Woodsmoke’s

Castaway Expedition

The Pearl Islands – Panama, Central America

Expedition Briefing Pack

The Expedition at a glance Expedition Dates: 1st - 9th December 2017

(Fly home country on the Fri 1st to arrive in Panama city that evening on Friday 1st, Departing Panama city on the evening of Saturday the 9th, to arrive in home country on the morning of Sunday the 10th)

Duration: 9 Days (in country)

Group Size: 9 Max (+ 3 Leaders / Medics)

Accommodation:

2 nights in hostel in Panama City

6 nights in hammocks or natural shelters

Climate: Panama has an equatorial climate, typically hot and humid.

• Day-time temperature approximately – 32° C

• Night-time temperature approximately – 23° C

• Total Cost: £1,595 (exc. Flights)

• Deposit: £500

• What is it about?

Consistent with the ethos of Woodsmoke, this expedition aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to plan and undertake your own adventures in a rainforest environment. This is a hands-on experience and you will be expected to participate in all practical activities relating to desert island travel and living. This means collecting firewood, helping with cooking, looking after your own sleeping arrangements, using cutting tools etc.

The Woodsmoke team will teach you the practical routines and island bushcraft to feel comfortable and at ease in this environment and the team will impart a myriad of techniques used to sustain life, from fishing to foraging. So, be prepared to feel overwhelmed as you first explore the archetypal survival setting. This expedition is not simply to sample the culture or environment as a passing tourist, but to become absorbed by the spirit of the place itself.

• What is it NOT about?

From the outset it’s important that you understand that the expedition is NOT a cultural tour – you will NOT be fully catered for. This is a practical experience in a remote location where you will be required to help with the tasks required to live and travel in such a place.

Geographical Location

Panama is located in Central America and is bordered by Costa Rica to the West and Colombia to the East. The S-shaped isthmus is situated between 7° and 10° North latitude and 77° and 83° West Longitude. Panama encompasses approximately 29,762 square miles, is 480 miles in length, and is between 37 and 110 miles in width.

8° 58”N 79° 32”W

A Modern History of Panama Panama was the native name of a village on the Pacific Coast of the Gulf and Isthmus of Panama. Before its discovery by the Spanish, Panama was inhabited by a large number of Amerindians. The groups lived in organized chiefdoms, depending on the area's fish, birds, and sea turtles, and on starchy root crops for food. Numbering nearly one million when the Spanish arrived in 1501, the largest group was the Cuna. The country's name, which means "land of plenty fish," may also come from the Cuna words panna mai, or "far away," a reply to Spaniards who wondered where to find gold. In the early 1900s Colombians fought a civil war—the War of a Thousand Days. Colombian rebels operated from bases in Nicaragua, passing through Panama on their way to fight. The United States now had a growing interest in building a canal across Central America. In 1902, it intervened in the war and established a truce. In 1903 and 1904, Panama declared its independence from Colombia, drew up its first constitution, and elected its first president. In 1903, the United States signed the Hay-Ban-Vanilla treaty in which the concession for a public maritime transportation service across the Isthmus was granted; the treaty also granted the United States control over strips of land five miles wide on either side of the canal. The United States did not own the Canal Zone, but the treaty of 1903 allowed it to lease the area "in perpetuity." In return the United States agreed to pay Panama $10 million plus an annual rent of $250,000, which was later increased to $1.93 million. In 1904, the United States purchased France's rights to the unfinished canal for $40 million and began the Herculean task of carving a canal through the isthmus. Many able and dedicated men were involved in this venture. Among them were Colonel William C. Gorges, an army doctor who achieved a major triumph in wiping out yellow fever and reducing malaria. After World War II, Panamanians opposed to U.S. presence in the Canal Zone demanded renegotiation of the 1903 treaty; however, the arrangement of the 1903 treaty between the United States and Panama continued until the 1960s when disputes arose over U.S. control of the canal and zone. The United States agreed to negotiate new treaties relating to the Panama Canal and the Canal Zone. The treaties, which were accepted in 1977 and signed by General Omar Torrijos Herrera, head of the Panamanian Government, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter, stipulated joint administration of the Canal starting in 1979, and the complete return of the Canal to Panama on December 31, 1999. The treaties, which replaced the treaty of 1903, turned over to Panama the government of the Canal Zone and the territory of the Canal Zone itself, except for areas needed to operate and defend the canal. The US remains responsible for the operation and military defense of the canal until December 31, 1999, after which it will come under complete Panamanian control.

