Study Abroad

Ciudad del Saber is located on nearly 300 acres of the former Fort Clayton U.S. army base to the northeast of Panama City. The main entrance to Ciudad del Saber is on the highway along the Panama Canal, with the only other entrance to the rear from Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas, the road on which the U.S. Embassy and the upscale neighborhood of Clayton are located.

No. In accordance with our mission to drive social change through humanism, science, and business, Ciudad del Saber supports faculty-led academic programs that are customized based on a group’s particular learning objectives. We support these experiences by organizing specialized itineraries with Panamanian subject matter experts and managing all logistical matters.

Our itineraries have, in the past, included site visits with Panamanian subject matters in the areas of international business/real estate, logistics/supply chain management, civil/hydraulic engineering, health/social work, agronomy, architectural planning/design, sustainable development, and biology and biodiversity, among others.

Yes. We recommend one day of non-academic, cultural activity per week. Our itineraries have, in the past, included (among others) visits to the Miraflores Visitors Center on the Pacific, the Agua Clara Visitors Center on the Atlantic, the old city of Casco Viejo, the Biomuseo, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Gamboa, the Contemporary Art Museum, and the indigenous Emberá Purú community; as well as partial transits of the Panama Canal, tours on the Panama Canal Railway, and beach days at resorts in Playa Blanca and Isla Farallon.

Tocumen International Airport is roughly an hour away from Ciudad del Saber. Please note that Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is not the same as Marcos A. Gelabert Airport (PAC), which is a small municipal airport near to Ciudad del Saber. It is possible to reach Ciudad del Saber from the airport by public transportation, however, luggage larger than a carry-on bag cannot be taken on the Metro. Taxis are available at the airport for $35 in cash per taxi.

Yes. Ciudad del Saber can arrange transportation to all destinations, including the airportand daily site visits, for groups of any size. Transportation is arranged with trusted, insured providers with whom we have longstanding relationships, whose vehicles are well maintained and whose drivers are routinely vetted.

Yes. Depending on traffic, it is a roughly 10–15-minute ride from Ciudad del Saber to downtown Panama City. There is also a bus terminal at Ciudad del Saber that connects to the transportation hub at Albrook Mall, which can be used to connect to the rest of Panama City.

Yes. Ciudad del Saber can arrange transportation to destinations outside of Panama City, either by bus or by air. Travel to certain areas, such as Darién Province, is not recommended. Ciudad del Saber can help identify destinations that are appropriate for your program.

Yes. From the bus terminal at Ciudad del Saber one can travel to Albrook Mall, where one can transfer to buses travelling to other areas of Panama or the Metro system. One-way fares are35 cents per trip. Metro cards can be purchased at kiosks in bus/metro stations. Uber is also widely available and much cheaper than in the U.S. while being significantly more reliable than taking taxis. We do not recommend taking taxis – in Panama, Uber is the best option for individual travel.

Yes. On the first day of the program, a one-hour orientation is mandatory for guests of Ciudad del Saber. This orientation covers health and safety in Panama, information regarding the services available at Ciudad del Saber, and a question-and-answer session.

Single, double, and triple rooms are offered with twin beds in doubles/triples and queen-sized beds in singles. Linens are provided. Each room has a private bathroom with hot/potable water as well as cable TV, WiFi, air conditioning, an in-room safe, and a mini-fridge. A cleaning service is offered every three days.

Lodging regulations and safety/security information are posted in every room and there is a 24/7 emergency number with an on-site building supervisor. Other points include: All rooms and bathrooms have locks on their doors; the building has modern fire detectors and sprinkler systems; an emergency evacuation plan is posted on each dormitory room door; the building is easily accessible to emergency services from the street and well-lit; and there are security cameras.

Yes. In case the dormitory cannot accommodate your stay, rooms can be booked at the Holiday Inn hotel for the same rate as in the dormitory. This hotel is a five minute walk from the dormitories.

Yes. Fully accessible rooms that comply with all Americans with Disability Act (ADA) provisions are available at the Holiday Inn. The dormitories include an elevator serving all floors, however, ground-floor rooms are not available and there are currently no wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in the dormitories.

Yes. The dormitories include coin-operated washers and dryers ($1 per load). Guests are expected to use their own detergents/dryer sheets/etc. The Holiday Inn offers a laundry service which is significantly more expensive and reserved for Holiday Inn guests, however, the staffoccasionally make exceptions.

Yes. Ciudad del Saber’s campus includes a two-kilometer trail; softball, baseball, soccer, tennis, racquetball, and basketball courts; a golf driving range; a swimming pool; a children’s park; and a gym.  Some facilities charge a nominal fee. The gym is free to those staying in the dormitories. Please note that the pool is being renovated with re-opening scheduled for January 2024.

Yes. Ciudad del Saber has a convention center with nine classrooms/event spaces (four of which can host between 100 and 500 people); an auditorium for innovation with four classrooms (maximum capacity 100 people total); More than 17 classrooms and meeting rooms with capacity of up to 80 people each; and an atheneum with a capacity of 700 people.

Yes. Audiovisual and IT services as well as catering for breakfast, lunch, and/or coffee breaks can be arranged. A limited quantity of on-site parking is available for most of the event spaces.

No. The former non-denominational chapel of Fort Clayton has been converted into the Innovation Center. The population of Panama is 75% Roman Catholic and 20% other Christian denominations, thus, there are numerous churches outside of the City of Knowledge where services can be attended (usually in Spanish). Many historic churches are also open for free tours. There are at least four mosques spread throughout Panama City, and a roughly equivalent number of synagogues (mostly in the Punta Pacifica neighborhood). There is one Bahá’í temple near the San Miguelito metro stop.

Yes. There is a food court called La Plaza with over a dozen dining options. Spread throughout the campus there are a number of small cafes, at least one brewery, and a restaurant called La Taberna del Canal. The dining options of downtown Panama City are less than a ten-minute ride away.

Yes. Every floor of the Dormitory includes a kitchenette with a full-sized refrigerator, sink, microwave, and coffee machine. Each room contains a mini fridge. The water at Ciudad del Saber is potable and treated to the same standards as in the U.S. For guests staying longer than 30 days, larger kitchen facilities in a nearby building are available. Groceries can be purchased at several medium-sized convenience stores on the campus of Ciudad del Saber or at nearby supermarkets.

Yes. We often make dining reservations for guests and can make recommendations regarding what restaurants might best fit your needs.

Panama has a relatively large number of public holidays during which Ciudad del Saber is closed, including:

• January 9: Martyr´s Day.
• February 15 – 18: Carnival.
• April 2 – 4: Easter.
• May 1: May Day/ Labor Day.
• November 3 – 5: Independence Day/ Flag Day / Colón Day.
• November 10: The First Call for Independence in Villa de los Santos.
• November 28: Independence from Spain Day.
• December 8: Mother’s Day.
• December 18 – January 2: Christmas Break.