Panama Canal Full-Day Tour: Explore Marvelous Engineering and Iconic Landmarks
5.0
13 Ratings
Panama City
Embark on a full-day adventure through the marvels of the Panama Canal. Witness the engineering feat of the locks and explore iconic landmarks. Book now!
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Miraflores Visitor Center - We will go to the Miraflores Visitors Center where we will have the opportunity to see the 45-minute documentary about the Panama Canal, narrated by Morgan Freeman at the Imax theater, we will learn about the history and operation of this important and imposing construction and of course see the huge ships passing through the Miraflores locks.

This time includes the transfer to the Miraflores Locks.

  • Pedro Miguel Locks - From the Miraflores Locks we arrive at the Pedro Miguel Locks, this is the smallest lock built and very important since it levels the ships at the level of the snake cut, which is the most dangerous and complicated part of the transit of ships.

The time includes the transfer until you reach the Pedro Miguel Locks.

  • Puente Centenario - From the Pedro Miguel Locks we continue to the Centennial Bridge that crosses the Culebra Cut and we will be able to have an aerial view of the Panama Canal.
  • Colon - We arrive in the province of Colón and if you like we can make a brief stop at the renowned and historic Colón Bakery, this bakery sells the best meat cakes and plantain tarts (sweet ripe plantain cakes) in Colón, they also have other products such as: Bread Bon, Icing Glass (Irish Moss), among others…

The time includes the transfer to reach the City of Colón.

  • Parador Fotográfico | Colón 2000 - After having tried the famous plantinta (plantain tart) and patis, we went to the Parador Fotográfico de Colón 2000 where we can admire the Cruise Port and the Manzanillo International Port up close.

  • Centro de Visitantes de Agua Clara - We arrive at the new Agua Clara Visitors Center, where we will have the opportunity to see the Expanded Canal, here we will be able to see the largest ships that pass through the Panama Canal, the Neopanamax.
  • Puente Atlántico - We pass through the new Atlantic Bridge that crosses the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal and joins Costa Arriba and Costa Abajo de Colón.

This bridge holds the world record as the four-lane concrete cable-stayed bridge with the longest visible span at 530 meters.

  • Gatun Dam - We cross the bridge and arrive at the Gatun Dam, which is extremely important for the operation of the Panama Canal. At the time it was built, it was the largest dam in the world next to the artificial Gatun Lake.

This time includes the transfer to the Gatun Dam

  • Panama City - We headed back to the city.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Bottled water
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Miraflores Visitors Center non-residents adults $17.22 minors $7.22. Residents $3 and $1.50
  • Agua Clara Visitors Center non-residents adults $10 minors $5. Residents $3 and $1.50
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Join us on an unforgettable full-day adventure through the marvelous engineering of the Panama Canal!

We take you to the heart of the Canal, where you can witness the complete process of the ships passing through the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and expanded Agua Clara locks.

You will be amazed to see how these gigantic boats are raised and lowered to navigate the difference in water levels!

Additionally, we will go to emblematic places such as:

  • Centennial Bridge and Atlantic Bridge,

  • The Gatún Dam and the Colón 2000 Cruise Port where with a lot of luck and depending on the season we will be able to see the beautiful cruise ships that arrive at the port.

This tour is private, giving you personalized attention and flexibility for a better experience.

We offer pickup options for Panama City and Tocumen Airport.

Experience one of the most fascinating places in the world with us! We accept reservations from one person.