The presence of the Canal changed lifestyles in the country. A people that had primarily earned their living as subsistence farmers now gained most of their income from the Canal. The canal employs about 3,500 United States citizens and some 10,000 Panamanians. Among the available housing areas assigned to canal employees are Balboa and Ancon on the Pacific side and, on the Atlantic side, Cristobal, Coco Solo, and Margarita. Gatun and Gamboa are communities primarily for people who work at the locks or in dredging and hydroelectric operations. In 1988 General Manuel Noriega used his military prominence to seize control of the Panamanian government, establishing a dictatorship, which brought him great personal wealth. Previously supported by the United States, Noriega became the object of condemnation, based on evidence linking him to drug trafficking, murder, and election fraud. In an attempt to squash Noriega, the United States imposed severe economic sanctions on Panama. Although the Panamanian working class suffered from these actions, Noriega himself was virtually unaffected. In December of 1989, a U.S. invasion of Panama led to the ousting of Noriega, who officially surrendered in January 1990. He was taken to the United States and was convicted on drug charges in 1992.

The History of the Pearl Islands

The documented history of Panama goes way back into the 15/16th century when the Spanish Conquistadors were conquering Central America. Yet, the Isthmus of Panama was inhabited long before that period by local Indian tribes such as the Guna’s, Cuevas and Cocle. These pre-Colombian tribes lived everywhere in the country and also on the Pearl Islands. Especially the Cuevas and Cocle cultures dominated the Pearl Islands, which weren’t named yet. Unfortunately all these cultures have mostly vanished off the earth because of the discovery of the islands by Nunez de Balboa in 1513. After that time period most of the native tribes were exterminated or enslaved to search for pearls. The Spanish controlled the tribes in brutal ways and infected them with New World diseases such as a simple cold, which was lethal for the natives. In 1513 the islands where named “Pearl Islands”.

The Spanish conquistador Nunez de Balboa was searching for hidden treasures in Panama and found some of them on the islands in the Bay of Panama. These natural treasures were of course the pearls of which the islands are still famous for. These tiny and expensive gemstones fulfilled the Spanish lust for treasures and expanses to bring back to Spain. Around 1516 the Spaniard Gaspar de Morales enslaved most of the native island tribes and forced them into pearls searching. The Spanish envy for these white round gemstones was growing and they even imported slaves from Africa to the islands. Most of their descendants can still be found on the islands San Jose, Del Rey, Senora, Pacheca and Lampon. This black page in history also gave the islands its present name Pearl Islands or as locals refer to it ‘Las Perlas’ The 17/18th century was full of pirates, because there are over 250 Pearl Islands it was easy to hide for colonial police ships and other criminals. In the 17/18 century the islands where mainly used by pirates and other criminals that raided passing ships and the mainland. But at the end of the 18th century most of the islands were deserted and left for nature to reclaim.

The Physical Environment Desert Islands

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm. Tropical rainforests are defined as lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Ecologists classify the vegetative layers into the Emergent layer (trees which punctuate the Canopy sporadically), Canopy layer, Understory and the Forest Floor. It is estimated that 40-75% of all species on earth are indigenous to rainforests and that there may be as many as one million species still left undiscovered.

The local rainforest is a typical combination of dense trees, plants and hanging vines that cover every square inch of habitable land.

