Monkey Island!! - We had an amazing trip to Gatun Lake! Our guide was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, sharing interesting facts about Panama throughout the excursion. We saw so many monkeys—they climbed onto the boat and even ate from our hands! It was a fantastic experience and perfect for families of all ages.

Monkeys Galore - We went to see the monkeys and monkeys we saw. We even saw a sloth.. moving and eating. Great tour on the Canal.. what could be better.

Sloths and monkey time! Great time! - The company made a great experience for all. They were professional, funny and knew the area very well. I would highly recommend, especially for the price. Loved the experience!

An Excellent short trip. - An excellent and professional guide, with just the right touch of entertaining commentary. The experience flew by, and I found myself wanting to do it all over again. Visiting the animals in their natural habitat was a wonderful addition to the journey

Monkeys in the Panama - We had such a good time. This trip was memorable and I was able to play and interact and feed the monkeys. We had a really good time and would go back again just because we got to see the monkeys and the canal.

3 hours of fun in the Panama Canal - You get to see the Panama Canal, see cargo ships and enjoy wildlife close up with monkeys, iguanas, etc. Our guide Daniel was a fantastic historian. Our driver Juliet and boat captain Edgar were also fabolous drivers and attracted the monkeys to the boat which was great fun.

Monkey whisperer 10/10 experience - Amazing 10/10 experience. There are plenty of other tour operators for monkey island but what i seen is this is the BEST crew!!! They have 3 ppl on board including famous lady "monkey whisperer" who makes sure you get to see all different monkeys and feed them up close

Interesting visit to the Panama Canal with the sighting of animals - monkeys, falcons, crocodile, iguanas - Great guide who told us a lot about the channel. Outbound journey was a bit long as some participants had cancelled at short notice and therefore some stops were for free. We got to see everything, monkeys, falcons, iguanas, crocodile, various birds and various plants. The guide tried very hard to attract the monkeys, which also worked out great. Also we could see some thick paws on the canal. Overall a very successful trip. You spend all the time in the bus or boat, which is covered

clear recommendation! - Organisation and procedure were flawless. The tour is a good change from sightseeing in Panama City. A really nice experience.

A well-organized and relaxing wildlife tour on Gatun Lake, offering up-close encounters with capuchins, howler monkeys, - Booking & Logistics I booked this Gatun Lake tour via Viator the day before, choosing the 7 AM slot based on recommendations from other travelers. The early timing turned out to be a great decision—it allowed for cooler temperatures and more active wildlife. Hotel Pickup: Because of its location, the Holiday Inn Panama Canal (where I stayed) was the last stop for pickup and the first drop-off—a small perk that saved some extra time on the road. The Boat & First Impressions After a 20-minute drive, passing Miraflores Lake and the river that feeds Gatun Lake, we arrived at the dock, where our covered boat with open sides was waiting. The boat had ten or so rows of benches, each seating up to three people. The setup was oddly reminiscent of Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World” ride. Fortunately, our group was small enough that I had an entire row to myself. ✔ Pro Tip: Sit on the right side of the boat—it stays closer to the riverbank, giving you better views of the wildlife. Monkey Encounters The ride to Gatun Lake took about 15 minutes, followed by another 5–10 minutes to the first stop, where the guides called out to the monkeys. They clearly knew how to attract them, and sure enough, we spotted white-faced capuchins moving through the treetops. They didn’t approach at first, so we moved to another spot with overhanging trees—this time, a family of capuchins climbed down near the boat. ✔ Pro Tip: Bring grapes! Capuchins love them. I had cashews, which they also seemed to enjoy. The guide instructed us to hold our hands out flat so the monkeys wouldn’t feel threatened. He also cautioned against overfeeding, explaining that monkeys can overeat beyond their natural capacity, which is bad for their health. The boat continued on to another area where we spotted howler monkeys high in the trees. We could hear their deep, guttural calls before seeing them. One had a baby clinging to its back, a fascinating sight that was easier to spot with binoculars (which I regretted not bringing). Tamarins & Other Wildlife At the next stop, we encountered Geoffroy’s tamarins—small, striking black-and-white monkeys about the size of a large squirrel. The guides lured them in with banana pieces, smearing them near the boat’s edge. Again, they emphasized not overfeeding. On the return trip, our guide pointed out: ✔ Several hawks perched on trees ✔ Two iguanas basking in the sun ✔ Termite nests high in the branches ✔ Palm trees used for palm oil production He also used a laser pointer, which made it much easier to spot these animals against the dense foliage. Final Impressions & Practical Tips Total Tour Time: We left the dock around 8:10 AM and returned by 10 AM. What to Bring: ✔ Sunglasses & sunscreen – You’ll be in the sun for a while. ✔ Comfortable clothes & sneakers – No hiking, but good footwear is always a plus. ✔ Binoculars – Useful for spotting howler monkeys and iguanas. After we docked, our minibus driver had cold bottled water waiting for us, which was a nice touch. I arrived back at my hotel around 10:35–10:40 AM, but if you’re staying in the downtown area, expect another 30 minutes. Was It Worth It? Absolutely. I paid $55 for the tour and tipped $20 because I was genuinely pleased with the experience. The driver, guide, and boat operator were all friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. The boat ride itself was refreshing, passing several large container ships waiting to enter the locks. If my schedule had allowed, I would have gone again. ✔ Highly recommended for anyone looking for a relaxing but immersive wildlife experience on the Panama Canal.