Panama Canal Boat Tour to Monkey Islands
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Unmatched Encounters with Wildlife and Nature :
Take a close look at Panama’s diverse wildlife. Find playful monkeys, exotic birds, crocodiles and other fascinating creatures in their natural habitats on Lake Gatun.
Our professional guides, fluent in English and Spanish, offer in-depth commentary on the history, ecology and importance of the Panama Canal and its surroundings.
Enjoy the ease of pick-up and return to your hotel, ensuring a hassle-free experience. Our comfortable boats are equipped with all the necessary safety measures.
Small Group Experience :
We offer small-group tours that offer personalized attention and a more intimate connection to the surroundings, enhancing wildlife viewing opportunities.
Appreciate three different species of monkeys, including capuchin monkeys, howlers and tamarins, plus crocodiles, iguanas and various exotic birds.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
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
Panama City
Pick up at the hotel lobby Free admission
Chagres River
Travelers will take a boat with their life jackets and a licensed captain to leave from the Chagres River for Gatun Lake. The Chagres River is the main tributary of the Panama Canal.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Meals
Tips
boat
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Monkey Tour + Sloth
Sanctuary of Perezos and others: Guided walk through the Sloth Sanctuary, butterfly and frog.
Does not include Ticket or Water Transportation
Duration: 7 hours
Pickup included
MonkeyTour + Coffee & Empanad
Visit the Gamboa Rainforest: Ideal for photography lovers of birds and other animals along Gatun Lake. $25 Water transportation not included
Coffee or soft drink: Have a coffee, tea or a drink with Empanada while overlooking the Chagres River at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort
Pickup included
Monkey Island + Panama Canal
Panama Canal Tour: Ideal for those who want to visit the Panama Canal and explore Lake Gatun for wildlife viewing
Duration: 6 hours: Visit of Miraflores Visitor Center and to sail the Gatun Lake
No Includes : Panama Canal Ticket ($17.22) and Boat Ride $25
Pickup included
Private Morning Tour & Coffee
Duration: 4 hours: Ideal for wildlife viewing or photography such as toucans, waterfowl, sloth alligators. $25 boat not included
Coffee Free: Drink a cup of coffee in the Gamboa reinforest Resort meanwhile enjoy one of the best views of Panama
Pickup included
Shared Regular Tour
Duration: 4 hours: Ideal for Sailing Gatun Lake, watching wildlife and dazzling scenery. $25 Jackpot not included
Pickup included
Monkey Island and Pipeline
Pipeline: Enjoy a hiking through the rainforest meanwhile spot wildlife
Duration: 7 hours
lunch: Enjoy a sandwich or empanada and soft drink
Pickup included
Reviews
19 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Natural magic.
679shulas,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Diener was a wonderful tour guide. From pick up to drop off he went out of his way to make sure we spotted wildlife well after the ‘official’ tour. Monkeys came down to greet us, the Gamboa hotel view was breathtaking. The butterfly, frog and sloth sanctuaries remarkable. Diener spotted more rare birds on our way back. It’s clear he loves sharing the beauty of Panama and that comes through so clearly. A beautiful and unforgettable experience.
Amazing
MENDEL K,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a very good experience and I would absolutely recommend it for anyone traveling with family
Excellent boat tour
Frank M,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We highly recommend this tour. Jose, our guide, was excellent, knowledgeable and helpful. Great experience!
Book it ! You Won’t Be Disappointed!!!
Chanelle T,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A Memorable Experience, Loved Every Moment of It. Our tour guy picked us up from our hotel and Gave us a very informative and detailed history breakdown of Panamá and the different areas of Panama, on the way to the monkey tour. We felt extremely safe the entire time.
Great trip! Very...
Maureen G,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great trip! Very worthwhile especially with Armando Cox as a guide!! He was very knowledgeable and spoke English fluently!!
A day to remember
Rhonda E,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was wonderful he made the experience very special. He was so knowledgeable about all of it. He really made it special for us. He goes above and beyond
Fun adventure to see...
jennifer w,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fun adventure to see nature and the ships in the canal. My your boat only had 3 guests which felt like a better experience than the boats that were packed full. Tour guide, Oscar, was fabulous!
Multiple last-minute...
Erich G,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Multiple last-minute changes to the pickup location (three different meeting points in total). The final change was sent only 1.5 hours before departure. We took an Uber to the last provided location, but no one was there and the mall was still closed. As a result, we were unable to join the tour, yet we were still charged the full amount and marked as a no-show. All communication is documented in the Viator message history. Very disappointing experience.
Best Tour in Panama
Gerd P,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What an amazing journey a must do when in Panama City! Oscar is the best tour guide ever such a great guide with a wealth of information. He knew so much about the history, people and city. He is also quite funny. We had the best time with so much to see and enjoy. The boat ride was exciting, safe and you get to see so much wildlife especially the monkeys. The canal and river was gorgeous. If you do any excursion this one is the one to do!
? Extra cost for boat ride?
David R,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Driver was prompt courteous and extremely informative on ride to and from Gatun Boat ramp. Boat ride was fun informative guide and showed us plenty of wildlife ( but no Sloth today):( Only thing that caught us off guard was driver asking for $25 each to pay for boat? Hope this was legit.
From US$74.78
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Panama All about