Panama Canal Tour: Miraflores Locks and Canal Zone
Description
Explore the Pacific side of the Panama Canal on a private tour designed to understand its history and operation clearly. It’s not just about watching boats, it’s about understanding how the canal works in real time as you witness vessels transiting the locks at Miraflores Visitor Center. Also, tour the old Canal Zone and learn about the history behind the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Enjoy spectacular views from the Amador Causeway and visit the Panama Canal Administration Building, the Bridge of the Americas, the Centennial Bridge and the Corte Culebra. The experience is complemented by the IMAX film narrated by Morgan Freeman, connecting each story with what you’re watching live. A tour designed for : families, couples, group of friends, seniors, stopover travelers who really want to understand the Panama Canal. Book today!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We head to the Miraflores Visitor Center where we will have the opportunity to see the 45-minute documentary about the Panama Canal, narrated by Morgan Freeman at the Imax theater, we will know the history and operation of this important and imposing construction and see the transit of Panamax ships that pass through the locks of Miraflores. This time includes transfer to the Miraflores Locks.
From the Miraflores Locks we arrive at the Pedro Miguel Locks, this is the smallest lock built and very important as it levels the ships at the level of the snake cut which is the most dangerous and complicated part of the transit of the ships. Time includes transfer to the locks of Pedro Miguel.
We pass the Centennial Bridge where you will see the start of the famous Corte Culebra and the entrances to the Locks of Pedro Miguel, Miraflores and Cocolí.
We continue to know more about the Panama Canal and arrive at the Panama Canal Administration Building, where we will walk along the Paseo del Prado (which has an interesting history) and the Monument to George Goethals. Time includes transfer from the locks of Pedro Miguel.
ATTENTION: for remodeling work we are not stopping at the viewpoint, we are making a panoramic crossing by the Bridge of the Americas.
We continue our adventure and finish at the Amador Causeway where we will know the importance of this area when the Panama Canal was inaugurated and enjoy the breathtaking views of Panama City and Panama Bay. Time includes transfer from the Mirador de las Américas.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
To plan the collection we will be communicating via WhatsApp or by email.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(44)
At the time of our visit, Miraflores was being rehabbed. At the time of booking, I did not realize this. In addition, for the first time since becoming a Viator customer in 2015, our tour guide was a no-show. After we informed the tour operator, a second tour guide was secured approximately 2 hours after our 7:30 AM pick up. Tour operator was very apologetic, and the second tour guide did the best he could to salvage the rest of the day.
Viator half day excursion from Flamenco marina to Gamboa.I would recommend arriving 20 minutes early if you want to have an outdoor seat on the first part of the tour. The guide was informative and easily took all questions. Both breakfast and lunch were served but within two hours of each other. The experience of traveling the canal and the locks probably best done in this manner. Price point was moderately steep for the length of the excursion.
Hi, this is not a tour that we offer, our tours are by land, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Cositas de Panamá Team 🇵🇦
We had a great experience! Our tour guide, Joaquin, was extremely knowledgeable about Panama and the canal, and very enthusiastic about showing visitors his beautiful city. Pick up was seamless and great communication all around. Highly recommend!
Emily, thank you so much to you and Valerie for choosing us! 🫶🏼 We’re so happy you had a great experience with Joaquín. His knowledge of Panama and the Canal, along with his enthusiasm for sharing our beautiful city, truly make each tour special. We’re also glad everything felt seamless from pickup to communication, that’s exactly the experience we aim to provide. You’ll always be welcome back in Panama. We’d love to host you again! 🇵🇦 Warm regards, Mario & the Cositas de Panamá Team
We get the best trip provider and highly recommend him to everyone. During the trip at I Max location was an alarming incident and we need to evacuate the venue area, they manage to continue but with a delay but our guide allowed extra time and we ended perfectly the trip .
