Panama Canal Full Transit Tour

Recommended by 92% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Panama City, Panama

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

12 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6

· marcia_w ·

Feb 2026

Very well organised day trip through the Panama Canal, ocean to ocean fulfilling a lifelong dream. The comentary was excellent giving lots of information, facts & figures too. We were fed well with breakfast, lunch & a substantial mid-afternoon snack + drinks. The experience of travelling through the locks is fascinating & the scenery is wonderful especially through Gatun Lake.

· Susan_S ·

Feb 2026

Great tour. Staff did a great job keeping everything clean and well-organized. Food was very good. Wonderful experience.

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Overview

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.

Travel the entirety of the Panamá Canal on a boat journey
Admire the engineering of the canal as you pass through all three sets of locks
Breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages are provided

What's Included

Breakfast
Lunch
Professional guide
Snacks in the afternoon
Unlimited sodas and waters
Bus transportation from Colon back to Panama

Alcoholic beverages onboard

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Panama Canal Tours Pacific Queen
WF6H+JM3, Panama City, Panama
Located behind the Duty Free, next to the PANAMA sign. Please Note: The exact check-in time will be confirmed the day before your tour via email. Please make sure you check your inbox.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

04/18/2026 - 04/18/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
05/16/2026 - 05/16/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
06/20/2026 - 06/20/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
07/18/2026 - 07/18/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
08/15/2026 - 08/15/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
09/19/2026 - 09/19/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
10/17/2026 - 10/17/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
11/21/2026 - 11/21/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
12/19/2026 - 12/19/2026
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
01/16/2027 - 01/16/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
02/20/2027 - 02/20/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
03/20/2027 - 03/20/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
04/17/2027 - 04/17/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
05/15/2027 - 05/15/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
06/19/2027 - 06/19/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
07/17/2027 - 07/17/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
08/21/2027 - 08/21/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
09/18/2027 - 09/18/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
10/16/2027 - 10/16/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
11/20/2027 - 11/20/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
12/18/2027 - 12/18/2027
Saturday : 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM

Itinerary

Traverse the entirety of the Panama Canal on this exciting full-day tour. Make your way to the Flamenco Marina to start your tour and board a small vessel to marvel at the engineering marvel.

Sail from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean passing through all three sets of locks, including the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. Cruise along the scenic Gatun Lake, sail the Chagres River, and see the Centennial Bridge during your tour.

Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and beverages onboard as your expert guide narrates the canal's rich history and construction. The tour concludes in Colón, where a shuttle transports you back to Panamá City.

Panama Marine Adventures

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bridge of the Americas (Pass By)

Panama Canal

Admission Ticket Included

Gatun Lake

Admission Ticket Free

Chagres River (Pass By)

Barro Colorado Island (Pass By)

Centennial Bridge (Pass By)

Gatun Lake (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please Note: The exact check-in time will be confirmed the day before your tour via email. Please make sure you check your inbox.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 180 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

marcia_w

Reviews

4.6

based on 288 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Must Do if visiting Panamá

Stellamarie_R, Mar 2026

Great learning experience about the Canal of Panama. The tour guide (José) was very knowledgeable and gave the information in Spanish and English. He also answered all questions asked. The scenary is really pretty, especially if sitting on the right side of the ship. Things to consider, use a good sunscreen and reapply as the sun can be brutal. A hand fan can be beneficial if staying at the top floor of the ship. Otherwise, the view can be appreciated on the 1st and 2nd floor with AC. If you have food limitations, reach out beforehand or bring your own snacks as the menu is set and might not accomodate any dietary restrictions.

The chairs are not very...

Emily_C, Mar 2026

The chairs are not very comfortable to sit up on deck and watch the canal. They did have indoor seating at tables, so you didn't have to stay outside the whole time. They served breakfast and lunch but there was not a lot of options. Lunch was a green salad and pasta salad. Then they had a snack late in the day of a mini ham sandwich on a bun, granola bar and banana. When you get off the boat there are no bathrooms on the bus on the ride back to the Pacific side. They had bottles of water and potato chips available for purchase.

Great tour. Staff did a...

Susan_S, Feb 2026

Great tour. Staff did a great job keeping everything clean and well-organized. Food was very good. Wonderful experience.

