Discover Panama: History of the City and the Canal
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Panama City, Panama
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
What's Included
- WiFi on board
- Private transportation
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled waterOnly if you request it
- Soda/PopOnly if requested
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Tickets
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We pick up throughout Panama City, Marcos A. Gelabert Albrook Airport and Playa Bonita Veracruz. Note: We do not pick up at the Cruise Port of the city of Colón. Note: Price does not include Tocumen International Airport. Note: All reservations that have a pick-up point outside the city center such as airports, ports, resorts or airBnB, etc. They will have to pay an additional pickup charge
Itinerary
1
Panama Canal
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
San Felipe
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Causeway Amador
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Question (1)
Q:How much is admission to the Panama Canal Museum?
A:Admission to the museum is not included and must be paid upon arrival at the museum. Current pricing is USD 15 for adults and USD 5 for children ages 12 and under. Please note, that admission rates are subject to change at any time.
Jan 2024
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 462 reviews
Hollie_P, Apr 2026
Dennis was a wealth of knowledge. We would definitely go on tours with him again. My mother is a nervous rider and she was nervous the whole time.
charlie_C, Mar 2026
Our tour guide was Dennis. He was very sociable, knowledgeable regarding the canal and the history of Panama, and his English was excellent!! Be sure to ask for him if you book this tour
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Desr Charlie.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! It was truly a pleasure guiding you and sharing the fascinating history of the Panama Canal and our country.
I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and felt well-informed throughout the day. Providing a personal and knowledgeable experience is always my top priority, and your recommendation means the world to me.
I hope to welcome you back to Panama in the future for more adventures!
Warm regards,
Dennis Roberts.
Chris_D, Mar 2026
The tour guides arrived on time and drove directly to the canal, but had great entertaining stories along the way. The canal was just the right amount of information and background for you to appreciate the huge engineering fee that it is.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! It was a pleasure sharing the stories behind Panama's history with you. I'm glad you enjoyed the balance of information at the Canal—it truly is a world-class engineering marvel, and I love helping guests appreciate the scale of it.
Safe travels, and I hope to see you again for another adventure!
Dennis Roberts.
BobCaviness, Feb 2026
Somehow I must have clicked and booked a full month earlier than intended. The tour operator reached out to me the day before to discuss details when I realized the mistake and I asked if it could be moved. They went dead silent, I got charged anyway and I would not recommend viator or this tour to anyone. I get that I made a mistake but to be charged $160 bucks and then just left out to dry and not even talked to about it... It's just wrong!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Dear Bob,
I am disappointed to see your review, especially after our conversation yesterday. To be clear, the booking error was on your end (booking Feb 20th for a March 20th tour). Despite this being outside of our modification policy, we reached out to you proactively to help you avoid losing your money.
During our call, we offered you two clear paths: a refund or rescheduling. You chose to reschedule for March 20th. We also discussed the necessary pick-up fees for the Caribbean side, which you refused.
We went out of our way to accommodate your mistake to maintain our high standards of service. However, since you have chosen to leave a negative review despite our efforts to resolve your error, we will no longer be offering a refund. We will proceed based strictly on the original booking terms.
Regards,
Tony_F, Feb 2026
I usually don't waste my time reviewing what should be expected service for compensation rendered. Unless it was exceptionally bad or good. This was definitely the latter.
The tour is worth every penny. It's a private 5 hour tour of the main highlights of the city with your own guide in an air conditioned vehicle; the old town, canal, causeway, etc. Dennis was our guide and he was fantastic. He was knowledgable, personable, polite, presented very well and even patient enough to help with our rudimentary Spanish when asked (he spoke fluent English). He was on time, informative, stopped at all the places you would want to, patiently waited while we took pictures and walked around. He guided us through areas that we would want to see, helped through the maze of lines and crowds, did the little things that made the experience comfortable and worthwhile, eg., remotely rolling down the windows after visiting the canal so we didn't walk into a steaming vehicle! Solid, thoughtful.
If you have limited time and don't want to waste an entire day, I would highly recommend Dennis and this tour.
