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This tour requires minimum 2 Guests to operate. Solo travelers please inquire before booking.
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Isla Grande Panama Tour & Portobelo from Panama City
Escape the capital on a full-day Isla Grande Panama tour from Panama City. Visit Isla Linton, Isla Mamey and Isla Grande, cruise through the mangrove-lined Love Tunnel, enjoy opportunities to swim in Caribbean waters and explore historic Portobelo, Panama.
This Caribbean island-hopping adventure combines tropical islands, wildlife, beaches and colonial history in one memorable day trip from Panama City. Travel comfortably across the Isthmus of Panama from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast before continuing by boat between the islands.
Isla Grande & Portobelo Tour at a Glance
- Price: From US$118 per person; final pricing is shown during booking
- Departure: Panama City
- Start time: Approximately 7:00am; your pickup time will be confirmed
- Duration: Approximately 11 hours
- Tour type: Shared day tour
- Group requirement: At least 2 guests are required for the tour to operate; solo travelers should inquire before booking
- Stops: Isla Linton, Love Tunnel, Isla Mamey, Isla Grande and Portobelo
- Included: Standard Panama City pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transportation, English-speaking guide, boat transportation and bottled water
- Additional costs: Island entrance fees (currently US$11 per person, payable in cash), lunch, other beverages and any applicable pickup supplements
Table of Contents
- Isla Grande & Portobelo Tour at a Glance
- Isla Grande Panama Tour from Panama City
- Isla Linton Wildlife Stop
- Love Tunnel Mangrove Boat Ride
- Isla Mamey Panama – Beach & Snorkeling
- Isla Grande Panama – Beach & Island Visit
- Portobelo Panama Forts & Colonial History
- What’s Included
- What’s Not Included
- What to Bring
- Important Tour Information
- Explore Panama’s Caribbean Coast
- Cancellation Policy
Isla Grande Panama Tour from Panama City
Your adventure begins at approximately 7:00am with pickup from your lodging within the standard pickup zone in Panama City. Travel with an English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned vehicle as you cross the Isthmus of Panama from the Pacific side to the Caribbean coast.
After arriving at the coast, you will board a local boat and begin your island-hopping journey through the tropical waters of Colón Province.
Isla Linton Wildlife Stop
One of your island stops is Isla Linton, a forested Caribbean island known for its resident monkeys and dense tropical vegetation.
Depending on conditions and wildlife activity, you may be able to observe monkeys from the boat. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. Follow your guide’s instructions and avoid feeding or touching wild animals.
Love Tunnel Mangrove Boat Ride
Continue by boat into the famous Love Tunnel, a narrow mangrove passage surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.
Dense mangroves surround the winding natural channels, creating one of the most atmospheric parts of the trip. Look and listen for birds and other wildlife as your boat passes through the vegetation.
Depending on water and weather conditions, there may also be an opportunity to stop and enjoy the warm Caribbean water.
Isla Mamey Panama – Beach & Snorkeling
Visit Isla Mamey Panama, known for its broad sandy beach, palm trees and clear Caribbean water.
Swimming and snorkeling may be possible when sea conditions and visibility allow. Ask us about snorkeling equipment availability before booking. You can also simply relax under the palms, enjoy the beach and take in the quieter atmosphere of Panama’s Caribbean coast.
Isla Mamey is one of the highlights of this Caribbean island hopping tour from Panama City and offers a beautiful contrast to the urban skyline you left behind earlier in the morning.
Isla Grande Panama – Beach & Island Visit
A short boat ride brings you to Isla Grande Panama, one of the best-known island destinations along the Caribbean coast.
The island is characterized by palm-fringed beaches, colorful homes and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere. There are no conventional roads across much of the island, contributing to its relaxed feel.
You will have time to enjoy the beach, swim, relax and have lunch at one of the local oceanfront restaurants. Fresh seafood, plantains and other Caribbean-style dishes are commonly available.
If you are planning more travel around the country, see our complete guide to Panama tours and things to do.
Portobelo Panama Forts & Colonial History
The tour also visits historic Portobelo, Panama, once one of the most important Caribbean ports in the Spanish colonial trading system.
Founded in 1597, Portobelo became a major Atlantic terminal for trade crossing the Isthmus of Panama. Its strategic importance led to the construction of extensive defensive fortifications around the bay.
Today, the historic fortifications of Portobelo form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo–San Lorenzo.
Your guide will show you some of the surviving fortifications and explain the town’s role in Panama’s colonial history. The order of the island and mainland stops may vary with conditions and tour logistics.
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off from lodging within the standard Panama City pickup zone
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide
- Boat transportation
- Visit to Isla Linton
- Boat trip through the Love Tunnel mangroves
- Visit to Isla Mamey
- Visit to Isla Grande
- Visit to historic Portobelo and its fortifications
- Bottled water
What's Not Included
- Island entrance fees – currently $11 per person, paid in cash to the boat operator
- Lunch and beverages other than the included bottled water
- Optional gratuities
- Pickup from areas outside the standard Panama City pickup zone unless selected during booking
Pickup supplements are currently US$10 per person for Costa del Este, US$15 per person for Playa Bonita and US$35 per person for Tocumen International Airport. Select the applicable option during booking; final charges are shown before payment.