Lifelong dream

marcia_w, Feb 2026

Great full canal experience

lana1227, Jan 2026

This is a fantastic tour, yes it is a long day. We left our hotel at 5:30 am and didn’t get back till 8pm. But the whole trip was very well organized, interesting, and an enjoyable day on a boat. It’s an excellent way to experience the whole length of the Panama Canal. The boat is ‘crowded’ and some passengers are better at having space sharing awareness than others but considering 180+ people on the boat for 8 hours. It was well organized and pretty easy to see things. If this is on your must do, this was a great way to do it. Food provided is nice. Guide on boat is very interesting and informative (we had Patrcio). Boat was nice and ride was smooth. The only thing I’d suggest be changed is where the tour ends if the busses dropped off near old town or city center, or even start of marina , rather than have the buses take everyone back to the end of marina and then likely most of us had to get taxis and sit in traffic to come back the way we just came.

Great way to see the Panama Canal.

Dianne_B, Jan 2026

Book early! Fills quickly and well worth the wait and reasonably priced. Great way to experience the canal and enjoy the locks.

All You Need to Know about the Full Canal Crossing!

Adam_N, Jan 2026

As another guest noted, “This is really for history geeks.” I would agree. While this can certainly be considered a once-in-a-lifetime journey for some, I can also understand how it can be relatively boring for others. This isn’t the tour operator’s fault — it’s just the nature of the beast. The journey takes about ten hours (you depart around 7am and dock at about 5pm, then board a nice bus for a nearly two-hour drive back to Panama City). We arrived back at the starting point at 6:45pm, but staff remarked that our Canal journey was pretty quick, so be advised you might get back later (traffic on the drive back is another factor). Going through the Canal’s first set of locks is pretty amazing and takes about 45 minutes. After that, however, you journey through another set of locks (another 45 minutes) and kind of lose interest. There aren’t any sites to see — just open water, huge freight ships and oil tankers, and uninhabited islands. The journey is slow since ships in the Canal must maintain a slow speed. The final set of locks (when you enter into the Atlantic and just want to get off the boat!) takes well over an hour. The ship is clean and has three decks — two interior decks that are air conditioned, and a top deck that unfortunately doesn’t have a ton of seating (about 75% of the seats are in the shade). While the food isn’t very good, at least it comes steadily. Breakfast is fruit, eggs and hot dogs, and yogurt. Lunch is salad, cold pasta chicken salad, and a cookie. A late afternoon snack consisted of a banana, a small ham and cheese sandwich, and a granola bar. Soda and water is always free, and beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase. If you don’t like how this sounds, you can certainly bring your own food — they don’t seem to prohibit personal items on board, and most guests carried small backpacks. Checkin was stated to begin at 6:30am, but started around 6:20am. Guests began arriving between 6-6:15am and started lining up. I’d encourage you to do the same if you want a seat on the upper deck at the start of the trip. Since the trip is so long, people definitely move around, but we stood until about 10am once we were through the first two sets of locks. (Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a refillable water bottle!) Lots of guests fell asleep on the trip midway through, especially since the start time is so early. The biggest compliment I can give is to the staff — everyone we encountered was extremely friendly, and all were English speakers. The tour guide was incredible; he spoke for nearly all ten hours of the journey in both English and Spanish (without written notes!), providing ample interesting information about the Canal along the way. (I strongly recommend a visit to the Panama Canal Museum before you go on this journey, as it will add to your enjoyment.) Our journey was sold out at least a month or two in advance, with 190 people on a boat that fits 250. We heard from one person that she got a ticket about two days prior because she called the trip operator directly and convinced them to put her on a waitlist. They told her seats never open up, but that clearly wasn’t the case. The main reasons I gave this four stars (instead of five) are for the “meh” food and the fact that there really isn’t enough outdoor seating, especially since most everyone wants to be outside for the first few hours of the journey. But those aren’t reasons not to take this trip — it’s the only full Canal crossing available unless you’re on a major cruise line. But I’m also letting you know that unless you’re SUPER excited about doing a full Canal crossing (from Pacific to Atlantic), maybe you should look into this tour operator’s shorter Canal excursions.

One of the best tours I ever had

Vitaliy_D, Dec 2025

If you are thrilled with the history of the Pnanama Canal, then this tour will be a tour of your life

Great tour. You'll board...

Heather_A, Dec 2025

Great tour. You'll board faster if you bring the QR code from the provider printed out rather than the Viator one on your phone.

The Full Transit which we...

