Always Available
This tour is availble every day of the week, every week of the month, every month of the year.
Flexible Schedule
This tour can run at any time of day, making one of the most flexible tours in our roster.
Group Deals
Scroll down to find Family Package and Deals for groups of 4 or more participants.
Panama canal & Lake Gatun
Monkey Islands
When the Chagres River was dammed to create the main body of water of the Panama Canal in 1914, the hilltops on the sides of the river became islands. We go around a group of these islands spotting for wildlife including three species of monkeys, crocodiles, birds, iguanas and more!
Shipping Lane
We will ride a small boat next to the huge vessels transiting the Panama Canal’s shipping lane.
Capuchins
Probably the worlds most famous monkeys! These guys will very like come close to the boat, maybe even get on it.
tamarins
Smallest species of monkey in Panama at 9 inches tall, these are the cutest little things featured on the picture right there.
howlers
I would have called them ‘Roarers’ as the sound they make is impressive and terrifying!
Monkey Islands
Posted onVerified Fantastische dag, alles in zijn puurste vorm Wij hebben de combinatie van Monkey eiland en Wounaan community gedaan met Gonzo. Gonzo weet exact de juiste plekken waar het minder toeristisch is. Hij heeft enorm veel kennis en vooral veel respect voor de apen/ natuur en de Wounaan community. Alles in zijn puurste vorm. Prachtige dag gehad met Gonzo, absoluut de beste reisleider van Panama!Posted onVerified An Unforgettable Experience with Gonzo and Beautiful Tours I would definitely recommend booking with Beautiful Tours and Gonzo to everyone. Gonzo is an amazing tour guide with an incredible knowledge of Panama and its history. His enthusiasm is contagious, and you leave the tour not only with a lot of new knowledge but also in a great mood.We did two tours with Gonzo and enjoyed both of them immensely. What really makes him stand out are his personal stories, insider tips, and the way he makes everyone feel comfortable and involved. It’s clear that he knows the people in the village very well, which adds an extra authentic and special touch to the experience.Posted onVerified Monkey and Village Tour We saw tons of monkeys...3 different species! Gonzo gives lots of history and interesting facts. It was all perfect!!!Posted onVerified The Best Guide and tours Gonzo was the best tour guide! He was so knowledgeable, happy, and answered all my many questions. He showed us monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, birds, and bats. He told us the history of things. He interacted with us and the people of the village perfectly. He made our trip so memorable.Posted onVerified Fantastic Bird Watching Tour. We organized a family bird watching tour on the Chagres River and Gatun Lake. Our family included two 80-year old,s one of which is in a wheel chair, and an active 10 year old, so I was a bit concerned about how smoothly things would go. I didn't need to be - the tour was excellent and the guides did a wonderful job of accommodating our needs! Everything was very well organized and communication was excellent. Our birding guide, Rafael, was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Our boat boat and van divers where also excellent and very friendly and helpful. We saw over 20 new species in addition to many of our favourites! We also saw 3 toed sloths, 3 species of monkeys, lots of iguanas (2 species) and a crocodile. The tour exceeded my expectations/hopes. Thank you Gonzo, Rafael and team for an excellent morning!Posted onVerified Wonderful day in old Panama City!!! Great visit to Casco Viejo and Panama Viejo! Our guide, Gonzalo was filled with knowledge of the history for both locations. He was very warm and friendly. We ended the tour with a delicious and authentic Panamanian lunch at Tripecishe’s. Highly recommend this tour!Posted onVerified Gonzo is a great tour guide Full disclosure. We were lucky to have Gonzo as our guide through a different tour company. We liked him so much, that I wanted to write a review for his company as well. Gonzo was fantastic for 2 full day tours with our group of 8. Throughout both days, Gonzo gave us a continual history lesson. We had a great time exploring the canal, the city and then Monkey Island and the indigenous community the next day. The kids (ages 12-18) in our group all liked Gonzo and he made a