SFS Panama: Tropical Island Ecosystems: The Human Impact

Discover “paradise” in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and spend your summer snorkeling and hiking through the archipelago’s beautiful natural environments, from coral reefs and mangroves to beaches and rainforests. Dig deeper into the issues this beautiful island system faces as you examine the impacts of tourism and other human activities on ecosystems and communities. Meet with residents who depend simultaneously on tourism and natural resources, analyze environmental policies, and learn about contemporary approaches to sustainable development in the archipelago.

SFS students will live and study at the Center for Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies—once a beachfront hotel that sits among the slender palms and warm sands of Isla Colón. You’ll take your classes over the waves of the Caribbean and among the surrounding rainforests and reefs. The laid-back tourist hub of Bocas Town is a short taxi ride away, with access to shops, restaurants, and a vibrant culture as unique as the mix of people living here.