2024 Global Meaningful Travel Summit Event Information

We know your plans are set for this trip, but there is always another trip to Panama! These post-experiences highlight communities, operators, and experiences that were a part of the Innovative Community Tourism Experiences Contest.

Saturday, June 1

Let everyone know that you are in Panama with this “I am attending button” and using “#whentourismcares and #meaningfulpanama

All Day: Transfers from PTY to Central Hotel 
A representative from Ancon Expeditions will meet you at the airport. View details on where to meet your transfer. Transfers are 35 minutes.  

You will receive a confirmation email from Tourism Cares confirming your transfer time and details. 

4:00pm - 9:00pm:  Registration + Info Table
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Lobby 
Plaza de la Independencia, C. 5a Este, Panamá, Provincia de Panamá

Visit the registration desk to check in, get your name badge, and talk to the local team about restaurant options for the evening.  

Dinner on own 
View a local restaurant guide or stop by the Info table to learn more about local restaurants in Casco Viejo.

Sunday, June 2

6:00am:  Breakfast Opens
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Central Palm Garden, First Floor
Buffet breakfast is included in your stay. 

7:30am:  Departure to Achiote Community
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Lobby
Please meet in the hotel lobby ready for the day and an on-time departure. 1.5 hour estimated transfer time.  

9:00am - 1:30pm:  Achiote Community Visit  
Impact Partner: Organización Ecoturística Amigos de San Lorenzo Los Rapaces
Colón Costa Abajo, Achiote, Calle Principal
Learn more about our community partners by visiting the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Map of Panama. 

What to wear and how to prepare: Dress comfortably with layers, wear walking shoes or hiking boots and bring rain gear or sunscreen if needed. Be sure to bring a filled reusable water bottle and backpack for your belongings. Consider a second pair of dry socks and shoes for the drive back to the hotel.

Please be sure to bring cash in the form of small bills to purchase goods from local artisans.

About the Experience: Following a welcome from the community attendees will be allowed to self-select their activity. Join a birdwatching eco-tour on the Trogon Trail where you will learn about the flora and fauna from local guides. The hike is a light and flat trail with a well-defined path. Those who do not wish to join the hike can join community members in gathering ingredients from the farm on property and preparing lunch for the group. 

Attendees will come back together for lunch and a Congo immersion presentation, designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.  

The afternoon will end with an optional tree-planting activity and opportunity to further explore the grounds of the farm. 

1:30pm: Return Transfer to Panama City 
1.5 hour estimated transfer time.

5:45pm: Transfer to the Welcome Reception
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Lobby
Please meet in the hotel lobby for an on-time departure to the welcome reception 

6:00pm - 8:30pm:  Welcome Reception Hosted by Visit Panama
Impact Partner: Biomuseo
Amador Causeway 136, Panama City, Panamá Province
Learn more about our community partners by visiting the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Map of Panama. 

Enjoy a sunset after-hours tour of the museum, dinner, and cultural presentation. Thank you to Visit Panama for hosting this evening!  Dress is business casual.

Monday, June 3

6:00am:  Breakfast Opens
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Central Palm Garden, First Floor
Buffet breakfast is included in your stay. 

8:30am Meet Guides at the Plaza de la Independencia 
Plaza de la Independencia 
The plaza is located directly across from the hotel lobby entrance. Please exit the hotel and walk across the street where you will find our guides and the rest of the group. 

8:30am - 11:45am:  Community Immersion Walking Tours 
Casco Antiguo, El Chorrillo and Santa Ana Communities 
Impact Partner: Movimiento Cultural Identidad 
Impact Partner: Localinpty 
Learn more about our community partners by visiting the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Map of Panama. 

What to wear and how to prepare: Dress comfortably with layers, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring rain gear or sunscreen if needed. Be sure to bring a filled reusable water bottle and backpack for your belongings. You will be going directly to lunch and the education session from the tour. 

About the Experience: This is a walking tour with a short break for refreshments halfway through. The tour begins with an Introduction and background on Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO restored area. From there you learn about the past, present and future of the El Chorrillo and Santa Ana Communities directly from community members. Your guides will take you through their current challenges and successes and the future impact of mindfully integrating tourism into the economy. 