point to spend time with each of us each day. I hope this review will help Gonzo build his family business. He’s a natural tour guide and a lot of fun.Posted onVerified Informative, friendly, helpful Carlos gave an excellent tour of Panamá Viejo and Casco Viejo. He is knowledgeable, courteous, and accommodating. I’m very pleased with the experience.Posted onVerified A “ Beautiful” experience The first thing that the guide Gonzo was punctual. He spoke clearly and with excitement in his voice throughout the tour. He appeared to be passionate about relating the history of Panamá. In sharing a few of his experiences, it added to this tour being so much more genuine, interesting and enjoyable. I will certainly recommend this tour and host without hesitation.Posted onVerified Beautiful Tours Panama for Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (Plz note that this review was resubmitted to correct a typo in Gonzo’s last name. No other changes). Our tour was provided by Beautiful Tours Panama. Our tour guide was Gonzo Horna, also the owner. Simply put, he did a fantastic job. He picked us up at the hotel on time. His vehicle was very clean and had great air-conditioning. His written and verbal skills were exceptional and he responded very promptly to any and all questions via text prior to the tour. When we first met Gonzo, his English was so excellent that you would’ve thought he had relocated here from the States. However, he’s a native born Panamanian. Once we entered the van, he reviewed the day so as to manage expectations and give us a better understanding of the two UNESCO sites that we would be seeing. He has a pleasing personality and was very open to any and all discussions, suggestions and questions. We first visited Panama Viejo (located 8 miles ENE from downtown) the original site of Panama. While there, Gonzo enthralled us with his knowledge of the history of the origin of Panama City and its fateful encounter in 1671 with the pirate Captain Henry Morgan. From there, we travelled downtown to Casco Antiguo (a.k.a., Casco Viejo), the relocated location after 1671 for Panama City. Casco Antigua was full of restored buildings (with differing architectures), churches, artisans with their shops, and restaurants. Once again, Gonzo was full of information and made the locations come alive with his descriptions, including their histories. Simply put, Gonzo has our unreserved recommendation as a tour guide for Panama. He made the day fun and we came away with a much better appreciation for the city, its history and attractions.
3-4 hour tour
Hotel Pickup/Dropof
bilingual guide
all fees & Taxes
$140 / $35
Per person adult / child
Itinerary
- Hotel Pickup
- Drive to Gamboa / Lake Gatun
- Boat Ride Through Shipping Lane
- Monkey & Nature Sightseeing
- Stop for Lunch (Optional)
- Scenic Drive to Hotel Dropoff
Highlights
- Lake Gatun
- Panama Canal
- Capuchins
- Tamarins
- Howlers
- Tropical Rainforest
- Photo Opportunities
Monkey Islands
Family Package
Posted onVerified Fantastische dag, alles in zijn puurste vorm Wij hebben de combinatie van Monkey eiland en Wounaan community gedaan met Gonzo. Gonzo weet exact de juiste plekken waar het minder toeristisch is. Hij heeft enorm veel kennis en vooral veel respect voor de apen/ natuur en de Wounaan community. Alles in zijn puurste vorm. Prachtige dag gehad met Gonzo, absoluut de beste reisleider van Panama!Posted onVerified An Unforgettable Experience with Gonzo and Beautiful Tours I would definitely recommend booking with Beautiful Tours and Gonzo to everyone. Gonzo is an amazing tour guide with an incredible knowledge of Panama and its history. His enthusiasm is contagious, and you leave the tour not only with a lot of new knowledge but also in a great mood.We did two tours with Gonzo and enjoyed both of them immensely. What really makes him stand out are his personal stories, insider tips, and the way he makes everyone feel comfortable and involved. It’s clear that he knows the people in the village very well, which adds an extra authentic and special touch to the experience.Posted onVerified Monkey and Village Tour We saw tons of monkeys...3 different species! Gonzo gives lots of history and interesting facts. It was all perfect!!!Posted onVerified The Best Guide and tours Gonzo was the best tour guide! He was so knowledgeable, happy, and answered all my many questions. He showed us monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, birds, and