Maureen_F, Feb 2026
Our tour with Dennis was wonderful. He took us to the old old town San Felipe first. He took us through the museum there. And then we explored a bit on our own including climbing up the tower. Dennis deftly navigated traffic and timed our visit to the MiraFlora locks in time for the film and to see a ship pass through. You do have to climb some stairs to get on the bleachers to see the locks. And squeeze in if it is a busy time. After we made our way to the Amador causeway. Dennis is self-taught in English and it's just amazing how well he speaks it. We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and our day with Dennis. We highly recommend his company.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience! It was a true pleasure guiding you through San Felipe, the Canal, and the Amador Causeway. I always strive to make each tour personal and enjoyable, so I’m delighted to know you appreciated the timing, the stories, and our conversations. Your recommendation means a lot, and I look forward to welcoming you again to discover even more of Panama’s wonders.
DrAngie_B, Feb 2026
Our tour with Dennis was very nice. He arrived on time, the car was very comfortable with AC ( very important for hot Panama City weather). We were able to see the important sites in Panama City. Along the tour, he explained the history of the city and the canal. We even got to see a few sloths very close, an added bonus and made our day. All in all, we had a wonderful time.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review! I’m glad you enjoyed the comfort of the ride and the chance to explore Panama City’s highlights, from its rich history to the Canal. Spotting sloths up close was indeed a special bonus, and I’m happy it made your day even more memorable. It’s always my goal to combine comfort, timing, and authentic storytelling so that every guest feels connected to Panama. I truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again for more discoveries.
Kerry_P, Feb 2026
First—our cruise ship came into the port at Colon. We chose to stay around the area vs going over to Panama City area which is 60-90 minutes away. We did the Gatan locks-old and new- and the fort. We had been thru the canal in 2017. I booked this several months ago. Dennis-our guide/driver responded right away after booking. He was quick to answer any questions about the tour ahead of time. A few days before, he confirmed and also sent a pic of him. He met us outside the port area. He is an excellent tour guide and driver. He stayed with us the entire time and provided information about Panama, the locks and the fort.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m delighted to know you enjoyed exploring the Gatun Locks, the fort, and the history of Panama. Communication and preparation are very important to me, so I’m glad the confirmations and details ahead of time made you feel comfortable. It was a pleasure meeting you at the port and spending the day together, sharing stories and insights about my country. Your kind words mean a lot, and I look forward to welcoming you again to discover even more of Panama’s wonders.
Elizabeth_S, Jan 2026
Alex was the BEST guide. As a local, his perspective was golden. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because it lasted 3hours.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I’m delighted to know you enjoyed Alex’s local perspective—it’s always special to share Panama through the eyes of someone who truly knows its culture and history. I appreciate your note about the tour length; your input helps us improve and tailor experiences even more. We’re grateful for your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again for another memorable adventure in Panama.
Kathryn_M, Dec 2025
Wonderful private tour - and adjusted based on areas we had already seen/explored ourselves. We got a lot of historical information as well as great restaurant recommendations. I am not a big fan of tours in general so the private tour was a compromise with my husband and I didn’t regret it! We got to see all of the sights, stop where we wanted and move quickly where we wanted. The canal itself was insanely busy but watching the locks and the iMax was worth it.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
I’m so glad you enjoyed the private tour and that it felt tailored to your interests. Sharing Panama’s history and local flavors is always a joy, and I’m happy the Canal experience and recommendations added to your day. Thank you for trusting me with your visit!
sandy, Dec 2025
The guide Daniel picked us up on time from the hotel. Very good car (BMW SUV).
Danial was a very enthusiastic 26 year old man who was eager to explain things, but his English was not good enough and it was very difficult to understand him. However, he was enthusiastic, pleasant and courteous. I feel they need to use guides with better English for english speaking clients.
Natalie_S, Dec 2025
Our experience on this tour was excellent. Dennis was the perfect guide for our group. He was family friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, kind, and patient. He enhanced our experience through his dutiful photography, expert driving, and had an extensive knowledge of the history, culture, architecture, and food of Panama. In addition, he was responsive and considerate. It was a great, authentic experience that we highly enjoyed and was a great way to begin our trip to Panama.
ndelemar, Dec 2025
Had an amazing time on this tour! Gustav was a phenomenal tour guide and I highly recommend this tour!
Alex_A, Dec 2025
Fernando did an excellent job. He was knowledgeable and super personable. Went above and beyond in every way from providing us was with water and an umbrella when it started to get too hot. We even got to see sloths on our drive!
