Top Panama Day Trips

Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour

Join our Zapatilla Island Tour and experience the best of Bocas del Toro in one unforgettable day. Glide across turquoise waters as playful dolphins guide you toward Bahia Honda, where sloths rest lazily in the mangroves. Stop at Hollywood Cove to spot colorful starfish, then snorkel among vibrant coral gardens at Cayo Coral, surrounded by hundreds of tropical fish. Continue to the pristine Zapatilla Cays—two uninhabited islands of powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters. Wander the lush walking trail through tropical forest, relax beneath palm trees, or swim in the calm lagoon. From March to September, you may even spot sea turtles nesting on the beach. Enjoy a freshly prepared Caribbean lunch at a waterfront restaurant before returning via the famous Starfish “Hollywood” Pool. This Zapatilla Island Tour is the perfect combination of relaxation, adventure, and natural beauty—an essential Bocas del Toro experience.

Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Day Tour in Zapatilla Beach

7 hoursFree Cancellation

4.5

(90)

from $51

Special Offer

Panama Canal Tour: New Locks Agua Clara, Gatun & Atlantic Bridge

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb in Panama City. We’ll drive for about one hour to the Atlantic, on the Atlantic side, to visit the impressive Agua Clara Locks — part of the Panama Canal’s expansion and the only place where you can see Neo-Panamax ships crossing. With 100% certainty of seeing ships in transit, either at Agua Clara or Gatun Locks, this tour guarantees an unforgettable Canal experience. We will continue to the Atlantic Bridge, the largest and tallest bridge in Panama, offering stunning views of the Canal and surrounding landscape. Along the way, we’ll stop to see the remains of the unfinished French Canal, an abandoned 19th-century project that paved the way for today’s canal. Our final stop is the historic Gatun Locks, in operation since 1914, where you can watch ships pass just a few meters away. After this enriching 6-hour experience, we’ll return to Panama City. This tour operates year-round, including during Panama's rainy season.

Panama Canal Tour: New Locks Agua Clara, Gatun & Atlantic Bridge

Panama City is a lively place but it lacks its own beaches—the nearest sandy escape from the capital is the beautiful Isla Toboga. Enjoy a leisurely day at the beach and in the water with this group tour by catamaran to the island. Take advantage of the vessel’s facilities, including nets suspended over the water and chilled drinks from the open bar, and lounge on the beach at the island.

All-inclusive 8-hour catamaran tour to Isla Taboga from Panama City

All-inclusive 8-hour catamaran tour to Isla Taboga from Panama City

8 hours 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Take a break from Panama City and head to the Caribbean coast of Panama, to the beautiful San Blas Islands. Traveling by boat, check out a shipwreck and natural swimming pool, and enjoy the tropical scenery and atmosphere. Your tour includes activities—kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and more—and round-trip road and boat transport, with hotel pickup and drop-off. Refuel with a tasty included lunch, too, such as fresh fish and rice.

(417)

from $99

Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visiting 4 Islands

14 hoursFree Cancellation

4.4

(1,606)

from $149

All Inclusive Taboga Island Catamaran Tour from Panama City

Escape Panama City on the newest and largest catamaran for a day of boating, swimming and dancing. During this 6-hour tour, you will swim on a beautiful virgin bay, visit the beach and the Island Village. Onboard the catamaran, enjoy sundecks, shaded areas, music, animation, morning snacks, lunch, and an open bar. This 6-hour tour is the perfect choice to avoid the afternoon tropical weather and have enough time for night plans.

All Inclusive Taboga Island Catamaran Tour from Panama City

Travelers short on time in Panama can experience the highlights of the beautiful San Blas Islands on an easy day trip from Panama City. Start early to reach the islands in good time. Travel by boat out to tropical islands with white-sand beaches and warm waters. Swim and snorkel in the ocean and in the shallow natural swimming pools offshore. Refuel with a freshly cooked lunch of fish or chicken.

