Excursion to San Lorenzo Fort plus Old and New Panama Canal locks
Description
Embark on an unforgettable journey through one of the world's engineering marvels: The Panama Canal. Our tour will take you to both the visitor centers, Aguas Claras' new set of locks, and the original Gatun set of locks. Both are located on the Caribbean side of the canal. Witness the canal's operations firsthand and marvel at the striking contrast between the two sets of locks and be captivated by them. In the second half of our tour, prepare to be immersed in the lush beauty of the rainforest, teeming with vibrant flora and fauna. We'll make our way through the remnants of Sherman's former military base, an American jungle operation training center, until we arrive at the stunning San Lorenzo Fort, also known as San Lorenzo Castle. This UNESCO World Heritage site, perched at the entrance of the majestic Chagres River, offers breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea that will leave you speechless. Join us for this remarkable adventure and create memories that will last a lifetime!
Tour Options
Itinerary
See the impressive fort at the mouth of the charges river.
Here we are going to be able to see in full action the new set of locks built in 2016 for the largest ships in the world.
We will pass by the former Military base in Fort Sherman, and we will stop for lunch at The Dock restaurant located in shelter bay marina, where you can enjoy our local cuisine.
Gatun's locks are the first set of locks built under the American administration that definitely change the global economy since it's construction over 100 years ago
Let's visit the newest bridge in the Panama Canal and enjoy the view of both the centennial and new sets of locks in a single picture, along with the maritime city of Colon and the Caribbean Sea.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The guide will be meeting you, holding a sign with the company's logo and the lead passenger's name
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(26)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 If you’re visiting Colón on a cruise and want to make the most of your limited time, this private tour is absolutely the way to do it. Being on a private itinerary meant we could explore at our own pace without waiting on a large group, which made the experience much more enjoyable. Our guide, Roderick, was outstanding—friendly, thoughtful, incredibly knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about Panama’s history. He brought places like Fort San Lorenzo, the original and new Panama Canal locks, the remnants of the French canal project, Fort Sherman, and Colón itself to life with fascinating historical context. Our driver, Robert, was equally excellent, making the day comfortable, smooth, and stress-free. My only suggestion for improvement would be clearer pickup instructions, as it took a little effort to locate Roderick at the cruise terminal. Once we connected, however, everything was flawlessly organized. This was one of the highlights of our cruise and an experience I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a deeper understanding of Panama beyond just seeing the canal. :::writing
The tour was very informative, José showed us the beauty of Panama's National Park. The old and new Canals, and a drive through the city of Colon and lunch at a local restaurant. The weather was very changeable through the tour, providing a variety of conditions.
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
While this tour went to the places it was advertised as. If you are looking for a guide, this isnt the tour. The meeting location provided wasn't correct admitted by the provider after. The driver was almost 30 minutes late to the pick up and we had no communication about this until we reached out. This lead to a stressful begining in a port that was a little sketchy. Then when in the van he didnt know what tour we were doing and had us verify it. The tour itself was fine but he took us to places and read the signs to us and provided very little additional information. We also felt rushed in some places and then in others we had no idea what was happening and the communication on the tour was poor. Advertised as providing water but they do not. Very expensive for what you get.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the confusion regarding the meeting location and the delay at pickup. We understand how stressful that must have been, especially when arriving at a cruise port and trying to start your day smoothly. Clear communication is extremely important to us, and we regret that we did not meet your expectations in this regard. We are also sorry to hear that the tour experience felt more transportation-focused than guided. Our goal is to provide guests with meaningful insights into Panama's history, culture, and engineering achievements, and we appreciate your comments regarding the level of information provided during the visit. Your observations about timing, communication during the tour, and the water provision have been noted and will be reviewed with our team so we can improve future experiences. We are pleased that you were able to visit San Lorenzo Fort and both the old and new Panama Canal locks as planned, but we understand that the overall experience did not reflect the value you expected. Thank you again for your honest feedback. It helps us identify areas where we can improve and provide a better experience for future travelers. Sincerely, Panamanian Adventures
The old and new Panama Canal locks are a fascinating part of world commerce as well as part of our history. José is very knowledgeable and attentive to his clients. His English is great. The Agua Clara and Gatún visitors centers are clean and welcoming. We had a better understanding of the canal when our cruise ship passed through it because of this tour. The fort was also very enjoyable. Would recommend the tour to anyone with an inquiring mind.
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
We had a wonderful experience with Roderick showing us the Colon area as well as the Agua Clara and Gatun locks. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area as well as the history and the technology of the locks and the canal in general. He was very accommodating and made sure we saw exactly what we wanted to see. He also enhanced our overall experience by taking us to areas not usually visited on this private tour. Roderick’s English is excellent. He is exceptionally thoughtful and kind and he made sure we spent the time required to have an in-depth experience rather than just a “pass-by”. We highly recommend Roderick to anyone wanting a comprehensive tour of the Colon area, its history, the Panama Canal and its locks. Many thanks, Roderick!
The tour was very interesting and informative Our tour guide JORGE SALAZAR was excellent He was knowledgeable, friendly and considerate. I would highly recommend him,
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
What a great tour, especially when on a cruise. Instead of being cooped up on a bus with a huge bunch, being herded about to their schedule, take this personal tour that moves by your timing. Have the whole attention of your guide. Our guide, Charlie, who is half Panamanian and half American, was fantastic. Would recommend highly.
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
We had an amazing and perfect experience visiting Panama thanks to Jorge with Panamanian Adventures. Great communication before and throughout our tour. Jorge is passionate about his job and was extremely knowledgeable when answering our many questions! It was truly a fascinating and enjoyable day spent touring the Old and New Panama Canal Locks and the San Lorenzo Fort. Thank you Jorge, for a perfect day in Panama!
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
Jorge was great! Wonderful overview of the canals.
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
Personal experience. Private easy paced tour. Guide Jorge is very knowledgeable, professional and accommodating. Tour is worth the price upgrade to private. Few extra cost with entry fees, but it is well documented and wasnt a suprise. Time at each location was flexable.
Thank you so much for your kind words about this great experience and for choosing Panamanian Adventures as your go-to tour company in Panama! We truly appreciate your support!
