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BOCAS DEL TORO BIOLOGICAL STATIONBeach

Location
The Bocas del Toro ("mouths of the bull") Biological Station is located on the north end of Isla Colón in an area known as Boca del Drago ("mouth of the dragon"). Isla Colón is the northern-most of five large islands and hundreds of smaller ones that form the Bocas del Toro Archipelago (Map 1). Set in Almirante Bay on the Caribbean side of western Panama, this collection of islands is sometimes referred to as the "Galapagos of Central America". This is because, after having been isolated for 10,000 years by geologic activity, each of the islands has evolved its own unique biota.

Bluff BeachIsla Colón. Named for Christopher Columbus who sailed into this region in 1502, Isla Colón is approximately 14 km long and 7 km wide. Isla Colón is composed primarily of limestone, and has a hilly topography supporting primary and secondary tropical rain forest. This island has a 5 km beach (Bluff Beach) on its east side, mangroves on its west side, and caves in the interior. Bluff Beach is one of the important sea turtle nesting grounds in the archipelago. Isla Colón has the highest human population in the archipelago, with most individuals living in the town of Bocas del Toro located on the far side of the island from our facility. The culture is primarily Afro-Caribbean but with important input from Latino, Chinese and the indigenous Ngöbe people as well. Spanish is the "official" language but English is commonly spoken. Many Ngöbe speak only their native dialect. There are only two roads on the island, both originating in the town of Bocas. One road travels along the eastern margin of the island to Bluff Beach and the other cuts through the island's interior to Boca del Drago, where our facility is located (Map 2).

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Town of Bocas del Toro. This provincial seat of about 5000 is located 35 minutes by bus and 25 minutes by boat from the field station. Bocas del Toro has many amenities including hotels and pensions, restaurants, bakeries, vegetable markets, parks, a bank, ATM machines, hospital, dentists, police and fire departments, bars, beaches, dive shops, bicycle and scooter rentals, and an airport providing daily service to Panama City. Bocas del Toro can be accessed by air (1 hr), from the mainland city of Almirante by ferry (1 hr) or by water taxi (30 min). Bocas del Toro residents are very friendly and thousands of tourists visit here yearly.

BeachSouth of Isla Colón lies Isla Bastimentos ("place for provisioning") which is home to Bastimentos National Marine Park. This park covers an area of 13,226 ha and was primarily established to protect the abundant coral reefs in the region, but protects a swath of the island's interior as well. The most spectacular coral reefs occur near Zapatilla Cays, which lie to the south of Isla Bastimentos. Isla Bastimentos' geology is similar to Isla Colón's, with a hilly interior, mangroves on the west side and a 6 km beach (Playa Larga) on its east side. The remaining large islands are Isla Solarte, Isla Cristóbal, Isla Popa, and Isla Cayo Agua. Isla Popa has the largest Ngöbe population of any of the islands in the group. An additional interesting site is spectacular Bird Island, a protected nesting place for brown-headed boobies and red-billed tropicbirds, among other species.

Just northwest of Isla Colón, across the Bocas del Drago inlet, lies a region of Panama's mainland known as the San San Pondsak National Preserve.  This Raphia palm swamp preserve is about 40,000 acres in size.  The Soropta Canal runs along its eastern edge from Almirante Bay at the base of the Soropta Peninsula to the Changuinola River 15 miles to the north and then continues to the San San River. The preserve is home to a myriad of animals including manatees, peccaries, caiman, crocodiles, poison dart frogs, four species of sea turtles and many species of birds.  The Soropta Canal was built in the late 1880s by the United Fruit Company (later Chiquita) and used to ferry bananas from Changuinola to Boca del Drago where they were loaded onto waiting ships.

BocasRegional Climate. Bocas del Toro lies 9 degrees above the equator in the wet tropical zone (Holdridge Life Zone scheme). The average annual rainfall and temperature are 4000 mm and 30°C (86°F) respectively. In general, the wet season (invierno) extends from May to December and dry season (vierno) from January to April. However, rain occurs at all times of the year, only less in the dry season.

