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Rainforest Wildlife: Lake Gatun Adventure
4.9
79 Ratings
Panama City
Explore Panama Canal’s wildlife and culture: spot monkeys, crocodiles, and savor sweet pineapples on a unique boat safari adventure.
Explore Panama Canal’s wildlife and culture: spot monkeys, crocodiles, and savor sweet pineapples on a unique boat safari adventure.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Gatun Lake - The Monkey Island tour begins early in the morning, typically between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., with convenient pickup directly from your hotel in Panama City.
- Monkey Island - Upon arrival at the Marina de Gamboa, participants will embark on a boat tour of Gatun Lake, a crucial part of the canal. During this journey, the boat navigates…
- Gatun Lake - The Monkey Island tour begins early in the morning, typically between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., with convenient pickup directly from your hotel in Panama City.
- Monkey Island - Upon arrival at the Marina de Gamboa, participants will embark on a boat tour of Gatun Lake, a crucial part of the canal. During this journey, the boat navigates between small rainforest-covered islands until reaching the renowned Monkey Island. Here, visitors can observe various monkey species in their natural environment, including capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, and marmosets. Some monkeys may even approach the boats in search of fruit, offering close and unique interactions with these inquisitive forest inhabitants.
- Mercado de Abastos - Guided by a local expert or agricultural specialist, the tour of the market’s aisles begins, where the air is filled with the sweet, fresh scent of newly harvested tropical fruits. Among heaps of papayas, mangoes, bananas, and passion fruits, the star of the day is the Panamanian pineapple, celebrated worldwide for its intensely sweet flavor, juicy texture, and floral aroma.
The highlight of the visit is the tasting: fresh pineapple slices served directly by producers or vendors, either at room temperature or slightly chilled, showcasing the exceptional quality of this national fruit.
What's Included
- Professional local guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Boat trip included
- Appetizers
- Professional local guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Boat trip included
- Appetizers
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
This tour not only highlights the typical wildlife of the rainforest but also features a unique location: Lake Gatun, part of the Panama Canal. Witnessing monkeys in their natural habitat, spotting crocodiles, tropical birds, and even large vessels navigating the canal, all on the same journey, offers an unparalleled experience.
Unlike most tours that…
This tour not only highlights the typical wildlife of the rainforest but also features a unique location: Lake Gatun, part of the Panama Canal. Witnessing monkeys in their natural habitat, spotting crocodiles, tropical birds, and even large vessels navigating the canal, all on the same journey, offers an unparalleled experience.
Unlike most tours that conclude at the pier, this one includes a genuine stop at a fruit market, where visitors can taste fresh Panamanian pineapple, renowned as one of the sweetest in the world. This experience connects travelers with local agriculture and adds a truly special flavor to the tour, both figuratively and literally.
Location
Gatun Lake
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
4.9
(79 Ratings)
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Alan_m_stainer
Oct 30, 2025
Great visit thank you - Excellent day, very enlightening, guide was extremely knowledegable about the canal and tropical forest. Seeing the monkeys in a natural habitat was fantastic.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Renzo_f
Oct 28, 2025
It was a fun experience,... - It was a fun experience, our tour guide jenny was great at telling us the history of the area and was funny too
Review provided by Viator
Carlab8
Oct 28, 2025
Loved the experience!! - I thoroughly enjoyed this experience from start to finish! Hotel pickup was prompt, and they dropped me back off at my hotel's front door. The tour guide Daniel was so friendly and shared amazing facts and info about Panama and the Canal with us.
We saw lots of monkeys, birds and other wildlife on the tour, it was well worth it! I also enjoyed the visit to the farmers market. I bought a pineapple from a lovely lady at stall VL-151 (named Kiluvis) and it was delicious - she even cut it up for me so I could take it with me! Definitely buy some items here to support local.
