10 Days
Biocultural Experience
Mamoní 3 nights - Las Margaritas 1 night - Gunayala 2 nights - Panama City 3 nights
Embark on a 10-day journey through Panama, tracing its evolution from untamed wilderness to vibrant urban life. Begin at a unique rainforest campus, learning rainforest ecology while on hikes, and biophilic designs when harvesting bamboo. Enjoy a hands-on culinary workshop. Travel to the Caribbean islands of Gunayala, where you’ll immerse in indigenous traditions, spear fish invasive lionfish hiding in vibrant reefs, and explore the unique contrasts between island and mainland communities. Visit Portobelo, where Afro-Caribbean culture, pirate legends, and turquoise waters converge. Conclude in Panama City’s heritage site, from where you’ll explore iconic engineering feats, discoveries of science, marvels of architecture, and rich history to Panama’s dynamic evolution.
Day 10
Wrap up with a visit to STRI’s Punta Culebra center to explore interactive exhibits and outdoor trails showcasing Panama’s rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Learn about conservation efforts, observe marine life in touch pools, and uncover the fascinating ecological connections between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, concluding an unforgettable biocultural adventure!
Itinerary
Day 1
Travel to the Geoversity Mamoní Rainforest Campus, a living model of sustainability and biophilic design. Explore its innovative practices and prepare for the biocultural journey ahead.
Day 2
Discover this global top 25 eco-hotspot with workshops highlighting rainforest ecology and its geographic significance. Hike to the continental divide with your systems thinking "lenses", then float into a bamboo boat-building biomimicry inspired workshop.
Day 3
Learn sustainability practices from local experts through biophilic design using appropriate tech with bamboo harvesting and curing. Enjoy an afternoon at the Mamoní River’s pristine waterfalls and natural plunge pools.
Day 4
Get hands-on culinary workshop making tamales from fresh, harvested ingredients, to be enjoyed over lunch. Travel to Las Margaritas de Chepo for some rest along the banks of the lower Mamoní river.
Day 5
Explore Gunayala's San Blas coast and islands. Experience with locals their island community and culture. Learn about their governance in the semi-autonomous region. Workshops on marine ecosystems, and help remove invasive lionfish.
Day 6
Journey through a hidden mangrove passage and hike to a remote Guna community once in the shadows of a secret US military base. Observe the life-style differences between island and mainland communities. Support community projects, meet village elders and discover traditional survival techniques far from modern civilization. You might eat something new here!
Day 7
Return to Panama City and settle for the remainder of the program in the UNESCO site of Casco Viejo. Explore its colonial charm and uncover its rich historical and cultural heritage.
Day 8
Travel to Portobelo to experience Afro-Caribbean culture, Congo dances, pirate lore, mangroves, coral reefs, and azure waterways.
Day 9
Begin your journey at the striking Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo, where Panama’s rich biodiversity and cultural history come to life. Visit the awe-inspiring Panama Canal, a marvel of modern engineering that reshaped global trade. Finally, head to Gatun Lake to fish for invasive species like peacock bass while spotting wildlife such as capuchins, toucans, and caimans in its hidden corners.