Grit and Glory: Exposing the Panama Canal
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Learn about the history of the Panama Canal during exclusive boat transit.
- Witness the workings of the busy Miraflores and Gatun Locks and the Alajuela Dam.
- Admire the eclectic architecture of Casco Viejo — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — during a walking exploration of its cobblestone streets.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
- 2024
- 2025
- Jan 10 - Jan 15
- Jan 17 - Jan 22
- Jan 24 - Jan 29
- Feb 07 - Feb 12
- Feb 14 - Feb 19
- Mar 07 - Mar 12
- Mar 14 - Mar 19
- Apr 04 - Apr 09
- May 09 - May 14
- Aug 22 - Aug 27
- Sep 19 - Sep 24
- Oct 03 - Oct 08
- Oct 17 - Oct 22
- Nov 07 - Nov 12
- Dec 05 - Dec 10
- 2024
- 2025
- Jan 10 - Jan 15
- Jan 17 - Jan 22
- Jan 24 - Jan 29
- Feb 07 - Feb 12
- Feb 14 - Feb 19
- Mar 07 - Mar 12
- Mar 14 - Mar 19
- Apr 04 - Apr 09
- May 09 - May 14
- Aug 22 - Aug 27
- Sep 19 - Sep 24
- Oct 03 - Oct 08
- Oct 17 - Oct 22
- Nov 07 - Nov 12
- Dec 05 - Dec 10
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. This is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled. There will be a Road Scholar notice board in the hotel lobby. See your program’s "Getting There" section regarding transfers.
Afternoon: Check in and settle into rooms. Free time.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately ½ hour riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles; paved, mostly flat surfaces; some stair climbing and standing.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Orientation 8:15 a.m. 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 on our program feature local cuisine. Transfers to/from program activities will be by air-conditioned bus (about 5 steps) unless specified otherwise. 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. We'll then 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’ll board the bus and ride back to the hotel. Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. In the late afternoon we will meet at the hotel for an expert presentation on the past, present, and future of the Panama Canal with a special look at its administrative models and economic impacts.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 85 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. Moving on to Las Cruces Trail National Park, we'll make a brief stop to see the trailhead and learn about the historical connection between the trail and the California Gold Rush. We’ll then make stops to observe and discuss some of the work that was recently done to expand the Canal. 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.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We’ll board the bus and begin our journey southward to Panama City. En route we’ll stop and disembark at the French Cemetery to view its granite monument and learn from our Group Leader about the role of the French immigrant workers—mostly from Caribbean colonies—who labored under grueling conditions during the initial stages of the Panama Canal excavations. Then we will ride on to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center and 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 local restaurant.
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 120 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time throughout the day. Walking up to 1 mile; unpaved, undulating nature trails; some standing and stair climbing. After a morning check out, luggage will be transported directly to the hotel in Panama City; our bags will be waiting in our rooms once we arrive.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We'll check out then set out by bus on a field trip to the New Locks Visitor Center/Agua Clara Locks to learn about the expansion of the Canal, including a video on the expansion project and construction of the new locks in addition to pictures of various stages, and seeing the locks at work. Next, we'll return to our bus and ride 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: Picnic lunch at Fort San Lorenzo.
Afternoon: After lunch we’ll explore Fort San Lorenzo with our Group Leader and learn about 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. Once we reboard the bus, we will ride through Colon to view some of its historic sites before beginning our scenic bus transfer to Panama City. Our journey back to the capital will follow parallel to the railway line that paved the way for the construction of Panama's transoceanic canal. We will check in at the hotel and freshen up before meeting for dinner.
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!