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Conservation in the Mamoní Valley ENGAGE IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY IN Mamoní

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A PROGRAM BY

In collaboration with

Life Experiences
LEARNING, RESILIENCE, REGENERATIVE LIFE SKILLS, AND FUN IN NATURE

Since 2013 our educational programs blend adventure, cultural exchange, and hands-on environmental experiences, fostering curiosity and deep connections to nature.

Designed to weave into your curriculums, these intimate journeys inspire personal growth while supporting social and environmental initiatives.

Our programs offer unique, impactful experiences for schools seeking meaningful engagement with global communities and environments.

Nature Immersion in mamoní

conservation in the Mamoní Valley

AN IMMERSIVE 4-DAY JOURNEY TO EXPLORE conservation in a rainforest environment

Holistic Conservation Programs

Geoversity will be hosting us at their rainforest campus located in the upper watershed of the Mamoní river valley. It is located within the largest remaining stretch of contiguous rainforest in the exceptionally biodiverse Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena eco-region: one of the top 25 Biodiversity Hotspots in the world.

The campus is a science and leadership training center, Centro Mamoní, where the off-grid rainforest campus has students joining our team to create home grown talent in places and spaces where the next generation of biocultural leaders will be connecting with nature, culture, and with each other.

Incredibly, Mamoní a mere 2-hour drive from Panama City and is in the narrowest stretch of all the Americas

Day 1

Depart the Tocumen airport at 3pm to journey straight into the heart of Panama’s rainforest. Your route to our campus winds through lush, dense jungle, with river crossings and sweeping views of the valley. This is the beginning of an unforgettable first immersion into the wild landscapes that will define your experience with us.
Arrival around 5:30pm to our rainforest campus for a welcome briefing before getting settled into your jungle home. Our guides will walk you around the campus to learn about off-grid-living with its renewable and closed-loop systems woven throughout the campus.
After dinner you'll get a presentation exploring the natural history and rich biodiversity of the Mamoní region, gaining a deeper understanding of the ecosystems, species, and landscapes that define this unique area.

Day 2

Morning: Hike to the summit of the continental divide while taking part in a guided birding and wildlife observation activity, exploring the rich biodiversity of the area. Along the way, we’ll practice citizen science by documenting species and uploading our observations to global platforms such as eBird and iNaturalist—contributing real data to support conservation and ecological research.
Afternoon: Get to know your comrades a little better as you learn about sustainable materials and challenge yourselves to a bamboo boat building team activity.
To wrap up the afternoon you'll have free time and the opportunity to enjoy the campus pool, play games with friends, or simply lounge in a hammock as hummingbirds fly overhead.
Evening: Meet researchers working out of the campus and learn about the scientific studies taking place in the region. Through an interactive presentation, you’ll gain insight into current research methods and have the opportunity to observe real specimens up close—connecting classroom learning with active field science.

Day 3

Set out on a full-day hike through diverse forest landscapes, stopping along the way to spot wildlife and take in the sounds and sights of the rainforest.
Midday, you’ll pause at a waterfall for a pic-nic lunch and enjoy a refreshing swim in its natural plunge pool.
The hike concludes in a small mestizo village, where we'll meet with local elders for a dialogue to gain more context of living in remote rainiest regions. To wrap up pickup trucks will be waiting to bring you back to campus after a rewarding day on the trail.
Evening final reflection on your time in the rainforest, while enjoying a s'more

day 4

Morning: Get hands-on in a local cuisine culinary class. Harvest organic ingredients from the gardens and make from scratch your very own tamale creation, which you will have for lunch.
Prior to lunch, we’ll load into the SUVs and begin our journey back to the airport, carrying home the experiences and insights of the past days.
Before departing Mamoní, we will stop on-route at the Mamoní river plunge pools for a Tamale picnic lunch and to get a final plunge in the warm waters that nourish this region.

LODGING

Students will lodge in shared rooms equipped with bunkbeds equipped with mosquito netting. These 3/4 enclosed rooms offer a comfortable and familiar sleeping setup while still keeping students close to the surrounding rainforest environment. Gender-separated rooms ensure privacy and ease of supervision.
Student sleeping area has a designates shower, bathroom and hand washing facility.
Teachers will sleep in large, open-air cabanas with ensuite bathrooms and equipped with beds and mosquito netting, experiencing a closer connection to the natural surroundings.

Food

Fresh, all-inclusive food service of traditional Panamanian meals with exotic options are prepared fresh daily. Tropical fruits and vegetables from local markets are complemented by organic ingredients grown in our permaculture program to offer a well-balanced menu that is mostly vegetarian. Although in a remote area, we can accommodate all special diets for people with allergies or dietary needs. We recommend students to bring any additional healthy snacks they might need in between meals. Filtered water and natural fresh drinks are provided.

Transport

Roundtrip transport in SUV's will be provided from out of the Tocumen airport.

Safety

Leading the groups will be professional, local expedition guides accompanied by the campus' support team. The forms you fill will give us your existing and previous medical conditions, restrictions or disabilities and allergies, as well as medications which you are currently taking so that we may be prepared to provide that information to health care professionals in the event of an emergency. Satellite communication devices are carried for emergency use when passing through area without cellular signal or wifi.

WHAT TO BRING

Try to go as light as possible and take only essentials. Packing quantities are only suggestions based on the tropical environment and feel free to alter quantities or add other items as you see fit for your personal needs.

CEDULA/PASSPORT

A copy of either a passport or cedula is required to pass through checkpoints for onwards travel to Mamoní.

CLOTHING

While in the rainforest you’ll only wear casual outdoor clothing suitable for warm and wet weather. Please avoid jeans or any other kind of heavy 100% cotton clothing for daytime activities. Bring lightweight clothing made of synthetic blends that wick moisture and dry quickly.

