Things to do in Panama City
Panama City, planned before you land.
The canal, a 350-year-old old town and islands in two oceans. Most of it is within an hour of the hotels.
Opens Viator. Prices, dates and reviews are there.
Still need the flight?
An agent prices every airline flying to Panama City on your dates, with bags and seats included, and you hear the total before anything is charged.
Toll-free. No obligation.
What to do in Panama City
Panama City is a skyline on the Pacific with the canal at its edge. Miraflores Locks are 20 minutes from downtown, Casco Viejo is the restored colonial quarter, and the rainforest starts at the city limits. The Embera villages up the Chagres River and the San Blas islands of the Guna people are the two days people talk about afterwards. Tours collect from the city hotels.
01
Panama Canal: Miraflores Locks or a partial transit
Watch ships rise and fall at the visitor center, or ride a boat through the locks yourself on a partial transit. Transits run on set days; book early.
02
Casco Viejo walking tour
The old quarter's plazas, churches and rooftops, the Canal Museum and the fish market nearby, with a guide who knows the pirate history. Evenings for the bars.
03
Embera village by dugout canoe
Up the Chagres River by motorized dugout to a village that welcomes visitors with music, food and a walk to a waterfall. A full day in the rainforest.
04
Monkey Island on Gatun Lake
A boat on the canal's lake to islands where capuchins, howlers and tamarins come to the shore. Half day, close to the city.
05
San Blas islands
Palm islands in the Guna Yala territory on the Caribbean side: two to three hours by 4x4 then boat. A very long day, better as an overnight.
06
Taboga or the Pearl Islands
The nearest Pacific beaches by ferry: Taboga in under an hour, Contadora in the Pearl Islands in about 90 minutes. Day trips with return boats in the afternoon.
Tour links open Viator in a new tab. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through them; it does not change what you pay. Hours, closing days and drive times above are approximate; the listing has the current details.
Top-rated in Panama City right now
Live from Viator, ranked by traveler rating. Prices are per person, from the lowest option, as of the last refresh; the listing has today's.
Private Fishing in the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake
5.0 (65 reviews)5h 30m
From $250 per person→
Panama Canal Zone Bike Tour By Paradox Experience
5.0 (54 reviews)2h 30m
From $40 per person→
Day End Tour: Casco Viejo, Amador Causeway & Sabroso Panama
5.0 (52 reviews)4h
From $75 per person→
VIP Experience Agency
5.0 (44 reviews)30m to 35m
From $40 per person→
Full Day - Panama Canal Coast to Coast - By Land
5.0 (41 reviews)7h to 8h
From $200 per person→
The Craziest Panamanian Jungle 4 wheels is BACK
5.0 (41 reviews)4h
From $395 per person→
Why book through Viator
Book the Panama City tours before you fly, without locking yourself in.
Viator lists tours and excursions from local operators in Panama City with live availability, verified reviews and 24/7 support. We send you there because it is the simplest way to compare, and it earns us a commission that does not change your price.
- Free cancellation on most experiences
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start on most listings for a full refund. Plans change; the booking can.
- Reserve now, pay later
- Many experiences let you hold a spot now and pay closer to the date, so you can lock in the popular day without paying before the flight is booked.
- Reviews from people who went
- Ratings and reviews come from travelers who booked that exact tour. Read the recent ones before you choose.
- Compare before you land
- The hotel tour desk sells what it has left that morning. Booking ahead means you pick the operator, the time and the pickup, with the price in front of you.
Cancellation and payment terms are set per listing and shown on Viator before you book. Check them for the tour you pick.
Good to know
- The dollar is the currency
- Panama uses the US dollar, which makes tipping and small purchases simple. Nothing to change.
- Afternoon rain in the green season
- From May to November expect a downpour most afternoons. Mornings are clear; tours plan around it.
Before you go
The old town, the canal and the skyline, in one tour.
Questions before you book
Full or partial canal transit?
A partial transit goes through one set of locks and takes four to five hours, usually on Saturdays. The full ocean-to-ocean transit is nine to ten hours and runs only a few times a month.
Can I do San Blas in a day?
Yes, but it is a 4am pickup, two to three hours by 4x4 and a boat each way. One night on the islands is the better version of the same trip.
How do I book these tours?
Each "See tours" button opens Viator's listings for that experience in Panama City, with live prices, dates, reviews and the cancellation terms. You book and pay there. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through those links; it does not change what you pay.
Can your agents book tours over the phone?
Our agents book flights. Call to price the flight to Panama City; book the tours on Viator once your dates are fixed.
More things to do in Central and South America
Flying to Panama City?
One call, every airline on the route, the total with bags and seats before you decide. Nothing is charged until you say yes.
Toll-free. No obligation.