(1,603)

from $99

San Blas Islands Full-Day Tour + Transport from Panama City

San Blas Islands Full-Day Tour + Transport from Panama City

14 hoursFree Cancellation

4.3

(64)

from $143

Embera Indigenous Village & Waterfall Tour with Lunch

Discover one of Panama’s most authentic experiences on this Embera Indigenous Village & Waterfall Tour in Chagres National Park. Meet the Embera community and learn about their traditions, culture, music, and way of life in the heart of the rainforest. After hotel pickup, travel to the park and board a traditional Embera canoe for a scenic river ride through the jungle. Follow ancient waterways used by the Embera people for generations. Arrive at the Embera Tusipono Village, where you’ll be warmly welcomed and enjoy cultural demonstrations, handmade crafts, and a traditional Embera lunch prepared by the community. Continue to a hidden rainforest waterfall, where you can swim, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty of Chagres National Park. This shared cultural and nature tour is ideal for travelers seeking an authentic Panama experience combining indigenous culture, jungle scenery, and a refreshing waterfall adventure.

Embera Indigenous Village & Waterfall Tour with Lunch

6 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

Discover Panama's hidden Caribbean treasures on this small-group catamaran tour, crafted with over 20 years of sailing experience. Begin with hotel pickup and a scenic journey to historic Portobelo, then sail to the turquoise mangrove lagoon of Venas Azules and vibrant coral reefs of Playa Drake for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. Enjoy a delicious onboard meal and exclusive access to off-the-beaten-path spots for an unforgettable escape.

(91)

from $50

Caribbean Catamaran Day Cruise: Beaches, Snorkeling & Lunch

Caribbean Catamaran Day Cruise: Beaches, Snorkeling & Lunch

6 to 9 hoursFree Cancellation

4.5

(39)

from $139

Gatun Lake: Monkeys & Exotic Wildlife by the Canal

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Half day of Panama city and canal tour: shared and private

(2,356)

from $35

5 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

4.9

(876)

from $67

Travel southbound through the Panama Canal during this 6-hour tour from Panama City. With your local guide, board a bus for a 45-minute journey to Gamboa, home of the Panama Canal Dredging Division. Meet your vessel, the Pacific Queen, for a trip through the Gailard cut, the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Miraflores Locks. Admire scenic views of the Centennial Bridge, the Chagres River, and the Bridge of the Americas. Eat a complimentary lunch on board during your journey. Disembark at the Flamenco Marina in Panama City. Please Note: The exact check-in will be confirmed the day before your tour via email. Please make sure you check your inbox.

Panama Canal Partial Tour - Southbound Direction

Panama Canal Partial Tour - Southbound Direction

Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day)

4.6

(578)

from $165

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(28)

from $200

Panama Canal with entrance included and Gatun Lake Boat Tour

4.9

(515)

from $110

Private or Small Group Panama Canal & City Half-Day Tour

Tourists watching a boat pass through the Panama Canal in the locks of Miraflores

5 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

(626)

from $67

Travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during this full-day tour of the Panama Canal. With your local guide, explore the canal by sea and on foot, viewing the ships passing through the locks and the variety of plant and animal life on the canal's shores. Explore Gatun Lake, home to howlers, capuchins, tamarins, and many more animals. Stop at the Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center to get an overview of the canal's history through informative displays and exhibits. Explore San Lorenzo National Park and Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a picnic lunch. All activities, entrance fees, lunch, and round-trip transportation from Panama City hotels are included.

Special Offer

Ocean to Ocean Combo: Canal Boat Ride, Locks, Fort San Lorenzo

Ocean to Ocean Combo: Canal Boat Ride, Locks, Fort San Lorenzo

8 hoursFree Cancellation

If you’re a first-time visitor to Panama City, you’ll want to see the must-visit highlights. This five-hour Private or Share group tour, takes you to the atmospheric old town, the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal, and the sweeping Amador Causeway, with its great views of the city. If you’re short on time or on a quick shore excursion, this convenient tour makes the most of your time.

Panama Canal & City Tour in Half Day: Old Town & City Views

4.9

(1,841)

from $65

Panama City’s historic Casco Viejo boasts some of the capital’s hippest bars, but finding the best spots requires local know-how. With this Afro party bar crawl, get one included drink at each location during this high-energy, host-led experience. Join a party crew of energetic guides and fellow travelers as you enjoy nonstop hip-hop, dancehall, amapiano, afrobeats, and reggaeton music.

