Private Tour
Private Whale Watching Tour – 27ft Proline | Pearl Islands
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Join a private whale watching tour aboard our 27ft Proline between June and November, when humpback whales migrate over 5,000 miles from both hemispheres to Panama’s Pacific coast to breed and give birth. Depart from Flamenco Marina and cruise 1.5 hours to the Pearl Islands, one of the best spots to see these giants in calm tropical waters.
This private charter offers the chance to watch whales and enjoy fishing, snorkeling, and island hopping. Visit beaches and islands like Contadora, Mogo Mogo, Chapera, and Saboga. You may also spot dolphins, rays, and sea turtles.
The Proline is agile and compact, ideal for closer whale encounters. It features a shaded area, cushioned bow, marine stereo, freshwater rinse, and private bathroom. Includes fishing gear, snorkeling gear, drinks, and optional BBQ setup. A fast, flexible tour for wildlife lovers seeking a close-up experience in Panama’s marine paradise.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Dress code is smart casual
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Pearl Islands
Our whale watching tour takes us to the Pearl Islands archipelago, the main nesting area for the humpback whales that visit the Panamanian Pacific. We will respectfully follow the whales we encounter, having care of not disturbing them. As the vessel is quite maneuverable, we can approach them a lot while still maintaining the correct distance. As this is a private charter, your group gets to decide how long would you like to see the wales. There's also the possibility of doing snorkeling, fishing (all equipment onboard) and of course some island hopping (the archipelago offers beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters).
What‘s Included
Passenger's insurance
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Beverages (bottled water, juices, Gatorade, beers)
Use of snorkeling and professional fishing gear
Restroom on board
Certified and bilingual captain/guide and deckhand
Hotel pickup and drop-off (upon request for $20 p/p)
Additional BBQ catering service upon request (Vegan, Kosher available)
Options
Private Whale Watching Tour – 27ft Proline | Pearl Islands
Reviews
28 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing
858yairm,,Aug 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Miguel and Oscar were amazing from start to end, where they were tentative to the teens from the music to the whales through the food and snorkeling and everything in between
Whale watching in Las Perlas
Y9363QVsaram,,Jul 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great day with Miguel and Moises! We saw many whales and it was magical. We recommend and thank them.
One of a kind: Captain Miguel
BarakitAsmat,,Jul 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Miguel is one of a kind, was helpful, shared a lot of information about boats, whales and the ocean. Plus very professional and courteous. We saw whales, dolphins, manta rays and a sea snake. We had a great time.
carmenrO5954ST,,Jul 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolute magical day with gem charters! Easy booking, Profesional crew, impeccable vessel and whales everywhere. We added the bbq catering service which saved us logistic time and extended our enjoyment of the islands, fully recommended experience, a must in PANAMA
Great day on the water!
Angie J,,Aug 24, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great day for our family of four (2 adults, 2 older teens) with our two guides. We set off from Flemenco dock a bit after 7am - headed straight off shore about an hour towards the Pearl Islands. We spent the day exploring a few different islands (just the beaches) swimming, snorkeling and eating a yummy cooked-on-board BBQ lunch and cold drinks. It was laid back and friendly, and they followed our lead in terms of where to spend time. We saw dolphins and a whale on the wait out, and luckily tracked maybe 6 different whales for about 20 minutes just before turning back. It was amazing. Guides were knowledgeable and respectful, keeping their distance from the whales but letting us take our time to admire them! We did luck out with weather as it began to rain only as we arrived back to dock. Boat was clean and well stocked, very comfortable for what we needed. Highly recommend!
Amazing Time and Service
Paradise03105026598,,Sep 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is our second time using Gem Charters and we could not be happier. They are very organized and communicative. The captain and first made were professional, friendly, and genuinely wanted us to have a great time. We will definitely use them again.
Do not think twice - just book and go! The best day of our whole trip!
Jodi D,,Oct 27, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an experience like no other we have ever had! Gem Charters was easy to deal with and had our best wishes in mind every step of the way. We had originally booked a date early in our holiday. That particular date ended up being very very windy. We were picked up at our hotel and taken to the marina to chat with Eddie and Miguel were supposed to be our guide and captain that day. They explained that due to a storm that had come through the previous day, that the ocean was very rough, and even though it was still within safety limits, they recommended for our experience to reschedule. We took their advice and rescheduled for later in the week. We were shuttled back to our hotel. On the day of our rescheduled tour, Eddie was not able to join us and Miguel. A lovely young man named Jose did instead. We were once again picked up and taken to the marina. We had arranged for a light breakfast to be served as part of our charter. We were able to make use of the stereo and enjoy the ride over to the Pearl Islands. Miguel shared some information about the ocean, the canal and his experiences along the way. He stopped at a drift line and dropped a couple of lines in the water while we made our way to the Pearl Islands. We didn't catch anything at the first stop, but at our second fishing stop, we most certainly did! We caught a 50lb Crevally Jack. Jose and Miguel both stated that it was very rare to see one that big and were also posing for pictures with the fish. Jose filleted it for us and we had some fresh sashimi as part of our bbq lunch. It was delicious! We stopped at several sandbars/islands that were only visible at that time of day due to the tide being out. We were able to snorkel and walk on the sand bars. While snorkeling, we saw blue starfish, octupus, a sting ray, and tons of reef fish. The water was so warm and clear. We stopped at another island where we were able to explore while Miguel and Jose bbq'd lunch for us. While we were having lunch, we were commenting that we hadn't yet seen a whale. We knew it was late in the migration, so it was a possibility that we wouldn't see one. At the same time we were commenting about the whales, Jose called out 'WHALE!!!' just in time for us all to see a juvenile humpback breach not far from where we were anchored. We watched the whale move off through the channel. The food served was fantastic and plentiful. The sashimi was spectacular! The remaining of the fish was taken home by our captain and mate making sure that the whole fish was going to be enjoyed. (50lbs is a lot of fish to eat!!) On our traverse back, Miguel had to navigate between 2 different storm systems and choppy waters to make it back safely. I was super impressed with his skills and confidence. He communicated with us and warned us about our ride back being a little 'bouncy'. He was so good at knowing the waters and the skies that we managed to make our way through some scary looking skies without getting wet from the rain, and the ride was a lot of fun. We did choose to skip snorkel number 2 in order to get back before getting caught in the storms. I always felt safe and never doubted Miguel at all. This was the highlight of our trip for sure! The scenery, the fun, the relaxation, the fishing and the tour was perfect! There were 3 of us on this charter... and worth every single penny!!
A spectacular day!
Sharon G,,Aug 27, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a dream day!! I went with my family and two nephews fishing (excellent) and we took food out of the whole week!! We had a great time!!
Super! Fun! Trip!
robertaT207FM,,Aug 22, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a great day! We saw whales and more whales, beautiful islands and had an amazing time. Captain Miguel was knowledgeable and easy going. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen. I did. It hurts.
Worth every penny
noelkT,,Aug 17, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was beyond anything we ever expected from this tour. The islands, the whales , the food was an amazing experience- we would never forget.
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