Short Panama Canal Tour: Miraflores Locks & IMAX - Afternoon
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
We begin the tour by picking you up from your city hotel at approximately 3:20 PM, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free start to the experience. From there, we head directly to the Panama Canal Miraflores Visitor Center, one of the country’s most iconic landmarks.
This visit is scheduled so that 100% you will see ships, including massive vessels passing through the locks just meters away, some of which pay over USD 120,000 to transit the Panama Canal, underscoring its vital role in global trade.
You’ll have time to explore the observation decks and learn how the locks operate, as well as the history behind this world-famous engineering marvel. Before the movie, you can relax at the visitor center’s cafeteria and enjoy refreshments with Canal views.
The experience concludes with the impressive IMAX movie, bringing the story and impact of the Panama Canal vividly to life.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
No Pet Allowed
No pickups offered from Playa Bonita. Only from Panama City area
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Miraflores Visitor Center
Miraflores Locks is one of the best places to understand how the Panama Canal works. On the Pacific side, visitors can watch ships being raised or lowered through the original lock system using freshwater from Gatun Lake and gravity alone. From the observation decks, guests see vessels pass just meters away while learning about canal operations through exhibits. The visit includes the IMAX Theater, featuring a high-definition film narrated by Morgan Freeman that explains the canal’s history, engineering, global importance, and the expansion with the new locks, creating a complete and engaging experience.
The former Clayton Military Base is a historic area that once served as a key U.S. Army installation in the Panama Canal Zone. Today, it has been transformed into a peaceful, green district known for its wide roads, tropical forest surroundings, and well-preserved military-era buildings. The area is now home to embassies, government offices, and Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge), an international hub for education, research, and innovation, offering a clear contrast between Panama’s canal-era history and its modern development.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Knowledgeable Guide
Miraflores Panama Canal Entrance Fees ($17.22 adult & $7.22 child)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Group Tour from city hotel
Pickup included
From City Hotel/ AirBnB
Pickup Time at 3:20 PM: Please be 10 minutes before your pickup time at the lobby to avoid missing your tour. NOT from Playa Bonita
Pickup included
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Raphael was very...
Zacc R,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Raphael was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout the tour. Pick-up and drop-off was easy. Raphael made sure we knew when the ships were coming through the canal at Miraflores Center and where and when to line up for the IMax show. His presentation about Panama was very informative also. And when he found our friend's cash laying in the van afterwards, he contacted us to return it to them. Highly recommend this tour.
Good tour, fascinating...
Dean P,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Good tour, fascinating learning about the Canal and watching the locks in action. Admission and IMAX fees were disclosed, but pricey when factoring in the tour / transportation costs.
Do not need VIATOR for this
Shashij S,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00Tour was good, but it make you wonder why you have to pay Viator for transportation only. You have to buy tickets for Mira locks and IMAX theater. You could ask any taxi (for $5) to take you there.
Good trip
Andrew S,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a good trip guide was great it next time I’d just take an uber to the viewing platform as we didn’t really have as long as I would have liked messing about picking people up was a pain
Excellent
Samantha W,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was excellent!!! Our tour guides were absolutely 100% amazing and I will definitely book with them again
Unforgettable Urban Sloth Encounter with Edwin
enriquevC161SM,Jun 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing experience! The Sloth Tour in Panama’s urban area was short, beautiful, and incredibly rewarding. We spotted several sloths in their natural habitat right in the city; such a unique and unforgettable sight. Our guide, Edwin, was fantastic, knowledgeable, friendly, and truly passionate about the wildlife.
Excellent Sloth Tour in Panama
L8771SGevelyna,May 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A unique experience in the city. We could see sloths in their natural habitat without leaving the urban area. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Perfect for families and nature lovers.
Sloths Tour in Panama
ausebioa,May 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience! We got to see sloths up close in their natural urban habitat—something truly unique in the heart of Panama City. The guide was knowledgeable and made the tour both fun and educational.
Interesting tour if you're an animal lover
Deirdreanne64,May 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent and different tour. Rafael was very knowledgeable about the area and where the sloths were hiding. We also saw lizards in the wilderness. Great day!
City to Jungle experience with great guide!
Lauren I,Apr 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We were picked up on time in a clean, cool van by our guide Rafael who already knew our family by name and is fluent in English. The tour kicked off with an introduction to the history of Panama and a stop-off on the side of the road to spot our first sloth. As we made our way to Gatun lake, we learned the past and future of the Canal. We saw three types of monkeys, several sloths, many water birds and a black iguana. A great time was had by all, ages 8 to 70. Rafael took great pictures that he shared with us via what's app. We plan to return to Panama and would definitely tour with this company and Rafael again!
-43% off
From US$25.65Was US$45.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by R&E Transfer Panama