The islands are characterized by perfect white sand bays and beaches fringed with coconut trees and dense jungle. The rocky coastline between the beaches is a perfect hunting ground for limpets, winkles, crabs and oysters.

Climate As with many areas of the tropics the climate is split into the Dry season and the Wet season, with small ‘shoulder’ periods in between. In the dry season (Dec-May) there is no rainfall with low humidity and daily temperatures of about 35C. There are very few biting insects this time of year. The wet Season is characterized by high rainfall (up to 10.3” in October), high humidity (95-98%), large tropical thunderstorms and a big increase in mosquitos and sandflies, which makes camping more uncomfortable. The seas however are warm and the visibility is very good. The fishing is also excellent this time of year. As we will be conducting our Expedition in the shoulder season, we can expect to experience a variety of weather, from large thunderstorms to blue sky days. Sunrise is at 0630 and sunset 1830, this changes very little throughout the year due to the proximity to the Equator.

The Expedition Location

Internet photo of the beach where we intend to camp

Our expedition will take us to a remote, uninhabited desert island situated on the Western side of the Archipelago, to the NW of the largest island of the group. We will have the full run of the island and during the expedition will have the opportunity to explore all of its beaches and miles of coastline. We intent to camp on Isla Bayoneta, with an estimate terrain elevation above seal level at 18 meters. Latitude: 8°28'59.99" Longitude: -79°4'0.02"

With the exception of local fisherman and the occasional sailboat heading to The Galapagos we should be undisturbed for the duration of our trip.

The Itinerary 1st December: Fly from Heathrow to Panama Rendezvous will be at 20.00 on the 1st December at Luna’s Castle for introductions, kit shakedown and evening meal 2nd December:

Early start – taxis to ferry port and ferry to Isla Contadora

Lunch on Contadora, Safety Briefings on what to expect and safety procedures for boat travel

Load small boat & transfer to Island (1 hr)

Set up base camp – machete basics

Introductory lesson on jungle routines and how to live in hammocks

Explanation of safety systems and protocols

3rd December:

Tool Use (Machete)

Build base camp table and benches

Sauna Construction (possible)

Aquatic safety

Tides Rips and Currents

Introduction to fishing

4th December:

Fire by friction

Fishing crafts (Spears, lobster hooks & barrel lines)

Evening fishing

Water procurement and disinfection

5th December:

Shelters

Plant walk

6th December:

Boat charter and deep-sea fishing and spear gun fishing along reefs

7th December:

24hr castaway experience 8th December: Collection from island and transfer to Isla Contadora for lunch and ferry back to Panama City Last meal in the Old Town

9th December:

Fly home or keep exploring....

Meals

All of the food on the expedition will be cooked outdoors over an open fire using a mixture of modern expedition techniques and traditional cooking methods.

We will not have specially employed catering staff cooking for us; meals will be a communal affair with everyone taking their turn to help. Cooking will be supervised by one of the Woodsmoke instructors, all of whom hold a ‘basic food handling and hygiene’ certificate. Breakfast will typically be cereals and dried fruit, tea and coffee. Lunch will be a simple carbohydrate staple of egg-fried rice or stir fried noodles. Dinner will consist of a cooked dish with rice or pasta. Vegetarian options will be available, if required.

**As part of the expedition we will aim to substitute our diet with foods hunted and gathered from the forest and the sea.

Water Mains water in towns is not considered safe to drink however bottled water is cheap and easily available. The local rivers and streams will be our primary source of drinking water. Our primary method of disinfection will be boiling but we will likely also make use of filtration systems and chemical treatments. We will cover these methods in detail while on expedition.

Alcoholic Drinks You will be expected to pay for your own alcoholic beverages while in town. We will not be consuming alcohol while on the island.

Teaching & Skills During our time at the basecamp we will immerse ourselves in the techniques associated with island travel and living. The Woodsmoke team will teach a proportion of relevant skills as well as providing logistical guidance and ensuring the safety of the group at all times.