Bocas del Toro Biological Field Station

The Bocas del Toro Biological Station consists of a series of buildings located near Ground Creek in Boca del Drago, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Republic of Panama. (Maps 1 and 2).  This field facility was built on a small hill directly between tropical rainforest and marine habitats. Terrestrial habitats include primary and secondary forests, marshes, swamps, streams, pastures and low impact beaches. Marine habitats include mangrove forests, turtle grass beds, coral reefs, and estuaries. Additional habitats accessible from the station include lakes and ponds, Limestone caves, rocky inter-tidal zones and high impact beaches. See (Ecosystems) for details regarding area ecosystems and habitats.

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Station Accommodations.The ITEC facility includes several concrete and wood structures including a dormitory sleeping 36 in bunk beds, a kitchen-dining facility seating 60, a dive facility next to our dock and boathouse, and a garage/shop.  The station is situated on a hill 2 min from the forest and 5 min. from our dock on Ground Creek. This facility is accessible either by boat from the Boca del Drago dock (5-10min) or from town (20-30 min).  The station can also be accessed from the paved road to the town of Bocas via a trail (15 min).  The ITEC field station is completely “off the grid”.  Our electricity is supplied by a 20kw diesel generator that generally runs for two hours in the morning and again in the evenings from 6:30-11:00pm. Fresh water comes from rain using a roof catchment system.  Our drinking water is filtered using micropore ceramic filters.  The ITEC station vehicles include a 4x4 pickup, a 4x4 utility vehicle, two canoes and four boats.

The ITEC Field Station is Growing.  Over the next year or two we will add to the existing infrastructure with the construction of a new faculty residence building sleeping 16, and a new laboratory/library/classroom complex.  A garage will be built near the paved road to Bocas and connected to the field station via a narrow gravel road.  Finally, a “rancho” (thatched structure) is planned over the water at “Pete’s Reef” and connected to the field station by way of an elevated walkway.

Sanitary and Laundry Facilities. There is approximately 1 bathroom with shower and toilet for every 8 people.  There is a commercial Laundromat in town that washes and dries for about $4.00/load. Most residents at the station prefer this but washing basins are provided for those who prefer to wash their clothes by hand. There is a 24 hr turnaround for laundry washed in town.  Laundry detergent, soap, toiletries, etc., can be obtained in the town of Bocas.

Dining and Meals.

All meals are provided in an indoor dining area which seats 60. Meals are served buffet style provided at 7:30 am, 12:00 noon, and 6:00 pm.  Breakfasts consist of eggs (scrambled, boiled or fried), pancakes or French toast and always served with fresh fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, papaya, etc.).  Lunches and dinners are ethnically Panamanian, and include meat (chicken, beef or fish) along with a starch (rice, potatoes, yuca), a vegetable (green beans, peas & carrots, cabbage, broccoli or corn) and a salad.  Vegetarian alternatives are provided with each meal.  Bananas are provided when available and other snacks can be purchased at the station store or in town.  Tang, coffee or tea is provided with meals; soft drinks and beer are extra.

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Laboratory. Our laboratory contains a variety of analytical equipment including balances, microfuge, stereo and compound microscopes, dissecting equipment, dial calipers, assorted lab ware, aquaria and pumps, terreria, insect setting and preparation equipment, plant drying boxes, herbarium and insect cabinets, Berlese funnels, tool boxes, etc. A partial list of field equipment includes Pesola scales, sling psychometer, thermometers, 30m and 50m tape measures, spherical densiometers, dip nets, seines, surveyor's flags, flagging, insect nets, UV light, plant shears, plant presses, etc.  Please note that our new lab is currently under construction but that the equipment is available nonetheless.

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Library. The main library contains 2000+ volumes and several hundred reprints covering a wide variety of topics.  A printer, scanner and photocopy machine, slide, overhead, and digital projectors, chart-preparation materials, etc. are also available.  Internet WiFi is available at the field station and in town.

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Research Opportunities in the Region

There are many opportunities for long-term research in the region. The number of distinct habitats is very large and include terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial habitats include florally-diverse tropical wet forest, riparian zones, Raphia/Symphonia swamps and pastures in varying degrees of openness (some are savanna-like). Except for jaguars and tapirs, which have been extirpated from the island, these forests support the same basic fauna as the mainland, including monkeys, sloths, cats, and rodents, and a very diverse bird, reptile, amphibian and insect fauna. Freshwater habitats include vernal pools, streams, marshes, swamps, and ponds which support a diverse fish fauna. Two riverine systems also occur in our area (Soropta Canal and Banana River) and are home to a myriad of wading birds. Marine habitats include soft and hard coral reefs, turtle grass (Thalassia) beds, high and low impact beaches, rocky intertidals, mangrove forests and estuaries. Isla Colón also has limestone caves which support a number of bat species.  Please see “Species Lists”(Pending).