Frank_b, Nov 2025

The Full Transit which we had tickets for today 11/15/2025 was Cancelled due to a boat mechanical failure. We came to Panama solely for this experience. To say we are disappointed and angry is an Understatement. We were told we would be transferred to a partial transit on Sunday with us receiving a partial refund. As of 7:40 pm today 11/15/2025, we Still Do Not have tickets for tomorrow, know where to meet or what time!!!!!

Must do activity in Panama!

Juanita_H, Oct 2025

It was an all day event but well worth it. The weather was perfect for the full transit through the canal. You get a good breakfast, lunch and snack and they have alcoholic beverages for purchase. It was well organized and we were fortunate it was a great group for the trip. Don’t miss this opportunity to go through the entire canal.

Great if you want to sell...

WalterFL, Oct 2025

Great if you want to sell on the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean all in the same day. Transportation back to Panama City is lacking.

Worth it!! Must do!!

Melanie_T, Oct 2025

What a wonderful experience!! This engineering marvel was so much more interesting to see from a small boat (vs from land at the Miraflores viewing platform or from a large cruise ship). We were able to go through the original locks, riding through each one with this massive (though empty) oil tanker! Our tour operator, Panama Marine Adventures, was very timely and organized. We were served breakfast (scrambled eggs, sausage with peppers and onions, fresh pineapple, yogurt, and a roll), lunch (chilled pasta salad with shredded chicken, mixed green salad with dressing, and a chocolate chip cookie), and a light snack (small ham & cheese roll, granola bar, and banana) in the afternoon. We had access to unlimited water and sodas throughout the day too. And I believe there were some beers and other little snacks and candy you could purchase. The food was actually really tasty, especially the fresh pineapple at breakfast and pasta salad with shredded chicken, at lunch! The staff was very nice and attentive. There were at least 5 or 6 bathrooms on board and we only had lines when it was nearing the time to get off the boat and get on the bus back to Panama City. There were lots of seats, inside and outside of the boat. The air conditioning inside was excellent!! So, if you just got too hot outside, you had the ability to go in and cool off for a bit. Our guide for the day, Jose, was fabulous!!! Panama Marine Adventures hires him a couple of times a month; so hopefully you get on one of his boats. He is so knowledgeable and speaks fluently in both English and Spanish. He was always open to questions and was always thoughtful about translating any questions and answers regardless of who asked. So, you never felt like you weren’t getting all the same interesting details and history just because you only spoke one or the other language. Jose truly was so very nice! He even answered questions about other parts of Panama we plan to visit, because he has been all over his country and loves helping people exeperience all that it has to offer. Now, there really aren’t any other operators out there that offer full transit tours anymore (post covid). But do not worry. Panama Marine Adventures does an excellent job! My only suggestion to them might be to add a few more details on the meeting spot at the beginning of the day. They mention their “office behind the duty free store by the big Panama sign”. It’s not really their office (if you google their office on google maps, you don’t get anything in Flamenco Marina). There is a little “kiosk” of sorts. So, maybe referencing the Amphora Duty Free (by name) and providing their address (Calzada de amador, Isla Flamenco, Fuerte Amador Local #1 Panamá Panamá, Panama) at the end of Amador Causeway would make it SUPER clear. But we were obviously able to figure it out without issue and had such an amazing time! I hope they keep offering it! Partial transit is ok, but I really think getting a chance to travel all the way from the Pacific in the morning to the Caribbean/Atlantic in the afternoon is worth every dollar you spend and minute you experience. Would highly recommend this tour!!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the full transit experience, the food, and our crew’s service — especially Jose! We appreciate your helpful note about the meeting point and will make it clearer for future guests. We’re so glad you had an amazing day with us and hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Excellent Tour with Great Guide and Views

Claudia_O, Aug 2025

We had an amazing experience on the full Panama Canal transit tour! Our guide was not only knowledgeable but also very entertaining—he kept everyone engaged and had answers to every question, no matter how detailed. The food service was well thought out, with breakfast, lunch, and even midafternoon snacks provided, which made the long day very comfortable. The transit itself was fascinating from start to finish. Even though it rained at times, we were still able to see everything clearly and enjoy the full journey. Overall, it was a truly memorable and educational day—highly recommended for anyone visiting Panama!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the full Panama Canal transit and that our guide, meals, and service made the day memorable. Rain or shine, it’s always a fascinating journey—thanks for recommending us!

