Fees by Category

Index to Fees

A1. STRI/SI Fellows

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

¹ Room and board at BCI includes access to shared lab and shared office space when available, transportation on and off the island, forest paths and observation platforms, libraries, collections, and WI-FI connection. There are other expenses, however, which are charged separately, for example but not limited to: small boat use, exclusive use of office or lab space, storage, building of structures and/or long-term maintenance of experiments. If you wish to have a room to yourself, the nightly/monthly charge is double the rate. ² Housing at Bocas del Toro is on the station grounds and includes 3 options: The Student Dorm has 6 beds per room (4 total rooms each with a dedicated bathroom), which are charged per bed. The Researcher Dorm has two beds per room (some rooms with one double and one single and others with 2 singles). The Researcher dorm is charged on a per room basis, and we encourage our visitors to arrange to share to help reduce their costs. Charges for the dorms cover towels and bed linens, shared kitchen and lounge dedicated to each dorm, access to free laundry facilities, and 24-hour security. The Cofrin and Hoch houses are fully furnished 2-bedroom houses with air conditioning for which we charge a nightly fee per bedroom.
³ Housing at Coibita includes a bed in a shared dormitory and linens, shared kitchen, limited WiFi, access to laundry equipment, and 24-hour security. Camping option is available (tents and other equipment provided).
⁴ Housing at Ancon is a 5 minute walk from our Tupper Campus and is adjacent to the CTPA building. Rooms have two beds/room, and charges include a bed and linens, shared kitchen, air conditioning, all utilities including WiFi, access to laundry facilities, 24-hour security, and daily bus transportation to and from our Naos and Gamboa facilities.
⁵ Housing at Fortuna Station includes a bed in a shared dormitory and linens, shared kitchen, limited WiFi and access to laundry equipment.
⁶ Housing at Galeta Station includes a bed in a shared dormitory and linens, shared kitchen, air conditioning, limited WiFi, access to laundry equipment, and 24-hour security.
⁷ Housing in Gamboa is a 10 minute walk to our Gamboa Lab and 20 min. walk to the Gamboa Dock that has service to BCI. Rooms have two beds/room and charges include a bed and linens, shared kitchen, all utilities including WiFi, access to laundry facilities, 24-hour security, and daily bus transportation to and from Tupper. Building 145 also has central air conditioning throughout the building and common areas for socializing.
⁸ Housing at San Lorenzo is very limited but includes a bed in a shared dormitory and linens, shared kitchen, limited WiFi, and 24-hour security.

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

The charges listed in the tables below include the cost of a permit + a processing fee. See below for more details on these permits. The charge for interns and volunteers will be at cost when added to a Staff Scientist’s permit.

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

Permits are required for 1) all fieldwork (including observations), 2) import and export of marine, freshwater, terrestrial biological resources, water and soil samples and work in protected areas, 3) all field courses in Panama, and 4) any genetics research involving the study of genetic structure of biological resources.

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Regulates the operation of drones (unmanned, radio-controlled rockets and aircraft, UAV and UAS) in the Republic of Panama. All drones heavier than 250 grams that will operate in the Republic of Panama require AAC registration before use.

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

A2. STRI/SI Intern

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	0
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	0

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

A3. STRI/SI Volunteer

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	0
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	0

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

A4. STRI/SI Special Agreement

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

B1. Students and Postdocs who are not STRI/SI Fellows

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$5/day or $100/month
BCI	$7.50/day or $150/month
Bocas del Toro	$10/day
CTPA	$7.50/day or $150/month
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$7.50/day or $150/month
Gamboa	$7.50/day or $150/month
Naos	$7.50/day or $150/month
San Lorenzo	$7.50/day or $150/month
Tupper	$7.50/day or $150/month

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

B2. Researchers from other Latin American or Developing Countries

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$10/day
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

