There are plenty of great things to do in Panama City without leaving town, but sometimes seeing the coolest places means venturing out a little bit. And that’s where my recommendations for tours enter into your vacation.
Whether you’re geeking out at the Panama Canal (seriously, it’s way cooler than you think), going full-on nature explorer while monkey-spotting on Monkey Island, or chilling with the Emberá people deep in the rainforest, this place is bucket-list gold.
Short on time in Panama City? See my One Day Panama City Itinerary. Have plenty of time? Check out my ultimate Panama City Travel Guide.
Panama Canal Tour
Ah, the Panama Canal – where water, steel, and pure human determination come together to pull off one of the coolest engineering feats on the planet. Fun fact: the French kicked things off back in 1881, but when things got messy (as in, massive challenges and setbacks), the U.S. stepped in and finally wrapped it up by 1914.
What’s wild is how it completely changed the game for global trade, shaving serious time off shipping routes between the Atlantic and Pacific. Seeing it up close? Trust me, it hits differently when you’re right there watching massive ships glide through like it’s no big deal.
On our visit, we booked a Panama Canal and City Tour with Viator and went to the Miraflores Lock, one of three major locks that keep this massive operation running smoothly. We got up bright and early, hopped on a tour van with six other couples, and headed straight to the locks because — timing is everything — a ship was about to pass through.
When we got there we headed up the escalators and out the door to the observation center. (Pro tip: sprint up those stairs to grab a prime viewing spot!) Watching a massive vessel get lifted through the locks was like watching the world’s biggest bathtub drain, but somehow even more impressive.
Once you’ve had your fill of canal action, head inside for a 3D IMAX movie on how this incredible feat of engineering saves ships weeks of sailing around South America. It’s hard not to be blown away by the fact that ships shell out anywhere from $100K to $500K (sometimes even more) to make the 8-hour journey through the canal—but that’s still cheaper than 20 extra days at sea.
>> Book the Tour I Took: Panama Canal and City Tour
PS: This tour takes you on a brief city tour too, but if you want to explore more see my Self-Guided Walking Tour of Casco Viejo.
Monkey Island Tour
If you’re looking for an unforgettable way to experience Panama’s natural beauty, history, and wildlife all in one day, the Monkey Island Tour and Rainforest Walk is the perfect mix of wildlife spotting, jungle trekking, and tasty local flavors!
Leaving bright and early from Panama City, this adventure kicked off with a hotel pickup that got us out into nature before the city had even had its morning coffee.
First up, we cruised along the famous Panama Canal and glided across Gatun Lake—a massive 166-square-mile man-made lake surrounded by dense rainforest. As you sail through, you have to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife: monkeys swinging from branches, colorful birds darting overhead, and maybe even a crocodile chilling by the shore.
With a little luck, you’ll spot all three monkey species that call the area home—white-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, and playful spider monkeys. We did! With that said, the guides know exactly where to find them and will point out wildlife you’d probably miss on your own.
After the boat cruise, it was time to stretch our legs on a beginner-friendly rainforest walk, where the guide took us deeper into the lush jungle. Along the way, we learned about the local ecosystem and caught a glimpse of some tropical creatures like sloths, iguanas, and exotic birds. One of my favorite parts was just listening to the howler monkeys in the trees do their thing.
To wrap things up, we had a hearty breakfast filled with traditional Panamanian dishes— think Carimañolas (like an empanada) and hojaldres (fried dough).
With so many unforgettable moments packed into one day, we headed back to Panama City with a full belly, lots of memories, and a story worth telling.
>> Book the Tour I Took: Monkey Island Tour
Note: One thing that really stood out about this tour company was their commitment to conservation. Unlike some other tours, they don’t allow feeding the monkeys, which helps keep the wildlife wild and healthy. If you love exploring nature while respecting it, this tour is a perfect fit.
Indigenous Emberá Village Tour
If you’re looking for a tour in Panama City that’s more than just snapping pictures from a bus window, taking the Emberá village tour offers a real adventure. This one checked all the boxes for me: wild nature, authentic culture, and yes, a healthy dose of mud. Here’s why you’ll love every minute of it (slippery trails included).
First, a quick history lesson: The Emberá tribe originally come from Colombia, where there are about 200,000 of them. However, some of them moved to Panama and settled in the rainforest there. Now, there are about 30,000 of them in Panama. The Emberá culture is all about their connection to nature, where they believe that everything in the rainforest has a spirit. They’re also super talented artisans and love to make music and dance.
Now, the journey itself. It started easy enough with a pit stop at a local fruit stand to grab goodies for lunch. After that, we had a one-hour trip to the Chagres River, where our wooden canoe was waiting for us. Then there was a peaceful 25-minute canoe ride in waters surrounded by forest.
The real fun begins after the boat ride. There’s a hike to a waterfall, and while it’s usually a 20-minute trek, part of the trail was washed out, so we lucked out with a 10-minute scramble instead. Pro tip: I recommend wearing water shoes or anything with solid tread because the path can get slippery. But it’s well worth it when you get to the waterfall. Some people swam, others (like me) just took a seat on a rock to watch.
After the waterfall zen moment, we headed to the village. We were greeted by what seemed like the whole village playing music and traditional dancing. It wasn’t long before everyone in the tour group got invited to join in. One of the cutest little girls came up and grabbed my hand to pull me to the makeshift dance floor. It was adorable!
We spent about two hours there, walking through the village, eating a traditional fish lunch and soaking up the culture.
>> Book the Tour I Took: Rainforest, waterfall and Embera Village
PS: There are many other great Panama City tour options. I recommend checking Viator or Get Your Guide who are both reputable companies to book through.
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Expedia is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘Watch Prices’ to get an email alert when the prices change.
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with RentalCars.com (it’s part of booking.com) for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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