Location
Miraflores Visitor Center
East Side of the Miraflores Locks
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(13 Ratings)
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Wendy_k
Apr 4, 2024
Panama Canal Coast to Coast done expertly - To be able to learn the history of the Panama Canal as well as the people of Panama from such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable person such as Mario made the day seem like an hour. There is so much more to learn and I have so many pictures I post but I think you just need to go see for your self. The people of Panama should be very proud of their accomplishments. The inner workings of the Panama Canal is amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Lynn_s
Mar 26, 2024
Best Panama Canal Tour! - Mario is just fantastic! He is so engaging and knowledgeable. We would gladly go on a tour with him anytime! We highly recommend this tour to learn and see everything you can about the Panama Canal!
Review provided by Viator
Mobile18310139118
Jan 9, 2024
Mario is incredible! Fabulous tour of the canal. - We couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide. Mario was incredibly gracious and helpful. He is enthusiastic about Panama, the canal and speaks English. Mom and I were first time visitors and speak very little Spanish. We scheduled the tour for our first day and wish we could have had Mario with us for the remainder of our trip. The day was delightful. Mario sent several messages the day before we arrived, but our flight was delayed and my phone wasn’t receiving WhatsApp messages for some reason. We walked down to lobby 2 minutes late and immediately saw Mario. Poor Mario had arrived 20 minutes early and sent a message we did not see or respond to and I’m sure he was wondering if we were going to show. Despite this he was warm, welcoming and excited to show us the canal. Mario’s enthusiasm and genuine caring lasted the entire day. He went out of his way to answer questions and show us everything about the canal. We were happy to see more than the Miraflores lock. Mario also looked up details about the ships and their size as they passed through the canal. Thank you for an amazing, welcoming tour of Panama Canal and so much more. We will see you again, Mario!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Journey30379512237
Oct 13, 2023
Fantastic experience - Mario was amazing. Such a wonderful, fun and educational experience. I have done many tours across multiple countries and this was truly a top notch experience. I cannot wait to return and have Mario as our guide once again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Glenn_b
Oct 2, 2023
Cositas Panama Tour is the company to watch out for. - Mario, our tour guide was greatest. Two days before the tour, I received an email through viator from Mario looking forward to seeing us soon. Before booking, I compared 6 tours visiting Panama Canal. So far, this company stands out because it has the most detailed explanation of the tour and what to expect. The day prior, Mario got in touch with us via WhatsApp. What stands out regarding this WhatsApp message was Mario was kind enough to reach out, asking how we are doing, confirmed the tour for the next day, what time we'll meet and where and he also sent us his business card with the picture and plate number of the vehicle we'll be using. He asked about our preferred drinks and gave recommendations on where to visit in the area where we are staying. Of all the tours I have been to, this was the first time I have ever encountered such a great and unique service even before the tour started. It was personalized, which is great because it gave you confidence about the company and we were able to plan our morning. On the day of the tour, true to his word, Mario was not on time BUT ahead of time. We were on the road 2 mins before the actual tour should start. I didn't expect that it was only me and my friend going on the tour which made it feel like a private one. Mario knows what he is doing. He made sure me, and my friend are comfortable. Mind you, my friend speaks only Spanish and I only English. But Mario made sure that he would explain in both languages and not make one feel left out. The most challenging part was the timing of the ships passage through the canal. Mario made sure we did not waste any time. The ship was 2 hours late to pass through Gatun lock, but Mario took us to see Colon instead of waiting. We avoided the crowds in Miraflores because of Mario's proactiveness in prioritizing on getting the entrance and IMAX tickets when we passed by it earlier in the day. So, when we went back in the afternoon, we don't have to line up for ticket and saw another ship pass through. On top of it, Mario made sure we'd see the important events in the building of the Panama Canal. The quality of service, proactiveness, time management and friendliness were unremarkable to the point that we invited Mario to join us for dinner. It's not like other tours that would bring you to shops for commission or recommend a place for commission. It was like having our own private local friend touring us in Panama. He even took pictures of us on his phone and sent it to us through WhatsApp. He followed up on how we were doing the next day and the day of our departure. I have nothing but good words for this company. They just stated a year ago and they are really setting the bar on how a tour company should operate and treat their clients. I felt how proud Mario is of his country, Panama and how much he wanted to share and make sure we'll experience all the best Panama has to offer. Highly recommend this company.
Review provided by Viator
Terri_p
Sep 8, 2023
Highly recommended tour - Mario was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable at explaining the history of the Panama Canal and gave us tips on places to visit during our stay.
Review provided by Viator
Jaicr13
Aug 9, 2023
Amazing Day! - We had a fantastic day with Mario! He was so warm and engaging from the moment he picked us up at our hotel. His knowledge of the canal and its history is extensive and he explained everything in great detail. We had a great understanding of the operation of the canal and locks by the end of the day. If he couldn’t answer a question, he checked his resources for an answer. His enthusiasm for transmitting Panamanian culture and history was infectious. He was very accommodating to our desires as the tour unfolded, ensuring that we saw everything on the itinerary at optimal times. We felt very comfortable with him as he was so patient as we took pictures, made restroom stops and shopped for souvenirs. We never felt rushed but saw everything. We felt like we were leaving a family member when the tour ended and he dropped us at the hotel! He also sent us all the pictures he took as promised. I would highly recommended this tour to anyone who wants to see both ends of the canal and learn about different aspects of Panamanian culture along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael
Jun 5, 2023
Experience the Panama Canal, end to end with a local expert! - Mario is an excellent guide who takes you to both viewing sites of the locks, with a stop in Colón for a bite to eat at a local place with authentic flavor. Mario is highly knowledgeable and can help answer any questions you have about the Canal, its history, or even the ships passing through. He'll even help you with any questions you may have about your stay in Panama. I highly recommend this tour. It's an absolute MUST for your vacation in Panama!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martinakn4967nd
Jun 5, 2023
Amazing tour with Mario - We had a wonderful day with Mario. He is an excellent guide and a great person. We went to the Miraflores locks, got all information about the panama canal, it's function and history. We wanted to see a big ship in the locks - even if none was to see at Miraflores, he promised we will - and we did in Aqua Clara! We went through Colon, had a great lunch and we were able to gain many new impressions of panama. For us the highlight of the tour was Mario himself. He made the day very special for us as he is such a cheerful, positive person and you feel that he really loves his job. Thank you so much for this amazing tour, which was one of the highlights of our vacation :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Doingme1
Jun 4, 2023
Educational - The tour was very informative and educational. We learned a lot about the country and culture. Our guide was very good in answering our questions and providing water and beer. It was a great day
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 7 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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