Panama & Colombia
Indigenous Cultures, Island Adventures, & Trekking to the Lost City
Journey through the cultural and geographic diversity of Central and South America. Explore Panama City and witness its iconic canal, and spend several days sailing between Caribbean islands in the San Blas archipelago. Travel to Colombia and head into the mountains for a multi-day trek to the ancient structures of the Lost City, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, connecting with local Indigenous communities along the way. End your program by delving into the colonial history of Cartagena and celebrating your adventures.
- Highlights
• Explore iconic Caribbean cities and delve into their myriad cultural influences
• Meet with and learn from indigenous communities in both countries
• Trek through Colombia’s lush mountains, scouting for monkeys and toucans
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in Miami, and fly together to Panama City. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Begin your program in Panama City and experience the contrasts between its modern urban side and the historic Casco Viejo, or Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Get to know your group and leaders in this bustling city surrounded by incredibly biodiverse tropical forest and marine ecosystems. Consider the engineering feat of the Panama Canal—visit the museum and learn about the history of its construction and the conservation of lands surrounding it.
Travel by boat up the Chagres River and into the jungle until you reach an Indigenous Embera community. Enjoy a dip in the clear cold waters in the afternoon and spend the night in their community, learning about challenges they have faced and how they continue to preserve customs and ancestral knowledge.
Head to the eastern coast and prepare to board your sailboat, while you explore stunning San Blas, an archipelago with more than 300 islands and cays. Get to know the crew as you start your adventure by hopping through some of the islands, snorkeling and swimming in the clear turquoise waters, playing volleyball on white sand beaches, and visiting some of the communities that live on these islands and learn about their handmade crafts.
Return to Panama City to celebrate all you’ve accomplished so far, and get ready for the adventures to come.
Fly to Colombia and start your Colombian experience in Santa Marta, a historically important port city on the northern coast. Take advantage of this day to prepare for your upcoming trek.
Hike up into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one of the highest coastal ranges in the tropics. Make your way up to Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City, one of the best-preserved Mesoamerican archaeological sites. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site accessible only by foot, Ciudad Perdida was built by the Tayrona peoples and dates to around the 9th century, making it older even than Peru’s Machu Picchu. On your trek, experience the jungle flora and keep an eye out for monkeys, iguanas, and toucans. Swim in crystalline river waters and share some time with the Tayrona communities that still inhabit and take care of the Sierra.
After your trek, head to the small coastal town of Palomino. Take some time to relax, reflect on your adventures, and enjoy the beach. Celebrate your achievements with a sunset dinner by the beach.
Arrive in Cartagena and explore this colorful colonial town with centuries-old stone walls, terraces, and preserved architecture. Learn about its historical significance as a major port city and Spanish stronghold, experience its plazas, street life, shops, and cafes, and enjoy traditional food like arepa de huevo, patacón, and arroz con coco.
Fly to Miami with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in Miami, and fly together to Panama City. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Begin your program in Panama City and experience the contrasts between its modern urban side and the historic Casco Viejo, or Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Get to know your group and leaders in this bustling city surrounded by incredibly biodiverse tropical forest and marine ecosystems. Consider the engineering feat of the Panama Canal—visit the museum and learn about the history of its construction and the conservation of lands surrounding it.
Travel by boat up the Chagres River and into the jungle until you reach an Indigenous Embera community. Enjoy a dip in the clear cold waters in the afternoon and spend the night in their community, learning about challenges they have faced and how they continue to preserve customs and ancestral knowledge.
Head to the eastern coast and prepare to board your sailboat, while you explore stunning San Blas, an archipelago with more than 300 islands and cays. Get to know the crew as you start your adventure by hopping through some of the islands, snorkeling and swimming in the clear turquoise waters, playing volleyball on white sand beaches, and visiting some of the communities that live on these islands and learn about their handmade crafts.
Return to Panama City to celebrate all you’ve accomplished so far, and get ready for the adventures to come.