12:00pm - 1:30pm: Community Lunch 
La Manzana Cultural Center 
Santa Ana, Panama City 

1:30pm - 5:30pm: Education Session
La Manzana Cultural Center 
Santa Ana, Panama City 

To learn more about the sessions and speakers please visit our Education Session Page.
Please take a moment to review the executive summary of Panama’s Sustainable Tourism Master Plan.  

Transfers back to the Central Hotel will be available immediately following the end of the education session.  

6:00pm - 8:00pm:  Hospitality Desk
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Lobby 

Dinner on own 
View a local restaurant guide or stop by the Info table to learn more about local restaurants in Casco Viejo.

Make sure to pack your bags so you are ready to check out tomorrow!

Tuesday, June 4

6:00am: Breakfast Opens
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Central Palm Garden, First Floor
Buffet breakfast is included in your stay. 

7:30am:  Drop All Luggage in the Lobby
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo | Lobby
Please have all of your luggage with tags provided at registration in the hotel lobby. All luggage will be transferred in advance to the Buenaventura Hotel. Be sure to keep personal belongings you will need with you throughout the day. 

Don’t forget to check out!

8:00am: Departure to El Valle Community Experiences 
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo |Lobby
Please meet in the hotel lobby ready for the day and an on-time departure. 1.5 hour estimated transfer time.

10:00am - 3:00pm:  El Valle Community Experience 
Impact Partner: Trapiche Tio Evelio
JV45+M52, Anton Valley, Coclé Province
Learn more about our community partners by visiting the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Map of Panama. 

What to wear and how to prepare: Dress comfortably with layers and bring rain gear if needed. Those planning to stay at the farm should wear walking shoes and anyone hiking should wear hiking boots and consider bringing a dry pair for later in the day.  Be sure to bring a filled reusable water bottle and backpack for your belongings. You will not have access to the luggage you sent in advance to the hotel until we arrive at the hotel in the afternoon. Consider a second pair of dry socks and shoes for the drive back to the hotel.

Please be sure to bring cash in the form of small bills to purchase goods from local artisans. 

About the Experience:  Attendees will have the option to spend the morning learning from and engaging with local artisans and craftsmen or hiking along La Caldera Route. lead by local guides and Caminando Panamá. The hike is 2 miles round trip and is moderate to strenuous. The trail is well marked, rocky and on a steady incline. 

The group will come together for lunch and end with a Molienda de Caña de Azucar (artisan cane sugar milling) presentation. 

Transfer will bring attendees directly to the Buenaventura. Estimated 2-hour transfer time.

5:00pm:  Arrive at Buenaventura 
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama
Riviera Pacifica, Calle 3ra 340, El Chirú, Coclé Province 
Grab your key in the lobby and check-in

Dinner On Own
Please consider making a reservation in advance at one of the restaurants on the property.

Criollo Restaurant (walkable from hotel)

Tai Kai Sushi (walkable from hotel)

Mansa (requires transfer)

Wednesday, June 5

6:30am: Breakfast Opens 
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama | Criollo Restaurant
Buffet breakfast is included in your stay

8:00am:  Departure to Community Experience 
Please meet in the hotel lobby ready for the day and an on-time departure. 1.5 hour estimated transfer time.  

9:30am - 1:30pm: La Pintada Community Experience 
Finca La Leyenda

What to wear and how to prepare: Dress comfortably with layers and bring rain gear if needed.  Be sure to bring a filled reusable water bottle and backpack for your belongings. Those planning to visit the waterfalls should come with hiking shoes. If you would like to swim please wear your swimsuit and bring a towel, water shoes and change of clothing and shoes. You will have the opportunity to change after swimming, but there will not be a shower onsite. 

Please be sure to bring cash in the form of small bills to purchase goods from local artisans. 

About the Experience: Join the La Pintada community in a local gastronomy and cultural experience. Or take a short ride to Las Yayas Waterfall for a short hike and swim or just enjoy the view of the falls. 

Lunch and a group presentation on the "Sombrero Pintado” (Panamanian farmer's hat), designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Learn more about the history of the real Panamanian hat here.

3:00pm: Arrive at Buenaventura
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama | Lobby
Take time to freshen up and prepare for the afternoon education session and evening recption. 