Victor, thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We truly appreciate your understanding regarding the unexpected situation at the IMAX venue. These things are beyond our control, but we’re proud that Fernando stayed attentive, calm, and flexible—making sure you still had a complete and memorable experience despite the delay. Fernando always collaborates with excellence, carefully adjusting to any situation so our guests can enjoy a smooth and wonderful day. We’re very grateful for your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Panama in the future! 🇵🇦 Warm regards, Mario & the Cositas de Panamá Team
My wife and I just completed a great tour of the Panamal Canal with Gabriel, our guide. He was professional, spoke perfect English, was very informative, safe driver, and took us to interesting places downtown that were not on our list. Thank you, Gabriel, for a memorable visit to Panama and an educational visit to the Canal.
William, thank you so much for choosing us! 🫶🏼 We’re delighted you and your wife had such a great day with Gabriel Eloy. He’ll be very happy to hear you appreciated his professionalism, clear English, safe driving, and the extra downtown stops that added a little “local flavor” beyond the usual list. Thank you again for your trust, our goal is always to make your Canal visit both educational and truly memorable. Whenever you return to Panama, we’ll be here to host you again. 🇵🇦 Warm regards, Mario & the Cositas de Panamá Team
Our guide, Joaquin, was amazing. I think having a guide for this expertise is an absolute must. If you're an American, you just can't drive here. You really need a local who knows the area perfectly. Joaquin lives what he does and he fills the trip with that enthusiasm. I learned a lot, saw everyone i hoped i would, and had a great time. He is a great guide.
Nicholas, thank you so much to you and your friends for choosing us! 🫂 We’re really happy your group of 4 had such a great day with Joaquín. He truly lives what he does, and that enthusiasm is contagious. You’re absolutely right—having a local guide makes everything smoother here: the driving, timing, best viewpoints, and those little details that turn a visit into a real experience. We’re glad you learned a lot, saw everything you hoped to see, and felt well taken care of. Whenever you’re back in Panama, we’d love to host both couples again for another private adventure. Warm regards, Mario & the Cositas de Panamá Team 🇵🇦
Excellent service and super flexible. Very interesting everything we saw, but especially your support to take pictures:)
¡Muchísimas gracias a toda la familia desde Guadalajara! 🇲🇽 Nos alegra saber que se sintieron bien atendidos y que la flexibilidad del tour les ayudó a disfrutar cada parada. Para nosotros es un gusto apoyar en todo… ¡hasta en ser el fotógrafo oficial del grupo! 📸😄 De parte de Joaquín, Mario, y nuestros conductores Miguel y Jorge: gracias por confiar en Cositas de Panamá. ¡Aquí tienen amigos locales para cuando vuelvan! 🇵🇦 Mario & Cositas de Panamá Team
They gave us excellent care, we were a very large family group and we felt very happy to be able to enjoy our trip to the fullest
¡Muchísimas gracias a toda la familia desde Guadalajara! 🇲🇽 🫶🏼 Nos alegra muchísimo saber que, siendo un grupo grande, se sintieron bien atendidos y pudieron disfrutar al máximo su viaje. Para nosotros fue un placer acompañarlos y cuidar cada detalle. De parte de Joaquín, Mario, y nuestros conductores Miguel y Jorge: gracias por confiar en nosotros. ¡Aquí tienen amigos en Panamá para la próxima aventura! 🇵🇦 Mario & Cositas de Panamá Team
Well organized and very educative. Saw the canal from different perspectives. Our tour guide Joaquin was very knowledgeable and loves what he does. Memorable indeed!
Daphne, thank you so much to you and your husband for choosing us! 😊 We’re delighted you enjoyed such a well-organized day and left with a deeper understanding of the Panama Canal. Joaquín truly loves sharing Panama’s story with pride, and it means a lot to hear his service made the experience so special for you. You’ll always be welcome back for another unique adventure in Panama. Warm regards, Mario & the Cositas de Panamá Team 🇵🇦
A well organized tour with much to see and learn about the Panama Canal. Joaquin our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and his pride of citizenship and willingness to share this knowledge made the tour worth the while. We highly recommend this tour of one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
Daphne, thank you so much to you and your husband for choosing us! 😊 We’re delighted you enjoyed such a well-organized day and left with a deeper understanding of the Panama Canal. Joaquín truly loves sharing Panama’s story with pride, and it means a lot to hear his service made the experience so special for you. You’ll always be welcome back for another unique adventure in Panama. Warm regards, Mario & the Cositas de Panamá Team 🇵🇦
