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Panama Canal Tour in Columbus: Clear Water Locks and Gatun

4 Reviews

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Debbie & Nancy enjoying the east mega vessel Neopanamax.

Aureliano, Martha, Chelsea and Cambrie enjoying themselves as a family.

The 368 meter long Thalassa Mana, one of the largest container ships passing through the Panama Canal.

Our friend Glenn next to this immense container ship.

Judith and Collin remembering their ancestors who were part of this construction.

View from the Atlantic Bridge towards the entrances to the Agua Clara Locks (left) and Gatun Locks (right).

Container ship starting its transit in Gatun Locks.

Ship starting its descent process in Gatun Locks.

Vessels leaving and entering Gatun Locks.

The important Gatún Lake in the rainy season.

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✅ PRIVATE AND EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE No crowds or rushes – just you and your group, at your own pace, with bilingual guidance and stops for photos, water and questions. ✅ TWO ERAS OF THE CHANNEL IN ONE DAY Take a close look at the expansion in Agua Clara and compare it to the new viewpoint of the historic locks of Gatun to understand how transits and Neopanamax vessels operate. ✅ DAM AND LAKE GATUN Meet the Dam that gave birth to Lake Gatun, a key piece for the daily operation and one of the largest artificial lakes in the region. ✅ ATLANTIC BRIDGE AND SCENIC VIEWS Cross the Atlantic Bridge and enjoy unique perspectives of the Channel and the Caribbean coast. ✅ COMFORT FROM START TO FINISH Private transportation with A/C, bottled water and bilingual guide (ES/EN). A flexible and personalized tour. ✅ LOCAL TASTE IN COLÓN If you wish, we stop for lunch or snack at a recommended place. Ideal for : families, couples, friends, seniors and travelers in stopover. Book today!

Reviews

4 Reviews

Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)

5 stars

Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers

Tiffany_C, 4/24/2025 5:50:34 PM

Working with Mario of Cositas was amazing. The personal touch to his private tour was spectacular. I felt safe as a solo traveler. He speaks English and Spanish, is very accommodating, polite and most of all knowledgeable of his Tours. Lunch is not included but he stopped at my request in Colon to have food at Hudson. The home cooked meal was fresh and tasted amazing. The staff was perfect. Eeryone knows Mario so we had an amazing experience. Mario even takes great pictures to capture your memories. If you're going to see the Canal, go with him in the Northern región of Colon because it is less crowded and a personalized experience that makes you feel like a celebrity.

Kathryn_W, 12/28/2024 10:51:32 AM

Mario was the absolute best guide! My parents (in their 60s) and I (late 20s) learned so much about the country of Panama and the canal. I highly recommend this private tour to anyone interested in the Panama Canal. The Agua Clara locks are beautiful, a true modern engineering marvel, and allow you to see more of Panama rather than just the area outside of Panama City. Mario’s passion for the Canal and big boats really made the experience all the more memorable! He took us to stops we never would have known existed to see unique vantage points of the canal operations. Pick up and drop off were so easy making for a very stress free experience. Communication via WhatsApp before the tour helped for easy logistics and we received great local restaurant recommendations for the rest of our time in Panama. Bring your own snacks or have a big breakfast before. Mario had plenty of cold water and sodas for the journey. This is a must do tour!

awaggster, 11/30/2024 10:25:29 AM

It was a great trip and definitely worthwhile to go see the new Agus Clara locks - the Panamax ships are phenomenal to see up close. Mario was an excellent guide and full of interesting details not only about the canal but of all Panama. Highly recommend.

irerib2021, 4/25/2025 10:07:45 PM

Excellent service, Mario is very nice, attentive and gave us a lot of information, he searched whenever we had the best views and experiences. My mom and I were very satisfied, it was totally worth it!

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Pick-up and drop-off service to place of stay included

Air-conditioned vehicle

Bottled water

Private transportation

Personal tour guide

Lunch

Tips

Clara Water Visitor Center (Adult)

Agua Clara Visitor Center (Child)

No departure point available

No redemption information available

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

24 hours before travel date - 100% refund

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