We will aim to cover all the major elements of island living and travel that will include but not be limited to:

Core survival skills

• Water; importance, collection and disinfection

• Shelter; requirements and importance.

• Tarps and hammocks, natural shelters.

• Fire; selection and preparation of materials and ignition methods.

• Physiological requirements; acclimatisation and common medical issues associated with a jungle environment.

• Natural Hazards

• Clothing and equipment selection

• Safe and effective use of cutting tools. Sharpening techniques.

• Jungle living, crafts and techniques

• Natural bindings and construction methods.

• Identification of plants, trees and fungi used for food, medicine, fire and other utilities

• Animal tracks and signs

• Fishing techniques; making and using traps and nets. Preparing and cooking fish.

• Traditional cooking methods; using leaf and bark containers.

• Craftwork; selection and collection of materials for containers, cordage, traps and hunting equipment.

• Jungle sanitation and hygiene

• Suitable equipment and how to carry it

Emergency Field Communications

Emergency in-country contact numbers will be available closer to the time. Woodsmoke has its own Iridium satellite phone.

UK Office:

Whilst on expedition, a member of the Woodsmoke team will act as our UK back-up in case of emergency and will be contactable 24hrs a day on the following number – number to be released at a later date.

Personal Communications:

If you have an international roaming agreement for your mobile phone, we have no objections to you using it on expedition, providing it is used discreetly and does not affect others enjoyment of the expedition.

Expedition Health Care

Panama has US standard Health care and the hospitals are equipped to carry out any form of operation.

Recommended immunisations are important to consider for all travel to Central America. For detailed vaccination advice, please consult your own GP and the excellent NHS web site ‘Fit for Travel’.

As a minimum you should be up to date with all vaccinations required for normal life in the UK. Hepatitis A and Tetanus are usually advised. Sometimes advised are typhoid, diphtheria, tuberculosis, rabies and hepatitis B. If there is a chance you may be pregnant, please contact us before booking.

The risk of rabies is small and the cost of the vaccination relatively high, so a personal decision is required here. Rabies is however always fatal once symptoms develop and the vaccine does not provide complete immunity; it will buy added time to extract to a suitable medical facility.

Medical support network:

Expedition first-aid cover will be provided by the Woodsmoke team, who has been trained in expedition first aid. There will be two qualifies W-EMTs and ‘Advanced Medicine for Remote Foreign Travel’ by Wilderness Medical Training and MIRA (Medicine In Remote Areas). They also hold HSE recognised first aid certificates. The expedition will carry a very comprehensive medical first aid pack. Throughout the expedition we will have a ‘reasonably’ reliable communications system and will be in ‘reasonable’ proximity to medical care.

Insurance:

You must have adequate travel insurance to join this expedition. Please make sure that your policy covers the type of activities that we will be partaking in; specifically small boat travel and hiking in remote areas. We will ask for your policy details prior to departure.

Passport:

Please ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from date of entry into Panama.

Travel documents and visas:

British nationals don’t need a visa to visit Panama except if arriving by sea. You must have a return or onward ticket and the equivalent of US$500 or a credit card. If you enter Panama by land from Costa Rica, and are not a legal resident of Costa Rica, the Immigration Authorities may ask you to show proof of onward or return travel to your country of legal residence. An initial stay of 180 days is granted on entry to Panama. Extensions are not normally allowed unless you apply to change your immigration status within the 180 days (for business purposes,

marriage, etc). For further information on entry requirements, check with the Embassy of Panama in London.

Please note:

It is advisable to make copies of the relevant pages of your passport, your flight tickets, your traveller’s cheque receipt slips and your travel insurance policy in case the originals get lost.

Keep one set of copies with you, one set in your luggage and leave one set with a friend or family member at home. If possible, scan these documents, and email them to yourself, using an email address with sufficient memory storage.

