ENES

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Casco Antiguo seen from the bay, with the dome and bell tower of a colonial church

Tours & experiences in Panama

The Canal, the old city, the mountains, the rainforest and the water. Private or for your group, planned around your days and coordinated with your transportation.

Panama Essentials

The Canal and the city: the experiences most visitors come for.

Nature & Culture

Mountains, forest and one of Panama’s living cultures, within a day of the city.

Red-eyed tree frog, a forest species of Panama
Red-eyed tree frog, a forest species of Panama

El Valle Escape

About 6 hours, round trip from Panama City

A mountain town inside an ancient volcano.

Water & Wildlife

The rainforest lake at the heart of the Canal.

Monkey Island & Gatún Lake

Wildlife sightings vary naturally and are never guaranteed.

View experience
White-faced capuchin monkey resting on a palm branch
Keel-billed toucan perched on a branch

Fish Panama

Three ways to spend a day on the water.

We plan good days on the water. Catches are never guaranteed.

A peacock bass held up after a catch on a Panama lake
Peacock bass, a lake catch in Panama
A rooftop heliport seen from directly above

Premium experiences

Panama From Above

Private helicopter flights over the city and the Canal, or private helicopter transfers. Available upon request.

Request a private flight

Custom Panama programs

Combine experiences, transfers, dinners and events into one program for your group, built around your dates.

Build your Panama program

Know before you go

Many visitors don’t know how Panama’s attractions differ. Casco Antiguo and Panamá Viejo, for example, are not the same place. Here is the short version.

  • A cargo ship inside the Miraflores Locks

    What is Miraflores?

    • The Miraflores Locks are on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, close to Panama City.
    • Ships are raised or lowered in two steps between the Pacific and Miraflores Lake.
    • The visitor center has observation terraces right beside the lock chambers.

    It is the easiest way to watch the Canal at work, a short drive from the city.

  • What is Agua Clara?

    • Agua Clara is the Atlantic-side set of locks of the expanded Canal, near Colón.
    • It opened with the Canal expansion in 2016 and handles Neopanamax ships.
    • Its visitor center looks over the new locks and toward Gatún Lake.

    It shows the Canal as it works today, at its largest scale.

  • Casco Antiguo from the bay, with the bell tower of the San Francisco church

    What is Casco Antiguo?

    • Casco Antiguo, also called Casco Viejo, is the historic district of Panama City, founded in 1673.
    • Its streets hold colonial architecture, plazas, churches, restaurants and rooftops.
    • It is a UNESCO World Heritage site together with Panamá Viejo.

    It is the living historic heart of the city, best explored on foot.

    1. 1519 Panama City founded here
    2. 1671 The city is destroyed
    3. 1673 Rebuilt at Casco Antiguo

    What is Panamá Viejo?

    • Panamá Viejo holds the archaeological remains of the original Panama City, founded in 1519 on the Pacific coast.
    • The city was destroyed in 1671 and rebuilt a few kilometers away, where Casco Antiguo stands today.
    • Its ruins include the tower of the old cathedral.

    It is not the same place as Casco Antiguo: it is where the city began.

  • Keel-billed toucan perched on a branch

    What is Gatún Lake?

    • Gatún Lake was formed in the 1910s when the Chagres River was dammed to build the Canal.
    • Ships cross it for part of their transit between the two oceans.
    • Its islands are former hilltops, covered in rainforest.

    It is where the Canal and the rainforest meet.

  • Red-eyed tree frog, a forest species of Panama
    Red-eyed tree frog, a forest species of Panama

    What is El Valle?

    • El Valle de Antón is a mountain town built inside the crater of an ancient volcano.
    • Its altitude brings cooler weather than Panama City.
    • It is surrounded by forest, viewpoints and trails.

    It is the quickest way to trade the city for the mountains.

  • Thatched houses of an Emberá community beside calm water

    Who are the Emberá?

    • The Emberá are one of the Indigenous peoples of Panama, with communities in the Darién and along the Chagres River.
    • Some communities welcome visitors and share their culture on their own terms.
    • Their traditions include music, dance and fine craftsmanship.

    Visiting with respect supports a living culture, not a performance.

Planning a Canal visit

Which Panama Canal visitor center should I choose?
Miraflores, on the Pacific side, is the closest to Panama City and the easiest to combine with a city tour. Agua Clara, near Colón on the Atlantic side, shows the expanded Canal and its Neopanamax locks, and takes about an hour and a half by road each way.
Can large groups visit the Panama Canal?
Yes. Group visits are planned in advance, with transportation, admission and timing coordinated together. Visitor center conditions can change, so we confirm the details with each proposal.
Can a Canal visit be combined with Casco Antiguo or Panamá Viejo?
Yes. The Panama City & Canal Experience starts at the Miraflores Locks and continues to Casco Antiguo, Panamá Viejo or both, in one day.

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The Going To Panama team, here in Panama

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