Panama Canal: Day Trips and Tours from Panama City

The Panama Canal is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and for more than 100 years it has been the pathway between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. A day tour from Panama City to the Panama Canal is an unmissable opportunity

The Canal is an engineering marvel and its complexity and practicality still captivate visitors. It remains one of the most astonishing engineering feats as ships are raised almost 30 meters above sea- level and moved into an artificial body of water.

More than 20,000 workers lost their lives during the construction of the canal and it was hailed as an impossible project. It remains one of the most important trading routes in the world but it is also surrounded by protected rainforests teeming with life.

Here's everything you need to know about visiting the Panama Canal, one of the most popular destinations for day trips from Panama City.

How to get to the Panama Canal from Panama City?

The Panama Canal is an 82 kilometers waterway connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean. You can visit either the southern or the northern side of the canal to see the engineering marvel up close.

From Panama City to the Panama Canal by car

The southern side of the canal is at Miraflores Locks. It is in the west of Panama City, about 15 minutes from the city center. You can reach it by car if you drive along Route 852 in a north-westerly direction.

From Panama City to the Panama Canal by bus

It takes around an hour to reach the Panama Canal by public transport. You will take the L1-V2 train to Estación Albrook and walk to the Albrook - Bahia D bus stop. From there, take the C810 bus to Esclusas Miraflores and walk another 8 minutes to Miraflores Locks.

Guided tour to the Panama Canal from Panama City

The most convenient way to visit the Panama Canal is with a guided tour. These tours last around 5 hours and you can choose a private tour with hotel pickup as well as a group tour leaving from a central location.

How much does the entrance ticket to the Panama Canal cost?

Entrance to the Miraflores Locks Visitors Center at the Panama Canal is divided into 2 price categories: locals and non-residents.

Locals and residents

• Adults: PAB3 (US$3)
• Seniors: PAB1.50  (US$1.50)
• Students (12 to 17): PAB1.50 (US$1.50)
• Children (6 to 12): PAB1.50 (US$1.50)
• Infants (up to 6): Free

Non-residents

• Adults: PAB10 (US$10)
• Children (6 to 12): PAB5 (US$5)
• Infants (up to 6): Free

Students and seniors are required to present a valid ID to have access to the discounted entrance price.

What is the typical itinerary?

A typical Panama Canal tour starts as early as 5:30 AM with hotel pickup and transfers to the starting location of your tour. Cruises can start either from the Flamenco Marina in Panama City or from the docks on the Chagres River.

You will then be spoiled by the natural beauty of the Panamanian forest around the canal and experience the innovation of the canal’s locks as your ship passes through them. Enjoy a meal onboard and an afternoon transfer back to your hotel.

Some tours only pay a visit to the visitors center on the Pacific side of the canal. There you will take a tour through the captivating exhibits and experience the canal from the viewing decks.

Other tours depart to the Chagres River mouth for a short boat tour while other tours head back to Panama City for a tour of its historic sites.

What kinds of tours are available to go to the Panama Canal?

Panama Canal tours come in all shapes and sizes and you can book a tour based on your budget, time restraints and interests.

Guided tours to the Panama Canal from Panama City

A Panama Canal tour takes you to one of the world’s leading engineering marvels. Board a ship in the Chagres River and cruise through the canal’s locks and experience the structure in action.

The journey takes you through the Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks and onto the artificial body of water that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Enjoy punctual hotel pickup, transfer to the ship and transfer back to Panama City.

You can also opt for a full canal transit and end the journey in Colón from where you will have a coach transfer back to Panama City. All these tours can be done in a southern or northern direction and you will enjoy lunch on board the ship.

Private tour to the Panama Canal from Panama City

A private Panama Canal tour is a convenient and time-effective way to experience the canal. A private driver will pick you up and take you to the Miraflores Locks Visitors Center to see the canal and locks in operation and learn about its complicated history.

You will also take a scenic drive on Amador Causeway which connects the city to Naos, Perico, Culebra and Flamenco. To end the comprehensive tour you will take a scenic drive through the city and see the historic Casco Viejo district and the modern Cinta Costera.

Day trip to the Panama Canal plus Monkey Island from Panama City

This combination tour will showcase the best of Panama’s man-made and natural wonders. Start the day with a visit to the Miraflores Locks and move on to Gamboa to board a boat.

The boat will take you across Gutan Lake, past gigantic ships and on toward Monkey Island. Here you will admire many fascinating creatures that call the forest home.

Day tour to Panama Canal plus the rainforest and San Lorenzo Fort from Panama City

This comprehensive tour offers you an adventure-filled 6-hour tour of the Panama Canal and surrounding sights. An air-conditioned minivan takes you to Colon where you will drive through the rainforest in search of exotic animals and birds.

From there you will visit the Agua Clara Locks, the futuristic structures on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal.

The last stop on the tour is a visit to the UNESCO-listed Fort San Lorenzo. This fort was the main defense against the Pirates of the Caribbean sieges centuries ago.

How much does a day trip to the Panama Canal from Panama City cost?

A private tour of the canal visitor’s center along with a drive through Panama City costs US$65 per person but does not include the entrance ticket.

The combination of a Panama Canal tour and a visit to Monkey Island costs US$130 per person and includes hotel transfers, a boat trip and entrance fees.

What will you see and do?

On a Panama Canal trip, you will visit and see several man-made and natural treasures of Panama.

Miraflores Locks Visitors Center

The Miraflores Locks Visitors Center is the main attraction on a Panama Canal tour. A tour through the center takes just over an hour and you will learn all about the complicated and devastating construction process of the canal.

The center also has viewing decks with panoramic views of the locks and the mega ships passing through.

Centennial Bridge

If you take a Panama Canal tour onboard one of the canal’s tourist cruise liners you will travel underneath this impressive structure. It is only the second permanent crossing over the canal and is a massive 6-lane structure towering 80 meters above the water.

This earthquake-proof bridge has clearance for even the largest vessels to safely pass underneath and it is another formidable engineering triumph of Panama.

Bridge of the Americas

This imposing structure spans the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. It is an icon of Panama City and it links the landmasses of North and South America. It is a steel arch bridge that is over 60 meters above the water’s surface.

Monkey Island

Some Panama Canal excursions include a visit to Monkey Island. This group of islands sits on the canal’s man-made Gatun Lake and is praised for its biodiversity.

Your small boat will pass by massive ships to reach the island where you can spot monkeys, crocodiles, birds, iguanas, sloths and many more fascinating forest-dwelling creatures.

When is the best time to visit the Panama Canal?

The best time for a Panama Canal tour is before 10 AM or after 2 PM. Ships do not cross the locks between those times so plan your visit accordingly if you want to see this modern marvel in action.

Travel tips

• Panama Canal tours can be as long as 12 hours so wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• The tours do not operate daily and are subject to change due to water levels so follow up closer to the time of your visit.
• Wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses and a hat.