Panama Canal with entrance included and Gatun Lake Boat Tour
Description
Get to know the greatness of The Panama Canal and its operation with this interesting tour inside Miraflores Visitors Center skipping the tickets line, then enjoy the adventure of a boat tour in the largest lake in the Panama Canal and its diversity of wildlife.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After pick up from hotel or accommodation in Panama City, we would take you to an observation area where we will explain you about the history and how the Panama Canal works.
After seeing a ship go through the locks, we will continue by car to the Chagres River where we will then get off the car and begin a boat tour in the Gatun Lake. At this point you will be inside the Panama Canal passing beside the ships in transit from one ocean to the other. During this boat tour in Gatun Lake you will be surrounded by the rainforest of the Soberania National Park, where we will spot monkeys and other wild animals.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up included for all bookings from hotels or accommodations in downtown Panama City and Casco Viejo. Exact pick up time for Group tour will be informed by email after 8PM the night before tour date. For a Private tour, pick up time will be at the same time as booked.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Reviews(521)
The tour proposed by the agency was not completed due, in the first place, to the delay at the agreed-upon pickup time at the hotel by the driver-guide; then, on the boat trip to Gatun Lake, they did not provide us with plastic rain protection that passengers on other boats did have, we ended up soaked from head to toe because of the rain, and finally, we arrived late to the visit to the Pedro Miguel locks due to the delay of the boat on the return and the traffic congestion that the driver-guide, who always showed a carefree attitude, should have foreseen. We could not enter the facilities because we arrived after closing time. I am waiting for them to issue a fair refund for the incomplete tour.
Usually don’t like leaving bad reviews but we were extremely disappointed in the tour. We were picked up 15 mins late. Afterwards the driver, picked up another family. Even though we booked an English tour, the driver Ricardo basically spoke 70% Spanish to the other group and 30% English. The monkey island tour was ok, we didn’t see much partially due to the weather. Our boat ride was extremely slow while it was raining and everyone was soaked. we also didn’t get to see the miraflores lock due to some accident. we ended up just seeing the Panama Canal off the highway. But then the driver kept talking on the phone and the group just waiting around. Didn’t get to see the miraflores locked but still ended up being a 6.5 hr tour because a lot of time was just wasted.
Customers receive a pick up time the night before the tour, you were picked up just 5 minutes later than your scheduled pick up due to the traffic. There was another family in the tour because you booked a group tour, if you wanted a private tour then you should book and pay for that option. You came to Panama in rainy season and booked a tour going outdoors, rain is something to be expected, the speed boat was driving slow to make it more pleasant to the group, otherwise the drops of the rain would hit you and the child coming with you. The stop at the road was the only alternative because in the area surrounding the Visitors Center trees were fallen on the road, that made impossible to get to the Visitors Center as planned. Nothing that your review has pointed was caused by us or was deliberated, it was just the circumstances and an appreciation of the moment should be more important than blaming others who are just trying to offer to you the best possible under the circumstances.
Oscar was our tour guide. He was absolutely amazing! Timely pick up in a clean car. He was exceedingly knowledgeable of all things related to Panama. Friendly and very funny. The canal tour itself was very informative. We saw monkeys during our boat tour and overall had a great time. Definitely would recommend this tour to everyone. Don’t forget to bring your own snacks if you want them.
Our trip to the Panama Canal was great. Our guide picked us up in time drove us to the canal and the tour was very interesting and informative!!! After we went on a boat ride to different islands to visit different monkeys. He was ready for each monkey species with their favorite snack!!! We feed the monkeys and had an absolute blast!!!
Bring sunscreen. You'll get up close with the monkeys but can move to back of boat if you want to observe from afar. The IMAX is VERY educational and enjoyable!
We had an amazing time with this tour. It is well planned and balanced with the boat tour, the movie of the history of the Panama Canal, etc. Our tour guide, Cesar, was phenomenal. He was funny, knew everything and was super informative. I would 100% recommend Cesar for your next tour!
my family and i had an amazing experience with Ruben. we would recommend this tour to anyone visiting panama!
Was a nice day and very informative. We saw some monkeys, no sloths. But it was nice.
Excellent excursion, as indicated. Fernando is a very capable and friendly guide.
We had an amazing time with our tour guide Alcibiades! He was an incredibly thoughtful and knowledgeable guide with a plethora of information about Panama, the canal, and the tour itself. He made me and my dad feel like family and made sure we had a great time. The boat ride around Gatun lake was our favorite part, especially getting to see the local wildlife. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
