Private Tour
Gatun lake wildlife expedition and Miraflores locks private tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover the incredible Panama Canal with the expertise of certified tour guides. Start your visit at the Miraflores Visitor Center, where you'll witness canal operations firsthand and enjoy an exhilarating 45-minute IMAX 3D movie that explores the history and engineering marvels of the canal. After this engaging introduction, your adventure continues with a wildlife safari expedition on a boat ride through Gatun Lake, where you’ll have the chance to spot monkeys and various other animals in their natural habitat. Book now for an exceptional experience with us!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Miraflores Visitor Center
Come and enjoy this engineering wonder that changed the whole maritime industry forever, brought to this world by the United States and Panama, in our Miraflores visitor center, where you can see the Panama Canal in full action.
Gatun Lake
This is an extraordinary experience of Monkey Watch and Gatun Lake Wildlife, a must for any nature enthusiast! Experience the breathtaking beauty of Gatun Lake as you immerse yourself in the vibrant rainforest teeming with wildlife. As we navigate the lake, watch for the giant ships gliding by on their journey through the Panama Canal. Get ready to encounter not just monkeys and sloths, but also remarkable creatures like crocodiles, toucans, iguanas, turtles, and various exotic birds. This tour is the perfect adventure for everyone, promising an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss!
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
17.22 dollars per adult for canal ticket admission fees
$30 per person to cover maritime transportation services boat ride must be paid on site to the staff
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
VIP all inclusive Combo
Exclusive service: We are pleased to offer you a personalized and exclusive experience with this all-inclusive combo all-inclusive: Canal tickets and boat ride fees are included Pickup included
Gatun lake wildlife safari expedition and Miraflores Canal locks
Pickup included
Solo Travelers
Boat ride fees: 50 per person to cover maritime transportation services, boat ride must be paid on site to the staff, USD 30.00 per person Pickup included
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Canal, boat ride to see monkeys
Amanda R,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Well our driver Jose was ready with answers to all our questions. We however wanted to point out that this adventure doesnt pay for anything than his time driving you to the canal and to the boat dock. Again a real nice guy, but 155 dollars only pays you to be driven. We still had to pay another 94 dolllars to go to the canal and to go on a boat. I liked him, but this was a bit spendy. It was in the write up what was included, just review before you commit.
Pros: Ricky was very...
Kathryn M,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Pros: Ricky was very kind! Communicated in advance, pick up was smooth. A proud Panamanian and great guy. He was sweet with my kids. Also, this was the only such tour included find that was willing to do an airport pickup, which made this excursion possible on our 24 hour layover. We appreciated the flexibility. Cons: This is the price for a driver/guide, but you will spend $500 easy, because you need to purchase the boat tickets and the Miraflores tickets in addition to pay for this tour. We just spent 10 days in South America with some amazing guides, and comparably- this didn’t meet the value. I’m honestly still not sure what we paid for. Essentially what we got was a (lovely!) private driver who knew the tricks to save us time at the locks (held our spot in line, told us to buy the tickets online ahead of time). But this isn’t a tour where we learned a lot, outside of the IMAX at the visitor center. Also, we asked to stop for lunch (communicated this in advance that we would need to), and we stopped at a gas station mini market for food. This was an 6 hour private tour and we really should have stopped at a restaurant (after all- it’s paying for a private tour so your family can be accommodated)! Finally, re: wildlife- no one’s fault (Ricky felt terrible!) but we didn’t see many animals. We also didn’t learn much about their habitats, predators, etc. just went around in a boat to see them. Go in the early morning if you can and you’ll have better luck. And- please note that you aren’t supposed to feed them! The guides frequently have you feed the monkeys bananas to coax them down. They are WILD! This is bad for them and for us.
Great tour and guide
dianne316,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour - Highly recommend to see the Canal and surrounding area.
Monkey island and Panama canal tour
Micah K,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Carlos Alberto was an amazing guide. He is very knowledgeable, speaks a decent English, and was very professional. Highly recommend him
Fantastic tour - worth every penny!
Cary H,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jorge was fantastic - gave us history and great perspective on Panama. Our boat excursion was amazing seeing all sorts of wildlife. And our tour of Miraflores locks and watching the operation was a great experience.
Wonderful guide and visit
charlescW7783QQ,Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Superb time with César. We visited the lake, checked out the monkeys, went to the visitor centre, and capped it off with a lunch. Great time with a great guide, thank you!
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Operated by Panamanian Aventures