Layover Panama Canal & City Tour - Private or Shared
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover Panama City and one of the 7 Wonders of Modern Engineering: the Panama Canal. This tour can be private or shared, and our guides are friendly, flexible, and very knowledgeable.
For private tours, we visit the Miraflores Visitor Center to watch Canal operations from the official viewpoint.
For shared tours, we stop by the Pedro Miguel Locks area, where you can still see ships up close, though it’s not an official viewpoint.
We continue to Fort Amador for amazing skyline photos, then enjoy a guided walk through Casco Antiguo, known for its beautiful mix of colonial, Caribbean, French, and Neo-Renaissance architecture.
At the end, we return you to the airport—private tours ensure you won’t miss your flight.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The Miraflores Visitor Center is currently undergoing renovations, which may affect some areas of the facility. Visitors should expect potential construction zones and limited access to certain exhibits.
On the shared tour option, we visit the parking lot of Pedro Miguel Locks, not the official Miraflores Visitor Center.
This tour is only from Tocumen Airport not from City Hotels or Dreams Playa Bonita
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Round trip from Tocumen Airport
Knowledgeable & funny guides!
Private or Shared Tour Option
Air-conditioned vehicle
Panama Canal fee per person ($17.22 adults & $7.22 kids 6-12 yo)
Lunch or Breakfast not included
No pickups from Amador Cruiser Terminal
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Tocumen Intl Airport
Panama City Panama
What To Expect
Miraflores Visitor Center
Miraflores Visitor Center offers a fascinating look at the world-famous Panama Canal in action. From the viewing platforms, you can watch the massive ships crossing the locks — usually around 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. and again after 1:50 p.m. Inside, the IMAX Theater shows a captivating film narrated by Morgan Freeman that tells the incredible story of the canal’s construction and expansion. Please note that the visitor center is currently under renovation, so there may be some lines and minor discomfort, but it’s absolutely worth the visit for the amazing views and the chance to witness this engineering marvel up close.
Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador)
Amador Causeway, a scenic road built on the breakwater that once protected the former Fort Grant, connecting the mainland to four small islands. This area offers incredible views of the Panama Canal entrance and the city skyline. Along the way, we often spot sloths resting in the trees, a true highlight for nature lovers. We’ll also make a stop by the Biomuseo, a colorful and iconic building designed by Frank Gehry, where we’ll take a short walk outside to admire its unique architecture and ocean views. To finish, we’ll stop at the famous Panama sign, the perfect place to take fun and memorable photos.
Options
Shared Option start at 3:00 PM
Shared Tocumen Terminal #2: Starts at 3:00 PM and includes Pedro Miguel Locks not Miraflores. It is from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM Pickup at Terminal #2.
Pickup included
Shared Option start at 9:00 AM
Shared Tocumen Terminal #2: Starts at 9:00 am and includes Pedro Miguel Locks not Miraflores. It is from 9:00 am to 1:00 PM Pickup at Terminal #2
Pickup included
Private Layover Tour
100% private service: Our guide will be holding a sign with your name on it.
Pickup included
Reviews
158 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Rafael was an amazing...
Shannon S,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Rafael was an amazing tour guide. He started communicating with me before the tour and made sure we were able to find him. He was so knowledgeable about Panamanian history and the area. He was able to help us find sloths and toucans, in addition to the other parts of the tour. Upon hearing our food preferences, he chose a great restaurant for us to get lunch that satisfied all of our family members. He had good tips for the Panama Canal, where we were able to get great views of a ship going through the first lock. Rafael was very kind, attentive, and made our layover a fantastic time. Thank you!
Highly recommend if you have a layover in Panama!
Freedom24074894980,
Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience! Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable! We loved that the tour was private and we could adjust the times spent at each place, would highly recommend it!
Excellent Layover Tour in Panama!
1toptravelagent,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took the Private Layover Panama Canal & City Tour, and it was such a great experience. My guide, Levy, was fantastic — very knowledgeable about both the city and the Canal, and he shared lots of interesting facts and local insights along the way. The tour was well-organized and made perfect use of my short layover time. I got to see some of Panama’s highlights without feeling rushed. It was the ideal way to experience the city and the famous Canal in just a few hours. Highly recommend this tour and especially Levy for anyone with a layover in Panama!
Great Layover Option
JuanchoPerez,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice tour and a great way to spend a long layover in Panama City instead of sitting at the airport. Highly recommend.
We had a wonderful tour...
Janet S,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderful tour with Saul. We had 9h layover, he pick us up right outside the terminal as we left. He talked about all the sites we passed on the way to the canal and was very knowledgeable about the canal and history of Panama. We went to the marina and took photos at the Panama sign and went to the beautiful old town part of the city. We were back in plenty of time for our flight. Strongly recommend Saul and this tour! He was the best! He has convinced us to come back for a longer stay.
Great day at our tour
Eva K,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was great and our tour guide was azing. He took us to all the main attractions at panama city and he was very polite, informed and friendly
We got picked up right...
Joey D,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We got picked up right from the airport with no waiting, and our guide brought us everywhere we wanted with the limited time we had. Absolutely recommend.
Amazing tour!
stephanie G,
Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Rafael was truly amazing. His knowledge of Panama City, his humour and his story telling were out of this world. Our flight arrived early and he adjusted our start time accordingly. I would definitely recommend if you are stopping g on layover in Panama
Turning a bad flight connection into a layover daytrip
Emily K,
Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our flight back from Cartagena to the US didn't have any good flight connections, so we decided to make the best of it by adding a long layover and doing a layover tour. Levy was our guide, and he was great at communicating before we arrived and then meeting up with us after we came through immigration. Our flight unexpectedly ended up in the wrong terminal, but since I had his number on WhatsApp, it was easy to coordinate. Levy picked us up and took us to lunch, got the requisite photo of a PANAMA sign with the city skyline, and then off to the Canal vistor center. He helped us get express tickets and skip the lines, and times it just right with the start of the IMAX show. Then he showed us the best place to stand to view the boat coming in the locks. It was VERY HOT, and we definitely baked in the sun while waiting for the boat to come in, but that's why we were there, so we waited it out. Then Levy took us on a quick driving tour of the old part of the city while explaining some of it's history. He had us back to the airport with plenty of time to get a drink at the aiport lounge before heading to our gate. So glad we took the day to visit a little of Panama on our layover!
Exceptional
Olawole A,
Sep 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour helps your layover time fly by quick. Levy was a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide who made us feel relaxed and comfortable. Good platform to connect travelers to a country.
-24% off
From US$49.40Was US$65.00
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