bats. He told us the history of things. He interacted with us and the people of the village perfectly. He made our trip so memorable.Posted onVerified Fantastic Bird Watching Tour. We organized a family bird watching tour on the Chagres River and Gatun Lake. Our family included two 80-year old,s one of which is in a wheel chair, and an active 10 year old, so I was a bit concerned about how smoothly things would go. I didn't need to be - the tour was excellent and the guides did a wonderful job of accommodating our needs! Everything was very well organized and communication was excellent. Our birding guide, Rafael, was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Our boat boat and van divers where also excellent and very friendly and helpful. We saw over 20 new species in addition to many of our favourites! We also saw 3 toed sloths, 3 species of monkeys, lots of iguanas (2 species) and a crocodile. The tour exceeded my expectations/hopes. Thank you Gonzo, Rafael and team for an excellent morning!Posted onVerified Wonderful day in old Panama City!!! Great visit to Casco Viejo and Panama Viejo! Our guide, Gonzalo was filled with knowledge of the history for both locations. He was very warm and friendly. We ended the tour with a delicious and authentic Panamanian lunch at Tripecishe’s. Highly recommend this tour!Posted onVerified Gonzo is a great tour guide Full disclosure. We were lucky to have Gonzo as our guide through a different tour company. We liked him so much, that I wanted to write a review for his company as well. Gonzo was fantastic for 2 full day tours with our group of 8. Throughout both days, Gonzo gave us a continual history lesson. We had a great time exploring the canal, the city and then Monkey Island and the indigenous community the next day. The kids (ages 12-18) in our group all liked Gonzo and he made a point to spend time with each of us each day. I hope this review will help Gonzo build his family business. He’s a natural tour guide and a lot of fun.Posted onVerified Informative, friendly, helpful Carlos gave an excellent tour of Panamá Viejo and Casco Viejo. He is knowledgeable, courteous, and accommodating. I’m very pleased with the experience.Posted onVerified A “ Beautiful” experience The first thing that the guide Gonzo was punctual. He spoke clearly and with excitement in his voice throughout the tour. He appeared to be passionate about relating the history of Panamá. In sharing a few of his experiences, it added to this tour being so much more genuine, interesting and enjoyable. I will certainly recommend this tour and host without hesitation.Posted onVerified Beautiful Tours Panama for Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (Plz note that this review was resubmitted to correct a typo in Gonzo’s last name. No other changes). Our tour was provided by Beautiful Tours Panama. Our tour guide was Gonzo Horna, also the owner. Simply put, he did a fantastic job. He picked us up at the hotel on time. His vehicle was very clean and had great air-conditioning. His written and verbal skills were exceptional and he responded very promptly to any and all questions via text prior to the tour. When we first met Gonzo, his English was so excellent that you would’ve thought he had relocated here from the States. However, he’s a native born Panamanian. Once we entered the van, he reviewed the day so as to manage expectations and give us a better understanding of the two UNESCO sites that we would be seeing. He has a pleasing personality and was very open to any and all discussions, suggestions and questions. We first visited Panama Viejo (located 8 miles ENE from downtown) the original site of Panama. While there, Gonzo enthralled us with his knowledge of the history of the origin of Panama City and its fateful encounter in 1671 with the pirate Captain Henry Morgan. From there, we travelled downtown to Casco Antiguo (a.k.a., Casco Viejo), the relocated location after 1671 for Panama City. Casco Antigua was full of restored buildings (with differing architectures), churches, artisans with their shops, and restaurants. Once again, Gonzo was full of information and made the locations come alive with his descriptions, including their histories. Simply put, Gonzo has our unreserved recommendation as a tour guide for Panama. He made the day fun and we came away with a much better appreciation for the city, its history and attractions.
