Boat Tours in Panama City

Mostly known for the canal that intersects the country, Panama is much more than a convenient shipping shortcut.

This lesser-known Central American destination offers jungle explorations, centuries of history, rich indigenous cultures and picture-perfect beaches.

A boat tour from Panama City is an ideal way to experience all this place has to offer.

Here's all you need to know about boat tours, one of the most invigorating outdoor activities in Panama City.

What are the most popular boat tours in Panama City?

With the Panama Canal, jungle rivers and stretches of beaches, a boat trip in Panama City is an ideal way to explore this remote country.

Canal tours

Witness the engineering marvel that forever changed shipping and travel in the western hemisphere. Learn the history of the Panama Canal and the mechanical feats performed by its locks every day.

Travel through the two locks from the start of the canal to its end as you pass through rainforests, a national park and a man-made lake filled with islands.

Rainforest, Monkey Island and Lake Gatun tours

With the Panama Canal as your highway, access the Gamboa Rainforest, Soberania National Park, Lake Gatun and Monkey Island for a day of nature discovery.

Contemplate the breadth of a project that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans while scanning the treetops and waters for animal life.

Monkey Island was formed after the construction of the canal and Lake Gatun and hosts howler, capuchin and tamarin monkeys. The surrounding rainforest is home to capybaras, iguanas, sloths, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species.

Some tours visit the Sloth Rescue Center, where injured or orphaned sloths are rehabilitated for release into the wild.

If your tour stops at Soberania National Park, you may get a chance to take the aerial tramway through the jungle canopy for a treetop perspective.

San Blas Islands tours

The San Blas Island Archipelago consists of 378 islands, many of them uninhabited. The islands are an autonomous territory of the Kuna people.

From Panama City, travel through 3 hours of rugged jungle roads to reach the shore where boats are docked. The primitive roads have played a major role in keeping these islands a secret.

Make the most of the remote location by embarking on a 2- to 4-day tour. Sleep aboard a boat or in beachside cabanas after days of exploring the land and sea with a dose of culture from the welcoming Kuna people.

Taboga Island tours

Sitting in the Pacific, just off the coast of Panama City, is picturesque and historically significant Taboga Island.

Now a popular tourist destination, French painter Paul Gaugin once spent time on the island, and the second-oldest church in the new world is found here. Taboga was a common stop for Spanish explorers and even the pirate Captain Morgan.

Lake Bayano and cave tours

Venture toward the infamous Darien Gap to Lake Bayano,  At the far end of the lake are a series of caves carved out by an underground river.

Wander through pitch-black tunnels lit by your headlamps to a subterranean waterfall, rooms filled with rock formations and a bat cave.

How much do boat tours in Panama City cost

Canal tours cost from US$105 per person to US$245 per person, depending on group size and the duration of the trip. Tours focus on the canal but also combine elements of a rainforest tour.

All tours include round-trip transportation from Panama City. Higher-cost tours include lunch and unlimited soft drinks.

Rainforest, Monkey Island and Lake Gatun tours cost from US$65 per person to US$195 per person, depending on group size and whether the tour includes entry fees to parks and attractions.

San Blas Islands tours cost from US$390 per person to US$1790 per person for a 1- to 3-night excursion with full accommodation.

Higher-cost tours are private and provide higher-end lodging. There are additional costs of about US$160 per person for transportation from Panama City to the mainland starting point near the islands.

Taboga Island tours cost from US$95 per person to US$150 per person. Higher-cost tours include a visit to the Panama Canal. Lake Bayano and cave tours cost US$190 per person. Both types of tour include lunch and water or soft drinks.

Which places are seen/visited?

Panama Canal

One of the world’s most influential projects was creating a canal to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Opened in 1914, the canal made shipping and travel between the two oceans much faster.

A trip down the canal takes you under striking bridges and through the two locks while passing through the Central American jungle.

Gamboa Rainforest

Flanking the Panama Canal is the Gamboa Rainforest, home to the Embera tribe, many plant and animal species and research centers.

Soberania National Park protects almost 223 square kilometers of the rainforest. The aerial tramway here is an unforgettable way to get a bird’s-eye view of the jungle.

Lake Gatun

Lake Gatun is the largest lake in Panama and was formed during the construction of the Panama Canal.

The lake is dotted with islands, the most famous being Monkey Island, created after the area was flooded. They are prime habitats for monkeys, turtles, agoutis and countless bird species.

Taboga Island

Connected to the mainland by a causeway is idyllic Taboga Island, an easy escape from Panama City. The island is small enough to circle by boat on a day trip.

Enjoy a party atmosphere on the main beaches or escape to lesser-known locales like the Green Grotto or some of the island’s hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails.

The San Blas Islands

The beauty of this archipelago makes the 3-hour car journey from Panama City more than worthwhile.

Best done on a multi-day trip due to its location and size, a boat tour in the San Blas Islands takes you to paradisiacal stretches of white sand, pristine snorkeling spots and indigenous villages whose inhabitants maintain their ancient culture.

Lake Bayano

Second in size only to Lake Gatun, Lake Bayano is located in one of the least-visited areas on the planet.

The lake is best known for its caves. A tour to the lake and caves entails a 45-minute boat ride to the caves followed by a true spelunking experience.

Wading through chest-deep waters, access slot canyons, caverns draped with stalactites and breathtaking sights of sunlight peeking through cave walls. A trip to the lake and caves is sure to provide you with views of local wildlife like caimans and sloths.

How long does a boat trip last?

Boat trips from Panama City vary in duration, depending on your destination. Tours to the Panama Canal, Lake Gatun and the surrounding rainforests last from 4 to 6 hours. Trips to Taboga and other islands in the Gulf of Panama last around 6 hours.

All tours but those that travel to islands involve from 45 minutes to 3 hours of road travel time to reach the embarkation point.

Where do boat tours leave from?

Boat tours that pass through the Panama Canal or to the San Blas islands start with pickup at Panama City hotels. For ocean tours in the Gulf of Panama, most tours meet up at marinas near the cruise port.  

When is the best time for a boat trip in Panama City?

Panama City’s tropical location makes most times of the year great for a boat trip. Avoid the rainy season by booking a boat tour from December through April.

Which other water activities can be done in Panama City?

• Kayaking
• Whale watching
• Surf lessons
• Stand up paddleboarding
• Abseiling
• Rafting
• Scuba diving

Travel tips

• If you suffer from motion sickness, take medication 1 hour before your trip.
• Bring sun protection, drinking water and lunch if your tour does not include them.
• Pack swimwear and a change of clothing for tours that involve swimming or caving.
• Bring insect repellent.