Must See

Judy_D, Aug 2025

Jose was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and kept us informed. The works of the canal was amazing. This experience is a must do.

A Great Way to Learn About and See the Canal

Kelly_W, Jul 2025

This was a fantastic tour - the crew was so genuinely friendly and helpful. The guide was not only well-informed, but very personable. They engaged with everyone who had questions and even nerded out with us about ecology and biology. It was great to get both breakfast and lunch, and then a snack. We had a mechanical issue that cut our trip short unexpectedly, and we still thoroughly enjoyed every moment. This tour is great if you want to see everything about the canal from the scenery to the function, and learn about history. There is a lot of time to relax and enjoy just being on a very nice cruise.

A Must Do To Experience The Panama Canal

Mike_A, Jun 2025

This was by far one of the best tours that we have taken. It was extremely professional and run like a well oiled machine. Bravo to all of the staff, guide, and crew.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear this was one of the best tours you've taken. Our team works hard to ensure everything runs smoothly, so your kind words about the professionalism and coordination mean a lot to us. I’ll be sure to pass along your praise to our staff, guide, and crew—they’ll be delighted to hear it. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!

Great experience on the full transit Canal tour.

Debbie_F, May 2025

Super interesting tour and it was cool to see how the locks work on both sides. I was afraid the full transit would be boring and joked to bring a hammock along, lol. But I was pleasantly surprised and absorbed the info like a scholar. Seeing the big ships and transits in action is priceless. Food was simple but tasty, and personnel was super friendly. The guide was knowledgeable and funny too. I liked being able to get out of the sun and heat, to the cooler decks below. Overall this was a great tour and well worth the money.

Excellent experience

Carrie_C, May 2025

Great experience. You're up close to everything. The boat was comfortable, the food and service was good The guide was excellent. Don't waste time and money on a cruise.

Great!!!

Leonidas_G, Apr 2025

This is an amazing experience. I enjoyed it a lot. The Canal is a wonderful engineering site. Long day but worth it.

This is a great...

Leonidas_G, Apr 2025

This is a great experience! Long day, but worth it. Very organized! And the canal is impressive! I had a great time.

Excellent Experience

Mark_M, Apr 2025

Long day, but worth it. Tour was very well organized from check in to final drop off. Staff was absolutely first class, food was good and plentiful, and the experience was just amazing. Great to pass through the whole cannel system and not just 2 locks.

It was well organized and...

KIM_H, Apr 2025

It was well organized and there are plenty of food and drinks. The staff is very nice. 100 minimum characters?

Worth every penny

Madelaine_K, Mar 2025

A highlight of our trip. Our guide was and engaging speaker and knowledgeable about the canal, both it's history and current operations. The food is simple, as is necessary to feed 100 people on a boat, but tasty and filling. It's a very well organised day. Long and hot if you stay on the open deck but the views are worth it.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your trip with us was a highlight of your journey. It’s great to know you enjoyed our guide’s insights, the organization of the day, and the stunning views. We appreciate your understanding about the meal service and are glad you found it satisfying. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience!

Great Experience - and should not be missed

Thomas_S, Mar 2025

This was a great experience. The breakfast, lunch and snack on board were all good and well organised. Edwin’s commentary on events and points of interest relating to the canal was exceptional. The transfer to the great coaches, for return to Panama was again well done. This was truly a GREAT experienced and recommended to all.

A banner day

Priscilka_A, Mar 2025

From beginning to end, this trip was just the best. Viator took such good care of us, made sure we were comfortable, enjoying our time and provided great transportation and meals.

Great Experience

Clint_P, Mar 2025

It's a great tour. Well-narrated and casual. It's a long day -5:30 am-7:00 pm but well worth the time and money. The food is good too! I'd advise getting to the dockside kiosk plenty early.

Great experience!

Janis_I, Feb 2025

Well organized, great narrator, good food, and a great way to see the full Panama Canal. The ship, Pacific Queen, is starting to show it’s age but it worked out fine.

A dream comes true

Winnie_L, Feb 2025

I have been wanting to do a transition throught Panama Cannal for a long time.but I do not want to spend 15 dya on a cruise ship because I do not want to visit other port cities on the route and waste my time. Once I found this tour on Viata website, I immediately booked it. It was a wonderful experience and we really enjoyed it.