Cruiseline Excursion Colon: Rainforest, San Lorenzo Fort and Canal Expansion
Colon, Panama
- 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Learn all about Panama’s unique culture and environment on this small-group day tour that’s especially designed for cruise-ship passengers in Colon. Make the most of your time on land on this half-day tour to the rainforest, San Lorenzo Fort, and the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal. Spot wildlife including monkeys and sloths, learn about Panamanian history, and be amazed by one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering.
- This tour will appeal to travelers with varied interests
- Port transfers are included
- Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
- Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour
What's Included
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Professional guide
- Bottled water
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Admission Fee - Agua Clara Locks$15.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Itinerary
1
Agua Clara Locks
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Fort San Lorenzo
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Almiza Tours by My friend Mario - Tours
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 22 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 192 reviews
Garnette_S, Apr 2026
Arsenio was a great guide. Always asking if we had any questions or special requests. He went out of his way to show us as much wildlife as possible. Also very knowledgeable about the history and culture.
Jeffrey_L, Apr 2026
If you are cruising through the Panama Canal, take this tour. Our guide Elio, took us to both locks in Colon and we were able to see and understand how it works. Made going through the canal the next day a better experience.
Carla_B, Apr 2026
Great tour of the Agua Clara and Gutan Locks. Rainforest was lively and we saw monkeys and anteaters. San Lorenzo fort was interesting to see. Your guides were very knowledgeable and explained everything well
Leonid_S, Apr 2026
everything was good it was small group 12 people total included me and my wife one thingth was not so comfortable is the rest of the group was Spanish speaking and only two of us were English speaking and most of the time the tour guide was speaking Spanish
Debbie_W, Apr 2026
Booked the tour several months in advance. The tour description and what we received did not match. We were placed on a party bus with not enough seats for everyone. Two of us had to sit on speakers in the back because that was obviously enough space for a human to fit. No air conditioned van with small group, 4 inches to view out the window. Crowded, was constantly late starting and at each stop, and the 4 hour tour lasted 7 hours. Very unpleasant experience.
Carmela_P, Apr 2026
It was a great experience to go see the old and new locks. We were there for at least an hour by the new locks to get to see how they operate. We then went to the other side to see how the old locks worked.
Dawn_M, Apr 2026
No rainforest. The bus stopped by the side of the road to point out monkeys. Meet up was very confusing. No person to advise. Bus had no markings. Trip did not leave on time. No stickers to identify people in our group. Very haphazard.
Nigel_M, Apr 2026
A late night party bus for a general tour wasn’t a good idea for all age groups with hard seats and 4 hrs just to see the Panama locks only 7 miles away. It was a 4 hrs tour max to see lock jungle with monkeys that didn’t happen and a fort for 8 hours waste of time and money discussing
Ann_R, Mar 2026
The new locks and the old locks are very interesting to see. You get to watch the ships go through. The fort was ok
Robin_J, Mar 2026
The bus was actually a school bus that was a party bus with no air! Although the tour guide was wonderful and informative the experience ended with an accident close to the port and had to take another bus back.
Zahra_O, Mar 2026
It was a good tour. Martin was very knowledgeable. Only reason I took off a star is because we weren't actually picked up at the port, we had to walk about 10mins to meet the bus. I want a fan of the large 'party bus' but that's more my preference.
That aside, we learned a great deal and it was a very good experience
Mark_M, Mar 2026
The guides were very friendly and helpful. The tour was on time and we got to see all the sights. They even stopped to see some animals along the way. The bus was really fun and unique!
Emma_T, Mar 2026
Canal expansion was interesting, guide was really nice and friendly, very informative. Could possibly do with another stop as it felt we were on the bus a lot and didn’t see much else of Panama
Karen_T, Mar 2026
This was a nice introduction to sites in the Colon area. The canal was interesting. I enjoyed the drive to the fort and appreciated the short stops along the way for animals and the bridge. We would have liked more time at the fort.
Brian_G, Mar 2026
Such an interesting visit to the Panama Canal lock as well as to the only fort. We saw lots of different animals whilst travelling through the rain forest.
Our guide Milton was extremely informative.
