Panama Primatology

Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.

Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.

At the start and end of the program in Panama City and Isla Caranero, your accommodations will be at hotels with 2-4 students per room. There likely will not be kitchen facilities available so you will be obtaining your own meals during this time, e.g. local restaurants and street vendors.

During the fieldwork component, which is the majority of the program, you will be staying at the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation on Isla Colón in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. The ITEC dormitory holds 3-4 students per room. We anticipate that each student will have their own bunk bed (so that you have one bunk for sleeping and another to store your belongings). There are several private bathrooms at the dormitory for residents to use.

ITEC has kitchen/dining facilities and you will be provided with 3 meals per day with both meat and vegetarian options. The kitchen is able to accommodate some dietary restrictions and allergies, but is not able to accommodate preferences. Please contact our office in advance to discuss any dietary concerns.

More information about what to expect (accommodations layout, the meals typically provided, etc.) can be viewed online here.

Please be aware that the conditions at ITEC are very rustic. The site is well-established and safe, however you will be in close contact with wildlife, insects, and each other (minimal privacy). There is no WiFi and restricted electricity. Water availability depends on rainfall and showering may be restricted to one 3-minute shower per day. We will discuss this in depth and make sure you are well-prepared before you travel, but if you have any concerns or questions, you are welcome to contact the instructors.

This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties.

Applications will be considered after your online application and supplementary documents have been received in full.

Please read the sections below for information about what your application will include. The application is completed online. Because the online application will time out after 1 hour, we recommend writing out your answers to the application questions in a Word document and preparing any of the supplementary documents you may need in advance.

Once you are ready, click here to access the application system.

Announcements on whether you have been selected to the program will not be distributed until after the November 12 deadline.

Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.

Program-Specific FAQs

Q: Is Panama safe?
A: Yes, Panama is a safe country to travel and work in. English is spoken at the ITEC field site, and also commonly used in Panama City. Of course, there are always precautions that should be taken whenever one travels in a foreign country, especially when in more isolated or "non-touristy" regions. We will discuss these precautions before we go.

Q: What kind of food will be available?
A: Some meals will be purchased on your own (e.g. while in Panama City). However, during your fieldwork at ITEC, you will receive 3 meals per day. Meals are served buffet-style and follow a traditional Panamanian cuisine. Vegetarian options are offered as well. If you have any dietary concerns, please contact the Group Study Programs team at group.study@ucalgary.ca to discuss whether this program will be able to accommodate you.

Advice from past students

"As someone who has managed anxiety for my entire life through the development of routines and support systems here in Canada, it was very difficult to walk away from that and put myself in a completely new situation with new people and no established routine. As the program progressed, our whole group experienced mental & physical exhaustion from the rigours of fieldwork, and I was shocked by how supportive and kind everyone was. We became so close so fast and were so open with our needs that I truly felt like we became a family by the end. So, the resolution to my biggest challenge in the field was also one of the biggest highlights of my trip. In terms of advice for future students, opening yourself up to your classmates and relying on each other for support and reassurance is absolutely essential to your success in this program. Also, set realistic expectations of what the trip will look like in terms of free-time and 'vacationing', and accept that programs like this need to be tackled one day at a time. It was hard, but it is so worth it if you fully commit to the experience."