Fly to Colombia and start your Colombian experience in Santa Marta, a historically important port city on the northern coast. Take advantage of this day to prepare for your upcoming trek.
Hike up into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one of the highest coastal ranges in the tropics. Make your way up to Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City, one of the best-preserved Mesoamerican archaeological sites. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site accessible only by foot, Ciudad Perdida was built by the Tayrona peoples and dates to around the 9th century, making it older even than Peru’s Machu Picchu. On your trek, experience the jungle flora and keep an eye out for monkeys, iguanas, and toucans. Swim in crystalline river waters and share some time with the Tayrona communities that still inhabit and take care of the Sierra.
After your trek, head to the small coastal town of Palomino. Take some time to relax, reflect on your adventures, and enjoy the beach. Celebrate your achievements with a sunset dinner by the beach.
Arrive in Cartagena and explore this colorful colonial town with centuries-old stone walls, terraces, and preserved architecture. Learn about its historical significance as a major port city and Spanish stronghold, experience its plazas, street life, shops, and cafes, and enjoy traditional food like arepa de huevo, patacón, and arroz con coco.
Fly to Miami with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
To learn more about our Exploration programs click here.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—become an expert on one of these country’s ecosystems, create a recipe book with different types of arepa recipes, or learn a traditional Latin song.
This is one of Putney’s more physically active programs—it includes a four-day trek with professional guides through jungle and mountainous terrain, as well as city walking and ocean activities such as snorkeling and swimming. On the trek, you hike with your daypack and all other gear is carried by porter staff. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
This program visits high altitude destinations—the trek to Ciudad Perdida rises to 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level.
Proficiency in Spanish is not required. However, if you speak or study Spanish in school you will have opportunities to use it. If you don’t speak Spanish you will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills.
We stay in various types of accommodations throughout this program, including locally owned hotels and rustic accommodations in the jungle. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for community meetings, working on projects, and socializing. Leaders stay together with students throughout the program.
While in Panama, we typically take meals at local restaurants and sometimes visit markets to get supplies for picnic lunches. While aboard the sailboat, meals are prepared by the crew and students have the opportunity to help and learn to prepare fresh seafood. In Colombia, we begin each day with amazing Colombian coffee and arepas, enjoy the occasional picnic lunch, and find small, family-run restaurants for lunches and dinners. You will find in both countries, families take time to gather with family and friends around the table, eat slowly, and enjoy their company.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
To learn more about our Exploration programs click here.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—become an expert on one of these country’s ecosystems, create a recipe book with different types of arepa recipes, or learn a traditional Latin song.
This is one of Putney’s more physically active programs—it includes a four-day trek with professional guides through jungle and mountainous terrain, as well as city walking and ocean activities such as snorkeling and swimming. On the trek, you hike with your daypack and all other gear is carried by porter staff. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
This program visits high altitude destinations—the trek to Ciudad Perdida rises to 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level.
Proficiency in Spanish is not required. However, if you speak or study Spanish in school you will have opportunities to use it. If you don’t speak Spanish you will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills.
We stay in various types of accommodations throughout this program, including locally owned hotels and rustic accommodations in the jungle. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for community meetings, working on projects, and socializing. Leaders stay together with students throughout the program.
While in Panama, we typically take meals at local restaurants and sometimes visit markets to get supplies for picnic lunches. While aboard the sailboat, meals are prepared by the crew and students have the opportunity to help and learn to prepare fresh seafood. In Colombia, we begin each day with amazing Colombian coffee and arepas, enjoy the occasional picnic lunch, and find small, family-run restaurants for lunches and dinners. You will find in both countries, families take time to gather with family and friends around the table, eat slowly, and enjoy their company.
A Day in the Life: Cartagena, Colombia
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
A Day in the Life:
Cartagena, Colombia
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
This Program is Directed by
Juliana Gutierrez & Gregorio Rojas
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
This Program is Directed by
Juliana Gutierrez & Gregorio Rojas
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!