Julie_D, Feb 2026
We were a group of about 20. Perfect size compared to the big cruise ship buses. Our guide, Milton, was vey well versed in Panama history and culture & of course the canal. He took any questions and kept us engaged! It was hot. Nice that cold bottled water and beer were provided along with a traditional empanada snack. The canal history past and present was fascinating. We were able to see a cargo ship move through the locks. We stopped along the way to the fort for a couple of wildlife sightings. The history of San Lorenzo fort at the mouth of the Chagres river was interesting. FYI: this part of the tour requires a bit of walking with little shade. All in all, a great tour a “snapshot” of Colon and the canal, an engineering marvel
Frances_K, Feb 2026
This was an amazing tour for cruise travelers whose ships aren't going thru the canal. To have a close up and birds eye view of how the locks work and the beauty of Gatun lake and the surrounding rainforest was better than any city tour. It was on my bucket list and the stop to walk around inside the San Lorenzo Fort was also worthwhile. The guide Elio was a wonderful historian and very good at finding wildlife - howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, coatimundi, aguti (?), etc. Our driver Randy was the best to get us photos from the tall bridge and we were treated to handmade empanadas. They made sure we had adequate (clean!) restroom stops. The best part was making sure we returned to port on time and we appreciated riding on a comfortable modern air-conditioned bus! This tour is typical of the Viator reputation for safe trips, terrific engaging guides. Don't book it with anyone else!
Randy_R, Feb 2026
A great Highlite tour of Eastern Panama. We visited both old and new locks. We got to see a ship working through the locks at Aqua Clare. The Guide and Van driver were very good and we stopped numerous times for Wildlife sightings on our trip through the rain forest.
Very good Directions to the Meeting point. The GPS point on Google Maps was spot on. Easy to identify the guide holding up a Viator Sign.
Dawn_K, Feb 2026
Tour was Just as described, we had a wonderful time. We saw lots of monkeys and cuatis in the wild and learned about the Panama Canal history
Kay_B, Feb 2026
What a great experience. I’ve never given much thought to the Panama Canal but was amazed by it and we saw a tanker going through the new lock. We then were driven to the old lock which was equally amazing. We then drove through the rain forest and saw monkeys and sloths and ended at the old fort which was very interesting. Our guide Elio was lovely and didn’t take us anywhere he would get a cut, which I appreciated. Our driver Brian drove safely and was a great wildlife spotter. We got bottled water , Panama beer and crisps the only downside was we didn’t stop for coffee
Daniel_K, Feb 2026
This was a great tour! Milton was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide. Panama Canal was amazing and enjoyed the fort!
John_T, Feb 2026
Milton was very knowledgeable and informative. He gave a very thorough and interesting history of the canal.
Kerry_B, Feb 2026
We had the misfortune of going to the fort before going to the canal. We spent so much time at the fort that we didn't get to see the ship actually go through the canal before we had to leave. Was it worth it? Yes. I just wish we had flipped the two stops.
Mindy_P, Jan 2026
We had the best time! Seeing the canal was a bucket list experience! Our guide, Elio was so knowledgeable and friendly! Highly recommend!
BELLASCHILLY, Jan 2026
Great excursion, easy to find meeting place. Great communicator. Staff worked hard to make sure you had a great time!!!
Elizabeth_W, Jan 2026
Our guide, Arsenio, and our driver were both fantastic! Arsenio shared a wealth of information about Panama and the fort. Our driver made frequent stops for us to see the wildlife. We have nothing but praise for our experience with Arsenio and our driver. The bus on the other hand, not so good. We had a group of 25 people crammed into a small tour bus with even smaller bench seats. One person could sit comfortably while the second person sat half way in the isle. The bus was far too small and crowded for a longer tour like this. We also weren’t aware that we would have to pay to enter the second stop on the itinerary which was the lock. In addition to paying $80 for the tour, we each had to pay another $10pp to get in to see the ships pass thru the canal. I don’t believe this extra cost was explained accurately in the tour summary so I wanted to call it out. The excursion cost is actually $90/person if you want to pass thru the gates to see the locks.
James_J, Jan 2026
Excellent tour. Helo and Brian were great. We seen a lot of wildlife . You will be sorry if you miss this tour.
Alicia_K, Jan 2026
The driver (Brian) and guide (Ello) went out if there way to find us all types of animals to take pictures of. Very informative. Highly recommend.
Karen_S, Nov 2025
Our guide Arsenio was friendly and full of information. He made our tour fun as he educated us.
We loved seeing the container cargo ship go through the new locks at Aqua Clara .
The history of the fort and its place in Panama history was interesting.
Ruth_S, Oct 2025
This tour takes you to see the Agua Clara lock at the new expansion canal & then you cross the Atlantic Bridge & stop at the older Gatun lock. Then there’s a drive through the rainforest to spot animals on your way to Fort Lorenzo. The remains & history of the fort are interesting, and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. We were very fortunate so see a family of monkeys there. The tour bus was very comfortable. Arcinio was very knowledgeable about the area and it’s history.
From $80.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Cruiseline Excursion Colon: Rainforest, San Lorenzo Fort and Canal Expansion
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