B3. Other Researchers

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$100/day
San Lorenzo	$100/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$10/day or $200/month
BCI	$15/day or $300/month
Bocas del Toro	$20/day
CTPA	$15/day or $300/month
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$15/day or $300/month
Gamboa	$15/day or $300/month
Naos	$15/day or $300/month
San Lorenzo	$15/day or $300/month
Tupper	$15/day or $300/month

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$60/night per bed $1500/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$46/night per bed $1200/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$450/month per bed $112.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$450/month per bed $112.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed Annex: $650/month per bed or $162.50/week per bed Third floor: $700/month per bed or $175.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$100
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$100
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$100
MIDA Export License	$100
MIDA Import License²	$100
MICI Research Permit	$115
MICI Export Permit	$50
MiCultura Research Permit	$50
MiCultura Export Permit	$85
MiCultura Import Permit	$50
ACP Research Permit	$50
AAC Permit	$50
Other permit-related fees	$50

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$40
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$40
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$65 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

C1. Visitors non-using STRI facilities

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$20/week

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$150²
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$180
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$180
MIDA Export License	$150
MIDA Import License²	$150
MICI Research Permit	$165
MICI Export Permit	$150
MiCultura Research Permit	$150
MiCultura Export Permit	$185
MiCultura Import Permit	$150
ACP Research Permit	$150
AAC Permit	$150
Other permit-related fees	$100

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

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C2. Collaborators

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

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D. Panamanians

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed 87.50/ week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$40
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$40
MIDA Export License	$20
MIDA Import License²	$20
MICI Research Permit	$40
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$10
MiCultura Export Permit	$60
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$10
AAC Permit	$10
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$30 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

G: Research Associates (RAs)

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$10/day
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$350/month per bed $87.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$50
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$65
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$65
MIDA Export License	$50
MIDA Import License²	$50
MICI Research Permit	$65
MICI Export Permit	$35
MiCultura Research Permit	$35
MiCultura Export Permit	$75
MiCultura Import Permit	$35
ACP Research Permit	$35
AAC Permit	$35
Other permit-related fees	$25

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$65.00 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75

Back to index

E1. STRI-sponsored Courses or Workshops

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$500/day
San Lorenzo	$500/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee (charge per person)
Agua Salud	$5/day or $100/month
BCI	$7.50/day or $150/month
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$7.50/day or $150/month
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$7.50/day or $150/month
Gamboa	$7.50/day or $150/month
Naos	$7.50/day or $150/month
San Lorenzo	$7.50/day or $150/month
Tupper	$7.50/day or $150/month

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$64/night per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$46/night per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	N/A
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/month per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed/$625/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	N/A
Gamboa 145⁷	N/A
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$25
MiAmbiente Export Permit	NA
MiAmbiente Import Permit	NA
MIDA Export License	$100
MIDA Import License²	$100
MICI Research Permit	$150
MICI Export Permit	NA
MiCultura Research Permit	$100
MiCultura Export Permit	$135
MiCultura Import Permit	$100
ACP Research Permit	$100
AAC Permit	$100
Other permit-related fees	$50

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$65.00 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration¹

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75 Per person

Back to index

E2. Non-STRI-sponsored Courses or Workshops

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$1000/day
San Lorenzo	$1000/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee (charge per person)
Agua Salud	$10/day or $200/month
BCI	$15/day or $300/month
Bocas del Toro	$30
CTPA	$15/day or $300/month
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$15/day or $300/month
Gamboa	$15/day or $300/month
Naos	$15/day or $300/month
San Lorenzo	$15/day or $300/month
Tupper	$15/day or $300/month

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$105/night per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$75/night per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	N/A
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	N/A
Gamboa 145⁷	N/A
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$1000
MiAmbiente Export Permit	NA
MiAmbiente Import Permit	NA
MIDA Export License	$150
MIDA Import License²	$150
MICI Research Permit	$1000
MICI Export Permit	NA
MiCultura Research Permit	$1000
MiCultura Export Permit	$185
MiCultura Import Permit	$1000
ACP Research Permit	$1000
AAC Permit	$1000
Other permit-related fees	$100