3:45pm -6:45pm: Education + Commitment Session 
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama | Salon Anton and Salon La Pintada
Located right off of the hotel lobby

To learn more about the sessions and speakers please visit our Education Session Page. 

7:00pm: Transfer to Closing Reception 
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama | Lobby
Please meet in the hotel lobby for an on-time departure to the welcome reception 

7:30pm - 9:00pm: Closing Reception 
Las Catalinas Antón Ave. 2a, Antón, Provincia de Coclé
Enjoy a delightful dinner accompanied by a folkloric presentation unique to the town of Anton: “El Baile del Toro Guapo” (The Handsome Bull’s Dance). Dinner will be expertly prepared by local Chef Julio Pasco. The event will take place at Las Catalinas, a charming local hostel and hotel. Savor your final night in Panama, and please note that the dress code is business casual.

Thursday, June 6

6:00am- 11:00am:  Breakfast
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama | Criollo Restaurant
Buffet breakfast is included in your stay  

Airport Transfers + Post Tours 
You will receive a confirmation email from Tourism Cares confirming your transfer time and details. Please check out and come with your luggage ready to leave on time. Transfer time is 2.5 hours to PTY.

Generally, Panamanians dress very casually, even in Panama City. Because temperatures can change over the course of the day (i.e. if you go from the lowlands to the highlands), come prepared to dress in layers. Bring enough of each item to last at least half the trip because you can’t count on laundry service everywhere and sometimes hand-washed clothes are hard to dry in humid areas. 

Some basics you should not forget:

Clothing

Please see the schedule for specific dress code information

• Long pants - at least two pairs. Convertible pants are an excellent option as they double as shorts.

• Shorts - this is a personal preference. Some people even choose shorts for rainforest hikes (particularly the local guides!) - Although long pants are the recommended norm in the forest to prevent insect bites.

• River shorts; quick-drying lycra is best (for river rafting trips only)

• Skirt or pair of slacks for evenings

• Short-sleeved t-shirts, shirts or blouses

• Long-sleeved shirt(s) or blouse(s)

• Bathing suit

• Light poncho or other light raingear. There will be rain.

• Wide-brimmed sun hat

• Business casual outfits for group dinners

Footwear

• Because one pair of boots/shoes always gets muddy or wet to some degree, it is important to have dry footwear for the evening or later in the trip. There will be rain and you will want a dry pair of shoes for the next day while the wet pair dries.

• Flat, slip-on sandals: handy while you’re in your room or going to dinner. If you bring river sandals, they will do nicely.

• Flat, light walking shoes - for when you’re in Panama City. Tennis shoes will do.

• Comfortable footwear for hiking forest trails: A light boot that provides ankle support is recommended but some people prefer running shoes; whichever you choose, make sure they have good treads and won’t suffer from mud and/or water. Most trails are dry, particularly from December through April, but just one rain can change all that! One way to save on luggage space if you do bring boots is to wear them on the plane.

• Water shoes for those looking to swim in the waterfall at La Pintada

Other

• Leave a little space for local gifts and souvenirs

• Backpack

• Reusable water bottle (please note you will receive one at check-in) 

• Passport 

• Cash (small bills for community experiences), credit cards 

• Sunglasses with 100% UV screening and retainer straps

• Sunblock and sun-blocking lip balm

• Umbrella and rain gear are a must!

• Bugspray 

• Money belt or neck pouch

It is important you are properly prepared to experience Panama! Please be sure to read through the important information below before you depart for the Summit. 

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase a travel insurance plan that includes Medical and Evacuation Coverage, Trip Cancellation and Interruption, as well as Baggage Insurance before traveling to Panama.

Passport and Visa

All U.S, Canadian, and EU citizens must have a passport, which must be valid for at least three months after your scheduled return date. Citizens of other countries, please contact the Panamanian embassy or consulate in your country to obtain current visa and entry requirements for Panama.

We recommend that you photocopy the pertinent details within your passport and put the copy in an envelope with an extra passport-size photo. Keep this envelope separate from your wallet and other travel documents. Should you lose your passport; most embassies will allow a copy of your passport as identification to issue a new one.