BocasA unique feature of the archipelago is the opportunity to study isolation effects on microgeographic variation among the larger islands. For example, the dart-poison frog, Oophaga (Dendrobates) pumilio, is red and blue on the mainland, green with black spots on Isla Colón, red and white with black specks on Isla Bastimentos, and blue and black on Isla Popa. Similar genetic variation can be expected in other groups with similar dispersal capabilities.
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The availability of four species of sea turtles (leatherback, green, loggerhead and hawksbill) makes the Bocas del Toro region particularly well suited for their study. Most abundant are the leatherback and hawksbill which both nest and feed in the region. 

There is also opportunity to study the indigenous cultures of Panama. The Ngöbe and Naso cultures are centered in the Bocas del Toro region and several islands support large populations. Other indigenous cultures in Panama include the Emberá and Wonnan of the Darién, and the very colorful Kuna of the San Blas Islands. The Kuna make the Panamanian mola, a reverse appliqué cloth tapestry that has become famous worldwide.

Is Panama Safe?

As is always true when going abroad, certain precautions are necessary when traveling in Panama. The standard of living in Bocas del Toro is quite high (for a developing nation) with very little poverty.  Unlike Panama City, you will not see beggars in the streets.  However, you will need to be vigilant in Panama City when you arrive.  Like any large international city, pickpockets and thieves present a threat. Never leave your bags unattended for even a moment. ??

Although Panama has had a tumultuous political history brought about by the removal of General Manuel Noriega in 1989 by U.S. intervention, this small country now boasts a stable democracy that has continued through several successive elections. Many U.S. companies have operated in Panama since the turn of the century.  Moreover, the Smithsonian Institution (STRI) has maintained several field stations in Panama for decades without interruption, including those on Barro Colorado Island in the Canal Zone and in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Panama boasts of being one of the most progressive and modern counties in Latin America and welcomes over 2 million foreign visitors each year.

Emergencies. All participants are required to immediately report to faculty or staff any sickness or injury. Delays in doing so may prolong or complicate your recuperation period, impair your ability to actively participate in the course, and limit you and other participants' opportunity to complete research projects.  The field station maintains an emergency first aid kit.  This kit contains typical items for dealing with minor cuts, stings, contact dermatitis, and contains a variety of band-aids, analgesics, antibiotics, antifungals, etc.  We also have direct communication with the well-equipped hospital in Bocas and an emergency evacuation vehicle is available at the field station at all times. Travel time from the station to the hospital is 30 min. by car and 25 min. by boat.  If necessary, emergency flights to Panama City are possible from the airport in Bocas.  There are poisonous snakes in the islands of the archipelago though they are seldom seen.  Generally, snakes pose no significant threat to our work or safety because they tend to avoid areas often traveled by people such as our trail system. However, in case of a venomous snakebite, the Bocas hospital maintains supplies of polyvalent antivenin.

Vaccinations. Please consult your doctor or public health service regarding vaccinations and medicines for travel in Panama. You and your doctor can make the most informed decisions based on your medical history.  Malaria and dengue are rare in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.

General Health.

Because fieldwork in the tropics can be physically demanding, it is essential that we are aware of your current physical condition and previous medical history.  You will need to provide information regarding your current state of physical health and a list of all prescription medication being taken.  Please answer all health related questions on the application. A certified medical examination from a physician is not required.Bocas
If you have any special allergies or conditions which that result in sudden illness (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, potential for severe allergic reaction, etc.) you must inform the faculty during the first day of orientation. This will enable all necessary personnel to be familiar with your medical needs.  In addition, if you require any special medication (e.g., epipen, insulin, etc), you must bring an adequate supply.  All prescription medication should be kept in their original bottles with the proper labels indicating dosage.  Do not pack medication in your suitcase because checked luggage might be lost by the airlines. Keep all medication in your carry-on baggage while traveling.