Physical Conditioning:

You need to be in reasonable shape. Anyone who is seriously overweight or has limited flexibility will discover some real handicaps due to the nature of sleeping in hammocks and the challenging nature of the terrain we will be travelling through. Attitude is everything. If you really want to be there, have the temperament to attend to fussy little details, and are prepared to deal with temporary discomfort at times, you will enjoy this environment for its energy and wonder. Prior to the trip we recommend that you begin a light aerobic fitness-training regime, working out at least three times a week. If possible, some light strength training for the major muscle groups in the legs would be a bonus, as our trek will require a certain level of leg strength. A few moderate hill walks with a pack would be ideal training.

This will greatly improve your enjoyment of the course. If you are in any doubt about your ability to cope with a cardiovascular workout program, please consult your GP.

Equipment List:

"After a time my confidence grew and armed with a parang, a box of matches and a piece of rubber to start a fire going and a rifle I would be perfectly happy in the knowledge that if I was benighted I could build a fire, make a small shelter of ataps or wild banana leaves, and with the unlimited fresh water that the jungle provides, could last a week if necessary until I found my way back to camp." - The Jungle is Neutral - Spencer Chapman

Wet Clothes (day wear)

One pair of Walking trousers (no zip off legs) ‘Craghoppers Kiwi classic’ are proven and good value for money

Long sleeve shirt (Loose fitting, long enough to tuck into trousers)

Most poly/cotton adventure shirts will suffice, a light but dense weave helps keep mosquitos from biting through. ‘Craghoppers Kiwi long-sleeved shirt’ is proven and good value for money

Two pairs of summer weight walking socks

Bridgedale ‘CoolFusion Trailblaze’ and ‘woolfusion ultra lightweight’ are very popular, choice between the two depends on which fits in your boots better, the former is thicker than the latter.

Lycra running/cycling shorts (Plain without reinforced gusset and padding)

Or

Ultralight running shorts

‘Under armour heat gear compression shorts’ are very popular

Lycra Sports Bra (no metal underwire) ‘Shock absorbers’ brand are popular

Waterproof Jacket Useful for wearing on boats in the rain.

Swim wear A light-weight rash vest can also be useful.

Beach wear Sun glasses, T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops

Boonie hat Lots of available choices but all much the same, the fashion is for a short stubby brim but we recommend a full brim to protect from sunburn when on boats.

Nylon belt Any type so long as it’s comfortable under your pack waist strap and doesn’t rub anywhere

Boots

(Get purpose designed jungle boots, they need to drain water quickly, waterproof boots will ruin

It’s extremely important that you have proper jungle boots that fit well and are broken in before departure.

The Altberg Panama Jungle Classic is a superb boot manufactured in the UK and our recommendation. Especially without the Panama

your feet) Also be aware that the saltwater environment rapidly reduces the life of your boots so please don’t spend a fortune.

sole (which is very slippery on coastal rocks).

The Lowa elite jungle boot is also a very good option.

Both Altama and Wellco in the US also make a good jungle boot but the regular fit is long and narrow, available in wide and extra wide, be sure to try these on as it can take a few pairs to figure out what size you take (also note these are sized on the American system)

Hydrophobic insoles

Replace the innersoles that came with your boots with ones that wont absorb water, it really helps keep your feet from rotting, Superfeet are good, but avoid Sorbothane. The ‘LOWA Summer Footbed’ is a very good option

Dry ‘night time’ Clothing

One pair Light weight cotton trousers

Any lightweight small pack size cotton trousers will suffice, something comfortable with a drawstring waist, cotton pyjamas are perfect, but try to pick a style that you will be happy wearing as day clothes for relaxing in

One Light weight cotton shirt

Any lightweight small pack size cotton shirt will suffice, something comfortable with chest pockets for your earplugs etc, cotton pyjamas are perfect, but try to pick a style that you will be happy wearing as day clothes for relaxing in

Comfortable socks We like to carry the same type as our walking socks for no other reason than it means we can use them as walking socks if we have to, these night socks are filled with antifungal powder for sleeping in.

