gamboa panama tours

THE 10 BEST Gamboa Tours & Excursions

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1. Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour

2. Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup

3. Top Monkey Island Tour Privado

4. Combo: Gatun Lake & Canal Wildlife Boat Tour and Sloth Sanctuary

5. Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Miraflores, Agua Clara & Pedro Miguel

6. 7 Hours Monkey Island and Nature Walk at Soberania National Park

7. Canopy in Gamboa and visit to the sloth sanctuary

8. Half Day Panama Canal and City Tour Experience

9. 4-Hour Gatun Lake Boat Tour and Jungle Wildlife

10. Birding Pipeline Road from Panama City and Gamboa Town

11. Aerial Tram & Sloth Sanctuary in the Rainforest

12. Zipline and Sloth Sanctuary Private Tour

13. Private Fishing in the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake

14. Guided Boat Tour of Sloth Sanctuary and Gamboa Wildlife in Panama

15. Cruise Shore Excursion Panama: Wildlife Gatun lake

16. Soberania National Park Hike

17. Gamboa Aerial Tram and Sloth Sanctuary

18. Private Tour to Monkey Island and Sloth Sanctuary in Gamboa

19. Kayaking tour in the Chagres River

20. Embera indigenous Village visit

21. The Panama Canal: Kingfisher Experience Private Tour

22. Eco Boat Canal Cruise & Monkey Habitat Tour

23. Embera Village Tour

24. Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Gamboa

25. Monkeys Discovery

26. Playa Bonita/Gamboa to Panama Airport (PTY)- Private Transfer

27. Stopover in Panama 6 days Nature in Panama

28. Canal of Panama by Helicopter

29. 5-Hour Tour to Miraflores Locks and Sloth Sanctuary

30. Full Day Tour to Miraflores Gates and Gamboa Zip Line

What travelers are saying.

• Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour
• Top Monkey Island Tour Privado
• Gamboa Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary Tour with Pickup
• Combo: Gatun Lake & Canal Wildlife Boat Tour and Sloth Sanctuary
• Half Day Panama Canal and City Tour Experience
• Birding Pipeline Panama
• Gamboa Rainforest Resort Activities
• Gamboa Rainforest Resort Chagres River Boat Tour
• Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary
• Just Adventures Panama

The Best Gamboa Tours with 9 North Panama

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One of the best places to visit in Panama is the Gamboa rainforest along the Panama Canal. There are many Gamboa tours offered from Panama City, as well as through the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, but the best tour in Gamboa is one that gets you close to the amazing biodiversity that this area is known for.

During our visit to the Gamboa rainforest, we checked out several boat tour options. Hands down, 9 North Panama Safaris was the best. If you love animals, serene nature and photography, you have to take one of their boat safaris along the Panama Canal and Lake Gatun.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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All About Panama Canal Tours

When booking a tour of the Panama Canal, you will find yourself at the Gatun Lake area one way or another, whether you arrive from Panama City or one of the hotels in the area. However, it must be noted that many of the tours in the Panama Canal actually mean that you cruise down the canal leading into and out of Gatun Lake focusing your visit on the flora and fauna of the area.

During our time in Panama we actually did two different Panama Canal tours – one through our hotel and one through 9 North Panama Safari with the latter being much more what we had hoped to experience. This tour ended up being one of our favorite things to do, maybe even beating the Panama Canal which we visited twice! A tour with 9 North Panama Safari should be on the top of any traveler’s list of things to do in the country.

What To Expect on Gamboa Tours with 9 North Panama

Even if you aren’t a photography buff, you can take this Gamboa rainforest tour out into the canal and Gatun Lake to be one with nature. It is an experience you won’t get with other tour operators as most operators zoom in and out again with very little time to actually spend on the waterways surrounding the canal. However, 9 North offers 3 and 4 hour tours that give guests a real opportunity to soak up the nature around them.