OG Crawl Afro Vibes Nightlife Experience

OG Crawl Afro Vibes Nightlife Experience

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

4.7

(861)

from $65

The Panama Canal: Kingfisher Experience Private Tour

Some of the best freshwater fishing in Panama is in the Panama Canal. On this half-day private tour, experience one of the world's most impressive engineering wonders and try your luck catching bass, snook, tilapia, and tarpon in the Gatun Lake portion of the canal system. Catch and release, or enjoy your catch for lunch. Look for wildlife, including birds and monkeys, and observe ships big and small as they transit through the Panama Canal which connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

The Panama Canal: Kingfisher Experience Private Tour

6 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(8)

from $165

Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Downtown Panama City, Panama

30 to 45 minutesFree Cancellation

(212)

from $23

First-time visitors to Panama City who want an interesting overview will enjoy this day tour. Check out the beautiful colonial-era architecture of the old town, see how the incredible locks of the Panama Canal work, and drive along the Amador Causeway for great city and sea views. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience. As the tour lasts about five hours, you’ll have time to freshen up and enjoy the evening after.

City Tour guiado en Panamá con Canal y Casco Antiguo

4.4

(110)

from $35

Panama’s location connecting Central and South America makes it a wonderful place for unique wildlife viewing. Spend a day outside of Panama City and explore the country’s natural landscape with this day trip. Your bi-lingual guide will take you to the Gamboa rainforest region where you’ll get up close and personal with wildlife. You’ll also pay a visit to a sloth sanctuary to learn about these rescued animals.

Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup

Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup

Cruise the entirety of the Panamá Canal, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, during this full-day tour in Panamá City. Board a small vessel to travel through all three sets of locks that make up the canal. Voyage on Gatun Lake and the Chagres River. Learn about the history and construction of the canal from your guide while you travel. Disembark in Colón and board a shuttle for the return trip to Panamá City. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages are provided on board. Please Note: The exact check-in time will be confirmed the day before your tour via email. Please make sure you check your inbox.

4.5

(131)

from $152

Panama Canal Full Transit Tour

12 hoursFree Cancellation

4.6

(298)

from $220

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Top Attractions in Panama

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Attractions

What are people saying about Panama

Panama City Bike Tour

Caitlin_Q, Jul 2026

Fun way to experience PTY

Great tour for first time visitors to experience a bit of Panama City, especially the Casco Viejo area. Route is mostly flat and easy for riders of all abilities. Our guide, Stefan, was friendly and knowledgeable. Bikes are basic but in good condition.

Ancon Hill Walking Tour: Sloths, Wildlife & Panama City Views

Na_D, Jul 2026

Surreal experience! Highly recommended!

It was a fantastic experience! Raf was my guide and he was very thorough with the information for the day the night before with whatsapp messages so I had a good feeling already. I did the early one 6:10am and surprised it was a private tour to me as no one else booked it. But Raf still treat it very very professionally even it’s just me, he was very knowledgeable and super friendly. I told him I want to see sloth and he was very honest that it’s nature he cannot control but he will try his best. And surely he did and we were very lucky to spot 5 sloths along the way along with 4 gefferoy’s tamarins, several toucans, and along other wild lives . It was more than I expected and because Raf was very patient in explaining how these animals behave and I was able to spot the toucan and 2 sloths by myself! Overall just 12 out of 10 experiences and I cannot ask for more. The hill is very a moderate walk and offers a great panoramic view of the city and the canal. Highly recommended!

Embera Indigenous Village & Waterfall Tour with Lunch

Alanna_R, Jul 2026

Elliot was an absolutely...

Elliot was an absolutely fantastic host! He was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the tour and kept us thoroughly engaged from start to finish. His enthusiasm and expertise made the experience both educational and enjoyable. I would highly recommend Elliot to anyone looking to learn something new while having a great time

Caribbean Catamaran Day Cruise: Beaches, Snorkeling & Lunch

Joseph_C, Jul 2026

If you can do only one...

If you can do only one thing while in Panama this must be it! An entire day spent on the Caribbean snorkeling on two different locations , one of which included corals and loads of different fish species. The team were absolutely accommodating for special diets, super friendly and knowledgeable.

Panama Canal with entrance included and Gatun Lake Boat Tour

Richard_H, Jun 2026

Exceptional tour guide and tour experience

Dan is a very experienced tour guide. Listening to his knowledge and stories about the Canal is like sitting through a history class. He captivates your interest and encourages you to ask questions to challenge him and help you learn about everything you are observing. Dan is a great tour guide, the watching ships cross the canal is awe inspiring. Don’t miss this tour with Dan.