Required Immunizations

There are no required immunizations for entering Panama if your journey begins and ends in North America/Europe. If you travel to other countries prior to or after Panama, please check with your airline.  

Questions concerning preventative medicine and vaccines are difficult to answer. As we are not medically qualified to give advice on international healthcare, we highly recommend that you consult with your medical provider for up-to-date advice.

It is important to plan ahead. Some inoculations must be administered serially over a period of time, and some cannot be given together. Recommendations change frequently, so you must check directly with a traveler’s clinic or other medical authority.

Please discuss with your doctor or traveler’s health clinic the following:

• Hepatitis A: inquire about the new vaccine, Havrix

• Influenza

• Measles: consider a new shot

• Polio: consider a booster

• Tetanus: consider a booster

• Malaria

Yellow Fever vaccination

Check here whether Yellow Fever Vaccination is required for your trip to/from Panama depending on the countries and areas you will be visiting pre or post.

Water

With the exception of a few rural areas, the water in Panama is safe to drink. Restaurants, hotels, and other facilities with their own water source have their water tested regularly. However, if you have any doubts about the water, ask the owners or your guide. It is advisable to carry water with you at all times and to keep sipping away at it, even if you don't feel thirsty. When you come to Panama, we recommend travelers bring their refillable water bottles to help us reduce plastic bottles. 

Weather 

The sun in Panama is strong. Please be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and lip balm with a minimum SPF rating of 30 and a hat with a wide brim.

Air temperature is stable throughout the year. Relative humidity rises quickly and may hover around 90 to 100% throughout the green season from May through November.

The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the green season, but it won’t rain nonstop – rain in Panama, as elsewhere in the tropics, tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine.  But please be prepared for rain!

Panama City Average  Temperatures from April - December  

• Max: 85-90°F (29.4-32.2°C)

• Min: 75-78°F (23.9-25.6°C)

Electricity 

Panama's electrical system is compatible with that of North America, 110 Volts. Three-hole grounded plug-ins are uncommon in some hotels, so if you have equipment requiring that system be sure to bring an adapter. Most of the two-hole plug-ins accept plugs with either round or flat prongs, including plugs with flat prongs of two different widths. However,you will occasionally run into the type that accepts only flat prongs of equal width.

Money and Currency

The U.S. Dollar is legal tender in Panama. The official currency is the Balboa, but it’s exactly the same bill, and in practice, people use the terms ‘dólar’ and ‘balboa’ interchangeably. Panamanian coins are of the same value, size, and metal as US coins.

Coins include one, five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty centavos (or centésimos) – 100 centavos equal one balboa. Most businesses won’t break US$50 and US$100 bills, and those that do may require you to present your passport, thus try to change those into US$20s if possible. Always keep your money with you. All of our banks have terminated their contracts with Traveler’s Checks companies and thus, are extremely difficult to cash in Panama. We also suggest carrying at least $150 of U.S. cash, mainly in $1/$5/$10’s.

ATMs

Throughout Panama, ATMs are readily available except in the most isolated places – look for the red ‘Sistema Clave’ sign. Generally speaking, ATMs accept cards on most networks (MasterCard, Visa, Amex Plus, Cirrus), though a charge is usually levied depending on your issuing bank. The amount that can be withdrawn at one time varies from bank to bank, though it is usually around US$500.

Credit Cards

Although widely accepted at travel agencies, upscale hotels, malls, and many restaurants, credit cards can be problematic almost everywhere else. In short, carry enough cash to get you to the next bank or ATM. The most common credit cards are VISA and MASTER CARD, and AMERICAN EXPRESS to a lesser extent. You may wish to let your credit card company or bank know you will be traveling abroad so that your accountis not suspended due to suspicious activity.

Tax

A 10% tax is added to the price of hotel rooms. When booking with us, this tax is already included in your rate. A 7% ITBMS tax is levied on all services and products.

Restaurants +Tipping 

All meals included in your itinerary already include tips. For those that are not included, bear in mind that the standard tipping rate in Panamanian restaurants is 10% of the total bill. Tips are usually left on the table or with the waiter after having paid your bill. Some restaurants include the tip already in your total; look for “propina” on your bill and see if you have to add on or if the restaurant has it already included in the price.