Panama: Valle y Veraguas | Amigos de las Americas

Head to Panama this summer to explore how local communities conserve the country's unique plants and wildlife! Spend a week in the Valle de Anton, supporting reforestation efforts and working at an orchid conservation center. Next, travel to a quiet town on the Pacific coast that's home to a sea turtle protection project. Enjoy the pristine coastline and earn 30 service hours as you do hands-on volunteer activities that help make the area safer for the sea turtles that nest and hatch there.

The deadline to apply was May 17.

	Length	Training Dates	In-Country Dates	Ages	Application Deadline	Price
Session A	3 Weeks	Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.	June 15–July 5	15–19	The deadline for Session A has passed. Please email our Admissions team with any questions at [email protected]	$5,875 – includes all in-country expenses
Session B	3 Weeks	Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.	July 13–August 2	15–19	The deadline for Session B has passed.	$5,875 – includes all in-country expenses

Session A
Length

3 Weeks
Training Dates

Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.
In-Country Dates

June 15–July 5
Ages

15–19
Application Deadline

The deadline for Session A has passed. Please email our Admissions team with any questions at [email protected]
Price

$5,875 – includes all in-country expenses
Session B
Length

3 Weeks
Training Dates

Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.
In-Country Dates

July 13–August 2
Ages

15–19
Application Deadline

The deadline for Session B has passed.
Price

$5,875 – includes all in-country expenses

About the Project

Project Type

Group experience. Maximum enrollment is 20.

Slang

aguacero = rain shower
ofi = okay

College Credit

Get two college credits for this project! Find out more here.

Service Hours

Earn 30 service hours!

Food

Sancocho de gallina – chicken soup with vegetables and yucca
Hojaldres – fried dough
Tamales – spiced meat filling in corn dough, wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked

What makes this project unique?

See the different sides of Panama, from Panama City and the Canal Zone to the Valle de Anton and the Pacific coast! Two spots on this project are reserved for students from Panama, so you’ll get to practice your Spanish and learn about Panamanian culture. Volunteer with local organizations dedicated to conserving the plants and wildlife of the region.

El Valle de Antón, Panama

Find out more about our programs

Join an online info session!

RSVP HERE

What You'll Do

Community-Driven Conservation

Understand the importance of natural resource conservation to community well-being and native flora and fauna. Hear from local people about the challenges of climate change and its impacts on people’s lives.

Partner Agencies

Volunteer with a sea turtle protection organization and Panama’s Ministry of the Environment. Earn 30 service hours while supporting local initiatives.

Example Activities

Nocturnal sea turtle monitoring on the beach
Meet youth from the Eco Club, dedicated to preserving the environment in and around their community
Hike to waterfalls and an extinct volcanic crater
Earn 30 service hours volunteering on environmental projects
Explore Panama City’s historic colonial center and watch ships pass through the Panama Canal

A Day in the Life

Days 1–7*

Wake up and have breakfast in small groups
Travel from Panama City to the Valle de Anton
Morning: Rotating schedule of activities, including Spanish classes, orientation, explore topics like environmental conservation, natural resources, and sustainability in action, and volunteering activities.
Lunch outside
Afternoon: Rotating schedule of activities—Spanish classes, briefing, etc. in small groups
Free time to explore the grounds
Dinner in small groups
After Dinner: free time, fun group activities

*Approximate

Day 8 through End of Project

Travel to the Pacific Coast and the sea turtle protection project
Wake up and eat breakfast as a group
Morning: volunteer with scientific research and environmental education activities, learn about sea turtles and how to protect them, lead a beach cleanup with local children
Lunch outside
Afternoon: participate in leadership and cultural activities. Meet local community members and take part in fun activities led by the group!
Dinner
After Dinner: fun group bonding, free time to relax
Spend the last two nights in Panama City, where you’ll visit the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo, Panama City’s historic colonial center

Program Pillars

Ethical Service

Learn how to create ethical service initiatives by working with–not for–a community, engaging local organizations and partners, and evaluating the impact of your work. AMIGOS works with trusted local partners that are passionate and committed to working with our volunteers on community service projects.

Cultural Humility

Cultural humility is a process of both self-reflection about your own culture as well as learning about other cultures. You will examine your own beliefs and cultural identity and gain an understanding of how structural racism has impacted societies and the roles that communities can take to lead systemic change.

Leadership

Learn, grow, and discover your leadership potential! Explore your sense of purpose and start to establish your personal goals and values through introspection and inquiry.

Apply Now

Click here

Why Choose AMIGOS?

Have an Adventure

Travel off the beaten path and to must-see spots in Panama! You’ll travel as a group to experience unique destinations like extinct volcanoes, cloud forests, and waterfalls. You’ll get to see these places from the distinct perspective of someone who has spent time in that country and learned about the culture firsthand. Plus, you’ll bond with their fellow volunteers and have fun!

