Costa Rica/Panama
Beyond Borders: Shared Nature & Culture in Costa Rica & Panama
Program No. 25376RJ
Delve into the myriad of connections between Costa Rica and Panama as you observe wildlife, learn from local business owners and explore the countries’ capital cities.
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Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
17 days
16 nights
45 meals
16B 15L 14D
3
Valley of the Saints Coffee
San Gerardo de Dota
4
A Walk in the Clouds, Free Time
San Gerardo de Dota
6
Dolphin Research Project, Nighttime Nature Walk
Osa Peninsula
7
Transforming Cacao Into Chocolate, Observation Tower
Osa Peninsula
9
Honey Farm, Zip Line Adventure
Boquete
12
Panamanian Artisans
Chitré
16
Bio Museo, Casco Viejo Orientation Walk
Panama City
At a Glance
Costa Rica and Panama are known for their biodiversity and natural wonders — this is your opportunity to experience them firsthand, and to discover the multitude of connections between the two countries. During your journey, when in Costa Rica, you’ll explore a private cloud forest reserve and learn about the social and economic impact of coffee in Costa Rican history and national identity. On the Osa Peninsula, a region of Costa Rica known for its untouched scenery, abundant wildlife and an interconnected system of freshwater and marine resources, volunteer with the Dolphin Research Project. In Panama, learn more about wildlife, coffee and farms, and delve into the similarities between Costa Rica and Panama’s ecosystems and local life. Overnights in San Jose and Panama City provide insight into city life, as well as opportunities to sample cuisine and admire local architecture.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1.5 hours a day over uneven trails in hot and humid conditions. Elevations up to 6,000 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Volunteer with the Dolphin Research Project to observe and record data on dolphins off the coast of Costa Rica.
- Get a firsthand look at the Panama Canal with a visit to the Miraflores locks.
- Explore the connections between Costa Rica and Panama through immersive experiences with wildlife, rainforest ecosystems and local businesses.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Beyond Borders: Shared Nature & Culture in Costa Rica & Panama
Program Number: 25376
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
Dividing the book by ecosystem and geographic area, BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hepworth's color photographs showcase the diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife and habitats.
How Wall Street Created a Nation, J.P. Morgan, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Panama Canal.
This book offers a view of the Panama Canal and the formation of Panama from a Latin American perspective. Mr. Espino details all nature of scandals, corruption, and conspiracies behind Panama's fight for independence and the construction of the Panama Canal. Although the accuracy of certain historical accounts has been called into question, this book is likely to force readers to ask themselves interesting questions and maybe prompt further research.
Costa Rican Spanish
A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos.
Tropical Nature
A lively, lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its 17 marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforest
Lonely Planet Panama
Written in the tradition of Lonely Planet travel guides. This book is a good general resource and provides accounts of the Panamanian history and local culture and also detailed descriptions of sites of interest.
The Longest Line on the Map: The United States, the Pan-American Highway, and the Quest to Link the Americas
A fascinating historical account of the multi-country project responsible for the Panamerican Highway, (19,000 miles) from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
“Rutkow is a graceful writer with a penchant for well-placed classical allusions… The narrative finds its highest velocity near the end, with a fascinating section on a North Carolina schoolteacher’s efforts to bushwhack his way through the Darien Gap, and Richard Nixon’s stated desire to drive the finished road himself in time for the 1976 bicentennial.” —New York Times Book Review
“Everybody loves a shaggy dog story. A good one should be long and implausible but still on the edge of possibility. The chronicle at the heart of Eric Rutkow’s The Longest Line on the Map seems to qualify. The story involves the decades-long attempt to construct thousands of miles of railway—and, later, highway—to ‘link the Americas.’” —The Wall Street Journal
The Path Between the Seas, The Creation of the Panama Canal: 1870-1914
Admirably told in vivid, page-turning detail. McCullough reveals the full scope of the Panama Canal, its characters, technical difficulties and Byzantine politics.
Emperors in the Jungle: The Hidden History of the United States in Panama
This wide-ranging history examines the actions and impact of the United States in Panama, from the early nineteenth century to the present.
Aroma of the World: A Journey into the Mysteries and Delights of Coffee
A beautiful book for the coffee lover, this heavily illustrated compendium is equal parts history and travel journal, detailing the passage of the coffee bean from origination to current status as an icon of modern living.
Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics
A lively, literate sourcebook on the politics, economy and society of Costa Rica
Panama Wildlife Guide: Birds
PLASTIC CARD, 14 PAGES/A handy 14-panel fold-up card featuring accurate color illustrations of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects. We also carry Panama Wildlife Guide: Birds.
Costa Rica, The Complete Guide
From pristine beaches and jungle waterfalls to high-altitude coffee plantations, award-winning author and photographer Kaiser shows readers the best of Costa Rica, including the country's stunning collection of national parks.
A Guide to the Birds of Panama
This comprehensive field guide, noteworthy for its beautiful color plates, covers additional species found in Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica.
The Ticos
This insightful, fact-filled portrait of the Costa Rican people accessibly explores their culture, history and society.
A Brief History of Central America
A good overview of the region’s economic, political and social history through the 1980s by a professor at the University of Costa Rica. Well-written, informative and concise.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rainforest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodioversity; A marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation.
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
Opening this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, Wallace weaves his own travels in the region with a crisp overview of exploration, nature and evolution. Natural history buffs and ecologically minded travelers will appreciate this valuable resource.
The Tailor of Panama
Set in Panama, this thriller by master storyteller John Le Carré includes spymasters, corrupt officials, arms manufacturers and other unsavory types.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
This guide includes 450 of the most common, interesting and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that you are likely to encounter. Each has exquisite full-color illustrations.
The World Atlas of Coffee, From Beans to Brewing
A global history of the addictive brown bean organized by country, with a look at regional techniques and traits, fair trade efforts and the role of colonialism. Includes colorful maps and photos.
