Wildlife Experience in the Panama Canal Along The Gatun Lake

Name: Wildlife Experience in the Panama Canal Along The Gatun Lake
Brand: Tao Travel 365
SKU: 127626P38
Price: 99.99 USD
Rating: 4.0 (12 reviews)

Panama City, Panama

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Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

3 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Animal lovers will enjoy this quick trip to Gatun Lake in the middle of the Panama Canal, on an easy half-day tour from Panama City. Spot four different species of monkey at the well-named Monkey Island, as well as crocodiles, turtles, toucans, and more. Enjoy the peace from a canoe tour as you watch the enormous ships navigate through the canal–at a safe distance.

Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour (max. 8)
Ideal for nature-loving travelers
Explore the natural landscapes so close to the capital
The three-hour tour can easily fit into busy schedules

What's Included

Shared car/boat transportation
English speaking tour guide
Boat tour through Panama Canal
Bottled water

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

06:30 AM

Pickup details

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. THERE IS A SURCHARGE FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT HOTELS OUTSIDE OF PANAMA CITY, SUCH AS TOCUMEN, COSTA DEL ESTE, PLAYA BONITA AND OTHERS. Please select the relevant booking option or kindly send us a message.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate

Not wheelchair accessible
THERE IS A SURCHARGE FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT HOTELS OUTSIDE OF PANAMA CITY, SUCH AS TOCUMEN, COSTA DEL ESTE, PLAYA BONITA AND OTHERS. Please select the relevant booking option or kindly send us a message.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Operated by Tao Travel 365

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.0

12 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-7 of 12 reviews

Gatun lake and monkey island tour

Sarah_K, Apr 2024

Daniel was a wonderful guide. He picked us up on time and was full of information about everything on the drive to Gamboa. Here we boarded a small high speed boat and motored from the Chagres river into the Panama Canal and on to lake Gatun. We went directly to monkey island where we saw Howlers, Capucins and Tamarind monkeys. The Capucins in particular were great fun running all around us on the boat, one of them even stole my brother in law's sunglasses! We motored to various other islands and saw crocodiles more Howler monkeys and a special view of a sloth. We then returned to Gamboa and back to our hotel. Be prepared for an early start (6am) for this tour to get there early while the animals are most active. Highly recommend this tour!!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We're delighted that Daniel's guidance enhanced your journey to Gamboa! We're glad you got to witness the beauty of our wildlife and sorry to hear about your brother's sunglasses! Looking forward to hear from you again soon :)

Don't miss this!

Gustav_N, Mar 2023

We had such a great trip with Ana Lorena! Loved every minute of it. She picked us up early, which we highly recommend because 1.) we were the only two people on the boat besides Ana Lorena and our Capitan, and 2.) we were the first ones to arrive at Monkey Island so the monkeys were eager for breakfast. We managed to see all 4 of the varieties of resident monkeys, up close and personal. On our return to the City, Ana Lorena stopped so we could watch a ship go through the last lock before Lake Gatún. It was very impressive to see the Canal in action.This tour was one of the highlights of our two week trip to lovely Panamá.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

We are so glad to hear that you had a great trip with Ana Lorena and that you were able to see all 4 varieties of resident monkeys up close and personal. We are delighted that this tour was one of the highlights of your two week trip to Panama. Thank you for your kind words!

They canceled me

ERIN_S, Mar 2022

It made me give one star. I would give zero. They canceled my trip and let me know at like 8p the night before because they needed a minimum of two people and there was just me. They offered me other trips and I hated to take the risk. I booked through someone else and that was a sure thing. It also took me a couple days to get them to refund my money. I called PayPal and opened a dispute.

Response from Host, Mar 2022

Hi Erin, we are very sorry you feel upset. We have clearly stated on our product listing that this tour requires a minimum of 2 guests. We wait until 8pm the day before the tour to receive more bookings. Unfortunately in your case no one else booked the tour for your preferred tour date. We immediately canceled and issued a refund, which is processed directly through Viator and which can take a couple of days to post back in your bank account.

Exciting Morning Escape from the City

Joanne_S, Jan 2022

Our Tour Guide Alex picked us up around 7:30am from Central Hotel Panama in Casco Viejo (he was picking up another couple before us, which accounted for the slight delay), and we headed to Gamboa port for our boat. The 3-hour total trip was so much fun!! We saw three different types of monkeys that were hanging on branches right in front of us about 20 feet away, plus we saw different bird species. It was super cool being in the middle of the Panama Canal, knowing the history and significant of this modern wonder of the world. If you want a short morning tour that focuses mostly on wildlife, this one is highly recommend!

Wonderful Tour

Roshanna_W, Jan 2022

The tour was amazing. Our guide Daniel was wonderful, he made any stops that we requested on the way to the tour and also on the way back home. Definitely a great experience. You get to experience the monkeys coming on the boat and grabbing peanuts out of your hands; also you see all the big ships passing to enter the locks. I would recommend this trip especially with Daniel being the tour guide.

I was under the...

Samarth_D, Jan 2022

I was under the impression that we will get to see many animals and then go through the canal/locks. But we only saw 3 monkeys and one big ship go through. If you have young kids then the trip might be something to think about. Otherwise most of the time was in the car or boat

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Hi Samarth, we are sorry you did not enjoy our Monkey Island tour. In our tour listing, we try our best to be as specific and clear as possible so that our guests will not have the wrong expectations. We do not advertise that we are going through the locks. The tour takes place in the Panama canal, visiting the the monkey island. We ask our guests to start the tour early with us in order to be able to see many monkeys. If the tour is scheduled later, most monkeys have eaten and will recede into the jungle to sleep. We hope you will give us another chance to show you the beauties of Panama :)

Perfect for anyone of all ages

Cynthia_H, Dec 2021

Great adventure with my a senior and kid. Such fun seeing the monkeys and riding down the Canal. Highly recommend

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Hi Cythia, thank you for booking with us and allowing us to show you the monkey island. We are glad you enjoyed your experience and hope to hear back from you again at some time in the future :)