PANAMA

A Taste of Panama: Canal, Conservation, & Culture

November 10 – 17, 2021

RESERVATION FORM: Panama | Canal, Conservation, & CultureRice University Traveling Owls | November 10 – 17, 2021

Dear Friends,

We invite you to join us in beautiful Panama, the ultimate crossroads of nature, culture, and commerce!

Panama's spirit of exchange permeates the entire experience: learn about its history of international trade on a partial transit of the Panama Canal, discover its indigenous heritage visiting a local Emberá community, explore early Spanish colonial sites, and delve into forests home to myriad tropical wildlife.

You won’t want to miss this unforgettable learning adventure. We expect our limited space will fill up quickly. Please make your reservation as soon as possible to guarantee your spot!

Sincerely,

Shannon Burnett Director of Alumni Programs Office of Alumni Relations

Full Passport Name______________________________________ DOB ____________ Gender ______

E-mail __________________________________________________________________________

Badge Name ____________________________________________________ Class year __________

Full Passport Name______________________________________ DOB ____________ Gender ______

E-mail __________________________________________________________________________

Badge Name ___________________________________________________ Class year ___________

Address _________________________________________________________________________

City __________________________________________ State _____________ ZIP ______________

Home Ph. (________)_______________________ Cell Ph. (________)________________________

Enclosed is my/our deposit for $______($500 per person) for ____ person/people on the tour listed below. I/we understand the final payment is due at least 95 days prior to departure (August 7, 2021). Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA or by personal check. Please make check payable to Holbrook Travel, Inc. and mail deposit check to: Holbrook Travel, 3540 NW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609. For more information please contact Holbrook Travel at 800-451-7111 or travel@holbrooktravel.com.

Note: The undersigned has read the schedule of activities for the above-referenced tour, and agrees that their signature below represents their acceptance of the General Terms and Conditions.

Final invoicing will be sent by our tour operator, Holbrook Travel, Inc. The balance of the program price must be paid to Holbrook Travel. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure (August 7, 2021; check or credit card).

Please book my/our air from _____________________. I/we request an air upgrade to ________________. I will share a room with _____________________________________. I request a single room (limited availability).

Method of Payment Check American Express Discover MasterCard VISA

Account # ____________________________ Security Code ________ Exp. Date _________

Name of Cardholder _____________________________________________________________

Signature ____________________________________________________________________

Signature ____________________________________________________ Date________________

Signature ____________________________________________________ Date________________

For further information, please call the Traveling Owls at 713-34-TRIPS (87477) or email travelingowls@rice.edu. You may also contact the tour operator, Holbrook Travel, at 800-451-7111.

GEN

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Ple

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read

this

info

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care

fully

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it re

pres

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you

r ac

cept

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of t

he fo

llow

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Term

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Not

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you

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vis

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aund

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mea

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com

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trip

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Add

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by

the

airli

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app

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at a

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time.

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sho

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depa

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ay b

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with

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part

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at if

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7251

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2

ACTIVITY LEVEL: EASY TO MODERATE Participants should be able to walk at least 2-3 hours over some uneven and potential slippery surfaces without difficulty and should be able to ascend or descend 50 stairs consecutively. Physical activities typically last for at least 2-3 hours at a time.

• Uncover Panama’s role as an international trade center and cultural melting pot in the historical district of Casco Viejo.

• Make a partial canal transit, cruising under the Bridge of the Americas and Centenario Bridge and viewing the elaborate lock system in action.

• Learn about the geological origins, natural history, and ecological effects of the Panamanian isthmus at the Frank Gehry-designed BioMuseo.

• Meet members of the indigenous Emberá tribe and learn about their history, traditions, and culture.

• Observe tropical flora and fauna during a hike and aerial tram ride through Soberanía National Park.

WHY PANAMA? Connecting continents and oceans, Panama is shaped by exchange: as birds and other animals traverse the isthmus on migratory routes, so does international trade along its famous canal. Panama’s strategic geography offers a wealth of history, culture, and biodiversity to discover.

Journey to the “Crossroads of the World” to discover Panama’s fascinating history, culture, and natural beauty. Explore the Pacific and Caribbean sides of the country as you learn about the history and construction of the Panama Canal, and embark on a partial transit. Delve deeper into the country’s cultural identity, spending time with an indigenous community and reflecting on the effects of Spanish colonization in the capital’s historical districts. Across cities, villages, waterways, and rainforests, examine how the region's geography has played a vital role in shaping the Americas. Join us in Panama for an unforgettable experience with the Traveling Owls!

PANAMA CANAL

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

GEOFFROYS TAMARIN

CHAGRES RIVER

MIRAFLORES LOCKS

NOVEMBER 10 - PANAMA CITY Upon arrival at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, meet your driver and transfer approximately 45 minutes to the hotel, which is situated along the Amador Causeway. Check-in begins at 3 pm. This is an international arrival day with most flights arriving in the evening; therefore, no activities are planned today. Overnight at Radisson Panama Canal or similar.

