Panama City travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup
+43 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Price from
- $152 / person
- Location
- Panama City, Panama
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 · 135 reviews
- Languages
- EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Tao Travel 365
Description
Combine a Monkey Island boat tour with the Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary on a wildlife adventure from Panama City. Travel with a bilingual guide in a small group of up to 12 guests. Cruise Gatun Lake’s forested shores, looking for capuchins, tamarins and howler monkeys. Enjoy rainforest scenery and the chance to see ships navigating the Panama Canal while your guide helps you spot wildlife. Continue to the Sloth Sanctuary to observe sloths in a managed care setting and learn about their behavior. Explore the butterfly house and orchid and frog exhibits for a closer look at Panama’s biodiversity. Panama City pickup, air-conditioned transportation, the boat ride, attraction admissions and bottled water are included. Lunch and pickup outside the standard area cost extra. Wildlife sightings vary. This tour does not visit or transit the canal locks.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 6:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 1:00 PM
- Next available
- Sun, Nov 1
- Adult (ages 10+)
- $152
- Child (ages 3–9)
- $142
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 31.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Gatun Lake
Board a boat in Gamboa and explore Gatun Lake’s Monkey Island area, where tropical rainforest borders the Panama Canal. Cruise along forested islands and shorelines while your guide helps you look for capuchins, tamarins, howler monkeys and tropical birds. Learn about the surrounding habitat and enjoy the chance to see large ships navigating the canal. Wildlife sightings vary. Follow your guide’s instructions and do not feed or touch animals. The boat ride does not pass through the canal locks.
Panama Canal
During your Gatun Lake boat ride, see the Panama Canal’s working waterway surrounded by tropical rainforest. Your guide explains how the lake forms part of this international shipping route. You may see large vessels navigating the canal, depending on traffic. This experience does not visit the locks or include a boat transit through them.
Gamboa
Visit the Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary to observe sloths in a managed care setting. Your guide shares insights into their behavior, diet and adaptations to rainforest life. Watch these slow-moving animals resting or climbing and learn about the importance of protecting their habitat. Observe respectfully without touching or handling the animals.
Gamboa
Explore Gamboa’s butterfly house and orchid and frog exhibits for a closer look at Panama’s biodiversity. Observe butterflies, discover tropical orchids and learn about frogs and their rainforest habitats. Your guide helps you appreciate the smaller species that are easily overlooked in the wild. Species on display may vary.
What's included
Included
Water Bottles
Tour to Monkey Island, Sloth Sanctuary, Butterfly house and Orchid & Frog exhibition
Pick-up and drop off at your Panama City lodging
Boat Tour
Bi-lingual guides (English/Spanish)
Entrance to the Sloth Sanctuary, Butterfly House and, Orchids and Frog exhibitions.
Well-maintained, air-conditioned car
Monkey Island entrance fees
Not included
Lunch
PICK UP AND DROP OFF OUTSIDE OF PANAMA CITY: SUCH AS COSTA DEL ESTE, PLAYA BONITA, AMADOR CAUSEWAY
Pickup Locations & Times
For guests scheduled for the 7:00 AM pick-up: We pick up all guests at their lodging in Panama City between 6:30am and 7:00am. We strive to make this the best experience possible. In order to encounter as many monkeys as possible we elected to start our tour earlier than most others. Please ensure to wait in the lobby of your lodging until the driver arrives. For guests scheduled for the 1:000 AM pick-up: . Please ensure to wait in the lobby of your lodging until the driver arrives. For guests scheduled for the 1:00 PM pick-up: . Please ensure to wait in the lobby of your lodging until the driver arrives. THERE IS A SURCHARGE FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT HOTELS OUTSIDE OF PANAMA CITY, SUCH AS TOCUMEN, COSTA DEL ESTE, PLAYA BONITA, AMADOR CAUSEWAY AND OTHERS. Please kindly send us a message for more information.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.5
135 reviews
How it compares in Panama City
- Starting price $152 is 52% above the typical $100 for tours of similar length in Panama City
- Price unchanged over the last 29 days
Excurgo comparison of 861 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pickup and drop-off outside the standard Panama City pickup area require a supplement. Select the appropriate booking option or contact us for details.
- Bring a lightweight rain poncho or rain jacket.
- Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and walking shoes with good grip.
- Bring insect repellent, sun protection, a hat and sunglasses.
- Bring a camera or smartphone and a small waterproof bag to protect your belongings.
- Bring cash for lunch, tips and personal purchases. Lunch is not included.
- Wildlife sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed. Follow your guide’s instructions and do not feed, touch or handle wild animals.
- The tour includes boat boarding and walking on uneven surfaces.
- This tour does not visit the Panama Canal locks or include a boat transit through them.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup take?
Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup lasts about 5 hours. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup cost?
Prices start at $152 per person for this Panama City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 6:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 1:00 PM.
How much does Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup cost for children?
Children aged 3–9 pay from $142, adults from $152.
Can I cancel Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. For guests scheduled for the 7:00 AM pick-up: We pick up all guests at their lodging in Panama City between 6:30am and 7:00am. We strive to make this the best experience possible. In order to encounter as many monkeys as possible we elected to start our tour earlier than most others. Please ensure to wait in the lobby of your lodging until the driver arrives. For guests scheduled for the 1:000 AM pick-up: . Please ensure to wait in the lobby of your lodging until the driver arrives. For guests scheduled for the 1:00 PM pick-up: . Please ensure to wait in the lobby of your lodging until the driver arrives. THERE IS A SURCHARGE FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT HOTELS OUTSIDE OF PANAMA CITY, SUCH AS TOCUMEN, COSTA DEL ESTE, PLAYA BONITA, AMADOR CAUSEWAY AND OTHERS. Please kindly send us a message for more information. Pickup points include Hotel Costa Inn, Hotel Veracruz.
What languages is Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 135 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Tao Travel 365.
Reviews(135)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup | 5 hours | 4.5 (135) | $152 | |
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 All included: Canal, Monkeys, Sloth Sanctuary, Butterfly Garden | 6 hours | 4.3 (3) | $129 | View |
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 Eco Adventure in Gamboa with Lunch | 8 hours | — | $280 | View |
from$152
4.5(135) Free cancellation