Monkey & Sloth Panama Canal Boat Safari with Casco Viejo Brunch
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Explore the legendary Panama Canal, get up close with wildlife on Gatun Lake, and enjoy a traditional Panamanian brunch in the heart of historic Casco Viejo.
Your buffet-style Panamanian brunch includes:
• Pollo Guisado (traditional stewed chicken)
• Carimañolas (yuca stuffed with cheese or meat)
• Empanadas
• Hojaldres (Panamanian fry bread)
• Local queso blanco (fresh white cheese)
• Fresh local tropical fruits
• Vegetarian options available
• Fresh juices and Panamanian coffee
In case of rain, you'll be comfortably seated indoors at Restaurante El Nacional, where the same delicious menu and cultural storytelling will continue in a stylish, colonial-era dining space.
This unforgettable day combines nature, culture, history, and cuisine into a seamless, enriching experience—perfect for travelers looking to connect with the true essence of Panama
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required on Shared tours
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately. If it rains you might get wet.
Minimum age is 3 years
Tour is guided only in English
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Gatun Lake
We start the day with pick ups in Panama City. Your day begins with a journey into one of the most fascinating intersections of nature and engineering in the world: Gatun Lake, a vast manmade lake that forms a critical part of the Panama Canal. You'll board a covered motorboat and set off on a wildlife safari through its winding channels and jungle-lined shores. As you cruise across the iconic Panama Canal, you’ll glide past enormous cargo ships and ocean liners, sharing the lake with vessels from around the world. Your expert local guide will take you off the main canal route and into the hidden backwaters and narrow inlets where the jungle comes alive. Keep your camera ready for capuchin monkeys, tamarin monkeys howler monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans, crocodiles, and even basilisk lizards that run across the water. The boat ride offers both awe-inspiring views and rare up-close encounters with Panama’s diverse wildlife.
Panama Canal
Our destination is Gatun Lake, where we will cruise around islands created during the canal construction and see the abundant wildlife on its shores. We will visit the famous Monkey Islands where we can see capuchins, howlers, and tamarins up close in their natural habitat. Once we finish with our canal and lake boat ride.
What‘s Included
Boat Ride included on the price
Bottled water
Pick up and Drop Off
Binoculars
English speaking Nature Guide
Brunch
Gratuities
Not a transit tour and Doesn't include any locks visitors center.
Pick Up from Playa Bonita Hotels need to pay extra $10 per person for Roundtrip Transportation
No pick up or drop off at the Airport or Airport Hotels
Playa Blanca, or Rio Hato, Metromall, Arraijan or Tocumen Airport need to arrange own transportation
Extra passenger - Minimum age to participate is 3 years
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Morning Tour
Pickup included
PRIVATE OPTION
Breakfast or Lunch, WATER
Roundtrip Transportation
Private Tour
Pickup included
Afternoon Tour
1:30pm : Enjoy the afternoon Panama Canal boat ride with a visit to the Monkey Islands
Pickup included
Reviews
679 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Afternoon Monkey Island, Daniel was a great tour guide!
katherine C,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience, Daniel was our tour guide, very informative and very passionate about the canal history as well as the animas. saw 3 types of monkeys. 2 iguanas, a few birds I’ve forgotten the name of, On the way back our driver spotted a sloth and pulled over so we could all see him and take pictures! Ended with a nice meal in Casco Viejo, so we just stayed there and got to walk around afterward. Thumbs up all around.
This is a must excursion...
Samuel N,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a must excursion if you are new to Panama. The boat ride, natural habitats and guide narration were excellent. Dinner at the El National was simply amazing. Johnathan and his driver were on time with the pickup and Johnathan was so knowledgeable of history, nature and the canal. Johnathan his bilingual and and excellent tour guide. We would definitely take this excursion again
Highlight of our stay in Panama
Karrie B,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Highlight of our trip to Panama city! The tour has so many elements: pick up and drop off, history of Panama, the canal, boating Gatun Lake, jungle edge, wildlife sightings, Casco viejo, tasty authentic brunch. Excellent communication. Highly recommend John as your tour guide
Awesome
dwainettew,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was worth every penny, the guide was super knowledgeable, the pick up very prompt , we had time to use the bathroom after the boat ride , we saw alot of wildlife monkies, birds ....... The brunch was amazing the presentation and location was incredible right in front of the cathedral. Food was very tasty!!! My family and i would certainly do again.
Mixed Feelings.... but can't recommend due to decisions made on behalf of safety & health of participants
Brenda Y,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Pros: knowledge guide, lots of local recommendations and provided rain ponchos for the boat ride Cons: boat ride was in rain WITHOUT the canopy to provide any protection. We were told it couldn't go under the bridge (while every other boats were managing it). Also told it was too much work to raise it. When pulled up along other boats to see wildlife, individuals in the other boats were astonished to see us without ANY canopy covering in the nonstop rain. We had individuals in their 70's who likely ended up sick from the experience! Just really question the decisions made by the staff on behalf of the participants.
John and the Monkey Tour
patrick m,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00John was our tour guide and his knowledge of the areas that we were to see and his experience with the Panama history was wonderful. He spoke very well, clearly and offered some fun with his comments. Out trip was hampered somewhat by a rainy day, but John and our boat navigator were persistent and found us wildlife to see. John expressed excellent ability to identify a variety of like in this rain forest area. The meal was a Panamanian treat. This certainly is a super adventure that many should experience. Thank - you, John!
Recommended
Torontasha,,Jan 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was well organized, we saw a lot of new interesting things: animals, birds. The canal was impressive. We would recommend to everyone
Water, monkeys and birds, oh my!
Rhonda M,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was a great bargain. It ran on time and the travel was very comfortable. We saw so much on the boat ride and they really helped us spot all the wildlife. The meal in Casca Viejo to end the foot was a bonus. Our guide, Daniel, was very informative.
Canal and boat trip
Art B,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Nice trip and our guide shared a wealth of information I didn’t know. Nice boat ride being on the canal and the monkey islands were great to see such thriving wildlife. The Panama meal in old town was the highest quality for any excursion I’ve been on😎
Wild Life at its best!
8mdwcg99gy,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour guide was very knowledgeable. He was the best, he pointed out a lot of attractions and gave us time to take pictures.
From US$60.00
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Operated by Panama Day Trips