Bring clothing ideal for sun protection and protection from insect bites. Also, consider a lightweight fleece jacket for cooler nights and a lightweight rain jacket, preferably one made of Gore-Tex or of other breathable material.

Use your own judgment, based on the expected weather conditions, and the time you plan to spend with us. For the evenings, loose fitting clothing that protects against insect bites is the most comfortable.

RECOMMENDED CLOTHING TO PACK

  • 3 Tropical, lightweight long pants that zip into shorts and are made of synthetic blends that wick moisture and dry quickly
  • 3 Lightweight, ventilated, long sleeve, button up shirts
  • 3 Lightweight T-shirts
  • 1 lightweight microfibre towel
  • 1 Lightweight rain jacket made of Gore-Tex or similar quality material
  • 3 Good hiking socks that wick moisture and go above the ankle
  • 3 Abrasion limiting underwear
  • 1 Bathing suit
  • 1 Long sleeve UV protection swimming shirt
  • 1 Rubber boots or hiking shoes (our guides use $10 rubber boots)
  • 1 Sandals/crocks/or Teva-type (for use around camp)
  • 1 Lightweight brimmed hat
  • 1 Bandana to keep sweat out of eyes or sun off the neck

EQUIPMENT

Tents or Bug Netting, Sleeping Pads, and Pillows are Provided.
  • 45-litre bag to use as main luggage
  • 15- litre daypack for hikes
  • A good waterproof or resistant headlamp (Petzl or Black Diamond) with new batteries
  • 15L Dry sack/bag for camera and other electronics while on hikes
  • 1 liter Nalgene water bottle
  • Charging cables
  • Personal medical kit and medications—ace bandage or brace if you’re prone to sore knees or ankles. Moleskin or other foot/hand protection if you are prone to blisters; Geoversity does not provide medical supplies.

Travel Accessories

  • Toiletry kit—special soaps, toothbrush, and so on. Try to use biodegradable
  • Insect repellent with a minimum of 20% DEET (cream or a spay not in aerosol cans)
  • Sunscreen and lip protection (preferably zinc oxide) with at least SPF 15 rating

Optional Items to Consider

  • Sunglasses
  • 2 liter camelback
  • Rite in the rain all weather field note pad & writing utensils
  • Hammock
  • Camera
  • Compass
  • Garmin GPS or GPS app (we use the Gaia app) for hikes
  • Hiking poles (we offer bamboo poles)
  • Shoe insoles (extra comfort for boots)
  • Earplugs for peaceful sleeping
  • Binoculars – gas filled to reduce fogging
  • Musical instrument
  • Electrolyte mixes to flavor the water in your water bottles
  • Energy bars and/or trail snacks or any of your favourite healthy snacks

Itinerary

Day 1

  • 1:30pm Arrival to Tocumen airport.
  • 3:00pm Depart Tocumen in SUV's.
  • 5:30pm Arrive rainforest campus, Cenntro Mamoní, for student check-ins.
  • 6:00pm Campus walk, orientation, and get settled into sleeping areas.
  • 7:00pm Dinner.
  • 8:00pm Eco-region presentation.
  • Evening camp fire.

Day 2

  • 7:00 Wake up.
  • 7:30am Breakfast.
  • 8:30am Hike to the continental divide and support citizen science. 2.2km loop hike.
  • 12:00pm Lunch.
  • 1:30pm Bamboo boat, team building workshop.
  • 3:30pm Free time, pool games, and showers.
  • 6:30pm Dinner.
  • 7:30pm Researcher presentation.
  • Evening camp fire.

Day 3

  • 7:00am Wake up.
  • 7:30am Breakfast.
  • 8:30am Interpretative 6km old-growth forest hike to waterfall and plunge pool.
  • 12:00pm Pic-nic lunch at waterfall and swim in plunge pool.
  • 1:30pm Hike 4km to La Zahina community.
  • 3:00pm Group dialogue in La Zahina community with village elders.
  • 4:30pm Depart in trucks for transport back to campus.
  • 5:30pm Arrival back at rainforest campus for showers and free time.
  • 6:30pm Dinner.
  • Eve camp fire w. s'mores.
  • Preliminary packing.

DAY 4

  • 7:00am Wake up.
  • 7:30am Breakfast.
  • 8:30am Tamale making workshop.
  • 11:00am Depart campus.
  • 11:30pm Mamoní river plunge pools
  • 12:30 Lunch at plunge pools.
  • 1:30pm Depart river.
  • 3:30pm Arrival to Tocumen airport.

weather / climate

The Science and Leadership Training Center, Centro Mamoní, is nestled in the rainforest along the continental divide where it will be wetter and a bit cooler than Panama City (lows of 21°C). Please note that it rains frequently, both day and night.

insects

The threat of insect-borne disease in Mamoní is low but there have been reported cases of diseases such as dengue and leishmaniasis in the region. It is recommended at all times to protect yourself from insect bites with proper clothing that covers the skin and/or protect exposed skin with insect repellent that contains DEET. We recommend cream repellents that contain a minimum of 20% DEET (eg. Dak’s Greenhead Fly, Insect and Tick Repellent).

electricity

Campus has solar and micro-hydro electric systems, with generator backup, offer power 24/7.

communication

Centro Mamoní offers starlink wireless internet service for voice and internet communications. There is no access to cellphone networks in the area. To preserve the natural experience, teachers will be the only ones who'll have access to the wireless network for daily communication.

Contact for more Info

Mark Knetsch, Founder biocultural adventures

MARK@BIOCULTURALADVENTURES.COM

+(507) 6209.6942

biocultural adventures panama
CREATED BY
BioCultural Adventures

Credits:

Mark Arie Knetsch

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