Light weight non water absorbing camp shoes

The Vivo ‘trail freak’ or ‘Ultra’ are perfect, but expensive. Any Croc type water shoe will do

Equipment you need to bring

Rucksack 50-70ltr

A comfortable and robust pack that will comfortably carry in excess of 15kgs, it must have room to accommodate not only your personal equipment but also 4-5 days of rations plus your water. Avoid excessive padding that holds water.

The ‘Berghaus Centurio 45’ or ‘karrimor sabre 45’ in combination with two 10lt removable PLCE side pouches are popular choices.

Large waterproof dry A single dry bag that is moderately lightweight and a little larger (especially in width) than the inside of your pack. You do not want a

bag, heavyweight canoe sack but also consider avoiding some ultralight drybags that are prone to being punctured easily. A valve or other method of removing excess air from inside is often convenient provided it is not prone to failure. ‘Bergans Dry bag compression 50lt’ is our favourite

Waterproof Daysack Not essential, but a 15 – 20 lt waterproof day-sack is useful

Sleeping bag A lightweight warm weather, synthetic fill, rectangular cut sleeping bag or over quilt with foot pocket. A snugpak jungle bag works well, UKhammocks.co.uk also make a great jungle bag

Hammock

Please give a lot of consideration to your choice hammock; it will become the sanctuary of your sanity. This is not the place to skimp and we assure you that you’ll appreciate the comfortable, dry night of rest safe from incessant insects long after you’ve forgotten the initial price.

Anything from Hennessy Hammocks, Clarkes and Warbonnet outdoors or UKHammocks.co.uk will be perfect.

Tarp

A large silnylon tarp is recommended, you’ll need space to both hang your hammock and conduct your personal admin beneath it during torrential downpours. Make sure your hammock fits with ample space beneath the tarp before you leave.

Water containers

Aim to carry 3lt minimum, split over two containers or more. For hydration bladders I highly recommend the following arrangement: ‘Source Hydration WLPS 3L’ in combination with a separate ‘Source Hydration Liquitainer 2lt’ and ‘Source Universal Tube Adapter’. This will allow you to collect and treat your water in a separate 2lt bag and transfer it to the bladder in your pack without having to open the pack and remove it, very convenient and bombproof.

Water disinfection (Essential that you get this right)

Purchase a box of OASIS Water Purification Tablets (50) You may also bring alternative water purification methods if you like but be aware that filters are prone to clogging, if you use one be sure it is capable of removing viruses, not just bacteria and protozoa. Don’t bring a UV treatment system; they are not reliable in the jungle. We personally like to kill everything with iodine, but unfortunately our favourite system ‘Polar Pure’ is no longer manufactured. (Try contacting polar pure though, they still have stock ;-)

Metal Spoon and mug I’m sure you have a favourite

Billy can or mess tin 1 lt capacity or more, to cook for one person

Parang It’s hard to find decent parangs in panama so please arrive with one. Visit hennie knives and we recommend something like the Condor Mini Duku Parang Machete

Pocket Knife or multitool Stainless steel folding knives, with a reliable locking mechanism, avoid wooden handles they will swell and warp. A ‘Leatherman wave’ is ideal

A small cheap bushcraft knife

The stainless steel ‘Mora Companion’ is perfect. Please don’t bring your expensive handmade carbon steel knife!

Sharpening stone Small sharpening stone, the ‘Fällkniven DC4’ is ideal.

Sand Brush Small shoe-shine brush to get the sand off you and your feet at night

before getting in the hammock

Whistle To hang around your neck, the ‘Acme Tornado 636 Whistle’ is a long standing favourite

X3 Lighters At least three ‘Bic Maxi J38’ or ‘Bic mini J39’ electronic lighters, the only

lighters we have found to work reliably in the jungle, cheap too

Waterproof note book and pencil Anything by ‘Rite in the rain’ is ideal

10 meters of paracord 550 paracord comes in many colours

LED Head torch Petzl tikka or zipka are perfect, make sure you have a set of spare batteries

Admin bag

A small bum bag or similar to organise your small items and keep essentials such as medical kit, head torch to hand when in your hammock or away from your rucksack. The Maxpedition proteus is popular, I like the ‘Hill People Gear kit bag’ or the ‘Kifaru admin pouch’ but they are pricey.