I would definitely recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S2341lxjenniferd
Oct 25, 2025
Delivered as promised! Bucket list: check! - Daniel is an excellent tour guide- very entertaining and prepared us well for the experience. As promised we saw all three types of monkeys, two of which came onto our boat. We saw toucans, iguanas, and a snail kite actually dove into the water and grabbed a snail right in front of us. The boat captain, Junior, worked tirelessly to locate and attract the monkeys. They all did a great job! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jantsend2025
Oct 23, 2025
IN THE JUNGLE, the mighty jungle - THE HOWLER MONKEYS SLEEP TONIGHT 🎶 - We booked our tour the day before on a whim and are SO happy we did! Daniel, our tour guide, met us in the hotel lobby in the morning prior and then the tour bus arrived shortly after, per the scheduled time. Communication leading up to was clear and promising. Bryan was our driver and got us to each destination quickly. Daniel was very welcoming and informative throughout the entire tour which included Panamanian history, landmarks, and vast knowledge of the wildlife we would see throughout the boat tour. When we arrived to the dock, Juliette and Captain Jack Sparrow immediately greeted us and showed us aboard. Juliette was also very knowledgeable of the wildlife and was able to quickly spot wildlife and even “call” them out closer to us so we could have a personal experience. Captain Jack Sparrow also did a great job navigating through waters and knew where to go, and also how to help “call” the howler monkeys and cappuccino monkeys out closer. We arrived back to the dock when Bryan then drove us to the farmers market. Daniel shared his knowledge of the vegetation, crops, and market as well. While in route back to the hotel, Daniel serenaded our bus with a “welcome to Panama” song and expressed the guides sincere gratitude we chose to book with them. From start to finish, we couldn’t recommend this tour more! We would definitely book with them again when back in Panama.. to Daniel, Bryan, Juliette, and Captain Jack Sparrow - thank you for memories we will forever cherish and making our morning in the Panama jungle one we fill never forget!
Oh, and Daniel gave the tour in both English and Spanish - SO COOL!!
With love, Jonathan and Jantsen from TX, USA
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vitolw
Oct 21, 2025
What a day! What a team! - What a tremendous experience. The guides and supporting staff were absolutely incredible, providing us with a "bucket list" experience. We were graced with coolish overcast weather, and a nice breeze. Even though we also had to compete with other boats, the team did an exceptional job finding opportunities for us to interact with three species of monkey, and quite frankly would not give up until we had an opportunity to experience all three. We visited Panama as part as a longer cruise and were so grateful that we separately booked this tour (rather than the cruise excursion). The staff were simply incredible and we ended up having a wonderful day; one we shall not forget. Would I use this company to take the same tour again? Without hesitation! Tremendous value, welcoming staff and just a wonderful experience overall.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mikesv2403je
Oct 21, 2025
Good half day event to get out of the city - I did this tour with a friend and had a great time. We had 14 people in our group. Hotel pickup was easy and prompt. First stop was a fruit and vegetable market to look around and use the restroom, then off to the boat! We stopped at several islands in Lake Gatún, where We saw Capuchin monkeys, who were happy to visit and take our peanuts, titi monkeys and howlers, and a sloth. We also passed several ships transiting the canal. Our guide, Milton, was knowledgeable and very pleasant. This is a fun event if you have an extra day in Panamá, just be sure to bring a poncho in case it rains.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dorothy_l
Oct 11, 2025
This tour is a must!!! - I booked this tour for myself, husband and 2 year old Daughter. We all loved it. I was a little nervous because it was my Daughter’s first time on a boat. She did great. The bonus was her being able to see and touch a turtle. She was sad when she had to give it back. Our Driver, Brian, was great. Our Guide, Milton was awesome. He was very knowledgeable. My Husband and I soaked it all in as Milton told us how Panama was formed. I loved stopping at the fresh market for locally grown fruits and veggies. I purchased mangoes, pineapples, oranges, papayas , avocados, and dragonfruit. And fresh coconuts for my Husband and I (my Daughter drunk from mine). I used cash. I left tips for all the vendors I purchased from and thanked them of course. And last but not least, we left a cash tip for Brian and Milton for being the highlight of our day. I hope to see them next time but for a different tour. I would recommend this tour for everyone. Thank you!!!
Review provided by Viator
Randygu1861dc
Oct 11, 2025
Would recommend - Súper time and 100% worth the money. Our tour guide Daniel was charismatic and informative. Loved it. Got some interesting history lessons along with the monkeys
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonathan_r
Oct 8, 2025
Great Experience !! - A Great Afternoon out and a very reasonably priced trip, the guide and staff on the boat were great. The only negative point is the people on the left side of the boat or at the front get to see much better than the ones sat on the right - Would still definitely recommend though - Great Value
Review provided by Viator
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