Note, tours with 9 North Panama are all private tours, so you will not be competing for space with other tourists. That said, tours do book up quickly, so if you want to do this, make sure to make arrangements as early as you can.

Here is a quick view of what our day looked like with 9 North Panama Safaris.

Our Day Out in the Gamboa Rainforest

Morning on the River Charges and the Panama Canal is beautiful. It is so calm and serene watching the massive ships cruise past. It was the perfect opportunity to get an up close view of the hulking machines that ply this river daily. My Panama Canal obsessed son was in heaven being so close to massive tankers he had been watching go through the locks the day before.

As we set off on our adventure, we are introduced to our boat captain Johnny. He is from the area and knows these waters well. Before we leave the dock he has already spotted an iguana high up in the treetops. It’s fascinating to me how some guides can see these animals who blend into the surroundings so well. Johnny was one of the best we had experienced in our time in Panama.

The animal sightings continued as Johnny quickly slowed the boat and turned us around as we sped along the canal. He spotted a caiman in the shores of the canal, more iguana and snail kites. It was mesmerizing to see the caiman on the shores one minute and then disappear as the swells of a slow moving tanker covered his spot. When the water disappeared, he was gone.

Continuing on our journey, we delved deeper into Gatun Lake exploring the many islands that call this area home. Our first stop is to “Monkey Island” filled with tamarind monkeys and one juvenile capuchin that was dropped here by someone. S/he seems to be happy enough looking for food and spying out the boats that come to visit. This little monkey has the cutest face and is always up to something moving all around.

We stayed here for some time, watching the monkeys, while also keeping our eyes on a snail kite hovering above. We had hoped to see him grab his prey in front of us, but we didn’t have that luck today.

Moving on, we looked for and found a baby crocodile along the water’s edge. Again, how the boat captain can see these tiny camouflaged creatures is beyond me. It really is impressive!

The beauty of this tour is that it is a private tour which allows you to make this nature journey what you wish it to be. If you want to focus on birds, that’s what you will do. If you want to focus on seeing as many of the jungle animals as possible, that’s what you can do. We opted for a mix of whatever was out there. At the end, we saw so much more than even imaginable. It was breathtaking.

Being on the water, listening to the jungle come alive with the roars of the howler monkeys while pretending to be wildlife photographers was a day we will never forget.

Three hours came and went so quickly. Both myself and my 8 year old son were so sad to see the end to our Gamboa tours. However, we could not have asked for a more perfect last day in the country.

Where to Stay, Cost & More

During our visit, we stayed at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort which made the tour very convenient. It is also a great spot to relax and rejuvenate before heading back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The prices for the 9 North Panama Gamboa tours are quite reasonable considering what you get. For a 3 hour tour, with drinks and snacks, expert guidance on using the cameras and a nature guide who has an amazing ability to spot wildlife cost from $95 per person depending on the tour you choose. They do have a 2 hour non-photography tour that is $55 per person which is quite a better deal than the group tours offered through the hotel which also charge that for what really amounts to less than 1 hour in nature.

On the morning tour we took, 9 North Panama Safaris provided a thermos of water, hot tea and/or coffee and light snacks for each tour. If you wish to bring other snacks, feel free however we found this was more than enough. We were also too busy shooting photos to take much time to notice our growling tummies!

Once you are finished with your tour, you will be given a SD card with all of your photos. This was the best gift we could have left the country with. Additionally, 9 North Panama sends across a short video showcasing your day out (see the video above). This was a really great surprise and a great memory to take home with us.

Lastly, one of the best things about doing a Gamboa tour with 9 North Panama is spending time with the owner and his partner. They are an absolute joy to chat to and provide great instruction on the cameras as well as information about the local flora and fauna in the Gamboa rainforest region.

This is not a sponsored post. We just LOVED the tour so much we wanted to share it all with you. Have you ever done a photography tour? I highly recommend doing one as it was the highlight of our trip to Panama.