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$40
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$40
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$65.00 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration¹

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75 Per person

Back to index

H1. STRI-sponsored Film Crews

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$500/day
San Lorenzo	$500/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	Contact us for pricing
BCI	Contact us for pricing
Bocas del Toro	$30
CTPA	Contact us for pricing
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	Contact us for pricing
Gamboa	Contact us for pricing
Naos	Contact us for pricing
San Lorenzo	Contact us for pricing
Tupper	Contact us for pricing

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$210/night per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$150/night per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$900/month per bed $225/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$900/month per bed $225/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $1000/month per bedor $250.00/week per bed Annex: $1050/month per bed or $262.50/week per bed Third floor: $1100/month per bed or $275.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$100
MiAmbiente Export Permit	NA
MiAmbiente Import Permit	NA
MIDA Export License	NA
MIDA Import License²	NA
MICI Research Permit	NA
MICI Export Permit	NA
MiCultura Research Permit	$100
MiCultura Export Permit	NA
MiCultura Import Permit	$10
ACP Research Permit	$100
AAC Permit	$100
Other permit-related fees	$50

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$100
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$100
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$65.00 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75 Per person

Back to index

H2. Non-STRI Film crews or commercial visitors

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$1000/day
San Lorenzo	$1000/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	Contact us for pricing
BCI	Contact us for pricing
Bocas del Toro	$30/day
CTPA	Contact us for pricing
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	Contact us for pricing
Gamboa	Contact us for pricing
Naos	Contact us for pricing
San Lorenzo	Contact us for pricing
Tupper	Contact us for pricing

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$260/night per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$200/night per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$900/month per bed $225/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$900/month per bed $225/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $1000/month per bed or $250.00/week per bed Annex: $1050/month per bed or $262.50/week per bed Third floor: $1100/month per bed or $275.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	$75
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	Contact us for pricing

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$1000
MiAmbiente Export Permit	NA
MiAmbiente Import Permit	NA
MIDA Export License	NA
MIDA Import License²	NA
MICI Research Permit	NA
MICI Export Permit	NA
MiCultura Research Permit	$1000
MiCultura Export Permit	NA
MiCultura Import Permit	NA
ACP Research Permit	$1000
AAC Permit	$1000
Other permit-related fees	$100

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	$65.00 + cost of gas + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75 Per person

Back to index

SI. STRI/SI Staff

Administration of External Funds

This fee applies when visitors transfer funds to STRI to pay for services, such as hiring field assistants and making purchases, etc.

Description	Fee
Fund Administration, Procurement and Personnel Contracts ($10 minimum / transaction; Non-SI fund)	25% of total funds

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

BCI User Fees

This fee will be charged automatically when reserving boat transport to BCI. The monthly fee includes unlimited trips to BCI per calendar month. STRI employees will not be charged the BCI user fee.

Description	Fee
User Fee Residents	$0
User Fee Non-Residents	$5 per day or $100 per month

Research Boats

Naos & Galeta Boats: Naos: Lisina (30’) Anibal (28’) Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’) Galeta: Agujón (23’) Galeta (18’) Seriola (15’)

BCI Boats: S-21 (14’) S-22 (18’) S-23 to S-30 (15.7’)

Description	Fee
BCI Boat Fee (per day)	$20
BCI Boat Fuel	At cost + 20%
BCI Boat Driver (Day)	$40
BCI Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	Contact us for pricing
Bocas Boat fee (up to 18' long) per day	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fee 18’-25’	Fuel at cost+ $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Fuel	At cost + $5 per transaction
Bocas Boat Driver (Day)	$60
Galeta Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Galeta Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Galeta Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Galeta Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Galeta Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75
Naos Boat Fee 23’-30’	$100
Naos Boat Fee 15’-18’	$75
Naos Boat Fuel	At cost + 15%
Naos Boat Driver (Day)	$130
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Extra Hours)	$20
Naos Boat Driver Fee (Overnight Watch)	$75

Canopy Cranes

Description	Fee
Metropolitan Natural Park(PNM)	$50/day
San Lorenzo	$50/day

Dive Lockers

Daily fees include unlimited tank fillings per day, dive weights, O₂ kit.

