Who can come and how big are the crews.
How do I get to Panama, and how much is Airfare?
What are the other costs involved?
What paperwork is required for the Trek?
Do we get a guide for the whole trip?
Do we spend every night in a tent?
Is this a guided tour, wilderness camping, or what?
How much does it cost?
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Unfortunately it does have a cost. If I was Mr. Gates or the Sultan of Brunei, things
might be different, but we’ve got people to pay,
buses to charter, and food and equipment to buy, etc.
Right now, the cost of your basic
10-Day Trek is right at $795 dollars, just a little bit
more than what you might pay for a week in the Florida Keys, but with a whole lot
more adventure.
Compare this to similar experiences like this down here, and you would
be amazed.
Who can come and how big are the crews.
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We're looking for young men and women 14 years old and over. We would like to
work with crews of 12. This being with at least two adult leaders over the age of 21.
This isn't open just for Scouts, but they are of course the ones we have
in mind. If a group of Non-scouts come, they are more than
welcome. But, they should be versed in hiking, camping, canoeing,
and first aid just like any BSA Troop or Crew. Also, all groups,
whether Scouts, Church, School, or other youth groups must abide by the
same principals of Youth Protection.
How do I get to Panama, and how much is Airfare?
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the top]
Panama fortunately has direct flights almost daily from Los Angeles, Houston and
Atlanta (4 hours), and Orlando and Miami (2 ½ hours). New
Jersey also has a route, and others are opening up every day. It’s really not that far away.
The cost? Well that changes quicker than the wind, and depends greatly on the how
much OPEC is charging for a barrel of oil. This all depends on the season and how far out you buy your tickets. We have not negotiated any group rates at this time, but we are working on it. You may be able to work something out on that end.
What are the other costs involved?
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the top]
You’ll need to buy a passport if you don’t already have one and pick up
a $5 dollar
Tourist Card when you get to the airport. Other than that, we cover just about everything from the time you get off the plane in Tocumen International, until you get back on; not counting souvenirs, film, and any snacking that you might want to do
between meals.
Is Panama safe?
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the top]
Wow, this is a loaded question... Is your town safe? Is your grandmother’s town
safe? The answer here is about the same: if you are looking for trouble, you can
usually find it, and if you are looking to avoid it, you generally can. Panama has it’s
places to avoid just like your hometown, but as far as third world countries go, in
particularly within this region, it’s one of the safest. Each day, more and more
retirees from the US, Canada, and Europe are coming to Panama to live for just that
reason (and a few other things like lower cost of living and decent health care).
As to health and critters? Check with your Doctor or HMO. Just like Philmont and
NT have bears, and FSB has Sharks, we’ve got Crocodiles and Caimen. These big
animals just take a little respect, and are not the major source of our worries. It’s the
smallest of the critters that cause the most trouble.
Panama is endemic (I didn’t say epidemic ) for Mosquito borne problems such as
Dengue and Malaria. The Malaria you can begin preparing for in advance, although it
is pretty rare in the area that you will be operating in. More
prevalent is Dengue.
Dengue has no vaccine, only careful prevention through religious applications of Bug
Juice.
You can check with the CDC and the State Dept, and again, with your own Doctors
and HMOs.
One other thing... we don't have to worry about bears! The jaguars chased 'em all off.
What paperwork is required for the Trek?
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the top]
Check with your travel agent. U.S. Citizens are required to have a valid passport.
You’ll be required to purchase a $5 dollar “Tourist Card” which is valid for 30 days .
As to other paperwork for us, you’ll get more details if you are interested, but you
can imagine the same paperwork is required for any other High Adventure Program.
This includes such things as National Trip Requests, Physicals, Releases, Proof of
Insurance, etc.
What about Equipment?
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the top]
If
you or your crew are interested, we can supply a recommended list of
equipment to bring, and what we supply.
The list reads like
most of the other High Adventure Activities, but is much less
complicated. Instead of an internal or external frame backpack,
crews so far have had better luck with day packs (with hydro bladders)
for what touring and hiking we do, and dry packs for the canoe trips.
You'll do more canoeing than hiking, and the hiking we do (in the jungle
and rain forest) is more conducive for day packs than large back packs.
You'll only be hiking with a minimal amount of your gear anyway. Major items will be your own sleeping bag and a good backpacking tent, clothes and personal eating utensils, etc. We provide most all the rest.
We have a good logistics system, so that your cooking equipment and food
will be waiting for you in the next campsite, whether it be a green
field or an Indian Village. You'll mainly be concerned with
packing a light lunch and plenty of water.
Do we get a guide for the whole trip?
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the top]
Answer: Do you want one? There will be staff spaced out along the route and at the
campsites. There may be one along with your group in some of the more difficult
areas. What we are looking for is the best in safety, with the least amount of
infringement on your experience.
Do we spend every night in a tent? [back to the top]
Hmmm.... just like the answer above: do you want to? Honestly, of the 9 nights in your "basic" trek, as it is planned, you'll spend the first three in air conditioned (Oh.. the horror!) cabins or villas. The next three nights are in tents (though you might opt to bring a jungle hammock). And the final three nights are back in cabins or villas. Now the beauty of this outfit is that we are not too big to NOT be flexible. If you WANT to spend more nights in a tent, that can be arranged. But if you want to spend more nights in those cabins and villas that we mentioned (with the A/C), then we can arrange that too.... just that it might cost you a bit more.
Is this a guided tour, wilderness camping, or what? [back to the top]
"Or What" probably describes this unique little program best. Our philosophy is this: You will have invested a considerable amount to get down here. It is our responsibility that you get the best bang for your buck!... and see as much as you can of the country. Also, if pure backcountry camping, hiking, and canoeing is what you want, then by all means, go enjoy those great places in New Mexico and Northern Minnesota. But if you want to tread where Rainforest Indians, Conquistadores, Pirates, 49ers, Historic American Figures such as Grant, Mark Twain and Teddy Roosevelt have walked and canoed, then by all means, COME ON DOWN! And in order for you to understand all the history behind these trails and waterways you'll be seeing and doing, you'll spend a day or so up front learning about them.
Yes, but is it wilderness (or primitive)? [back to the top]
Again, yes and no. (and sorry about the ambiguity) It's just that the most interesting-most historic places to be seen and experienced are those that were subsequently "civilized". You will bump into other people on the rivers and trails, be it a few other tourists, or mostly Indians or fisherman. However, while on the Las Cruces Trail, or Canoeing the Upper or Middle Chagres, you'll swear that you have been transported back in time several hundred years, and maybe Drake, or Morgan, or Balboa is right around the next curve in the trail, or the next bend in the river.
Again, please send us your other questions... the more difficult the better.
Thank you!
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