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Welcome to Tree Trek Gamboa

Tree Trek Gamboa is the new tourist option near Panama City. Dedicated to all nature and adventure lovers of all ages. We are located in Gamboa, Province of Colon. Located in the old Panama Canal Zone, it rests on the corner where the Gatun Lake meets the Chagres River.

The Tree Trek is a thrilling adventure that allows visitors to soar at treetop level through a series of cables, enjoying the wonders of nature from an incredible (and completely safe) vantage point. Come and visit us so you can feel first hand all the adrenaline that awaits you!

Because we believe in the conservation of nature and this premise being the heart of our offer, while you enjoy the best fun alone or sharing with friends, family and colleagues you will be contributing with our awareness program about the importance of the conservation of our forests.

Experience the fun, adrenaline and adventure all in this exciting trip. We are sure you will not be disappointed!

Glide through the treetops of the rainforest and admire the most incredible collection of natural landscapes bordering the Panama Canal and Soberania National Park.

Zip line Tour

Enjoy a different view of the Panama Canal and the Chagres River over 1.4 kilometers of extension divided into 10 cables and 13 platforms. As you glide through the trees you will be confronted with an unknown world… and a fascinating perspective of life that you never thought would exist for you.

1.4 km circuit – 10 lines and 13 platforms

The trees that support the cable system were selected among the tallest, strongest and most resistant, which allows it to be between 2 and 35 meters above the ground in an adventure designed for adults and children.

Send us a message and a member of our staff will be in touch with you.

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• The Ultimate Guide To Gamboa...

The Ultimate Guide to Gamboa Rainforest

Gamboa Rainforest is the perfect jungle getaway from Panama City. A short 30-minute drive from the center of the capital, the park offers a complete experience that includes visiting an indigenous tribe, going on a night safari, spotting wildlife on the riverbanks and enjoying the comfort of a great resort. Make the most of your visit with our ultimate guide to Gamboa Rainforest .

Chagres river boat tour.

The Chagres River Boat Tour is the quickest and easiest way to get to know Gamboa and the natural wonders that the park has to offer. Sailing through the canal and along the riverbanks of the Chagres River you will get a feeling for Panama’s exotic vegetation and its diverse wildlife .

Freshwater fishing

Kayak on the Chagres River

Kayaking on the Chagres River is a millennial activity that traces back to pre-Colombine times. First with canoes and later with small boats, the river and the canal have always been explored and inhabited. Take a kayak tour on the Chagres River or on the Panama Canal to enjoy the closest possible contact with nature.

Guided birdwatching tour

Panama is one of the hottest locations for birdwatching in the world. With over 1,000 species inhabiting its territory, the country is home to 10% of all existing bird species. Some of the best birdwatching can either be done when taking one of the boat tours, as well as on the Gamboa Resort grounds and along the Pipeline Road.

Aerial Tram

The Aerial Tram is a 600 meter-long tram that rises above the rainforest offering a unique perspective over Gamboa’s fauna and wildlife. During the tour, visitors are likely to spot a multitude of animals including sloths and a wide array of exotic bird species. At the end of the tram is a watchtower overlooking the Soberanía National Park and the intersection of the Chagres River with the Panama Canal.

Visit the nature labs

Gamboa is home to some natural labs including a butterfly farm, an orchids center and a frog pond. The tour of the labs is ideal if you’re a biology enthusiast keen to get to know the lifecycle of some of the most exciting flora and fauna of Panama.

Boat ride on the Gatun Lake

The Gatun Lake is the second-largest artificial lake in the world. A boat tour along the Chagres River and among the little islands will give an insight into the fascinating ecology and history of the place. With a little luck you will also be able to spot several species of monkeys and birds, as well as crocodiles along the riverbanks.

Visit an Embera Tribe

The Emberá and Wunaan are indigenous groups native to Panama that live along the banks of the Chagres River. Get to know their culture, lifestyle and traditions by taking a tour to one of their villages. You can also choose to stay overnight for the ultimate experience.