Description	Fee
Bocas del Toro	$5
Coibita	$20
Galeta	$5
Naos	$5

Facility Fees

Facility fees may include one or more of these resources:

Shared indoor laboratory space and equipment
Office workspace and equipment
Wi-Fi and access to the SI network
Access to any STRI areas/spaces, including greenhouses, outdoor aquaria, insectaries, bat cages, collections, etc. Additional fees may apply
Use of meeting rooms
Logistical and technical support from different offices: OIT, Visitor Services Office, Security, Safety, Procurement, Library, Scientific Support Service, etc.
Daily transportation service (Monday – Friday) from Tupper to Naos or Gamboa/BCI

Facility fees are charged by calendar month. Visitors will be charged the daily rate up to 20 days/month, after which the monthly rate will be charged (except Bocas del Toro).

Description	Fee
Agua Salud	$0
BCI	$0
Bocas del Toro	$0
CTPA	$0
Fortuna	$15/day or $300/month
Galeta	$0
Gamboa	$0
Naos	$0
San Lorenzo	$0
Tupper	$0

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$42/night per bed $1120/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$30/night per bed $800/month per bed
Bocas del Toro Researcher Dorm²	$30/night per room
Bocas del Toro Student Dorm²	$15/night per bed
Cofrin and Hoch Houses <1 mth stay²	$42/night per room
Cofrin and Hoch Houses >1 mth stay²	$35/night per room
Coibita³	$25/night per bed
CTPA⁴	$450/month per bed $112.50/week per bed
Fortuna⁵	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Galeta⁶	$25/night per bed $625/night per bed
Gamboa 150, 152, 155⁷	$450/month per bed $112.50/week per bed
Gamboa 145⁷	First and second floor: $500/month per bed or $125.00/week per bed Annex: $550/month per bed or $137.50/week per bed Third floor: $600/month per bed or $150.00/week per bed
San Lorenzo⁸	$20/night per bed

Late Finance Charges

Description	Fee
Monthly Finance Charge (for outstanding balances of 60 days or more)	20%

Outdoor Resources

Description	Fee
BCI Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
BCI Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month
BCI Insectary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Aviary	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Bat Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Flight Cage	$100/mth or $25/week
Gamboa Greenhouses	$15 per 1.5 m²/month

Procurement Services

Description	Fee
Letter, Courier and Parcel Postage	At cost
Panama Customs Clearance Charge	At cost

Science Support Staff

Description	Fee
Science Support Assistant Fee per day¹ (Field and Lab Work)	0
Science Support Assistant Extra Hours (Field and Lab Work)	0

¹Please get in touch with the scientific coordinator at the facility you are working in to find out what services are available

Scientific Research Permits

Description	Fee
MiAmbiente Access Permit¹	$15
MiAmbiente Export Permit	$30
MiAmbiente Import Permit	$30
MIDA Export License	$10
MIDA Import License²	$10
MICI Research Permit
MICI Export Permit	$10
MiCultura Research Permit	$0
MiCultura Export Permit	$50
MiCultura Import Permit	$0
ACP Research Permit	$0
AAC Permit	$0
Other permit-related fees	$0

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

¹ Fee also applies when adding additional people on to an existing permit.
² Fee applies to each person added to a permit, whether on the original permit or added subsequently.