3-4 hour tour
Hotel Pickup/Dropof
bilingual guide
all fees & Taxes
min 2 adults + 1 child
$95 / $35
Per person adult / child
+ extra adult DISCOUNT
Itinerary
- Hotel Pickup
- Drive to Gamboa / Lake Gatun
- Boat Ride Through Shipping Lane
- Monkey & Nature Sightseeing
- Stop for Lunch (Optional)
- Scenic Drive to Hotel Dropoff
Highlights
- Lake Gatun
- Panama Canal
- Capuchins
- Tamarins
- Howlers
- Tropical Rainforest
- Photo Opportunities
Monkey Islands
Group Deals
Posted onVerified Fantastische dag, alles in zijn puurste vorm Wij hebben de combinatie van Monkey eiland en Wounaan community gedaan met Gonzo. Gonzo weet exact de juiste plekken waar het minder toeristisch is. Hij heeft enorm veel kennis en vooral veel respect voor de apen/ natuur en de Wounaan community. Alles in zijn puurste vorm. Prachtige dag gehad met Gonzo, absoluut de beste reisleider van Panama!Posted onVerified An Unforgettable Experience with Gonzo and Beautiful Tours I would definitely recommend booking with Beautiful Tours and Gonzo to everyone. Gonzo is an amazing tour guide with an incredible knowledge of Panama and its history. His enthusiasm is contagious, and you leave the tour not only with a lot of new knowledge but also in a great mood.We did two tours with Gonzo and enjoyed both of them immensely. What really makes him stand out are his personal stories, insider tips, and the way he makes everyone feel comfortable and involved. It’s clear that he knows the people in the village very well, which adds an extra authentic and special touch to the experience.Posted onVerified Monkey and Village Tour We saw tons of monkeys...3 different species! Gonzo gives lots of history and interesting facts. It was all perfect!!!Posted onVerified The Best Guide and tours Gonzo was the best tour guide! He was so knowledgeable, happy, and answered all my many questions. He showed us monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, birds, and bats. He told us the history of things. He interacted with us and the people of the village perfectly. He made our trip so memorable.Posted onVerified Fantastic Bird Watching Tour. We organized a family bird watching tour on the Chagres River and Gatun Lake. Our family included two 80-year old,s one of which is in a wheel chair, and an active 10 year old, so I was a bit concerned about how smoothly things would go. I didn't need to be - the tour was excellent and the guides did a wonderful job of accommodating our needs! Everything was very well organized and communication was excellent. Our birding guide, Rafael, was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Our boat boat and van divers where also excellent and very friendly and helpful. We saw over 20 new species in addition to many of our favourites! We also saw 3 toed sloths, 3 species of monkeys, lots of iguanas (2 species) and a crocodile. The tour exceeded my expectations/hopes. Thank you Gonzo, Rafael and team for an excellent morning!Posted onVerified Wonderful day in old Panama City!!! Great visit to Casco Viejo and Panama Viejo! Our guide, Gonzalo was filled with knowledge of the history for both locations. He was very warm and friendly. We ended the tour with a delicious and authentic Panamanian lunch at Tripecishe’s. Highly recommend this tour!Posted onVerified Gonzo is a great tour guide Full disclosure. We were lucky to have Gonzo as our guide through a different tour company. We liked him so much, that I wanted to write a review for his company as well. Gonzo was fantastic for 2 full day tours with our group of 8. Throughout both days, Gonzo gave us a continual history lesson. We had a great time exploring the canal, the city and then Monkey Island and the indigenous community the next day. The kids (ages 12-18) in our group all liked Gonzo and he made a point to spend time with each of us each day. I hope this review will help Gonzo build his family business. He’s a natural tour guide and a lot of fun.Posted onVerified Informative, friendly, helpful Carlos gave an excellent tour of Panamá Viejo and Casco Viejo. He is knowledgeable, courteous, and accommodating. I’m very pleased with the experience.Posted onVerified A “ Beautiful” experience The first thing that the guide Gonzo was punctual. He spoke clearly and with excitement in his voice throughout the tour. He appeared to be passionate about relating the history of Panamá. In sharing a few of his experiences, it added to this tour being so much more genuine, interesting and enjoyable. I will certainly recommend this tour and host without hesitation.Posted onVerified Beautiful Tours Panama for Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (Plz note that this review was resubmitted to correct a typo in Gonzo’s last name. No other changes). Our tour was provided by Beautiful Tours Panama. Our tour guide was Gonzo Horna, also the owner. Simply put, he did a fantastic job. He picked us up at the hotel on time. His vehicle was very clean and had great air-conditioning. His written and verbal skills were exceptional and he responded very promptly to any and all questions via text prior to the tour. When we first met Gonzo, his English was so excellent that you would’ve thought he had relocated here from the States. However, he’s a native born Panamanian. Once we entered the van, he reviewed the day so as to manage expectations and give us a better understanding of the two UNESCO sites that we would be seeing. He has a pleasing personality and was very open to any and all discussions, suggestions and questions. We first visited Panama Viejo (located 8 miles ENE from downtown) the original site of Panama. While there, Gonzo enthralled us with his knowledge of the history of the origin of Panama City and its fateful encounter in 1671 with the pirate Captain Henry Morgan. From there, we travelled downtown to Casco Antiguo (a.k.a., Casco Viejo), the relocated location after 1671 for Panama City. Casco Antigua was full of restored buildings (with differing architectures), churches, artisans with their shops, and restaurants. Once again, Gonzo was full of information and made the locations come alive with his descriptions, including their histories. Simply put, Gonzo has our unreserved recommendation as a tour guide for Panama. He made the day fun and we came away with a much better appreciation for the city, its history and attractions.