Night Safari

If you are an adventurous traveler, try the Night Safari offered by the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Armed with torches and flashlights, the expedition leaves the river shores by boat and explores the surrounding region under moonlight. If you’re lucky, you may spot the eyes of a crocodile shining in the distance.

Sunday brunch with mimosas

Finally, treat yourself to a sumptuous Sunday brunch at Gamboa Rainforest Resort . The brunch features both breakfast dishes as well as sushi, pasta and salads, plus lots of champagne and mimosas to end the Gamboa adventure in style.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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OUR HISTORY

You have arrived at Gamboa Rainforest Reserve , one of the most unique reserves located within the Soberania National Park on the banks of the historic Chagres River and the Panama Canal, in the town of Gamboa. Combining the design and ambiance of an eco-lodge with modern amenities, at this Nature Reserve you will find ecological exhibits, tours, lodging and fine dining.

• CURIOSITIES
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About the Hotel

• The Gamboa Hotel was built in the likeness of the old Tivoli Hotel, which was built on the slopes of Cerro Ancon and was built to receive President Theodore Roosevelt.
• All rooms were designed with an exclusive view of the historic Chagres River.
• The doors of the rooms were carved by the inmates of the El Renacer Rehabilitation Center.
• The lobby is a three-level atrium inside which we find vines, bushes and an artificial waterfall that give an ecological tone to the property.

HISTORICAL DATA OF THE TOWN OF GAMBOA

• The famous Gamboa Bridge was already built as early as 1908, but it was only a bridge for the railroad tracks; it is estimated that the automobile tracks were added when the town was built.
• The origin of the name Gamboa is not known exactly where it comes from, but already at the end of 1800 it appeared in the maps of the time. It was probably the name of a Hato or Finca whose owner had that surname.
• The Guinness record for the longest waiting time was held by the traffic light at the Gamboa train bridge.
• Gamboa was considered the "Ridge" of the North Americans.
• The astronauts of the Apollo capsule missions did their jungle training in the community of San Antonio with the cacique Antonio Zarco. One of those astronauts was Neil Armstrong.

What time is Check-In and Check-Out?

Check-in 3:00pm. Check-Out 12:00pm.

Do you have laundry service?

The form and laundry bag can be requested at the front desk.

Find the best tours and experience the best of Panama with Panamazing. Tel: + 507 3409875.

Gamboa Experience

$ 99.00

You will marvel at the experience of the Gamboa jungle green from within, ascending about 280 feet from the shadow of the forest floor, through the dense undergrowth and up to the canopy sun bathed in its thousand shades of green that is only interrupted by the vibrant colors of the flowering trees.

Once at the top, you will have the opportunity to climb our observation tower, where you will have uninterrupted views of the great rainforest of the Soberania National Park, as well as the narrowest part of the Panama Canal. In the Ecological Exhibits, you will have the opportunity to visit the Nursery, Butterfly Farm and Butterfly Farm. Enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the Chagres River.

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Unmute for the full sensory experience

Visit the Sloth Sanctuary in Gamboa

Get up close and personal with one of Panama's cutest and most famous animals at Panama’s first sloth sanctuary. Located in Gamboa near Panama City, in this hour-long experience, you will learn about the herculean conservation efforts run by the Panamerican Conservation Association. This experience gives you access to the rescue center where sloths are rehabilitated and prepared to get back to their natural habitat.

This Activity is...

Adventurous, educational.

More Stops Along Panama’s Green Heritage Experience

If you’re looking for more activities that celebrate Panama’s unique biodiversity, the Green Heritage Experience is where you’ll find them.

Hike in the Anton Valley

Hike From Ocean to Ocean via the Camino Real Trek

Hike to the Top of Baru Volcano in the Chiriqui Highlands

River Rafting in Mamoni Valley Preserve

Take in the Best City and Canal Views From Cerro Ancon

Explore Neverending Waterfalls at Santa Fe National Park

Visit Panama’s Geisha Coffee Farms

Wander on the Los Quetzales Trail