Canal with a boat docked in Panama

A Taste of Panama: Canal, Rainforest, and Culture

Trip Dates: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 - Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Leader Name:  Darin Croft, Professor of Anatomy, CWRU

Trip Pricing: 

  • Double occupancy $3,499 per person 
  • Single Supplement $480

Trip Details & Highlights

ourney to the “Crossroads of the World” for a comprehensive introduction to Panama’s fascinating history, culture, and natural heritage. Explore both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of the country as you learn about the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal. Discover its past, present, and future during a partial transit. Meanwhile, you’ll also go beyond the canal and delve deeper into the country’s indigenous heritage, its colonial legacy, and its vital role in shaping the flora and fauna of the Americas as we know them today. You will:

  • Uncover Panama’s role as an international trade center and cultural melting pot in the historical district of Casco Viejo.
  • Make a partial canal transit, passing under the Bridge of the Americas and Centenario Bridgeand viewing the elaborate lock system in action.
  • Learn about the geological origins, natural history, and ecological effects of the Panamanian isthmus at the Frank Gehry-designed BioMuseo.
  • Kayak on Lake Gatún, a man-made lake 85 feet above sea level.
  • Meet members of the indigenous Emberá tribe and learn about their history, traditions, and culture.
  • Observe tropical flora and fauna during a hike and aerial tram ride through Soberanía Nation

Contact Information


Luminary Society Members

CWRU’s Luminary Society members may receive additional discounts on CWRU Educational Travel programs. For further information on Luminary Society travel discounts only, please contact The Office of Strategic Giving at 216.368.4460.