NOVEMBER 11 - PANAMA CITY This morning meet for a welcome breakfast and orientation before heading out to explore Panama Viejo (Old Panama). Founded in 1519 by the Spanish, Panama Viejo was the first European settlement established on the Pacific coast of the Americas, and a key port for Spain’s conquest of Peru. Together with the historical district of Panama, it forms a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Today the city is an archaeological site due to its abandonment in 1671, when the English privateer Henry Morgan sacked the settlement. Next, head to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center at the Panama Canal to view the locks at work and enjoy the museum’s interactive displays. Have lunch while watching ships passing through the canal. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. Before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant on the Amador Causeway, listen to a lecture given by a local expert, “The Panama Canal: Past, Present, and Future.” Overnight at Radisson Panama Canal or similar. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 12 - PANAMA CITY Today after breakfast, visit to the historical district of Casco Viejo, or Casco Antiguo, built in 1671 after the destruction of Panama Viejo. Casco Viejo’s parks and narrow streets are lined with colorful buildings representative of Spanish, French, and early American architecture. This eclectic collection of styles reflects the city’s role as an international trade center and cultural melting pot long before the building of the canal. Explore the Metropolitan Cathedral, Municipal Palace, National Theater, French Embassy, and France Plaza, with views of Panama’s modern

BLD = BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER skyline and the Bay of Panama. Have lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Biomuseo, Panama City’s Biodiversity Museum. The modern and colorful building was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Inside, eight permanent exhibits depict the geologic and natural history of the Isthmus of Panama, a strip of land that united two continents, changed the world’s biodiversity, and would one day connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Overnight at Radisson Panama Canal or similar. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 13 - COLÓN After an early breakfast, transfer to Flamenco Marina and board a boat to make a partial canal transit, beginning in the Pacific Ocean and heading north through two of the Canal’s three lock systems. One of the first observations you’ll pass is the Bridge of the Americas, which was built by the United States in 1962 to connect the land that was divided during the Panama Canal construction. The bridge is also part of the Pan-American Highway, a 30,000 mile network of roads that stretches from Alaska to Argentina. As you continue your cruise, arrive at the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks. Miraflores are the tallest of the canal’s locks system, a necessity due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. Vessels are raised 54 feet across two lock chambers. During lunch, reach Pedro Miguel Locks, where the boat is raised 30 feet. Continue cruising through Gatún Lake (85 feet above sea level) before approaching the Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal, where the majestic Centenario Bridge comes into view. The journey culminates at the confluence of Gatún Lake and the Chagres River. The Chagres River is the main source of water used in the canal's operation. Continue to the town of Gamboa for disembarkation, then journey to Colón and have the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at Meliá Panama Canal. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 14 - COLÓN After breakfast, visit Fort San Lorenzo, which was constructed in the 1500s to fortify Spain’s Atlantic port-and protect the transfer of Peru’s riches from attack by pirates. But like

CASCO VIEJO

CENTENARIO BRIDGE

the original Panama City settlement, it was sacked by Henry Morgan, and today exists as ruins. In addition to Fort San Lorenzo, the San Lorenzo National Park contains Fort Sherman, a United States army base erected in 1911. The park covers approximately 24,000 acres on Panama’s Atlantic coast, along the western banks of the Panama Canal. On the way back to the hotel, stop at the Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center to view the new set of locks on the Caribbean side of the Canal, completed in 2016. Gain insights into the updated lock design and the work that made the canal expansion a reality. After lunch at the hotel, venture on a boat tour of Lake Gatún. Overnight at Meliá Panama Canal. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 15 - GAMBOA After breakfast, transfer toward Lake Alajuela, with discussions en route about indigenous cultures and their history in Panama. Upon arrival at the Chagres River, board dugout canoes for the journey through the dense jungle. Upriver, step out of the dugout canoes and experience a short hike (which could be a bit muddy) to a beautiful waterfall in the midst of the rainforest. Those who want to cool off can take a swim in the refreshing pool just beneath the waterfall. Continue to the village of the Emberá, one of six indigenous tribes in Panama, for a visit with community members and opportunities to learn about their daily life. The village chief will provide a brief explanation on the history of the tribe, its traditions, cultures, beliefs, and handicrafts. After a typical lunch of fish and plantains prepared by the Emberá women, experience a traditional dance and have the opportunity to shop for handicrafts. The sale of local products directly benefits the village and helps fund schooling for the children. There is also the opportunity to get “inked” with a temporary Emberá tattoo painting. Later this afternoon, return by boat to the dock and transfer by bus to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Settle in and have dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 16 - GAMBOA After breakfast, visit Soberanía National Park. Established in 1980, it stands as one of Panama’s natural jewels and is one of the country’s most accessible tropical rainforests. Next, visit Summit Botanical Gardens, which hosts a research center for development of tropical biology and horticulture. The botanical garden showcases a representation of plant species from tropical and subtropical countries around the world and from the native species of Panama. Afterwards, return to the resort for lunch. This afternoon venture almost 2,000 feet above the rainforest floor on Gamboa’s Aerial Tram for a gondola ride through the forest canopy. The tram ends at an observation tower 100 feet high with expansive 360-degree views of Soberanía National Park and Gatún Lake. In the evening, return to the hotel and have a farewell dinner. Overnight at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 17 - DEPART Early morning transfer to the international airport for the flight to the United States. (B)

PRICING: $3,645 per personBased on 10 participants. Single supplement is $480.

Price includes:

• 7 nights’ accommodations• 19 meals – 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners• Non-alcoholic beverages with meals• Sightseeing and activities as described, including

entrance fees• Full-time guide for duration of the program• Private vehicle transportation• Luggage handling, one bag per person• All tips and gratuities• Departure tax Price does not include: international airfare, trip cancellation insurance, gratuities for hotel housekeeping staff, drinks purchased on own, items of a personal nature.

Holbrook Travel can assist with making your flight arrangements upon request. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended (offered through the Association of Rice Alumni).

COLLARED ARACARI

EMBERÁ CHILD

PHOTOS BY BRIAN GRATWICKE, YVES PICQ, CHRISTA MARKLEY