Discover Panama: History of the City and the Canal

Patti_K, May 2026

Tour iverview

If you have as knowledgable a tour guide as Dennis, you will learn so much about the history of the Panama Canal and Panama City! He makes the story intriguing. We saw a ship rising and moving out of the locks and he explained the mechanism by which it happens. After the canal we watched the IMAX film. Totally worthwhile. Then on to the charming Old City! Dennis knows all the locals and is very friendly.

Half day of Panama city and canal tour: shared and private

Sarah_S, May 2026

This is a great...

This is a great introduction to the Panama Canal and some city highlights. Dimos was our guide and he knew exactly how to get us the best Panama Canal experience. We were first in line, first on the observation deck, and he even had an app tracking ships to make sure we'd see one coming through and we did! I truly appreciate his knowledge and hustle in getting us to the right spot at the right time. He shared lots about Panama history, what it's like living there and more while we were driving and was open to questions. We drove by and made some smaller stops before ending in Casco Viejo for a walking tour. Would highly recommend this tour and Dimos for the Canal and a Panama City introduction. I will add, we took the tour on a Sunday and I'm so glad we did because we experienced no traffic in the areas and we were able to slow down as we drove by certain spots. Something to consider!

Panama Canal Partial Tour - Southbound Direction

timothy_g, Apr 2026

Running My Fingers Thru Panamá's Locks

The tour was all I had hoped it would be! I remember reading about the Gaillard Cut (aka the Culebra Cut) back in elementary school. To cruise through this monument to human endurance and engineering ingenuity was a thrill. It was equally thrilling to enter the original hundred-year-old locks, sharing the chambers with a gigantic oil tanker as we descended in stages from Lake Gatun to the Pacific Ocean. The staff was friendly and the bus and boat were very comfortable. My only complaint is that the check-in process was hot and hectic. I got there quite early to myself time to find the check in spot (which turned out to be fairly easy. It's a small office-like kiosk outdoors, next to the big Panama letters.) But no one was there until 15 minutes before the check-in time and no check-ins were done until 5 minutes before the check-in time. In the meantime, travelers must wait in an area with little seating and less shade. However, once that was done, you can enter the air-conditioned bus. So, all was soon well.

Private Layover Panama Canal & City Tour

Kristen_P, Apr 2026

Best layover ever!

Pick up and drop off from the airport was easy! Our guide spoke perfect English and Spanish and was very knowledgable about the history, culture and sites of Panama. He was willing to tailor our experience for our family. We even found a sloth! I really felt like we got to visit Panama City!

City Tour guiado en Panamá con Canal y Casco Antiguo

JoAnna_L, Apr 2026

Definitely Go. Guide Eduardo is fantastic!

It was great. Our guide, Eduardo, was excellent. Spoke fluent English and Spanish and gave info in both. Knew about history and areas, answered all questions, made us feel safe, was patient, gave tips on other things to do and places to go and how to get there without being a salesman. Just helpful. Super nice young man. Lots of smiles and laughs while seeing and learning about Panama. On request they also picked us up from Playa Bonita at our resort. Only a little bit extra and did not ask for anything more. Our driver, whose name I am sorry to say I forgot, was amazing. Quiet and focussed on the road which was great cuz the roads are super busy with everyone going every which way. He did it expertly and fast. I would highly recommend booking with them. Also, if you want to be dropped off at a spot along the way and go from there on your own - that’s ok too. Some people on the bus did that. Ooh - DO see the movie at Mileflores lock. May sound boring but it wasn’t at all. Thanks again. JO & Pat from BC

Private Tour Layover in Panama

Wanda_L, Mar 2026

This tour is an excellent...

This tour is an excellent way to spend a long layover in Panama City or to even plan a long layover to experience. My tour guide, Javier, was extremely professional, knowledgeable and kind. As a solo female traveler, safety is always top of mind, and I felt very safe the entire tour. I would highly recommend this service to anyone.

Day Tour at Panama Canal from Ocean to Ocean

Theresa_R, Feb 2026

Full day tour of the Panama Canal from Atlantic to Pacific

Very informative tour of Panama Canal from Pacific to Atlantic. We got to see the impressive lock system and ships passing through the various parts of the canal. We also did a boat tour in the canal and Lake Gatun. We saw various monkeys, sloths and native species