Costa Rica & Panama Canal

MIT space on this Costa Rica & the Panama Canal tour sold out the last three times we offered it. The trip received a 4.9 rating out of 5 from MIT travelers in 2020.  Join us!

Trip Highlights

Join fellow alumni for an exploration of Costa Rica and Panama, including a crossing of the Panama Canal, a marvel of engineering. Experience dense, lush rainforest, pristine deserted beaches, and see creatures in their natural environs—both on land and in the sea. Hike deep into the rainforest; kayak and paddleboard along the shore; take a cool swim in a waterfall pool; snorkel over a coral reef. The MIT group will travel on board with other special interest travelers. A team of experts lead lectures and provide informal commentary throughout the program. Read more about the trip! 

Registration is open now. Call Lindblad Expeditions to register, at 833-985-1261.

Enrichment Lecturer 

Andrew J. Whittle is the Edmund K. Turner Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. He earned his BSc. in Civil Engineering from Imperial College in 1981 and PhD in geotechnical engineering at MIT in 1987.  Dr. Whittle is an expert in geotechnical engineering, whose research deals principally with modeling the complex mechanical properties of soils and rocks. His research has been widely used in the design of foundation systems for deepwater oil production facilities and in major urban excavation and tunneling projects. Read more about Professor Whittle.

“Together we’ll see an astonishing contrast between the epic scale, human cost and challenges in creating the Panama Canal and the extraordinary biodiversity of the remote coastal regions on Costa Rica. I am inspired by the audacity of building the original canal and lock system across the mountainous isthmus of Panama, with such a limited knowledge of geological engineering available at the time, and interested to see how the canal has been expanded to enable passage of the outlandishly large New Panamax vessels.” – MIT Professor Andrew Whittle

• Please note that the MIT Alumni Travel Program does not conduct tours. The Alumni Travel acts as a facilitator with tour operators; tour participants work directly with the tour operators to make travel arrangements.
• For more details, please see About the Alumni Travel Program.
• Also, check out our What to Expect page.
• MIT travelers are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance. Travelers are free to use any insurance company they prefer. For questions about trip insurance through Meyer Insurance, please call 866-679-7836.