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Middle School: Discover Panama

8 days in Panama City, El Valle de Antón, Gatun Lake, and Portobelo

Colorful houses in old quarter of Panama City Panama.
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OVERVIEW

Discover how engineering, ecology, and culture come together for middle-schoolers in Panama

In Panama, every day brings something new to discover. Students hike through cloud forests, snorkel in Caribbean waters, and see the famous Panama Canal, one of the greatest engineering wonders in the world. Along the way, they engage with local communities, learn about rainforest wildlife, and explore how geography connects continents and cultures. This dynamic week is specifically designed for middle-schoolers encourages them to ask questions, make connections, and see how hands-on exploration and learning go hand in hand.

Middle School: Discover Panama route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Panama

Board your international flight to Panama City

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 2: Panama City

Visit Panamá Viejo, the ruins from pirate attacks on the original Panama City

Take a tour of Casco Viejo

Visit the Biomuseo

Take a group photo by the Panama sign on the Amador Causeway

Day 3: Panama City • El Valle de Antón

Take a day trip to El Valle de Antón

Explore hiking trails en El Valle de Antón

See a youth folklore dance show

Travel to Panama City

Day 4: Panama City • Gatun Lake

Take a boat ride on Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal where you will learn about the different species on Monkey Island

Enjoy a hike in one of the parks that surround Panama City

Day 5: Panama City

Visit a pineapple farm

Participate in a cultural exchange with locals

Visit the City of Knowledge

Stop for a photo at the Panama Canal Administration Building

Visit the Miraflores Visitor Center at the Panama Canal

Day 6: Panama City • Chagres National Park

Take a day trip to Chagres National Park

Take a canoe ride on the Rio Chagres to the Emberá village

Visit an Emberá Indigenous village

Enjoy lunch in the village

Return to Chagres National Park by canoe

Travel to Panama City

Day 7: Panama City • Portobelo

Take a day trip to the Caribbean Coast

Go snorkeling

Visit the Portobelo Ruins

Travel to Panama City

Day 8: Depart for home

Board your flight home from Panama City

What makes this tour special?

Go on a snorkeling adventure off the coast of Portobelo and admire the vibrant marine life

Go on a snorkeling adventure off the coast of Portobelo and admire the vibrant marine life

Visit an Emberá village deep in Chagres National Park and learn about this Indigenous community's history and traditions

Visit an Emberá village deep in Chagres National Park and learn about this Indigenous community's history and traditions

Enjoy a cruise on the scenic Gatun Lake and pass by Monkey Island

Enjoy a cruise on the scenic Gatun Lake and pass by Monkey Island

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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