visit we'll trade in our bicycles for an air conditioned bus and drive back to the hotel to freshen up. Then we'll check out of our hotel, load the bus, and ride to our lunch location.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We'll return to the bus and ride to the BioMuseo in preparation for our next field trip. Under our Group Leader's direction we'll explore the museum's interactive and multi-media exhibits to uncover the science behind the formation of the Isthmus of Panama and its crucial role in facilitating biodiversity throughout the Americas. The colorful, eye-catching architecture of the museum is the creation of internationally acclaimed architect Frank Gehry. In addition to permanent and temporary exhibits, the museum also features a public atrium and a botanical park. Concluding our activities, we'll return to the bus and transfer to Punta Chame. On the way to the hotel, our Group Leader will provide a short bus orientation of Punta Chame so we can familiarize ourselves with the area.Then we'll proceed to the hotel for check in and enjoy a bit of time to settle into our rooms before meeting for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: After dinner we'll meet our Group Leader outside, on hotel grounds, to practice our stargazing skills with the help of an astronomy app.

DAY
5
Sea Turtle Conservation, Artisanal Fishing, Beach Patrol
Punta Chame
B,L,D
Hotel Punta Chame Villas

Activity note: Early morning, pre-breakfast turtle conservation activity on the beach; coffee/tea and fruit at hotel before activity; walking about 300 yards each way on mostly flat, paved paths and sand. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour total riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles on sandy terrain throughout the day. Hat, sunscreen and water bottle suggested.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Early at the hotel, we'll meet our Group Leader and a member of a local conservation group then walk together to the nearby beach. Once there we'll learn about sea turtle ecology and ongoing efforts to protect olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that annually nest at Punta Chame. Then we'll head back to the hotel for breakfast and to get ready for our next field trip. Following a short ride to a nearby fishing village, we will meet a resident who practices artisanal fishing for a living. During our visit we will learn about the best practices of small-scale fishing plus get some hands-on net casting lessons!

Lunch: At a restaurant in the village.

Afternoon: Ride the bus back to the hotel or return on foot along the beach. Free time.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We'll accompany a local conservationist on a short walk from the hotel to the beach in preparation for a nighttime beach patrol in search of nesting sea turtles. No flashlights and flash photography allowed during this activity. Olive ridley turtles generally nest at Punta Chame from early May through December. However, the nesting season can fluctuate from year to year due to major weather events such as hurricanes and El Niño as well as from human interference. Every year, olive ridleys come ashore en masse to nest along the beach in an event called an arribada (ah-ree-BAH-dah). Females lay about 110 eggs per clutch (nest) and the incubation period can take anywhere from 45 to 60 days. Despite being protected by Panamanian law, sea turtles face continuous threats from illegal hunting, pollution, and loss of habitat due to urban development.

DAY
6
Boat to Isla Otoque, Snorkeling, Evening Bonfire
Punta Chame
B,L,D
Hotel Punta Chame Villas

Activity note: Getting in/out of a motorboat with covered top, riding about 2 hours round trip. Snorkeling equipment provided during activity; bathing suit, sunscreen, rash guard, and water shoes or sport strap sandals suggested.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: From the hotel we will ride to a nearby beach, disembark, and make our way on foot to the docked motorboat for embarkation. Once settled aboard, we will begin our cruise into the Gulf of Panama. We'll navigate around Isla Bona and Isla Estiva to view Brown Pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, frigates and other sea birds that inhabit the wildlife refuge. We'll also remain vigilant for dolphin pods, stingrays, sea turtles, and other marine life in the area (humpback whales migrate in July-September). Next, we'll sail to Isla Otoque and disembark at the beach. We will explore local trails with our Group Leader and snorkel from the beach before heading into the fishing village for lunch.

Lunch: At Otoque community.

Afternoon: We'll return to the boat and begin navigating back to Punta Chame, remaining vigilant for possible sightings of dolphins and pelagic birds. Following our disembarkation at the beach at Punta Chame, we'll board our bus and ride back to hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to do whatever interests you most.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We'll celebrate our last evening at Punta Chame with a beach bonfire. Prepare luggage for check out.

DAY
7
Transfer to Gamboa, Chorrera
Gamboa
B,L,D
Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 70 miles, approximately 2 - 2.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles on mostly flat, paved terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Following our late-morning check out, we'll board the bus and begin our transfer to Gamboa. En route we'll stop at La Chorrera city and walk around its commercial center for some cultural exploration. Our Group Leader will point out areas of interest and provide context to what is happening around us as we observe residents going about their daily lives. La Chorrera city is located about 20 miles southwest of Panama City. The vibrant community is becoming increasingly popular among middle/working class families seeking more affordable living conditions outside of Panama City.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Reboard the bus and continue the transfer to our hotel. Once we reach the hotel we will check in and settle into our rooms to relax until our next activity. Late afternoon we'll regroup at the hotel for an expert presentation on the ethnic background and cultural traditions of Panama's people.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
8
Embera Village, How to Use Binoculars
Gamboa
B,L,D
Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Getting in/out of motorized canoes; navigating approximately 20 minutes each way. Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 2 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: We’ll ride the bus to a local dock then board motorized dugout canoes 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 canoes and make our way back to where the bus awaits to take us to the hotel. Later in the afternoon we'll join our Group Leader in the hotel gardens to practice using binoculars and a scope in preparation for tomorrow's nature field trip at Pipeline Road.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: After dinner we'll join our Group Leader in a sensory experience on the hotel grounds as we try to identify nature sounds. When night falls, the surrounding rainforest comes alive with sound as nocturnal insects, frogs, birds, and other creatures become active.

DAY
9
Pipeline Road, Rainforest Discovery Center, Sloth Sanctuary
Gamboa
B,L,D
Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Activity note: Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 6 miles, approximately 1/2 hour total riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles on mostly flat forest trails and paved paths. Ascending/descending 174 steps with railing; tower has resting/observation platforms every 26 feet. Wear a hat, closed-toed tennis shoes, sunscreen, repellent, binoculars.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After boarding the bus we'll take a short ride to Pipeline Road, disembark, then set off on foot with our Group Leader in search of resident wildlife. Our walk will take us as far as the Rainforest Discovery Center where we'll stop to view the variety of hummingbirds that visit the feeders. Then we'll walk to the park's 104-foot tall Discovery Tower and climb the steps to its various levels to get a different perspective of the forest and its inhabitants. At the end of our explorations we'll hop on our waiting bus and ride back to the hotel.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: We'll ride to the Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary to learn about sloths and the sanctuary's work as a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center during an interpretive walk led by our Group Leader. Best of all, we'll be able to get some close up views of the rescued two-toed and three-toed that are currently in residence! The Sloth Sanctuary is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation project run by the Asociacion Panamericana Para La Conservacion (APPC). The sanctuary aims to treat and rehabilitate rescued animals in preparation for their release back into the wild. Loss of habitat and urban development expose sloths to all kinds of dangers including car traffic, power lines, illegal pet trade, and even dogs. Once we conclude our activities we will ride back to the hotel and enjoy some independent time to relax and enjoy the hotel amenities or perhaps get started on our packing.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a farewell meal. Share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Say farewells and prepare for departure in the morning.

DAY
10
Program Concludes
In Flight
B

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

Breakfast: At the hotel (dependent on flight times). This concludes our program. 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 another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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