On our Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Jungle & Monkey Tour you will have the experience of being inside the Panama Canal while immersing yourself in its intriguing history, the day-to-day operations and the abundant wildlife all around you, while being surrounded by lush rainforest. Gaze at the gigantic ships effortlessly passing us and listen for the distant monkey cries as we approach Monkey Island.

Get up close and personal with four different species of monkeys -the Mantled Howler Monkey, the White-Faced Capuchin Monkey, Geoffroy’s Tamarin Monkey, and the Lemurine Owl Monkey - as they climb on you and snatch food. Discover many other wild animals including crocodiles, toucans, sloths, iguanas, turtles, and numerous exotic birds.

Fort San Lorenzo

Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1980, Fuerte San Lorenzo is situated at the mouth of the Río Chagres on a promontory west of the Panama canal. Despite its violent history, much of the original San Lorenzo fort is well preserved, including its moat, cannons and vaulted chambers. The fort also commands stunning views of the river and bay far below, which was one of the strategic reasons why the Spanish chose establish here.

San Lorenzo was constructed of blocks of cut coral and armed with row upon row of cannons. If you inspect the cannons closely, you’ll notice that some of them are actually British-made, dating from the time in the 17th century when Sir Francis Drake and his privateer crew occupied the fort.

Agua Clara Locks

The Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Jungle & Monkey Tour visits the newly built Agua Clara locks. The observation center offers stunning panoramic views of the Panama Canal expansion, including the three-chambered Agua Clara Locks. From the covered decks visitors can view Lago Gatún as well as the original Gatún Locks; the visitor center also offers a theater with two videos in English, a cafe and gift shop. With no on-site museum, the main focus here is mainly about getting a good look at the Panama Canal expansion. Visitors can hike on a short rainforest trail which is home to sloths, howler monkeys and toucans.

TOUR OVERVIEW - Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Jungle & Monkey Tour

Our Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Jungle & Monkey tour begins between 6:30am and 7:00 am. Your personal guide and driver will meet you at your Panama City lodging (Please wait in the lobby of your lodging starting at 6:30am. We start our tour earlier than others to see more monkeys before their bellies are full from other visitors feeding them). As you commence the 40 minute drive, you will have the chance to see the old, colonial American neighborhoods, which served as homes for the Canal construction families and we will pass the famous Culebra Cut. As we arrive at the shores of Lake Gatun you will be greeted by the dense rainforest and all its intriguing sights and sounds.

We will embark with our boat into the Chagres River, which will lead us into the artificially created Gatun lake, which is a hotspot for biodiversity, giving you the chance to spot wildlife such as the coati, howler monkeys, squirrels and sloths, as well as beautiful birds like the toucan and parrots. Our path takes us mostly parallel to the Canal and into Soberanía National Park on our way to the Gamboa Public Docks, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal. A couple of minutes into the boat ride, we enter the Canal and take a quick ride past the Dredging Division's facilities and along the shipping lane (and past a large ship or three) toward the Monkey Island area. Needless to say, thanks to Panama’s abundant biodiversity, a bit of luck, and your boat captains’ uncannily sharp eyes will give you plenty more to look for, so keep that camera handy at all times.

As we land on the Monkey Island, listen for the different primate sounds and the rustling in the trees as monkeys jump amongst the branches. Prepare for monkeys to come up to you and inspect your clothes, hats and bags. Being surrounded by these magnificent creatures will be an unforgettable experience and give you many photo opportunities.

Our Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Jungle & Monkey tour continues to the Caribbean Coast of Panama to visit the newly opened Agua Clara Panama Canal locks located about 1 hour away.

Strolling through the Agua Clara visitor center, visitors can take their time and watch the gigantic ships passing through the locks below, watch an informational video, or hike on the nearby rainforest trail. Learn about how engineers were able to raise Gatun Lake, built new locks, and widened existing channels to accommodate the massive New Panamax ships.

For our last destination we will head to the 400 year old San Lorenzo Fort, overlooking the azure Caribbean ocean. Marvel in the rich history of the well preserved ruins as your guide explains the colorful events of pirate attacks of this well-preserved historic landmark.

At 3:30pm we return to Panama City and will arrive back at your hotel by 4:00pm.

TOUR SUMMARY - Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Jungle & Monkey Tour

• Tour (minimum 2 guests)
• Price - $119 per adult, $109 per child (until age 10)
• Duration - 9 hours
• Visit Monkey Island on Lake Gatun
• Agua Clara Panama Canal Locks
• Fort San Lorenzo
• Start time - 6:30 am - Everyday, except Mondays

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Pick-up and drop off at your Panama City lodging
• Well-maintained, air-conditioned car
• Bi-lingual guides (English/Spanish)
• Travel from Ocean to Ocean from Pacific to the Caribbean
• Wildlife boat tour in Panama Canal on Lake Gatun
• Visit Monkey Island
• Bottled drinking water

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Panama Canal Agua Clara Locks visitor center entranced fees ($10.80 per guest)
• Fort San Lorenzo entrance fees ($6 per guest)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off outside of Panama City (i.e. Playa Bonita, Costa del Este & Tocumen area. Please select option during checkout)

WHAT TO BRING

• Comfortable and adequate clothing to protect yourself from the sun and thus avoid the use of sunscreen. Creams (even biodegradable ones) are polluting and for that reason we do not promote their use
• Comfortable and safe footwear (sandals or water shoes)
• Sun glasses
• Camera
• Cap or hat
• A reusable bottle to fill with water during the day
• Cash for tips and souvenirs
• Don't forget to bring your smiles :)

Please Note:

• There are no ATMs in the area, vendors do not accept card payments either. Cash Only!
• ATTENTION LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS: Bookings made after 6:00pm for the following day are NOT guaranteed until we respond and explicitly confirm your tour itinerary. If your booking is not confirmed by one of our booking specialists, your tour will be scheduled for the subsequent day.

CANCELATION POLICY

Please read our Tour Cancelation Policy before booking.