Quick drying Towel A small beach towel

Camera

Bring something totally waterproof or bring a Pelicase to keep it in and plenty of silica desiccants to keep it from fogging up; even then it may still die, the jungle spirits hate cameras. Bring plenty of spare batteries and a spare memory card.

MP3 player / iPod / Kindle

The nights are long, bring music and consider a couple of audio books or e-readers

Work gloves

Light synthetic work gloves, something like the ‘Contour Avenger work glove’ is perfect

Small dry bag half filled with antifungal powder

A small roll top dry bag large enough to insert your foot into massage with the powder contained therein. Fill with an antifungal powder like mycil

Soap Cut down to fit in a film container or a concentrated liquid soap (Dr

Bronners is good)

Exfoliating glove Great for washing in rivers and ensuring you don’t lose your soap, available in boots and most supermarkets

Toothbrush/toothpaste

Alcohol gel Alcohol hand sanitising gel, get one with a cap that won’t leak

Sun Tan Cream At least factor 30

Earplugs The industrial type attached by a cord

Sun Glasses Polarized are ideal

Needle and thread For repairing torn clothing

Duct tape Wrap duct tape around your water bottle or some other item so it’s available when you need it.

Silva Sighting compass A compact sighting compass, ‘Silva Ranger SL Compass’ will do just fine for this exped or a Silva 54 if you must have the best

Fire Lighters For strips of rubber inner tube go to your local bike shop and ask for all

his scraps!

Admin mat Thin foam sit mat or cut down camp mat to stand on outside your hammock to avoid muddy feet whilst changing. Some packs have a removable foam pad inside that can be used for this purpose.

Mask, Snorkel and fins Optional – we will have a few sets available in-country

Baggage Security:

With regards to flying with a rucksack, I just make sure that all of the bags straps are pulled tight and tucked it. If you are worried about your packing being damaged, then you could buy a flight bag to put your rucksack into. The draw-back is the extra expense, but the pros are as follows - A single padlock (on the flight bag) seals your whole rucksack & all it's pockets (make sure you buy one in which the zips cannot be pulled apart even while the two zips are locked together; this is possible on many designs!); all the straps on the rucksack are safely packed away. It's very common for rucksack straps to get caught on something & tear off while the baggage handlers are moving it around. They also fold up to a very small size for easy storage.

It is fine to travel with cutting tools in your main pack providing they are stored securely in a bag (not strapped onto) and that they are not readily accessible. Prior to the expedition we will mail you a letter, so that if challenged, you should not be viewed as being in ‘possession of an offensive weapon in a public place’, and that the you are carrying greenwood working tools (axe / knife / crooked knife) for ‘environmental / hobby’ purposes (as per Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988). You should also have your receipt of payment or briefing pack for the expedition, to prove your reason for carrying these tools is legitimate.

Spending money:

Panama has linked its currency with the US Dollar so please withdraw this currency for the trip.

There is an option of visiting a local village towards the end of the trip and while it is certainly not set up for tourists they do often have pearls for sale, which they have found. Please bring some cash for shopping and beers in Panama City.

The current exchange rate is roughly £1 = 1.28 USD for current exchange rates visit www.xe.com

Major credit and debit cards, including the Visa Cash Passport Card, are widely accepted in Panama. You can also access your bank account using ATMs, which are ubiquitous. Traveller’s cheques should be easily converted to cash at banks. You'll probably need to take your passport along to prove your identity.

Time difference and jet lag:

GMT -5

Hung-over (surely not), sleep-deprived, run down or just plain worn out before you begin your travel, chances are greater that you will be more susceptible to jet lag.

