Panama Medical Expedition

Get ready to see where the city meets the jungle! Flying into Panama City will amaze you today! Upon arrival, your group will transfer to your hotel in the Cerro Patacon region of the city.

Meet the team from International Medical Relief that you’ll be working with on this expedition and enjoy a group dinner and orientation. We will go over clinic protocols, patient care guidelines, safety and security, how we work together as a team, schedules, and much more.

Your group will be working in a church located in the heart of the indigenous community in the garbage dump – one of the largest in the Americas. These hard-working people receive little care and will be awaiting your arrival. You’ll see everything in these clinics from the newborn to the very elderly with many families of all ages. Much of their hygiene revolves around bathing in the many small streams, the same source for their drinking water. You will see wounds, infections, general illness, cerumen removal, and some tropical disease as well. You will diagnose, educate, and provide medications as appropriate. This is a wonderful clinic with something for everyone to help with!

Your group will be leaving the hotel early today for a trip to the jungle! Motorized canoes followed by a short hike will take you to the location of your next clinic. Throughout the day today and tomorrow the surrounding villages will arrive and you will have the opportunity to treat patients from many different tribes.

You’ll be spending the night tonight – don’t forget your sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and free-standing mosquito net. You can choose to sleep outside (bring a tent if you like) or inside the school house. Local cooks will prepare your meals and you will be amazed as the stars come out and the milky way shines bright. Bring your tripod for some astrophotography if you are so inclined!

Spend the morning in clinic where more villagers will arrive by canoe, flatboat, and maybe even horseback.

In the afternoon, your group will pack up and hike back to your canoes to begin the journey to the city. Tonight and tomorrow night you will spend the night in Casco Viejo – the heart of the tourist area.

You will be transported to the Miraflores Locks this morning and will spend the first half of the day watching ships as they lumber upwards toward the Pacific Ocean. The afternoon will find you back in Casco Viejo with time to relax on the balcony, shop for treasures, head for the beach, or explore the area with your group.

Enjoy a group dinner in Casco and choose from nouveau haute cuisine, simple fare and delicious ice cream.

Depending on your flight times, the day is yours! Consider extending your stay to see more of what this incredible country has to offer!