Medical Insurance. ITEC provides no health or accident insurance. All participants are therefore required to have active medical insurance while enrolled in a program at the field station. Consult your insurance carrier regarding specific coverage.  Many health insurance policies have very limited coverage outside the United States or Canada and student health insurance may not extend through the summer months. Most universities will allow students to continue their coverage over the summer at low cost.
It is possible to purchase low-cost medical insurance (typically less than $50 per month) for students traveling overseas.  One such company is called HTH Worldwide Insurance Services.  Their policy provides protection for students and scholars in international educational activities and includes hospital, medication and medical evacuation benefits. For more information on this provider, call 1-800-394-2500 or write to: International Group Services, 12900 Federal Systems Park Drive, Suite 2-A, Fairfax, VA 22033. Also check with Council Travel (STA), a nonprofit, student-based travel agency that provides health and accident insurance to members. Call 1-888-COUNCIL for more information. (Note: We provide this information for your benefit and ITEC is not affiliated with these organizations). You can also buy travel insurance from some airlines. Please bring your Medical Insurance Registration Card and claim forms with you to Panama.
Please note that your tuition payment cannot be used to pay for any medical care you may require while in Panama. All participants are responsible for paying medical costs whether or not you are covered by your insurance. You should carry about $50-$100, separate from your other funds, in case you require the services of a local clinic or doctor for minor illness or medication.  Currently, Panama provides a free 30-day $20,000 emergency healthcare policy for all visitors that arrive to Panama through Tocumen International Airport.  However, only private hospitals currently take part in this program and this service could change without notice.

BocasA Final Note. In order to maintain our integrity as a conservation organization, we ask that all program participants conduct themselves in a manner that reflects our conservation ethic. Actions that are contrary to these ideals, such as eating sea turtles or their eggs, hunting wildlife, causing deforestation or littering, jeopardize our legitimacy locally and at home. Participants should also bear in mind that each of us represents not only ITEC, but our respective countries as well, and should conduct ourselves in a befitting manner.

ITEC Education Program

Field Courses. ITEC offers field courses at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station during the summer and over winter break. Summer Sessions are approximately four-weeks (26 days) in duration. Winter session is three-weeks (21 days) in duration. These courses are available to all college students, postbachs, graduate students or faculty. For liability reasons, participants in all ITEC courses and programs must be at least 18 years of age.

Course Size. Courses are limited to a maximum of 15 students each. Teaching Assistants (TAs) are provided to courses having more than nine students enrolled. Course professors have a Ph.D. in their area of study, and TAs are pursuing Masters or Ph.D. degrees minimally.

BocasStudent Statement and Letter. Along with the application, each student is required to submit: 1) a brief statement of interest (limit 1 typed page) that provides information on academic background and interests, purpose for taking the field course, and goals to be achieved by participating in the course, and, 2) a letter of recommendation from the student's academic advisor or sponsor for the course. This letter should be confidential and sent in a sealed envelope independently or with the student's application materials. These letters may be provided to course instructors for final evaluation.

Obtaining Credit. ITEC is a private institution and not directly affiliated with any university. Therefore, ITEC cannot issue academic credit directly. However, most universities have various mechanisms that allow students to obtain credit for field courses taken away from campus. These are often called "independent study" courses. If you are going to take the course for credit you must arrange this through your professor or academic advisor and university. We recommend you do this prior to coming to Panama. The ITEC course instructor or ITEC administrator will provide an official grade transcript to the students academic institution or advisor. The student will be responsible for providing direct evidence of participation such as lecture notes, proposals, reports, exams, etc. Normally, up to six units of credit are awarded for each course, three for the lecture portion and three for the field portion. Beach

Refund Policy. If you withdraw from your course within 30 days before the course starting date, all deposits and tuition will be completely refunded. If you withdraw from your course less than 30 days before the start of your course, only the portion of your tuition used for lodging, meals and local transportation ($500) will be refunded. This policy is necessary because enrollment numbers at 30 days prior to the start of each course are used to determine the hiring of faculty, teaching assistants, program directors and staff. Thus, we will have to expend your share of these tuition cost regardless of whether you attend. Students wishing to withdraw late may use their tuition towards another ITEC course in a subsequent session or year. If ITEC cancels a course, all deposits and tuition will be completely refunded, or students may transfer to different courses, subsequent session or year.

Course Cancellation Policy. ITEC reserves the right to cancel a course up to within 30 days of the course starting date due to insufficient enrollment (five students minimally). Courses may be canceled at any time as a result of accident or severe illness of the instructor (when no replacement can be found).

