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Expedition Panama

Nestled amidst the intersection of Central and South America lies a secluded valley enveloped within one of the world’s lowest-elevation cloud forests. Cocobolo Nature Reserve is a privately owned reserve managed by CREA: Conservation through Research, Education, and Action. This unique habitat in Panama stands as a vital sanctuary for migratory wildlife and harbors a remarkable ensemble of endemic plant and animal species found nowhere else. This richly biodiverse landscape holds immense potential for entomological exploration and discovery. We’ll be staying in a 100% solar, off-grid, hand-built biological field station.
Duration: 8 Nights / 7 Days
Dates: January 23rd, 2026 - February 1st, 2026
Country: Panama
Expedition Language: English
Closest Airport: Tocumen International Airport, Panama City
Accommodation type: 2 night Hotel. 7 nights tent camping on raised platforms
Minimum Age: 18
Minimum participation: 6
Maximum participation: 11

ITINERARY

Day 1

Panama City

Welcome to vibrant Panama City! Feel free to explore until we meet at our hotel before heading into the heart of the Panama rainforest tomorrow. Get your hot shower in while you can.
We’ll meet for dinner to have an informal briefing on what you can expect during our expedition, and to get to know each other. This is important, as we’ll be working, living, and sharing much of our space together.

Day 2

Hello Cocobolo!

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll load up onto a bus bound for the outskirts of Panama City, where we’ll transfer to the necessary 4×4’s for the rest of our journey deep into the rainforest.
Upon arrival we’ll gather for lunch after we settle into our tents. Our hosts will provide us with some information about the reserve and we’ll have a quick safety briefing. We’ll discuss our research objectives and planned field “work”, and go over our iNaturalist contest.
After dinner, we’ll end the night as we will every night we’re at Cocobolo…. with our insect light sheet to bring them to us!

Day 3

Ecosystem Familiarization & Research Setup

We've created unique Flight Intercept Traps (FITs) for our core research project: Vertical stratification Survey of Coleoptera (beetles) - which we'll all set up together. Our group will also be split into teams and assigned individual survey projects with target insect orders and begin work on making our traps.  You'll present your findings on our last day.

In the afternoon we'll be led on a hike to familiarize ourselves with the various ecosystems of the area on our way to set our FITs, obviously searching for insects and spiders along the way.

Day 4

Life After Dark

Teams will conduct their individual research projects and then have a free afternoon, because our primary activity will be at night.  We'll venture out into the rainforest armed with our UV flashlights to discover nocturnal feeding insects and spiders (and plenty of frogs, lizards and snakes too).

We'll also have our UV light sheet set up at camp awaiting our return, or for those who would like to opt not to go on the night walk and prefer to have the insects come to you!  Have your coffee or tea, because we'll be staying up late tonight.

Day 5

Aquatic Invertebrate Survey

This morning we'll all go work on our individual surveys and come together to spend the afternoon at the Mamoni river - sifting for aquatic insects and having a relaxing soak to cool off.

Day 6

The Big Hike

Today, we collect the specimens from our primary flight intercept traps from the three elevation zones. This is our most strenuous hike as we'll be reaching the highest point in the reserve in the heart of the cloud forest, so get ready to get muddy and bring lots of water!

Day 7

Specimen Management

After yesterday's big hike, I'm sure we'll all like something a little more relaxing - so we'll be sorting, identifying and preserving (whether through pinning or alcohol preservation) our specimens to determine the diversity of insects our FITs were able to capture.  We'll do our best to identify to the lowest taxonomic level using whatever dichotomous keys we have available - and some assistance from field guides and iNaturalist.

In the afternoon we'll have an optional insect photography workshop or birding walk for those who aren't still tired after yesterday's hike.

Day 8

Farewell Dinner & Share Out

We'll spend the day wrapping up our research projects and putting our findings together. It's our final day to collect as much data as possible and get your iNaturalist records in before we announce the winner of our BioBlitz.  Tonight we'll share our findings with the other researchers, and learn more about their projects as well.  We'll have a farewell dinner and turn in for our journey back to civilization tomorrow.