3-4 hour tour
Hotel Pickup/Dropof
bilingual guide
all fees & Taxes
$85 / $55
Per person in Groups 4/10
Itinerary
- Hotel Pickup
- Drive to Gamboa / Lake Gatun
- Boat Ride Through Shipping Lane
- Monkey & Nature Sightseeing
- Stop for Lunch (Optional)
- Scenic Drive to Hotel Dropoff
Highlights
- Lake Gatun
- Panama Canal
- Capuchins
- Tamarins
- Howlers
- Tropical Rainforest
- Photo Opportunities
Monkey Islands Combos
Activities and Guided Tours that make sense to do together!
Beautiful
BioTour
Includes hiking through the rainforest, then an impressive museum glimpsing Panama’s incredible biodiversity, and a visit to a Smithsonian Institute Nature Center.
Panama Canal +
Monkey Islands
Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, 3D IMAX Movie about the Canal, plus we go on a boat inside Lake Gatun, around islands where we can find three species of monkeys and other fauna.
Wounaan Village +
Monkey Islands
Includes a boat ride around islands where we can find monkeys and other fauna plus visit a living pre-columbian culture embracing the modern world while maintaining their architecture, language, dress, music, art and culture..
Hotel Pickups
We pick up from all hotels, airbnb and locations inside Panama City’s metropolitan area, including pickups at the Santa Maria Hotel, and the Westin and Dreams
Playa Bonita.
Certified Guides
All our tour guides have been certified by Panama’s Tourism Authority. CPR Training, Second Language Certification and a written exam are some of the requisites.
stop for lunch
We make stops for lunch in which every person takes care of their own meals. We use many restaurants depending on where we are and any food requirements like Kosher, Halal, Vegan, Vegetarian, etc.
Carbon offset
Our new CRM, WeTravel have partnered with Sustainable Travel International to purchase carbon offsets offering a great way to help secure our planet’s future.