Cloud Forest Trips. To take advantage of other nearby tropical ecosystems, there will a field trip to Pacific-side tropical dry forest and to the cloud forests of Volcan Barú. At 3,475m (11,000 ft), this volcanic peak is the highest in Panama. This trip is three days and two nights in duration and includes a stay in the town of Boquete, and excursions to hot springs and to pre-Columbian petroglyphs. Transportation and hotel costs are included in your tuition. Food costs for this 3-day trip are the responsibility of the student and average about $10 per day.

Schedule of Field Courses for 2013-2014

Session
Course Title
Instructor
Winter
Dec. 20 - Jan 9
Dr. Peter N. Lahanas
-Institute for Trop. Eco. and Conserv.
Prof. Joe Maher
-Tree Climbers Coalition
  Tropical Ethnobotany TBA
  Prof. Joe Maher
-Tree Climbers Coalition
..

Dr. Alain Houle
-Harvard University &
College Jean de la Mennais

..
Coral Reef Ecology*

TBA

Summer-A
May 15-Jun 9
MOVED TO SUMMER B
 
Primate Ecology

FULL

 
Coral Reef Ecology

FULL

Summer-B
Jun 15-Jul 10
Dr. Al Beulig Ph.D.
-New College, Sarasota, Florida
  Dr. Barry Sullender
-University of Houston
Prof. Joe Maher
-Tree Climbers Coalition
. Jackson L. Frechette Ph.D. Candidate
-University of Florida
  Prof. Joe Maher
-Tree Climbers Coalition
. Dr. Peter N. Lahanas,
-Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation
Summer-C
Jul 15-Aug 9

TBA

 

TBA

.. Dr. Montserrat Rios, Ph.D.
- Quito, Ecuador
  Dr. Peter N. Lahanas,
-Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation
  Prof. Joe Maher
-Tree Climbers Coalition
 
Coral Reef Ecology*
Dr. Mary K. Hart, Ph.D.
-University of Florida

Course Tuition

4-Week Summer Sessions:
$2050
.
3-Week Winter Session:
$1850

* A lab fee required for these courses, See individual course descriptions for details.

Schedule of Sessions and Deadlines

Session Session Period Registration Deadline
Winter 2013 Dec. 20 - Jan 9 inclusive November 20, 2013
Summer A May 15-June 9 inclusive April 15, 2013
Summer B June 15-July 10 inclusive May 15, 2013
Summer C July 15-Aug. 9 inclusive June 15, 2013

Course tuition includes registration, room and board at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station, and local transportation. Tuition fee does not cover air fare or hotel costs to and from Bocas del Toro, Panama, emergency medical costs, soft drinks, beer, or incidental travel unrelated to courses.

Important: If you are applying for a field course, Please include a $100 registration fee/deposit when your application is submitted. Your application will not be processed until this deposit is received. The registration fee/deposit will be applied to your tuition and is refundable to within 30 days of the course starting date. All payments must be in U.S. Currency. Make checks payable to ITEC.
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Tuition must be received by registration deadlines. Please note that ITEC reserves the right to cancel a course if student enrollment is less than five at the date of the registration deadline.

Passports. You are required to have a valid passport to travel to Panama.  A visa is not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter Panama, and you can stay of up to 180 days.  If you are not traveling on a U.S. or Canadian passport, please check with the Panamanian Embassy in your country for further information.
If you do not have a passport or need to renew yours, contact your local passport office or post office for an application. Apply for your passport early as it may require up to several weeks to process.

Getting to the Bocas del Toro Biological Station

There are several ways to reach Bocas del Toro. You may either fly directly to Bocas del Toro from Panama City ($260 RT), or take a direct bus from Panama City ($60 RT).  From Costa Rica it is possible to travel by bus from San Jose to Bocas.  For seasoned Latin American travelers, traveling by bus from San Jose may be the cheapest, but see cautions below. For newcomers, ITEC recommends that you fly directly to Panama City, and then to Bocas del Toro.

There is one national airline providing regular service to Bocas del Toro, Air Panama. They will accept reservations and credit card payment on the web.

Important Schedule your travel so that you arrive in the town of Bocas del Toro in the morning or afternoon on the first day of class. Plan to leave the day after the last day of class.