Notes

Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Access Permit to Biological and Genetic Resources. Government permit cost is $15.00 for each participant in the permit. Permits may be amended, for example to add additional researchers/assistants/interns/students or new work sites to the original permit. The government permit cost is $15.00 per person.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente). Export Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit can only be obtained after the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.
Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) Import Permit for Biological and Genetic Resources for scientific, academic, and educational non-commercial work. This permit will be issued once the appropriate MiAmbiente Research Permit to Access Biological and Genetic Resources has been granted. Applies also to CITES species. The government permit cost is $30.00 for each participant in the permit.

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

² If the MIDA import license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost of the license will increase by $20.

Notes

A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Export License is required for the export of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the export of live organisms from Panama. One license can include up to three items. The government license cost is $10.00.
A Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Import License is required for the import of plants, animals, products, by-products, reagents, and food products of plant or animal origin, and for the import of live organisms to Panama. A license includes the import of a single item or organism. The government license cost is $10.00. When the license includes products for animal consumption, such as medicines and vitamins, the cost is $30.00.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Required for Paleontology and Paleoecology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government license cost is $30.00 per person.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). Export Permit for samples from noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama.

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Required for work on Archaeology or Socio-Cultural Anthropology research and education related projects.

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Research Permit for non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational work to be conducted in the Republic of Panama.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Export Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects conducted in the Republic of Panama. The government permit cost is $50.00.
Ministry of Culture (MiCultura). Import Permit for samples from non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects being brought into Panama.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Permits for research and educational projects in areas managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Notes:

Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Collecting and Observation Permit for noncommercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.
No permit is required to work on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC) Collecting and Observation Permit: For exclusive use on non-commercial scientific, academic, and educational projects to be carried out in the Panama Canal Watershed.

Special Scientific Equipment²

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$15
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$15
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

Storage

Description	Fee
Ambient indoor storage	$200 per m³/year
Cold Storage -20°C or 4°C	$50/ft³/month
Cold Storage -80°C	$50 per SoLow rack/month

Visiting scientists, students, predoctoral, and postdoctoral fellows may store samples collected for their research (from projects carried out in STRI facilities).
If export permits need to be obtained, samples can be stored free of charge for up to three months after finishing the visit, or for the period approved by the responsible staff of the facility.
As STRI has limited cold storage equipment, samples must be removed from the freezer/refrigerator once the approved storage period has concluded,
- Samples removal means processing, disposal if not required, exportation and/or donation to Cryo-collections.
If samples remain in STRI cold storage equipment for more than the approved storage period with no justification or coordination with the staff of the facility, a charge of $50/ft³ per month will apply to the user account until samples are removed.
STRI reserves the right to discard unlabeled material and/or improperly packed material when annual inventory and cleaning activities are performed.
Packing of samples for storage, export, or any other procedure must be done by the PI (Principal Investigator) or a representative of the project. When removing the samples, please contact the responsible staff for assistance.
Visitors, fellows, interns, and postdocs may donate samples to the STRI Cryocollections. This option will ensure long-term maintenance of samples (no cost for donators), and access to samples whenever needed, as well as allowing their use to other researchers. Once the donation is approved by the STRI Cryo-Collection manager, the donator must complete the form 100.002 “Transfer of items agreement to the STRI Cryo-Collection” and provide the metadata using the spreadsheet, form 100.003 “Specimen data.”
Special cases in which a storage period extension with no charges may apply (must be coordinated and approved by responsible staff of the facility):
- Samples belonging to visitors, postdocs, fellows who leave STRI but plan to return soon to process samples.
- Delay in issuance of an export permit (if the delay is not caused by the user).
- Other situations not included here, but coordinated, approved, and communicated to the responsible staff of the facility.

Vehicles

Description	Fee
Daily Fee for all STRI trucks	Gas at cost + Panapass

Visitor Registration

Description	Fee
Visitor Registration	$75 Per person

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X. Contractors

BCI Meals

Visitors who stay overnight on BCI have all meals included in the housing fee.