Day 9

Farewell Cocobolo!

After breakfast we load up our 4x4's for the journey back to Panama City, where we say our final goodbyes (for now). Take the time to explore the city or enjoy a real bed, air conditioning pool time, and a hot shower before you move on to the next adventure in your life. 

Important Disclaimers

We will be spending a majority of our time in dense and humid jungles in wildlife rich areas. We’ll be wading through rivers, climbing trees, and trekking through brush and mud.  You’ll get dirty… and that’s half the fun, however, please consider the disclaimers below.  And keep in mind, all activities are optional, so if you need a rest or don’t feel like participating one day, you’re more than welcome to relax on the property.

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COMFORTABILITY: We do have internet and electricity (the station is 100% solar), but this is a completely off-grid biological field station. You will be sleeping in tents on raised platforms for a majority of our expedition. It’s not a 5-star resort.  While we do provide you with air mattresses, tents, and sleeping bags, please bring whatever else you may need to ensure your comfort in this environment. (I recommend a portable rechargeable fan if you're heat sensitive at night)
Personal space is limited. You will share tent platforms, bathhouses, and common spaces with the rest of the participants, researchers, and field guides.


THERE IS NO HOT WATER – We will have a shared bath-house with shower stalls (cold-water only) and composting toilets.
We’d be happy to try to accommodate any personal requests you have, but please note that resources are limited.

 

MEDICAL: Biting and painful stinging insects as well as venomous snakes and other predators are present. Bullet ants are plentiful - and while they are not fatal or pose long-term risks (unless you have an allergy to hymenoptera venom) their stings are very painful. There has never been a medical emergency at Cocobolo Nature Reserve, but please exercise caution and follow our safety instructions at all times.  We cannot control the wildlife, terrain or weather. If you have any allergies to hymenoptera venom (bees, ants, wasps) please reconsider participation or bring your doctor prescribed epinephrine. While we are Wilderness First Responder Certified, this really only means we’re certified to assess emergency situations and provide extremely basic emergency care… we are not medical doctors.

Our Expedition Includes:

Accommodation:

  • 2 nights accommodation in Panama City for the first and last nights, and all accommodation/station fees at Cocobolo

  • Sleeping bags, air mattresses, and tents

Transportation:

  • Pickup & dropoff from our hotel in Panama City to/from Cocobolo Nature Reserve

Food & Beverage:

    • 1x Dinner in Panama City

    • Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and beverages throughout stay at Cocobolo. On final day, only breakfast is included.

REQUIRED PACKING:

  • Muck boots

  • 2 large water bottles or large camelbak. 

Staff:

  • Wilderness First Response certified expedition leaders, Cocobolo guides and researchers, drivers, cooks.

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Our Expedition DOES NOT include:

  • Flights

  • Transportation to our hotel on Day 1 - Ubers are plentiful and shouldn't cost more than $20 USD

  • Breakfast or lunch on Day 1

  • Lunch or Dinner on Day 9

  • Toiletries

Suggested packing list:

While we have a lot of experience packing for such field trips, it may be a bit confusing or intimidating if this is your first trip to the tropics. We’ve compiled a list of items you may want to consider below. If you need to purchase any of these items, you may want to consider doing this through Amazon Smile and choosing Conservation through Research Education and Action as your target charity.

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The following items are non-essential but may come handy:

  • Your favourite snacks (chocolate, cereal bars, trail mix, etc.)

  • Pajamas or night clothes

  • Light fingerless gloves for trekking in the forest (hand protection)

  • Solar camping shower (sorry, we only have cold showers at the field station!)

  • Electronics: camera, phone/tablet, e-reader and chargers

  • USB Power Bank for your phone/tablet/e-reader

  • Biodegradable laundry soap – we have sinks and clothes lines (no washer/dryer)

Meet Your Expedition Leaders

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