World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism in Panama:
Celebrating the Centennial of the Panama Canal

October 28 – November 5, 2014 (9 days)

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Ethical Traveler and AltruVistas present World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism in Panama: Celebrating the Centennial of the Panama Canal, a journey to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Panama Canal and to celebrate the country’s Independence Day. Along the way, we meet and speak with locals, NGOs and government organizations to gain a broad understanding of contemporary Panama’s economic and sustainable development policies that make this country one of Central America’s most stable and prosperous nations.

Renowned as one of the most complex engineering feats in the world, the completion of the Panama Canal in 1904 served as a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and greatly reduced passenger and cargo vessel sailing time while significantly increasing trade between the two hemispheres. A highlight of our journey is a full-day cruise on the Panama Canal, traveling from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean on the same day. Additionally, we meet with representatives of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to learn the complex political history of the Canal’s construction and its current and future development plans.

Leading up to the country’s Independence Day celebrations, we speak with local historians and groups to gain a first hand understanding of the city’s Spanish colonial history, independence from Columbia, and its emergence as a financial hub for the region. Some of the groups we’re scheduled to meet include, Arco Properties and San Felipe Inmobiliaria to learn about the master plan to restore and preserve Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Fundacion Calicanto’s CAPTA (Capacitacion para el Trabajo) project, a vocational program training local women for the hotel and tourism industry; and Aprojusan (Asosiacion Pro Juventud de San Felipe), an organization focused on social services for youth. Also on our agenda is a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism to discuss the impact of the tourism industry in Panama.

Our tour completes with a guided hike through Soberania National Park, a tropical rainforest bordering the Panama Canal watershed and visiting Fundacion Avifauna Eugene Eisenman Panama, home to almost 1,000 species of birds.

Co-sponsored* by Ethical Traveler and AltruVistas, World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism in Panama, Celebrating the Centennial of the Panama Canal, adheres to the highest responsible tourism practices and aims to support and economically benefit local communities we visit while concurrently promoting cross-cultural understanding between visitors and locals.

Tour Prices:

10-12 participants | $2810 per person
13-16 participants | $2700 per person

Single rooms are available for an additional $500. If you are a single traveler, we will try to match you with another solo traveler of the same sex for twin share accommodations.

Group Size:

10-16 participants

Register for tour:

Please download and complete AltruVistas’ booking form then return the completed registration form with your deposit to AltruVistas. If you have any questions about the tour or registration process, please contact Malia Everette.

For pictures of Ethical Traveler’s past Cuba trips, please visit our Facebook page.

*World Heritage and Sustainable Development in Panama: Celebrating the Centennial of the Panama Canal’s itinerary was developed in collaboration by Ethical Traveler and  AltruVistas.  Tour registration and all trip logistics and facilitation are handled by AltruVistas.

Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control such as weather; road conditions; and flight, train and boat schedules.