Session Session Period Arrive Bocas Depart Bocas
Summer A May 15-June 9 May 15, 2013 June 10, 2013
Summer B June 15-July 10 June 15, 2013 July 11, 2013
Summer C July 15-Aug. 9 July 15, 2013 Aug. 10, 2013
Winter December 20-January 9 December 20 January 10

BocasFlight from Panama City. This is the easiest and quickest way to get to Bocas, and ITEC recommends this route. Arrange your international flight to Panama City and then a national flight to Bocas del Toro. You will arrive at the Tocumen International Airport and then, to fly to Bocas, you will need to go to Albrook National Airport (formally called Marcos Gelabert National airport) which is about 30 minutes to an hour from Tocumen. You will probably need to stay over night in Panama City.  There are many moderately priced hotels ($40-$70) near the Albrook National Airport. Most ITEC participants stay at the Hotel Marbella. Amenities at this hotel include AC, TV, pool, restaurant, and the receptionist speaks English.

Bus from Panama City. A direct bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro, via Almirante represents an alternative route. The bus ride takes approximately 10 hours and the cost is about $60 RT.  From Almirante, you will need to take the water taxi to the town of Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón ($4). Contact ITEC for more information concerning this route.

From Costa Rica.  There are two ways of reaching Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica, by air and bus.  Two airlines provide service from San Jose (Alejuela), Air Panama and Nature Air.  The round trip flight costs about $175.  Please contact these airlines for specifics.

If you plan to travel to Bocas by bus from San Jose the entire trip takes from 6-8 hours and there are several steps. Cost will be about $20. You catch the 6:00 am bus to Sixaola at the Caribbean bus terminal in San Jose.  Warning: be very careful here, do not leave your things unattended even for a moment!.  After passing Costa Rican immigration in Sixaola, you cross the bridge over the Sixaola River to Guabito, Panama.  Go through immigration again here and catch a taxi to Almirante ($10-$15) passing the town of Changuinola along the route.  In Almirante, take a water taxi ($4) to Bocas del Toro.  Important note: Panamanian banks will not exchange Costa Rican money (colones).  On the first day of class, meet ITEC personnel at the Bocas del Toro airport.

Arrival in Bocas del Toro. Schedule your travel so that you arrive in the town of Bocas del Toro in the morning or afternoon on the first day of class. On the first day of each session, ITEC personnel will meet incoming students at the Bocas del Toro airport. If you plan to arrive early, there are several very inexpensive hotels and pensions in Bocas (typically, $15-$20 per night). If you plan to arrive via water taxi on the first day of your session, go to the airport to meet ITEC personnel. Please do not plan to arrive at the station earlier than the first day of class.  Plan to leave the day after the last day of class (check schedule above for session dates).  If you need to contact ITEC, call the field station at 507-6624-9246. Beach

Arrange all national (US, Canadian) and international flights through your travel agency. Shop around for the cheapest flight. You can often find the most inexpensive flights online at one of several online travel web sites.  Also, check with Council Travel (1-888-COUNCIL) or Student Travel Association (STA, 1-800-777-0112). Both are student-based travel agencies, which have offices at major universities and can often find you the cheapest fare.

For travel within Panama, ITEC recommends Sendero Panama in Panama City. For a modest fee, this company will meet you at Tocumen International, book your flight to Bocas, make hotel reservations, etc. Contact Mica Gernez Schmidt at Sendero Panama by phone, (011) 507-6429-8163, or by email at: micaelag@senderopanama.com. Finally, make your reservations early and inform ITEC of your travel plans!

Customs.

When entering Costa Rica or Panama and returning, you will pass through "Migración" (immigration) and "Aduana" (customs). You can expect to have your luggage searched. The possession of illegal drugs or other contraband will result in your arrest by the local authorities and immediate expulsion from the course. Remember, you are not in the States or Canada, and your country cannot help you if you break foreign laws.  Penalties for drug possession in Latin American countries are severe. Costa Rica, for example, has a 10 yr. mandatory minimum sentence for the mere possession of marijuana.

What to Bring?

North American Address:

ITEC, Inc.
2911 NW 40th Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
Tel. (352) 367-9128
Fax: (352) 367-0610
E-mail:ITEC@itec-edu.org

Download an APPLICATION!

Other Questions? SEE our FAQ page