Private Tour

Old Canal zone tour (Miraflores Locks, former bases, and Museum)

Overview

Available languages

Portuguese

English

Spanish

Mobile ticket

The former Canal Zone tour starts from your hotel and takes you to the Miraflores Locks, where we will spend an hour. You can visit the exhibition room between the observation decks to learn about the history and see the boats pass through the second-largest locks in the Panama Canal. After that, we will head to the former base of Clayton, which dates back to 1919 and housed more than 20,000 people, including civilians and soldiers. Then, we will drive to Corozal, an old town in the Canal Zone, where we can visit the American military cemetery and the train station, which was the first transoceanic railway in the world. After that, we will travel to the first American airfield in Albrook, where we will learn more about the history of the place. Finally, we will visit the old town of Balboa, where we can see the Panama Canal Administration Building, and end the tour at the Amador Causeway.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Miraflores Visitor Center entry 17.22 dollars per person Must be paid to the on-site to the staff

Canal Museum 15 dollars entry Must be paid on site to the staff

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Bottled water

Air-conditioned vehicle

Miraflores Visitor Center entry to be paid on site to the canal staff

Canal Museum to be paid on site to the canal Museum staff

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Museo del Canal Interoceanico de Panama

We begin this tour by traveling through time going through everything that happened in the canal from the French to the conclusion of the canal by the Americans and all the nations that gave their contribution to this work that changed the maritime world since then.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Panama Canal

The former base of Clayton date from 1919 and housed more than 20 thousand people, civilians, and soldiers, after we drive to Corozal an old town in the canal zone where we find the American military cemetery following the train station the first interoceanic railway in the world after traveling to the first American air force station in Panama Albrook where we will remember much of the history of the area and finally the old town of balboa where we find the Panama canal administration building and finally the Amador causeway

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Former Panama Canal zone tour (military bases, museums and more)

Pickup included

Private and exclusive Combo

Private : An exclusive and customize experience
Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

7 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

A MUST DO!
connortK3031CB,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Alex and Jorge were incredible! They were so knowledgeable, punctual, and friendly. There was so much history, and they make sure to take care of you along the way to make the trip as comfortable as possible. Thank you for an amazing tour!
Atlantic side with gatun, military bases, and cologne
E7485PUchrisy,
Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Roderick was excellent. He allowed us to go back to our memories of colon and the military bases I last saw 50 years ago. It was very informational
Unique Tour of Panama Canal
DoreenHi,
Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We signed up for this tour to learn everything we could about the Panama Canal (particularly the history of building and operating) and it did not disappoint! Alex was a great guide sharing what life was like as we were touring all of the neighborhoods built by the military and canal logistics teams and what life is like today. Loved this tour as we got a sense of the culture of the people that made/make the Canal what it is today.
History and Culture of Panama Canal - 5 stars!
Doreen B,
Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great day with Alex touring Perico and Flamenco Island before launching into all things Panama Canal. We appreciated seeing all of the infrastructure and learning the history of what it took to build and run the canal before Panama took control of operations in 1999. Alex was a great guide and did a wonderful job explaining about the culture of Panama and US relations before US exited and how Panama is evolving today. Lots of history and great information. Highly recommend!
Very flexible, lots of interesting information and a great experience. Timing to see a ship transit the lock was perfect
Daniel G,
Mar 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A must for people passing through or staying in Panama City. Such history, such impressive construction. So easy to miss without a knowledgeable guide
Amazing memories
126lindaag,
Dec 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was amazing and Alex team was awesome, we were able to remember memories 47 years ago. The canal was an enjoyable experience
Great tour of the military history & canal
Leslie G,
Nov 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour with Archie. Our military family lived here 50+ years ago and one of us was born here. Archie went out of his way to show us the area and buildings where our family worked and hung out. He even drove us by the hospital where one of us was born. He would stop so we could take pictures to send back to family. Archie has good knowledge of the military history, how different cultures contributed the area, and the best spots to go. We even stopped by a street side fruit market and a grocery store that family shopped at when they lived here. Very special for us. Our family loved the pictures and seeing the changes. Archie timed the canal perfectly. We got to see a huge boat navigate through the canal. If you are coming back to Panama to understand the military history or see things you heard about from military family, this is the tour for you. I searched all over for a tour that would show us Howard, Albrook, the canal, and give us a sense of what life was like 50+ years ago as an American living here. Archie did exactly that. This is the only tour I could find that provided that type of experience. Thank you for a great day.