Panama Canal & Watershed Islands Combo Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Chagres River

  The Chagres River is the natural backbone of the Panama Canal system and one of the most important rivers in Panama’s history. Its waters were dammed to create Gatun Lake, which supplies the massive volume of freshwater needed to operate the canal’s locks and allows ships to cross the Isthmus of Panama. Controlled by the Gatun and Madden (Alajuela) Dams, the Chagres regulates water levels, prevents flooding, and ensures safe navigation. Within Gatun Lake, large ocean-going ships pass along marked navigation channels very close to the river’s original course, offering a unique sight where massive vessels move through what feels like a natural rainforest lake. Flowing through dense tropical forest, the Chagres also supports rich biodiversity and provides drinking water to Panama City and Colón, making it a vital link between global maritime trade, engineering, and nature in Panama.

  2 hours • Admission ticket included
• Parque Nacional Soberania (Pass by)

  Soberanía National Park is a protected tropical rainforest located along the eastern side of the Panama Canal and is one of the best places near Panama City to experience wildlife in its natural habitat. As we drive through this area, it is common to spot sloths, monkeys, toucans, iguanas, or other rainforest animals resting in the trees or crossing near the road. The park is also historically significant, as it surrounds the area of El Renacer Prison, the former military base where Manuel Noriega was incarcerated in his final years. This unique combination of rich biodiversity, canal history, and modern Panamanian heritage makes Soberanía National Park a fascinating place where nature and history coexist side by side.

  Admission ticket free
• Gamboa (Pass by)

  Gamboa Town is an amazing and historic place located at the junction of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal. One of its most iconic landmarks is the Titan Crane, a massive industrial crane built in Germany in 1914 and later sold to the Panama Canal authorities (Isthmian Canal Commission) for use during canal operations. While the exact sale price was never officially documented, historians estimate the crane cost around USD 150,000–200,000 at the time, a very high investment in the early 20th century, reflecting its advanced engineering and importance. Installed in Gamboa, the Titan Crane played a key role in canal maintenance and construction and today remains a powerful symbol of the canal’s industrial heritage.

  Admission ticket free
• 2
  Miraflores Visitor Center

  The Miraflores Visitor Center is one of the best places to understand how the Panama Canal works and why it is so important to global trade. Visitors can watch ships pass through the Miraflores Locks from observation decks while learning about the canal’s history, engineering, and daily operations through interactive exhibits. The experience is enhanced by the IMAX theater, which features a spectacular documentary filmed in high resolution that explains the canal’s construction, expansion, and worldwide impact. The entrance fee is USD 17.22 per adult and USD 7.22 per child, and tickets can be purchased using cash or a credit card, making it an essential and accessible stop for anyone visiting the Panama Canal.

  1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• (Pass by)

  Paraíso, Panama is a historic area located along the Culebra Cut (Gaillard Cut) of the Panama Canal. This is where the French Cemetery is located, the final resting place of many French engineers and workers who died during the first, unsuccessful attempt to build the canal in the late 19th century. The cemetery stands as a quiet memorial to the hardships, disease, and human cost faced by the French effort, particularly from yellow fever and malaria. Today, Paraíso is an important historical site that helps visitors understand the early sacrifices that paved the way for the eventual success of the Panama Canal.

  Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• This tour lasts approximately 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic conditions.
• We suggest bringing a poncho between July and December, as rain showers may occur during this period.
• As this is a shared tour, infants may sit on the lap of an adult.
• You can find food and refreshments at the Canal cafeteria at your own cost.
• Animals are observed in their natural habitat without affecting their natural behavior or environment.

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