Gatun Lake: Monkeys & Exotic Wildlife by the Canal

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

4 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Set out from Panama City in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle bound for Gamboa Marina. Board your riverboat and glide across Gatun Lake, a vital section of the Panama Canal surrounded by lush tropical rainforest.

As you cruise, watch for the lake’s most famous residents — white-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, and Geoffrey’s tamarins. With a bit of luck, you may also spot sloths resting in the treetops, colorful tropical birds, or crocodiles sunning on the shore.

Your certified guide shares fascinating insights about the canal, its history, and the rich biodiversity of the Chagres River basin, making this more than just a wildlife encounter.

End your adventure with a comfortable return ride to Panama City, arriving back at your hotel with unforgettable memories and photos of Panama’s wildlife.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

May be operated by a multilingual guide

Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults

Bring raincoat or towel and extra cloth in case you need it after the boat ride.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Avenida Balboa

The tour starts with hotel pick up in Panama City followed by a transfer to the Gamboa Marina.

Admission Not Applicable

Centennial Bridge

The Centennial Bridge is one of Panama’s most important modern landmarks. Opened in 2004, it spans the Panama Canal with an impressive cable-stayed design, offering panoramic views of the waterway and surrounding rainforest. It symbolizes Panama’s growth and is a key crossing connecting the country’s east and west.

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Professional local guide

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Transport by air-conditioned car or minivan

Meals

Boat fee

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

Monkeys and wildlife

Tour pickup: From 6:25am to 10:30am 10:50am to 3:30PM 1:30PM to 5:30PM
Pickup included

Reviews

4.80

1,839 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1615

129

Not to miss tour!!
Excursion45342761367,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour thanks to Daniel, Monkey Whisperer, Jack Sparrow and Fast and Furious! But the award goes to the Monkeys that gave an awesome greeting!
10/10. Fantastic.
trevorlO3296LE,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic tour. Would recommend to anyone. Jeny is a great tour guide, and she worked with the rest of the crew to ensure we had a great experience and got to see everything we came to see!
A nice experience!
ronaldhC5667TM,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A very nice experience! Only takes 3-4 hours, and the guides are pleasant and efficient. We saw 3 species of monkeys, birds, bats, fauna, and giant shops passing through the canal.
Fun family time!
F6386NUameliar,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Such a fun experience! Daniel was a great tour guide and everything was well organized and timely. I would definitely recommend!
Monkeys!
ashleycB9838RS,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What a great experience, especially for my kids! The tour was exactly as advertised, with a pickup at our hotel, a short bus ride to the boat (with a great tour guide along the way) and a beautiful boat ride around the lake searching for monkeys (which we definitely found!). definitely recommend - great value!
Awsome Monkey Island experience!!!
donkX8431ZD,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
An awsome experience and the tour guide was wonderful and knowledgeable The boat ride was also great with awsome wildlife moments. Totally worth it! Great Job!
Awesome Tour!
V5705FVdustinw,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Awesome tour! Highly recommend! We saw lots of monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles and bats. Jenny was a great guide and very knowledgeable.
Great intro to Panama wildlife!
382chelseyr,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our family really enjoyed this trip! 3 kinds of monkeys, iguanas, toucan, bats, ants, and Danielle sang Happy Anniversary to my husband and I !
Gorgeous Nature
Tiffaney A,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
So beautiful and gorgeous scenery. The guides and drivers were amazing. I had am awesome time and definitely recommend. Ask for Daniel y Bryan.
It's actually a $60.25 tour... But worth it.
John H,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
It's a nice tour. Picked up hotel promptly. Saw the monkeys. Everything went smoothly. My only issue is that the "$30 tour" is misleading. It's really a $60.25 tour. You pay $30 to Viator, $30 cash to the guide for the boat ride and a quarter to use the bathroom at the farmer's market. Although the costs are explained in the detail, the $30 headline is misleading.