Panama Canal Wildlife Boat Safari & Panamanian 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‘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
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
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.
Options
Morning Tour
Pickup included
Afternoon Tour
1:30pm : Enjoy the afternoon Panama Canal boat ride with a visit to the Monkey Islands
Pickup included
PRIVATE OPTION
Breakfast or Lunch, WATER
Roundtrip Transportation
Private Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
643 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
This is the one
rhaake,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a group of 12. They picked us up right from the hotel and made it a really enjoyable day. The guide was pleasant and informative. The bus was nice. The boat ride to monkey islands was fun. And we ended up eating a wonderful meal in old town. Highly recommend.
Amazing Canal Experience!!
josiev421,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such an amazing tour! The tour guide was so knowledgeable and just an amazing guy. Saw tons of monkeys and a sloth and had an amazing trip on the Panama Canal! 10/10 would recommend!
Don't overthink, just book
calebk256,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was awesome! We saw the coolest parts of the canal, all kinds of animals including sloths and many kinds of monkeys. The tour guide was very good at teaching about the animals and history of the canal and was very accommodating. Highly recommend.
Awesome!
geovanr2025,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great and Fun! Excellent tour guide! Food was great and the experience was phenomenal! Will be visiting again soon without a doubt!
Panama Canal and Gatun Lake wildlife.
David L,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The service was great. Our guide John was very informative and patient. Highly recommended. The food was great and very accomodating to our taste, within the Panama cuisine experience.
10/10 experience
Kassie O,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was amazing! He was so informed and knowledgeable all while making jokes and making us feel comfortable and safe. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is visiting Panama City. This tour was also incredibly ethical and avoided causing harm to any of the wildlife. The food at the end of the tour in Panama City was delicious. 10/10 experience.
10/10 recommend
491auburna,
Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Seeing the islands full of different types of monkeys was such an amazing experience! Our tour guide Ernesto was the best. Super friendly and made us laugh and entertained through the whole experience.
A real adventure
Abouha,
Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ernesto the guide kept us up to date with pickup time . He and the driver took us over the Sentinel bridge so we could see a ship passing on the canal. They stopped to let us see a sloth and we we saw the 3 types of monkeys and a Crocodile. Then the “worst rain storm” he has ever had as a tour guide hit us , making the channel choppy and without visibility. The boat driver and the guide maintained calm . We looked like we had all taken a swim with our clothes on . It really was an adventure.
Nice afternoon trip
Meander571575,
Aug 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great time in the canal and spotting wild monkeys! Jordi our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the canal and city history as well as the wildlife
Great time. Went with my...
Jerred D,
Jul 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great time. Went with my son for his birthday and he had a blast. The boat was spacious and the people were friendly and the crew was great.
From $60.00
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Operated by Panama Day Trips