Port
Gatun Lake, Panama
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At (prices in USD)
$130
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 6 Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
On this day tour of Gatún Lake and the surrounding rainforest, you’ll be mesmerized by the tiny islets, blue-green waters and diverse wildlife. Perfect for the wildlife enthusiast, you’ll spend part of the day gliding through this vital waterway reservoir by cruise and part of it traveling by bus to enjoy the scenic waterway at Agua Locks Center. At the end of the day, you’ll be left with fond memories and any photos you took of the second largest manmade lake on the continent.
Depart from the pier and drive to the Jungle Eco Marina, located in the lush rainforest of Panama. There you’ll board your tour boat for a 90-minute eco-cruise on Gatún Lake.
Glide past lush rainforest and witness first-hand the splendor and excitement of the jungle. Exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles are just a few of the animals that you may see in their native surroundings. The Panama Canal rainforests boast over 50,000 acres of pristine rainforest, an incredible 105 species of mammals, 525 species of birds and 124 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Gatún Lake is a crucial part of the Panama Canal, serving as a freshwater reservoir that enables ships to traverse the canal by providing a steady water supply for its locks, while also offering a scenic environment rich in biodiversity and recreation along its shores. The lake was created in 1907 by the building of the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River.
After exploring the lake, you will drive to the Agua Clara Visitor Center (Canal Expansion Lookout) for a tour. Here you’ll spend approximately one hour observing the locks in operation and enjoying a panoramic view of the Panama Canal expansion, including the three chambered Agua Clara locks. Your guide will explain the engineering feat required to move ships over a continental divide that separates two oceans.
After witnessing the locks in action, you can visit the café and gift shop before you drive back to the pier.
Please note: Participants must negotiate stairs and/or uneven surfaces so the tour is not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Wear sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring a hat. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. Tour sequence may vary. Ship sightings in the locks are not guaranteed. The Panama Canal Authority assigns specific time slots for the transit of a vessel through the locks. The ship will anchor in a designated area and will wait for instructions. Once clearance is transmitted to the ship, procedures begin to bring the ship's tour passengers ashore. Therefore, tour departure times may vary and will be announced onboard. The return time of the ship to Colón may also be delayed due to transit through the locks. We recommend that you are prepared for any potential delay of the ship's arrival to Colón and plan accordingly by bringing any needed medication or essential items on tour. Facilities are available at the terminal in Colón while waiting for the ship's arrival in case of delay.