Description	Fee
Breakfast	$5.00
Lunch	$7.50
Dinner	$7.50
Bambi Dinner - Non-STRI Visitors	$12.00

Housing - Dormitories

Description	Fee
BCI A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$60/night per bed $1500/month per bed
BCI Non A/C Room Per bed/ Double occupancy¹	$46/night per bed $1200/month per bed

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Z. Non-SI User

Special Scientific Equipment

Description	Fee
Scanning Electron Microscope (per hour)	$40
Confocal Microscope (per hour)	$40
Gas Chromatograph (per sample)	$5

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Additional Information and Conditional Fees

Science Support Staff: Most STRI facilities have science support staff who can assist researchers with minor jobs for research projects (e.g., building traps, installing shadecloth on greenhouses, support structures, etc.) Modest workshops are available for these jobs at some facilities. STRI will charge a daily fee for these services and the researcher will cover the cost of all materials. Contact the facility's Scientific Coordinator to organize the work required.
Greenhouses: Greenhouses are available in Gamboa and BCI.
Office space: STRI provides shared office space and access to computer rooms to visitors that is included in the facility fee. There is no charge for Wi-Fi connections. Please contact the facility’s Scientific Coordinator to coordinate office space.
Laboratory space: Each of our facilities is equipped with common laboratory space with basic equipment. Contact the facility’s Scientific Coordinator for more information.
Exclusive use of space: When available, a researcher may request that exclusive space be assigned to their project (e.g. office, lab, storage). This may include times when a project requires space for a technician to work even when the project PI is not present at STRI. Such exclusive use of a space may incur a fee. Please contact the facility’s Scientific Coordinator for more information.
Naos Molecular Laboratory: The Naos Molecular Laboratory (NML) provides molecular and sequencing facilities to all members of the STRI community. All users of the NML must pay a bench fee of $25/week ($100/month) when working in the lab. This fee provides users with access to all equipment, use of a lab bench, some plastics, other disposable supplies, and access to computers for data analysis. Other reagents can be purchased from laboratory stocks at cost. We also provide training in laboratory and data analysis protocols. Contact Eyda Gomez (gomeze@si.edu) for more information.
Analytical Biogeochemistry Laboratory: The STRI Analytical Biogeochemistry Laboratory (ABL) is an interdisciplinary laboratory that supports STRI scientists as well as visiting researchers and external institutions. The ABL can provide laboratory space with basic equipment and operates several major analytical instruments that can perform analyses on a wide variety of environmental samples including soils, waters, plant and animal tissue. Please contact Erik Johnson (johnsonee@si.edu) for service prices, scheduling, or any questions concerning analyses.

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Fees by Category

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Index to Fees

Most Used

By Category

By Facility

All Fees

A1. STRI/SI Fellows

Administration of External Funds

BCI Meals

BCI User Fees

Research Boats

Canopy Cranes

Dive Lockers

Facility Fees

Housing - Dormitories

Late Finance Charges

Outdoor Resources

Procurement Services

Science Support Staff

Scientific Research Permits

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

Notes

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Notes

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Notes:

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Special Scientific Equipment

Storage

Vehicles

Visitor Registration

A2. STRI/SI Intern

Administration of External Funds

BCI Meals

BCI User Fees

Research Boats

Canopy Cranes

Dive Lockers

Facility Fees

Housing - Dormitories

Late Finance Charges

Outdoor Resources

Procurement Services

Science Support Staff

Scientific Research Permits

Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente)

Notes

Zoosanitary or Phytosanitary Licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MIDA)

Notes

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI)

Notes

Ministry of Culture (MiCultura)

Notes

Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

Notes:

Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC)

Notes

Special Scientific Equipment

Storage

Vehicles

Visitor Registration

A3. STRI/SI Volunteer

Administration of External Funds

BCI Meals

BCI User Fees

Research Boats

Canopy Cranes

Dive Lockers

Facility Fees

Housing - Dormitories

Late Finance Charges

Outdoor Resources

Procurement Services

Science Support Staff