The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Panama Immersion | March 2027

Panama Immersion | March 2027

**This is a working itinerary and items are subject to change.

Immersion travel dates: following the Mexico City Summit from March 21-28, 2027

Panama is a small country that punches way above its weight, and that’s what makes it such a fascinating place for a Global Immersion. The Panama Canal is a famous piece of engineering, but step just outside the canal zone and you find one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth: rainforests, cloud forests, and two coastlines within a couple hours of each other, all of which have turned eco-tourism into a real growth industry of its own. That’s not just a nice backdrop for the immersion; it’s central to our immersion and another version of the same story playing out in entrepreneurship. Founders are building fintech companies for people banks have overlooked, logistics businesses that spot gaps the big shipping industry ignores, and sustainable tourism ventures betting that Panama’s natural beauty can be an economic engine in its own right, not just a postcard. That tension is really the heart of it: a country that’s built enormous success around a couple of big assets (the canal, and now its natural landscape) and is figuring out how to grow beyond either one, all while dealing with real challenges like water shortages that threaten the canal itself, economic inequality, and a political climate that can shift quickly. That mix is what makes the immersion so worthwhile. Our week will be an in-depth, sensory exploration of how leaders make smart bets and build resilient, sustainable businesses in a place where geography, nature, and infrastructure are all at once a huge advantage and a real constraint.

In addition to business visits, program highlights may include:

  • stay in Panama City’s historic district
  • Panama Canal VIP visit experience
  • visit Chagres National Park
  • meeting with indigenous Emberá Community
  • canoe up the Chagres River
  • Rainforest discovery visit at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
  • a day in the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama

Pre-classes: 3 classes will take place prior to travel; 1 class upon return:

• Feb 11 (6-8 EST)
• Feb 25 (6-8 EST)
• March 11 (6-8 EST)
• April 8 return meeting (6-8 EST)

Course Fee: $5500

What does the course fee cover?

  • All group related ground transportation (bus, train, etc.) for mandatory activities while in-country
  • Intra-regional airfare, where applicable (flight from Mexico City to Panama City)
  • Single occupancy in 5* hotel located in the historic district: Central Hotel Panama
  • Breakfast daily at hotels
  • some dinners and lunches
  • Full-time interpretive guides
  • Traveler’s health insurance (covering you for the duration of the travel)
  • All site visits, excursions, and cultural activities listed in the schedule

What does the course fee NOT cover?
You will be expected to cover some costs on your own.

  • International airfare (you must book on your own in advance according to the specific day/time/location that will be provided); note that Immersion students will make bookings into Mexico City (for the Summit), but out of Panama City (for the Immersion); as stated above, all intra-regional airfare is included in the program
  • Travel health appointment & immunizations and/or medications
  • Any lunch/dinner not stated specifically as included on the itinerary
  • Loss of personal property
  • Souvenirs or personal spending
  • Other incidentals (laundry, international phone plan, internet, etc.)
  • Visa fees – US passport holders do not need a visa. Non-US passport holders should check with local consulate. MBA Global Programs can provide supporting documentation.

Questions?
Contact Kaitlyn Murphy, Associate Director, MBA Global Programs: kmurphy@unc.edu. Also visit our FAQ page. If you successfully register for the Immersion, we do not recommend booking airfare until you have received specific travel instructions from the Global Programs team. There are activities planned on our last day which dictate what time you may depart.

Faculty and Staff Leads

Faculty Lead: Chris Bingham
Professor of the Practice of Marketing
Biography
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Staff Lead: Kaitlyn Murphy
Associate Director, MBA Global Programs
Biography
LinkedIn