Delise_B, Dec 2025
Dennis was an amazing guide and super easy to work with. We changed hotels, as well as made some modifications to the itinerary which he accommodated easily. He has a great knowledge of the Panama Canal as well as Casco Viejo. I highly recommend taking his tour. He was also able to assist us with transportation to the cruise port in Colon.
Jerri_C, Nov 2025
Dennis did a great job! We were in port on a Holland America cruise. We elected to do a private tour while in port. This was a perfect half day excursion with just me and my husband. Our tour guide, Dennis, was very knowledgeable and kind and we feel we got a real highlight of Panamá City in about 5 hours. The only drawback was we had to walk from the cruise port building to the security gate to meet him outside the security gate which was about a 5 minute walk outside. If you have mobility challenges, tell your tour guide you will pay for them to get inside the security gates to pick you up as they are charged for each person. On the return, he was allowed in by security for no charge with the showing of our cruise pass card.
Josetta_M, Nov 2025
Driver/guide was sensitive to our needs. One member of the pair was mobility challenged and do our goal was an informative and doable experience. The. Dialogue of the tour guide was very important to us. He did a very good job,
Baba_B, Oct 2025
Dennis was amazing! He was attentive to us, very informative, and provide an awesome experience. Highly recommend him and this tour for lovers of history and enthusiasts
Kathryn_A, Aug 2025
Dennis was so informative, friendly, knowledgeable and really has a passion for sharing the Panamanian history. He went out of his way to time our visit to the canal to be present while ships were passing. He offered to take photos throughout the day. The traffic and drivers were an obstacle he handles with ease and we felt very safe traveling with him. We cannot recommend this experience enough!
Dixie_M, Aug 2025
Guide was amazing!!!! He catered the experience to our needs and the weather. I was so fortunate to have had this experience. Blessed.
Taaheast_A, Aug 2025
I had an amazing experience on our Panama tour with Dennis! He was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing so much rich history and insight about the country in a way that was both engaging and easy to follow. Dennis was also very patient, making sure everyone felt comfortable and had time to ask questions, shop and take photos. Beyond that, he was personable and friendly it felt like we were exploring with a friend.
I highly recommend doing this tour as soon as you arrive in Panama. We explored places we wish we had known about earlier in our trip it definitely would have helped shape some of our plans. Don’t miss this experience!
Pamela_T, Jul 2025
Dennis was fantastic tour guide, not only did we visited the canal and other sites, he show up where the sleuth hangout and we learned so much about the country, culture, and the people of Panama. we highly recommend this tour due to all the knowledge and Panamanian perspectives he gave us. 5 stars!!
Corinne_C, Jul 2025
Dennis is a very knowledgeable guide! The tour is information-packed, and well-paced. A great education and conversation!
Joseph_K, Jul 2025
Dennis was very knowledgeable about the history of Panama. I would recommend you do this first thing to get the lay of the land. He was gracious and pleasant would recommend for anyone.
Terika_B, Jul 2025
Dennis was absolutely AMAZING!! He took his time sharing Panama's rich history with us and he was very thorough. He was extremely well informed and definitely has a passion for the country. I would recommend him 1000 times.
Telaya_P, Jul 2025
Our guide Fernando was absolutely amazing! He was very knowledgeable. He went above to make our experience great! He really enjoys his job and it shows. I highly recommend this tour, Fernando makes it even better.
Art_W, May 2025
We really enjoyed Dennis. Since it was a private tour, he adapted the tour to our needs. We were specifically interested in History. He was very knowledgable and took us to see the canal in a very informative way. Also we told him we were not interested in shopping, so we spent time in old town at historical sites learning differences between how the Americans, Spanish and the French contributed to the architecture . I was so happy that we had him with whom to spend the day. We would HiGHLY recommend him.
Mark_S, May 2025
Fantastic way to see the city! Dennis is awesome. His passion for his work made our 1/2 day tour a memorable experience. The canal visit was super interesting, including the 40-minute IMAX movie. His english is flawless. We highly recommend this private tour!
Silena_S, Apr 2025
What can I say? Dennis, our guide was absolutely everything you would want in a guide! He was knowledgable and fun! He was able to answer and all the questions we had about the canal and old town. He speaks perfect English and while we were on our tour, other guides told us numerous times what a great guy he is. We found out for ourselves and agree 💜
Donna_F, Apr 2025
Dennis is incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the canal and Panama bringing to the best spots. He will alter the day to your liking and stop at locations upon request!
From $60.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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