This unique tour of the Panama Canal goes from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean as you see the canal from the water and by foot. An exciting boat ride down the canal will introduce you to the transiting ships as well as the abundant wildlife on its shores, followed by a visit to Fort San Lorenzo and the new Agua Clara Locks. This is not a TRANSIT tour, we wont travel by boat inside the locks.
This tour begins with hotel pickups starting at 6:45am. I know it sounds crazy to get up so early on your vacation, but you will thank me for it later. Starting this early we can beat the crowds and see more wildlife in cooler temperatures.
To start this tour, you will follow the Panama Canal north to the town of Gamboa.
1 hr 30 min - You will visit the famous Monkey Islands where you will see capuchins, howlers, and tamarins.
1 hr - Caribbean side of Panama. You will visit the Agua Clara Visitor Center to see the new expansion locks working up close. Located on the west side of the brand new Agua Clara Locks, the Agua Clara Visitor Center allows you to observe transiting vessels from a scenic lookout point and learn first hand about the various operations of the Panama Canal, the history of its construction, its participation in the world markets, and the importance of its watershed. An observational deck lets you watch the ships pass through the Agua Clara Locks on their way to the Pacific or Atlantic oceans.
1 hr - The next stop will be a visit to San Lorenzo National Park where you will visit a remote rainforest full of flora and fauna, followed by a freshly made picnic lunch and a tour Fort San Lorenzo. A 400 year old Spanish fort on a scenic cliff overlooking the Caribbean, here you will recount the many attacks by pirates and privateers that happened at one of the most historically important places in Panama. The Fort of San Lorenzo, located on an 80 foot (25m) cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea at the estuary of the Chagres River, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 along with the fortifications of the city of Portobelo. It was part of the defensive system for the transatlantic trade of the Spanish Crown, and is a fine example of military architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Fort of San Lorenzo is one of the oldest fortresses in Spanish America. Here you will recount the many attacks by pirates and privateers that happened at one of the most historically important places in Panama.
1 hr - Return to Panama City for Hotel Drop off
2 hr - We will take a boat ride down the Panama Canal next to the transiting ships
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
This turned out to be a really great tour. We were sorry to see it end. Getting out on the canal in a smaller boat and looking for wildlife was a lot of fun and a great way to see the canal. Learning about Canal Zone history driving through an abandon base was really interesting as was the visit to the visitor's center where we did watch a container ship go through one of the new locks. The tour guide was excellent and provided a huge amount of information plus made sure people were where they needed to be at the appropriate times.
Absolutely amazing experience! Our guide, Paula, was fantastic! She was so knowledgable about history and animals. From the pick-up to the monkey island, to the fort, to the canal...top-notch tour! We really enjoyed the monkeys jumping on the boat!
Paola was an excellent tour guide who made the whole trip fun and enjoyable. We learned a lot about Panama’s rich and varied history, about the canal, about the nature, people, food and habits. We had great fun, beautiful landscapes, great nature, some wicked animals, historic sites, refreshing lunch and a lot of new knowledge.
Terrific experience!! Our guide Paola was fantastic- extremely friendly and knowledgeable!! Comfortable bus ride, very nice picnic lunch! And plenty of bathroom breaks!
First of all, our guide Paola was great !!! The best tourguide !! But to behonest. The tour is expensive for what you get. The monkey island etc. Was not special. Birds we didn't see many either. Panama Canal was nice to see and the Fort Lorenzo was under construction for a part.. so for me it was nothing special this day.
Review live times, prices, and availability directly with Viator.
Check availability