Although jet lag cannot be cured, there are some tips that may help to reduce the severity of symptoms. Consider the following before, during or after your next scheduled air flight:

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine just before and during your flight. Both alcohol and caffeine have diuretic properties, which means that they cause you to lose water and make you dehydrated. Also, alcohol causes drowsiness and can contribute to the sluggish feeling experienced by many travellers.

• Reset your watch to the time zone that you are travelling to. This lets you start thinking according to your arrival destination's local time before you even arrive.

• Create as dark an environment on the plane as possible. Bright lights have a strong effect on a person's body clock. Use eyeshades and earplugs to help block out the in- flight distractions and convince your body that it is dark. Closing the window shade and turning off the overhead cabin lights may also help. Sleep on the plane if your flight has an early morning arrival time.

• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. If you experience mild swelling, it will help to have loose-fitting clothing and comfortable shoes.

• Get adequate rest before your flight. By starting your trip well rested, you will not be playing as much "catch-up" when you arrive at your destination. Likewise, when you return, try to schedule a day of rest before returning to work.

• Walk around and do isometric exercises (simply contract and relax as many muscle groups as possible while seated) while in flight. This will improve your circulation, helping promote an increased level of alertness and reduce the chance of swelling in other body regions.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Drinking lots of water and juices will help you to stay well hydrated.

• If possible, try to wait until the local bedtime to sleep. You will sleep better and be less likely to suffer insomnia than if you take a nap upon arriving. A daytime flight may help since night-time flights may exacerbate jet lag.

Power: Plugs in Panama are the same as the US. We suggest you aim to be non-power dependent, as there is no option to connect to mains power once on the island. Solar panels are an excellent option.

Expedition Travel & Transport How to get there: Very Important – Do not book your flights until given the go-ahead by Woodsmoke, as the expedition needs a minimum number of participants in order to run. Flights to Panama City, Panama are NOT included in the cost of the course – you will need to book your own flights independently. Remember you will need an ESTA if routing through the USA.

Please note there is a Panama City in Florida, do not go there it won’t be as fun, unless you like golf and Hawaiian shirts!

The Expedition Assembly Point: We will meet everyone at Luna’s Castle guesthouse in Panama City at 20:00 on the 1st December 2017

Late arrivals: Please inform Ben asap on email or via sms – contact details on booking

Responsible tourism and recycling on expedition:

• We will not be burning or burying plastics on expedition, tins will be burned, crushed and binned. All tins and plastic waste will be carried out where possible.

• We recommend that you use re-chargeable batteries.

Carbon Neutrality:

Aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the world and through flying to overseas destinations we are contributing to the problem of climate change.

Climate Care is an organisation that invests in projects that reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. The first two displace fossil fuels in the energy generation mix and the latter absorb carbon dioxide.

For example, through every hour in a Boeing 747 you personally contribute an equivalent of 123 kg Of C02 to the atmosphere, which would cost £ 0:80 to offset. If you would like to take part in this scheme and work out your carbon deficit, please contact -

Climate Care, 58 Church Way, Oxford OX4 4EF. Tel: 01865-777770. Email: mail@co2.org. Website: www.co2.org.

Recommended Reading

To help get you in the correct mindset for the expedition, we would recommend that you read some of the following books –

• Jungle Travel and Survival by John Walden. The best all round jungle survival book. John Walden is a physician with extensive experience in the Amazon basin.

• An Island to Oneself by Tom Neal. An amazing true story of a Kiwi who decides to live his life on a deserted island in the Pacific

• The Essentials of Sea Survival by Frank Golden & Michael Tipton. Hard to find and quite expensive, but this has been my ‘go-to’ book on the science behind survival. Applicable to lots of environments and full of case studies.

• Survive the Savage Seas by Dougal Robertson. An account of a family’s 37 days adrift in a life raft in the Pacific.

• Castaway with Tom Hanks. A good film, which shows the importance of beach volleyballs on a Desert island!