What to Bring
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Comfortable sandals or water shoes
- Lightweight clothing suitable for tropical weather
- Hat or cap
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera or phone
- Cash for entrance fees, lunch, souvenirs and gratuities
We encourage guests to use sun-protective clothing such as rash guards and lightweight long-sleeved shirts whenever possible.
Important Tour Information
Minimum participation: This tour requires a minimum of 2 guests to operate. Solo travelers should contact us before booking so we can confirm whether an existing departure is available.
Last-minute bookings: Reservations made after 6:00pm for the following day are not guaranteed until explicitly confirmed by Tao Travel 365. If we are unable to confirm the requested departure, we will contact you regarding alternatives.
Weather and sea conditions: The itinerary may be adjusted when necessary due to weather, ocean conditions, safety considerations or operational circumstances. Your guide and boat operator will determine the safest route on the day of the tour. Swimming and snorkeling depend on suitable conditions, and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Explore Panama’s Caribbean Coast
From the monkeys of Isla Linton and the mangroves of the Love Tunnel to the beaches of Isla Mamey, the relaxed atmosphere of Isla Grande and the historic fortifications of Portobelo, this tour brings together some of the best experiences on Panama’s Caribbean coast in a single day.
Book your Isla Grande Panama tour from Panama City and experience a completely different side of the country on this Caribbean island-hopping adventure.
Tour Cancelation Policy
Please read our Tour Cancelation Policy before booking.
TOUR CANCELATION POLICY
Tao Travel 365 strives to deliver the best possible customer experience. If at any point you have a question or concern about our service, please call us at +1 (805) 826-3657 or email us at sales@taotravel365.tours.
The following cancellation policy applies only to day tours and does not apply to multi-day tours.
TOUR POLICIES
Due to the nature of our business, the logistics involved in organizing tours and high reservation demand, the following refund policies apply:
- A 100% refund, less credit-card processing fees, will only be granted when the tour was booked directly through www.taotravel365.tours and the cancellation is received more than 24 hours before the scheduled start of the tour.
- No refund will be granted for cancellations received less than 24 hours before the scheduled start of the tour.
All sales are final.
For bookings made through third-party platforms, including but not limited to Viator, Expedia and Airbnb, please refer to and follow the cancellation policy of the platform through which you booked.
If you are unable to attend your reservation, contact us as soon as possible. We will try to reschedule your reservation for the same tour or another tour when possible.
If you are not at the designated meeting point at the scheduled reservation or pickup time, Tao Travel 365 reserves the right not to provide a refund. However, we will always make a reasonable effort to locate you at the meeting point and contact the WhatsApp number provided with your reservation. We want you to participate in the tour and enjoy your experience.
CANCELED OR POSTPONED TOURS
Occasionally, tours may be canceled or postponed because of weather or ocean conditions, mechanical failure or other unforeseen circumstances. If this occurs, we will attempt to contact you and provide information about the applicable refund or rescheduling options.
For specific instructions regarding a canceled or postponed tour, please contact us. If Tao Travel 365 cancels your tour, we will issue a refund or offer to reschedule you for another tour, as detailed below.
REFUNDS
All sales are final. Refunds are not available unless a tour is canceled or postponed by Tao Travel 365, or we receive a cancellation request more than 24 hours before the scheduled start of an eligible day tour.
For eligible cancellations received more than 24 hours in advance, a 100% refund of the tour price will be issued, less payment-processing and convenience fees. If Tao Travel 365 cancels or postpones a tour, we will refund the amount paid for the affected tour. Service, payment-processing and convenience fees are nonrefundable.
To request a refund for a canceled or postponed tour, email sales@taotravel365.tours within two days of the tour cancellation and include the word “Refund” in the subject line. We will provide instructions for completing your request.
TOUR EXCHANGES
Tao Travel 365 does not ordinarily offer tour exchanges. In certain exceptional circumstances, such as a cancellation by Tao Travel 365, we may offer an exchange or rescheduling option. Availability is not guaranteed, and additional fees may apply.
To inquire about an exchange, call us at +1 (805) 826-3657 or email sales@taotravel365.tours.
