Wildlife Boat Tour in the Panama Canal Lake
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover the wonder of the Panama Canal by booking your Lake Gatun navigation experience today! Embark on a unique adventure through the serene waters of this artificial lake, surrounded by lush tropical jungle and home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. From playful monkeys to majestic tropical birds, every moment of your journey will be an opportunity to marvel at Panama's natural beauty.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
boat tour
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Extra fee of US$30 per group if pick up is from Playa Bonita or airport zone
Tips
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Lake Gatun
Navigating Lake Gatun offers an exciting experience, providing a privileged view of one of the key components of the Panama Canal. Aboard specialized boats, participants explore the lush tropical jungle surrounding the lake, spotting a variety of wildlife such as monkeys, alligators, turtles, and birds. This artificial lake not only offers a stunning backdrop but also plays a crucial role in the canal's operation, serving as a freshwater reservoir that feeds the locks and facilitates the transit of ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Before heading back to the city, we will make a brief stop at Gamboa Rainforest Resort, where visitors will have the opportunity to purchase snacks and drinks to refresh themselves after the lake adventure.
Options
Wildlife Boat Tour in the Panama Canal Lake
Pickup included
Reviews
46 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great to see a part of...
Chester C,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great to see a part of the canal and some wildlife. Even during the rain our guide was able to find wildlife and explain a lot about the rainforest.
Super Trip Monkeys and crocodiles
Apokaly,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour with our Guide Gustavo was very well organized and very informative. We saw monkeys and a crocodile. The monkeys came onto the boat and ate out of our hands. It was a wonderful trip.
Fun tour with monkeys and a boat ride!
Cosmopolitan643940,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Fun boat tour on the lake in the Panama canal to see different kinds of monkeys! Also saw several large ships going through the lake. Our guide brought food so the monekys would come close to the boat.
Magical monkey 🐒 time
James W,
Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a completely magical experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and spoke English almost perfectly. But also help us to learn Spanish when we asked. I would recommend this tour and guide .
AWESOME
billsK2418BZ,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Bit overwhelming at the cruise terminal but people were very helpful. We disembarked somewhat early. Our guide Octovio was helpful and very knowledgeable. When we boarded at Gatun Lake we were the only ones on the boat which was excellent as the larger boats were packed. This resulted in us having excellent encounters with the monkeys while adjacent boats could only have the front row experience feeding them.
Very nice experience
paulina g,
Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00All excellent! We had a great time! The amazing attention, Octavio our driver gave us much more information
Amazing experience!!
pessiej2018,
Aug 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Luis was a fantastic guide! He picked us up from our hotel and along the way to the lake he explained much of the structures and neighborhoods to us. It was super interesting! While in the boat he offered to take pictures of us and made sure we had plenty of opportunities to see the different kinds of monkeys. He has a great personality and his English was amazing!! He answered all of our questions about everything and anything and the experience from beginning to end was EXCEPTIONAL!
Communication was timely...
Courtney W,
Jul 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Communication was timely and we we were promptly picked up from our hotel to embark on this tour. The tour guide Logan was friendly and accommodating- providing drinks and laughs throughout. We really enjoyed our boat tour and got to even feed some monkeys. I highly recommend this company for your next Panama tour!
Our tour with Kevin was...
Khadijah T,
Jul 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour with Kevin was great! He was very timely and knowledgeable. We were able to see different types of monkeys & fed them. Overall a great experience.
If I could give more than five stars, I absolutely would!
caltonj2025,
Jul 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My family and I had an unforgettable experience with Mr. Logan. He picked us up from our hotel in a clean, spacious vehicle, and from the very start, his warmth and professionalism set the tone for a fantastic day. Our first stop was a local grocery store where we picked up fresh fruit for the monkeys—and grabbed a few snacks for ourselves. During the scenic 40-minute drive to the Preserve, Mr. Logan pointed out various landmarks and shared insights about Panama, making the journey both informative and enjoyable. Once we arrived, we were quickly taken out to Lake Gatun, where we watched massive container ships pass through the Panama Canal—an incredible sight! Then came the most magical part of the day: we got to hand-feed monkeys as they jumped right onto our boat. My mom and sister were absolutely elated, and we were all smiling from ear to ear. We saw Capuchin and Tamarin monkeys up close, and even caught a glimpse of elusive howler monkeys. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our entire trip. On the way back, Mr. Logan went above and beyond by taking us to local souvenir shops where we found unique gifts at better prices than the downtown tourist spots. He also treated us to a surprise driving tour of Old Town (Casco Viejo), offering fresh insights—even though we had already done a walking tour there earlier in the week! To top it all off, he recommended a fantastic local lunch spot, El Bote PTY, and dropped us off there to wrap up the perfect day. All of these extra touches were done simply out of the kindness of his heart. When we return to Panama, there's no doubt—we’ll be booking with Mr. Logan again. Highly, highly recommended!
From US$75.00
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Operated by Jhaline Tours Panamá