Gatun Lake: Monkeys & Exotic Wildlife by the Canal
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
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
The duration of the tour includes travel time.
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.
Gamboa
Gamboa is a peaceful rainforest town located at the meeting point of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal. Known for its lush jungle, abundant wildlife, and historic canal infrastructure, it’s one of the best places in Panama to experience nature up close. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of Gatun Lake and the surrounding rainforest.
What‘s Included
Professional local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Bottled water
Transport by air-conditioned car or minivan
Meals
Boat Fee to be paid on site
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
2,156 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent 4.5-hour wildlife tour with an outstanding guide
823jeanbaptisten,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We are very satisfied with this 4.5-hour tour. We saw a great variety of wildlife, including capuchin monkeys, tamarins, howler monkeys, iguanas, turtles, and many beautiful birds. The experience was truly memorable. Our guide, Jenny, was absolutely wonderful—very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. She explained everything clearly and made the tour both engaging and enjoyable. We truly appreciated her presence and the quality of her guidance. We felt well taken care of throughout the tour. At the end, we were also given small bottles of water, which was a nice touch. The tour was safe and well organized. Please note that, in addition to the tour price, there is an extra fee of $20 per person for the boat. This is clearly mentioned in the booking documents. Overall, we are very satisfied with the experience.
MONKEYS!
Journey639481,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience! Would recommend! Jenny, Bryan and the monkey whisperer were great!
Best tour!
niagarao,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing tour! Such a good experience!
Great tour monkeys and more
195delilahb,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing, very happy with my experience. Our guide Jeny was incredibly informative, she taught us so much in a fun way. Junito did great driving the boat and calling the monkeys. Animals were beautiful and they hop in the boat! Very minimal splashes of water.
Jenny was the absolute best!
lcN4058FC,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We truly enjoyed the monkey Island tour! Saw everything we hoped for and was loaded with information. Got some great video to crop pics from!
Great experience
ad0nikaa,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jenny and her crew was the best. Totally recommend!!!
Great Gatun lake tour- Monkeys
alexcW3974BI,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jenny is the best!!! I had the best time.
Gatun Lake monkey experience
XacTimmermans,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Team where helpful, enthusiastic and engaging. Boat trip was great going through the Panama Canal and seeing the lake, but monkey sighting relied on a few monkeys to perform. Whilst they did and the whole thing was great, it would be better if more different sites could be found with more monkeys.
Awesome monkey tour
Jonathan B,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An incredible experience! The tour guides were awesome, we saw 3 species of monkeys, bats and birds, and learned some history about Panama and the wildlife. Would highly recommend !
Do it
Peter F,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Just absolutely incredible, and quick, must do!
From US$40.00
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