Reviews
EXCELLENT
1168 reviews
Posted on Google
Malik DavisJune 29, 2024
This was the most authentic, Genuine and fun tour experience we ever had! Ali was an amazing guide that made us feel like we were at home and kept us laughing the entire trip! I would recommend him a million times over!Posted on Google
Jelisa FieldsJune 29, 2024I absolutely loved this tour! Ali was so amazing and personable. Besides the scenery, he is one of the main reasons we had such a great time. I felt super safe the entire time, and I would highly recommend that anyone doing the Portobelo tour to request him specifically. You will learn the history of the area and have an experience you wont forget!Posted on Google
Alice Lekesha CoverleyMay 24, 2024I enjoyed my tour. Ali was friendly, informative and a joy to be around. This was an experience I will always remember and would recommend it to visiting Panama!Posted on Google
Audi.2506 C.PMay 23, 2024Fue una experiencia inolvidable desde la llegada de Allí el conductor con muy buen sentido del humor, señalando nos todos los lugares importantes, al llegar al poblado de igual forma el guía Alberto con gran experiencia y muy amable, estamos muy agradecidos por elegirlosPosted on Google
Dave DartMay 13, 2024What a truly amazing experience! Mario was incredibly friendly and told us about the national parks as we drove through/near them (Parque Nacional Camino de Cruces, Parque Nacional Soberanía, and Parque Nacional Chagres). We made great time from Panama City to the outskirts of Colon, then turned up the coast and went to Portobelo. On many tours, the drive is boring and just a necessary means to an end. But this drive was spectacular. In Portobelo Mario gave us a tour of the two fortress ruins and told us about the history of the place. We then drove on to the pier at La Guaira where we met Captain Juan and set out on the beautiful Caribbean waters. First stop was Isla Mamay where we got up close with a howler monkey. Really cool! From there we motored over to Isla Linton and took a dip in the "natural swimming pool" formed by a break in the mangroves. Crystal clear calm water, small fish swimming around you, and beautiful soft sand. We played in the water for a while before moving on to tour the rest of the mangrove area. As we entered the natural tunnel where the tops of the mangroves and bushes grow together over the channel, we saw birds, a racoon, and a sloth enjoying siesta time. Shortly after that we arrived at a small island with shallow warm water, rocky/sandy beach, and a little bar serving cold beer and cocktails. Mario rounded up our reserved chairs and we enjoyed a super relaxing time in the shade of palm trees and refreshing water. After an hour or so Captain Juan took us to our lunch spot on Isla Grande. El Coral is an unassuming little restaurant run by friendly locals and serving some truly great Panamanian seafood specialties. Platanos stuffed with shrimp, fish, and spices for a starter (along with a frosty frozen margarita). Grilled fresh fish with garlic sauce and perfectly fried yucca fries for the main. So good! We then walked around the corner to Playa Isla Grande where we had reserved chairs in the shade and beautiful cool water on the soft sand beach. After a couple of hours we rinsed off and met Captain Juan for the ride back to port. Mario stopped a couple of times on the drive back for some great photo ops. The ride home was pretty quiet - because we were all exhausted after such a great day.Posted on Google
Mark DeNinnoApril 9, 2024What a great day, and Mario was just terrific. Drove us to the dock and we stopped and got a history lesson about Portobello. He was friendly and knowledgeable. A great tour guide. The boat captain did a great job we had a great time.Posted on Tripadvisor
HappyFamily43082April 1, 2024Verified
Private Tour Was Worth It We booked directly through TAO for a private tour with Mario. Mario provided excellent information and answered our questions about Panamanian life. Our first stop was to visit the monkey islands on Lake Gatum. We did not see any monkeys on the first few islands, but we were successful. My son was able to feed them from his hands with bananas provided by Mario. The other boats visiting the islands had up to 20 guests who were only able to watch a guide feed the monkeys; our experience was so much better! Next, we visited the Agua Clara Locks, which were very interesting. Compared the the Miraflores, the Locks are relatively uncrowded. After stopping at the main visitor center, Mario took us to another stop to see the old bridge. Unfortunately, Fort San Lorenzo was closed for Good Friday, but Mario was able to take us to the mouth of the Chagres River so that we could still see the fort from a distance. We were hungry by mid-day, and he stopped to let us buy snacks. This was a fun day away from Panama City.Posted on TripadvisorHappyFamily43082April 1, 2024Don't Miss Seeing the Caribbean We booked directly through TAO. Communication was efficient. We did not realize this would be a private tour. Our tour guide, Ana, was terrific. She's a proud Panamanian who loves to show off her beautiful country. She provided knowledgeable commentary throughout the tour. Her SUV was comfortable for four guests. Our first stop in Portobelo was limited as a movie was being filmed at one of the forts. The island stops were interesting. We brought snorkeling gear, although Isla Moray has a very shallow reef. Lunch on Isla Grande was good, but the pina coladas were excellent!Posted on Google
Trevor SeifriedMarch 31, 2024Did the Isla Grande Caribbean tour with Mario. Was quite fun, and well organized. Car ride was a bit long (~2 hours), but we knew that up front and Mario kept us very comfortable. Saw monkeys, sloths and the mangrove "Tunnel of Love" was beautiful. Also takes you a seemingly underappreciated, but very well preserved site where Panama's first economic fort was built (c/w the original cannons). Highly recommend.Posted on Google
Edwin CespedesMarch 18, 2024Desde el primer contacto por la pagina web, todo fue muy sencillo, rápido y profesional. Ya en Panamá muy puntuales y todo resulto en logística tal como se prometió. Pero la experiencia de convivir con los lugareños, su trato, amabilidad, transparencia, calidez, fue genial. El lugar espectacular, de hecho vamos a repetirlo, hemos contagiado a nuestros amigos marrando la experiencia.Load more
