This unique tour of the Panama Canal goes from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean as you see the canal from the water and by foot. An exciting boat ride down the canal will introduce you to the transiting ships as well as the abundant wildlife on its shores, followed by a visit to Fort San Lorenzo and the new Agua Clara Locks.
This is not a TRANSIT tour, we wont travel by boat inside the locks.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Panama Canal boat ride (90 minutes)
✔ Professional guide
✔ Bottled water
✔ Entrance fees
✔ Transport by air-conditioned minibus
✔ Lunch
✔ Hotel pickup and drop-off (select hotels only)
✖ Gratuities
✖ Due to heavy traffic, no free pickup from hotels located near Amador Causeway, Clayton (City of Knowledge) Playa Bonita. Separate transportation for the an extra charge
✖ Playa Blanca, or Rio Hato, Metromall, Arraijan or Tocumen Airport need to arrange own transportation
✖ This is not a TRANSIT tour, we wont travel by boat inside the locks.
Pickup Locations
1. Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
2. Waldorf Astoria Panama
3. Aloft Panama
4. Hospedium Princess Hotel Panama
5. W Panama
6. YOO Panama
7. Exe Oriental Panama
8. TRYP by Wyndham Panama Centro
9. Ramada Plaza By Wyndham Panama Punta Pacifica
10. Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel
11. Plaza Paitilla Inn
12. Le Meridien Panama
13. Sheraton Grand Panama
14. AC Hotel by Marriott Panama City
15. Hampton by Hilton Panama
16. Decapolis Hotel Panama
17. Riande Urban Hotel
18. Victoria Hotel and Suites Panama
19. Toscana Inn Hotel
20. Hilton Panama
Additional Info: Pickup from centrally located Panama City hotels in the following areas:
• El Cangrejo
• Obarrio
• Punta Pacifica
• San Francisco
• Punta Paitilla
• Avenida Balboa
• Bella Vista
• Casco Viejo
• Marbella
• Financial District
• El Dorado
• Bethania
Itinerary
1
Panama City
This tour begins with hotel pickups starting at 6:45am. I know it sounds crazy to get up so early on your vacation, but you will thank me for it later. Starting this early we can beat the crowds and see more wildlife in cooler temperatures.
2
Panama Canal
We will ride along the waters of the Panama Canal right next to the ships passing through on their way to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Our destination is Gatun Lake, where we will cruise around islands created during the canal construction and see the abundant wildlife on its shores.
Duration: 1.5 hours
3
Lake Gatun
The second-largest artificial lake on the continent, the intact rainforest that surround the lake are one of the few accessible areas on the planet where a diverse flora and fauna endemic to Central America can be observed in its natural habitat.
4
Agua Clara Locks
We will visit the Agua Clara Visitor Center to see the new expansion locks working up close.
Located on the west side of the brand new Agua Clara Locks, the Agua Clara Visitor Center allows you to observe transiting vessels from a scenic lookout point and learn first hand about the various operations of the Panama Canal, the history of its construction, its participation in the world markets, and the importance of its watershed. An observational deck lets you watch the ships pass through the Agua Clara Locks on their way to the Pacific or Atlantic oceans.
Duration: 60 minutes
5
Fort San Lorenzo
The next stop will be a visit to San Lorenzo National Park where you will visit a remote rainforest full of flora and fauna, followed by a freshly made picnic lunch and a tour Fort San Lorenzo. A 400 year old Spanish fort on a scenic cliff overlooking the Caribbean, here you will recount the many attacks by pirates and privateers that happened at one of the most historically important places in Panama.
The Fort of San Lorenzo, located on an 80 foot (25m) cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea at the estuary of the Chagres River, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 along with the fortifications of the city of Portobelo. It was part of the defensive system for the transatlantic trade of the Spanish Crown, and is a fine example of military architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Fort of San Lorenzo is one of the oldest fortresses in Spanish America. Here you will recount the many attacks by pirates and privateers that happened at one of the most historically important places in Panama.
Duration: 60 minutes
6
Panama City
Return to Panama City for Hotel Drop off
Duration: 60 minutes
Additional info
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• The tour starts in a very remote area and there will be no access to public restrooms around 9am
• Vegetarian and vegan option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.
• Minimum age is 3 years
• If you will be staying at a hotel area that is not on the list, please contact your local operator prior to booking your tour
• This tour is in ENGLISH only, we cannot run the tour in 2 languages without the tour quality being compromised.
• Not recommended for travelers with walking problems or other serious medical conditions.
• No Wheelchair accessible
