Sloth Sanctuary and Exotics Clinic (Panama)

Your program in Panama will be split between two learning locations: a vet clinic and a sloth sanctuary! The majority of your learning time will be spent in the vet clinic, while two days will be based with the sloths at APPC.

Centro Veterinario Panama is the clinic where you’ll be learning from your teaching vet. They serve both companion animals and exotics – you can see some recent patients here. This full-service clinic will be operating and taking patients while you are on-site, so your experience will vary depending on what medical care the patients need.

APPC Panama is the sloth sanctuary. While APPC is currently closed to tours due to COVID-19, your group will be able to learn on-site from the experts and the animals they care for.

The APPC has helped to care for the wildlife of Panama for fifteen years. Their work includes teaching and training about the rescue, transportation, and first aid of orphaned, disoriented, sick, or injured wild animals. They help to train park rangers in Panama about wildlife management as well.

The APPC has rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 5,000 wild animals over the course of its 15-year history. They provide specialist care and veterinary treatment to animals, with the main objective of returning them to the forest.

Panama City

Your program is based in Panama City, which is the capital of Panama. You will fly into and out of Panama City, and Loop Abroad will arrange your transport from the airport to program housing and to your program each day.  We will be able to explore the city together, visit the Panama Canal, and spend an evening in the old town of Casco Viejo.

Exploring Panama

When we’re not learning in the clinic or sanctuary, we will explore some of the most beautiful and well-known sights that Panama has to offer. This is included in your program tuition.

You will visit the Panama CanalPortobelo National Park, both top tourist attractions in Panama. But our favorites (except our classroom locations) are the spectacular Anton Valley – for hiking, waterfalls, and canopy ziplining –  and the beautiful San Blas Islands. 

Anton Valley is in the crater of an extinct volcano, surrounded by mountains and cloud forest. It is a wonderful area to explore and see some of the wildlife we’re working to conserve. The San Blas Islands, where we’ll spend a day relaxing, have brilliant white sand beaches and warm blue water. This is Panama’s tropical archipelago, and a great place for a much-needed break from your hard work!