Travel with Trust

AMIGOS is the industry leader in health and safety management. Our staff is prepared to help you with any situation that may arise. Each volunteer receives a personalized emergency plan, as well as support from local staff teams and a professional 24-hour On-Call Safety Team of travel specialists, doctors, and mental health specialists. A Health and Wellness Coordinator is on staff with the group throughout the duration of their stay. AMIGOS also has an established network of vetted medical clinics and hospitals throughout the region.

Training for AMIGOS and Beyond

Prepare for AMIGOS through guided training in topics like: cultural humility, health and safety, emotional intelligence, travel safety, Spanish, leadership, and team building.

Upon arrival in the field, you’ll start country-specific training with your group. During your time abroad, you’ll meet regularly with an AMIGOS staff member who serves as your mentor.

Throughout the whole experience, I made life-long friends, learned about a new culture, and I got to make a real impact in some amazing peoples’ lives.

—Claire, Volunteer in Panama

Program Requirements

Have taken 2+ years of Spanish or the equivalent
Meet the health criteria for AMIGOS participation and follow the mental health procedures if necessary.
Receive required immunizations and medications
Be age 15–19 on the project start date

Resources

Apply Now

Field Notes

Last Week in Community

Archive, Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica

End of Summer in Barahona

Report from Parque Nacional Marino Ballena

Archive, Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica

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Aug 18

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That's a wrap on our 58th summer! Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers, partner agencies, community members, host families, chapters, donors, and staff who made 2022 a summer to remember.

#volunteerabroad #spanishimmersion #learnspanish #travel #highschool #teachingspanish ...

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Aug 12

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Our very own Krista Boscoe was on the Join Our Vida Loca podcast!

Hear what she has to say about hope, resilience, and the impact travel has on discovering ourselves. Find it at the link in our bio!

Gracias, @joinourvidaloca! ...

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Aug 7

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We laughed, we danced, we cried! Reímos, bailamos, lloramos..🥹💚

The end of this AMIGOS summer is fast approaching, and we can’t help but reminisce on all the experiences shared and friendships that blossomed during the last few months!

What are some of your favorite AMIGOS memories from this summer?👇🏼🥰
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#amigosdelasamericas #volunteerabroad #summer2022 #studyabroad #summerabroad #latinamerica #volunteering #spanishimmersion #servicelearning #wanderlust #teentravel #highschool #travel #highschoolstudyabroad ...

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Aug 3

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We'd love to have you join the AMIGOS team!
Check out our open jobs, including AmeriCorps VISTA positions and local chapter board roles at the Work With Us link in our bio. ...

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Jul 29

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#Discover AMIGOS volunteers had a great time hiking through Cerro Gaital in Valle de Antón!😍

They learned about Panama’s plentiful flora and fauna, got to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, and even planted some trees with the help of our local guides and “frens” (friends, as Panamanians call them).🇵🇦❤️

We don’t want the summer to end!

#volunteerabroad #spanishimmersion #visitpanama #valledeanton #middleschoolspanish #summerabroad #panamatravel #internationaleducation #amigosdelasamericas #volunteering #servicelearning ...

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Jul 25

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Jenna (from Houston, TX) and Brendan (from Los Gatos, CA) did AMIGOS back in 2018 on the Palmares Project in Costa Rica. A few days ago, they reunited at the Naval Academy! We love AMIGOS reunions! Once an Amigo, always an Amigo.😊🇨🇷

Have any AMIGOS reunion photos you would like to share? Send them to us via DM or at [email protected] and we'll share them on our social media! #SomosAmigos🌎

📸: @jennahlavaty @brenjcummins ...

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Jul 22

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Memories from the field: Cartago y Caribe Pen Pals!📝

"We drove to a local school and visited our pen pals that we have been writing to in Spanish for a couple of days, with the help of our Spanish teachers Marcio and Jorge. We started by meeting our pen pals who gave us a tour of the school and tried to help us speak in Spanish as well as we could.

The local students brought us treats from their cafeteria and played basketball and soccer with us. Then our pen pals helped us write about our experiences in Costa Rica in Spanish. Thank you to all of our Spanish teachers for helping us with advancing our Spanish speaking and our pen pals for being so kind and welcoming."

Read the full Field Notes entry at the link in our bio! ...

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Jul 20

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Memories from the field: Olas y Cerros, Session A✈️❤️

"We have created so many memories and new friends over this program, and simply enjoying each other's company has been one of the highlights for many. We held a bittersweet, tearful candlelight ceremony to say goodbye, and then hopped on that 3 am flight back to Houston, and then home.

It has been a wonderful trip, and we have made so many connections that we will not soon forget. Until next time, Amigos!"

🥹Read Session A's full Field Notes entry at the link in our bio!

#volunteerabroad #spanishimmersion #visitcostarica #servicelearning #highschoolspanish #culturalimmersion #travel ...