Day Tour at Panama Canal from Ocean to Ocean
Description
Day tour to visit the Panama Canal at both coasts, Atlantic and Pacific, only possible on this is tour mixing the amazing structures of the Panama Canal, the beauty of the rainforest, wildlife and the experience of being inside the Panama Canal through Gatun Lake. Small groups.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After pick up from your hotel or accomodation in Panama City, we would take you to an observation area at the pacific side where we will discuss about the history, construction and operation of the original Panama Canal.
After seeing a ship go through the Pedro Miguel locks, we will continue by car to the Chagres River where we will begin a boat tour in the Gatun Lake, the biggest lake part of the Panama Canal, and pass beside the huge ships going through the Panama Canal in our way to group of islands inside the Soberania National Park, where we will find monkeys and wild animals inside the Panama Canal.
We will head to the city of Colon at the atlantic side of the Canal where we will stop to buy lunch at a restaurant of traditional panamanian food. After lunch, we will continue by car to visit the new expansion of the Panama Canal where we would see bigger ships going through the locks and learn about how these amazing structures work.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up included from hotels or accommodations in downtown Panama City and Casco Viejo. An extra charge of USD $30 per group applies for pick up from Playa Bonita or the airport area which should be paid in cash the same day of the tour, including pick up and return (Please see the price under Whats Excluded).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Reviews(96)
We got to see everything that we hoped for there was three of us together private tour. Ricardo did an amazing job. We really enjoyed ourselves. You get to see ships.
We got to see it all! Boats movie locks lake wild life all while getting a great back story and history
Excellent experience. Ricardo was awesome, very safe and pleasant driver. We got to experience another side of Panama that was off the beaten track. Thank you.
Our guide, Fernando, handled every detail of this full-day experience. We saw the Pedro Miguel locks on the Pacific side, took a great sightseeing boat to monkey Island where we saw monkeys, bats, birds, and an iguana. Every part of the trip exceeded our expectations. Our guide called ahead to make sure that we would actually be able to see a ship passing through the Agua Clara locks. That's why we came to Panama!
Very informative tour of Panama Canal from Pacific to Atlantic. We got to see the impressive lock system and ships passing through the various parts of the canal. We also did a boat tour in the canal and Lake Gatun. We saw various monkeys, sloths and native species
This was a great, fun and illustrative trip to the Canal, its history and all things Panama. The boat trip to the monkey islands were exciting and had the chance to see them very close and take some amazing pictures. Cesar our guide was attentive, knowledgeable and fun. A highly recommended trip.
Fantastic! All boxes checked! Dan, our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and professional. VIP service all the way.
Absolutely incredible guide – Ricardo made our trip unforgettable! 🌴🇵🇦 We couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Ricardo. From the very first moment, his energy, knowledge, and passion for Panama were absolutely contagious. He didn’t just show us places – he brought them to life with stories, history, and a great sense of humor. Ricardo was incredibly organized but also super flexible – whether it was a last-minute detour, a roadside coconut stop, or a deep conversation about Panama’s culture and people, he handled it all with ease and a smile. He speaks perfect English, knows all the hidden gems (not just tourist traps!), and treated us more like friends than clients. He made sure we felt safe, inspired, and welcomed at every step. The whole experience felt tailor-made. If you’re going to Panama and want to really experience the country – not just see it – book Ricardo. You’ll leave with amazing memories and a new friend. 10/10. Gracias, Ricardo – you’re the real MVP!
I am sorry to say that this tour was just OK, nothing to rave about. Our tour guide ,Luis, was kinda quiet, kinda seemed that he didn’t want to be doing this, and wasn’t the greatest with speaking English. We did a lot of riding with no talking and not explaining where we were or any information. Actually was a bit boring especially for what this tour cost. And we ate a gas station. I don’t like making bad reviews, but , unfortunately this tour wasn’t worth the money.. I wouldn’t recommend it.
The first part of the tour was a little disappointing since we were expecting to be in a boat and watch the opening and closing of the locks while a ship went by. But we were given a movie to watch and then were moved to the watching platform from where there was not a very good view of the ships being lowered and raised. It was also too hot in the platform to really enjoy the view. After that we were taken on the boat tour on Gatun lake to watch and feed the monkeys which was great. The guide was enthusiastic and told us about the many islands, species and the history. He pointed out many photo points and was patient with us when we were taking pictures. He had also brought some fruits and nuts to feed the monkeys and took care of us till he dropped us back in the hotel.
