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Full Day Panama Canal and Fort San Lorenzo Exploration: A Historical Journey
4.6
7 Ratings
Colón
This one-day tour located on the shores of the Atlantic coast (Caribbean Sea) of Panama gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in Panama’s history, ranging from the remnants of the Fort San Lorenzo to the newly constructed Aqua Clara locks of the Panama Canal.
This one-day tour located on the shores of the Atlantic coast (Caribbean Sea) of Panama gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in Panama’s history, ranging from the remnants of the Fort San Lorenzo to the newly constructed Aqua Clara locks of the Panama Canal.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center - This new visitors center offers spectacular views of the new locks following the expansion of the canal, and also Lake Gatun. You will be able to see the operation of the Panama Canal and maybe post-panamax vessels transiting the locks.
- Atlantic Bridge - Inaugurated in 2019, the 3rd Panama Canal Crossing, is…
- Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center - This new visitors center offers spectacular views of the new locks following the expansion of the canal, and also Lake Gatun. You will be able to see the operation of the Panama Canal and maybe post-panamax vessels transiting the locks.
- Atlantic Bridge - Inaugurated in 2019, the 3rd Panama Canal Crossing, is the longest concrete cable-stayed bridge on the planet.
- Shelter Bay Marina - A perfect stop for lunch where you can enjoy a meal on a terrace or indoor by the water while admiring the many boats anchored in the marina. (Meals not included, but there is a good variety on the menu that will fit your budget.). The Dock Restaurant is serving the fresh locally sourced ingredients with a menu inspired by a Caribbean heritage with an international influence. The marina is located on the decommissioned U.S. military base of Fort Sherman once used to protect the canal Atlantic entrance.
- Fort San Lorenzo - Now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this fortress was built to overlook the mouth of the Chagres River. The ruins of the once mighty Fort San Lorenzo still stand strong surrounded by the beauty of the Caribbean Sea and over 30,000 acres of protected lush rainforest.

What's Included
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Private driver/guide
- Hotel pickup
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Admission fees
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Private driver/guide
- Hotel pickup
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Admission fees
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
- Entrance fees of $15US per person to Agua Clara and Fort San Lorenzo to be paid onsite
- Entrance fees of $15US per person to Agua Clara and Fort San Lorenzo to be paid onsite
Location
Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(7 Ratings)
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1 star
Laura_s
Jan 20, 2026
Traveling Amigos - Gabriel was the best! A very informative tour at our own pace. The tour of the Atlantic locks was fantastic and allowed us to see both the new and old locks up close. San Lorenzo is a beautiful spot with so much history of Panama.
Review provided by Viator
Normabz2663cs
Apr 25, 2025
Very Good Experience - We did a full day excursion to Exclusas Agua Clara and Fort San Lorenzo with Gabriel de Panama Your Way excellent service fulfilled schedule and everything agreed. I booked it without knowing them and they didn't let me down. Quite the opposite. And the place is worth knowing both the Locks and the fort. Gcs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindachris38
Dec 8, 2024
Brilliant Day - We had an absolutely brilliant day with Panama Your Way and Eric our tour guide.
The ease of booking from the UK , and all our questions being answered by Danny before our excursion, was fantastic and extremely reassuring.
We arrived on a cruise ship with 4 of us (2 over 80's) Eric was there to meet us, as promised, and gave us such a brilliant, informative day.
Panama, after this tour, has now become our favourite destination and this was a result of the quality of Panama Your Way.
We highly recommend this company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
122pamg
Feb 24, 2023
Great trip to Aqua Clara locks and Ft. San Lorenzo! - We had a beautiful view of the Agua Clara locks while watching a huge container ship pass through. Also watched a video of the making of the locks there. We then went over the new Atlantic Bridge, then through old Ft. Sherman, passing Shimmy Beach on our way to Ft. San Lorenzo. They are planning to build a visitor center/museum just before the entrance to the fort which should be very nice for future visits. The fort was also being worked on but you could still walk around some of it. Absolutely beautiful view of the Chagres River as it flows into the Atlantic! Our Panama Your Way driver, Gabrielle, then took us to have lunch at the marina by Ft. Sherman. What a view of all the beautiful yachts there!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eddie_s57
Feb 11, 2023
Panama Your Way made us have a great holiday in Panama! - We have just returned home from a fantastic holiday in Panama!
Panama Your Way was a big part of the success, the communication with Danny in advance was good and we booked three private tours on his recommendations.
We arrived in Panama one Tuesday morning and checked in at Waldorf Astoria, spent the first day for ourselves, the next day at 08:30 Gabriel came from Panama Your Way and picked us up at the reception for a tour of Panama’s historic sites.
We had a great day reviewing Panama’s development.
We quickly got acquainted with Gabriel and we got a great chemistry that made us talk about most, social arrangements in Panama and Norway and everything that entails.
The next day we had booked a trip to the Fort of San Lorenzo on the Caribbean coast and the new locks on the northern end of the Panama Canal.
This day we also had Gabriel as a guide and it suited us very well. We experienced another teaching and great day with lots of information and experiences. Both the locks and the fort were impressive.
The third tour we had with Panama Your Way was “Embera Village Tour”.
Once again we were picked up by Gabriel and we drove far out on the countryside before we ended up on a peninsula in a heavy river where we were welcomed by two Indians in a hollow wooden frame with a trailer engine. After a long walk up the river we arrived at an Indian village that welcomed us with dance and music and food.
Return to the airport after the stay was also provided by Danny.
We recommend Panama Your Way as a partner in Panama!
We will definitely use them if we come to Panama again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kenc732
Jul 14, 2022
Personalized tour above and beyond - I contacted Panama Your Way fairly last minute, looking for a way of seeing a monument in Colon that was of particular interest to us. They offered to take us there or provide this full day tour AND take us to the monument for the same price as the tour. Our driver/guide was personable and knowledgeable, and an excellent driver as well. He readily agreed to visit the monument twice since we were taking photographs and wanted the morning and afternoon light, even though the traffic in downtown Colon is insane. We had a lovely lunch and visit with him, and visited both other sites. The Fort was a bit of a bust through no one’s fault — it was pouring rain, but we saw the new locks and one of the new massive container ships — it was carrying 1340 containers — passing through them. The view from the new locks is spectacular. And he spotted and showed us howler monkeys several times during the trip. A great day, thanks to Panama Your Way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garyhc235wn
Dec 14, 2025
DISAPPOINTING - Rainy day. Maxi was a new tour guide with the company. Road at fort was closed. Asked to go to particular shopping area. Instead took us to shopping at port. Asked to be back at ship 1:30 instead returned at 11:30. He was not tour guide we were promised. Disappointed. Do not tecommend Maxi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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