Posted onVerified Fantastische dag, alles in zijn puurste vorm Wij hebben de combinatie van Monkey eiland en Wounaan community gedaan met Gonzo. Gonzo weet exact de juiste plekken waar het minder toeristisch is. Hij heeft enorm veel kennis en vooral veel respect voor de apen/ natuur en de Wounaan community. Alles in zijn puurste vorm. Prachtige dag gehad met Gonzo, absoluut de beste reisleider van Panama!Posted onVerified An Unforgettable Experience with Gonzo and Beautiful Tours I would definitely recommend booking with Beautiful Tours and Gonzo to everyone. Gonzo is an amazing tour guide with an incredible knowledge of Panama and its history. His enthusiasm is contagious, and you leave the tour not only with a lot of new knowledge but also in a great mood.We did two tours with Gonzo and enjoyed both of them immensely. What really makes him stand out are his personal stories, insider tips, and the way he makes everyone feel comfortable and involved. It’s clear that he knows the people in the village very well, which adds an extra authentic and special touch to the experience.Posted onVerified Monkey and Village Tour We saw tons of monkeys...3 different species! Gonzo gives lots of history and interesting facts. It was all perfect!!!Posted onVerified The Best Guide and tours Gonzo was the best tour guide! He was so knowledgeable, happy, and answered all my many questions. He showed us monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, birds, and bats. He told us the history of things. He interacted with us and the people of the village perfectly. He made our trip so memorable.Posted onVerified Fantastic Bird Watching Tour. We organized a family bird watching tour on the Chagres River and Gatun Lake. Our family included two 80-year old,s one of which is in a wheel chair, and an active 10 year old, so I was a bit concerned about how smoothly things would go. I didn't need to be - the tour was excellent and the guides did a wonderful job of accommodating our needs! Everything was very well organized and communication was excellent. Our birding guide, Rafael, was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Our boat boat and van divers where also excellent and very friendly and helpful. We saw over 20 new species in addition to many of our favourites! We also saw 3 toed sloths, 3 species of monkeys, lots of iguanas (2 species) and a crocodile. The tour exceeded my expectations/hopes. Thank you Gonzo, Rafael and team for an excellent morning!Posted onVerified Wonderful day in old Panama City!!! Great visit to Casco Viejo and Panama Viejo! Our guide, Gonzalo was filled with knowledge of the history for both locations. He was very warm and friendly. We ended the tour with a delicious and authentic Panamanian lunch at Tripecishe’s. Highly recommend this tour!Posted onVerified Gonzo is a great tour guide Full disclosure. We were lucky to have Gonzo as our guide through a different tour company. We liked him so much, that I wanted to write a review for his company as well. Gonzo was fantastic for 2 full day tours with our group of 8. Throughout both days, Gonzo gave us a continual history lesson. We had a great time exploring the canal, the city and then Monkey Island and the indigenous community the next day. The kids (ages 12-18) in our group all liked Gonzo and he made a point to spend time with each of us each day. I hope this review will help Gonzo build his family business. He’s a natural tour guide and a lot of fun.Posted onVerified Informative, friendly, helpful Carlos gave an excellent tour of Panamá Viejo and Casco Viejo. He is knowledgeable, courteous, and accommodating. I’m very pleased with the experience.Posted onVerified A “ Beautiful” experience The first thing that the guide Gonzo was punctual. He spoke clearly and with excitement in his voice throughout the tour. He appeared to be passionate about relating the history of Panamá. In sharing a few of his experiences, it added to this tour being so much more genuine, interesting and enjoyable. I will certainly recommend this tour and host without hesitation.Posted onVerified Beautiful Tours Panama for Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (Plz note that this review was resubmitted to correct a typo in Gonzo’s last name. No other changes). Our tour was provided by Beautiful Tours Panama. Our tour guide was Gonzo Horna, also the owner. Simply put, he did a fantastic job. He picked us up at the hotel on time. His vehicle was very clean and had great air-conditioning. His written and verbal skills were exceptional and he responded very promptly to any and all questions via text prior to the tour. When we first met Gonzo, his English was so excellent that you would’ve thought he had relocated here from the States. However, he’s a native born Panamanian. Once we entered the van, he reviewed the day so as to manage expectations and give us a better understanding of the two UNESCO sites that we would be seeing. He has a pleasing personality and was very open to any and all discussions, suggestions and questions. We first visited Panama Viejo (located 8 miles ENE from downtown) the original site of Panama. While there, Gonzo enthralled us with his knowledge of the history of the origin of Panama City and its fateful encounter in 1671 with the pirate Captain Henry Morgan. From there, we travelled downtown to Casco Antiguo (a.k.a., Casco Viejo), the relocated location after 1671 for Panama City. Casco Antigua was full of restored buildings (with differing architectures), churches, artisans with their shops, and restaurants. Once again, Gonzo was full of information and made the locations come alive with his descriptions, including their histories. Simply put, Gonzo has our unreserved recommendation as a tour guide for Panama. He made the day fun and we came away with a much better appreciation for the city, its history and attractions.