Panama Canal New & Original Locks Ocean to Ocean Tour

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Panama Canal New & Original Locks Ocean to Ocean Tour

By R&E Transfer Panama

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
4h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation
Selective hotel pickup
Multiple languages

Overview

Experience the Panama Canal like never before on your 3 Locks – Ocean to Ocean Tour! Visit the iconic Agua Clara, Gatun, and Pedro Miguel Locks as you follow the path ships take from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Witness massive vessels navigate engineering marvels, explore modern visitor centers, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Canal and surrounding rainforest.

Tour begins with a hotel pickup in Panama City and a drive to Pedro Miguel Locks, where ships navigate one of the Canal’s original lock systems. Cross the Soberanía National Park and enjoy the rainforest. At Agua Clara Locks, watch Neo-Panamax ships transit the Atlantic side. Drive across the Atlantic Bridge, with a 530m span and 212m towers, offering views of the Canal and Gatun Lake. At Gatun Locks Visitor Center, see ships lifted 26m through three chambers and learn about the Canal’s history. Stop at Gatun Dam for pictures, then return to Panama City.

Morning and afternoon pickup options

Activity location

Pedro Miguel Locks
- Calle Tobago
- Panamá, Provincia de Panamá Oeste, Panama

Meeting/Redemption Point

Pedro Miguel Locks
- Calle Tobago
- Panamá, Provincia de Panamá Oeste, Panama

Check availability

From City Hotel or AirBnB

4h
English

Pickup included

Travelers

Languages available

Starting time

Price details

$60.00 x 3 Adults$180.00

Paid at activity$30.00

Total

What's included, what's not

Experienced guide (English or Spanish)
Air-conditioned vehicle
City Hotel pickup and drop off
1 Bottled Water
Lunch or Dinner not included (Bring US cash for Snacks)
Canal Entrance fees

Know before you book

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The 4 hours tour include the travel time

Activity itinerary

Pedro Miguel Locks

The Pedro Miguel Locks are one of the three lock systems that form part of the world-famous Panama Canal. Located just south of the Gaillard Cut, these locks raise and lower ships in a single step between the Pacific Ocean and Gatun Lake. Unlike the two-step Miraflores Locks nearby, Pedro Miguel is a one-chamber lock, offering a close-up view of the fascinating engineering that has connected oceans for over a century. Visitors can witness the massive lock gates in action and see vessels of all sizes making their way through this vital waterway, while learning about the history and global importance of the Canal.

Agua Clara Locks

50m
Admission ticket not included

Agua Clara Locks are part of the Panama Canal Expansion, inaugurated in 2016 on the Atlantic side of the Canal near Colón. These modern locks were built to accommodate the massive Neo-Panamax vessels, which are too large for the original locks. The complex uses rolling gates and water-saving basins that recycle 60% of the water with each transit, making it an impressive feat of sustainable engineering. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic observation deck overlooking Gatun Lake and watch enormous ships pass through, while learning how the expansion has strengthened Panama’s role as a key hub of global trade.

Soberania National Park (Pass by)

Soberanía National Park is one of Panama’s most important natural reserves, located just 25 kilometers from Panama City along the Panama Canal. Covering more than 55,000 acres of tropical rainforest, the park is world-renowned for its incredible biodiversity and birdwatching opportunities. Its famous Pipeline Road attracts scientists and bird enthusiasts from around the globe, offering the chance to spot toucans, motmots, trogons, and even the rare harpy eagle. In addition to birds, the park is home to monkeys, sloths, anteaters, and countless plant species. With hiking trails, lush jungle scenery, and proximity to the Canal, Soberanía provides visitors with a unique combination of nature, history, and adventure right next to the capital city.

Atlantic Bridge (Pass by)

The Atlantic Bridge is an impressive cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Panama Canal at its Atlantic entrance near Colón. Officially inaugurated in August 2019, it is the longest span concrete cable-stayed bridge in the world, with a main span of 530 meters (1,739 ft) and a total length of 4.6 kilometers (2.8 miles). Its soaring pylons rise 212 meters (696 ft) above sea level, allowing a clearance of 75 meters (246 ft) so that the largest ships can safely pass beneath. Built entirely in reinforced concrete to resist Panama’s tropical climate and salinity, the Atlantic Bridge is both an engineering marvel and a stunning architectural landmark. Besides its functional role connecting the provinces of Colón and Panamá Oeste, it offers travelers spectacular views of the Canal, the rainforest, and the Caribbean Sea, making it a highlight for anyone visiting the Atlantic side of the Canal.

Gatun Locks

30m
Admission ticket not included

Gatun Locks, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, are among the original locks opened in 1914. With three chambers, they lift ships 26 meters (85 ft) to Gatun Lake. The new Gatun Visitor Center features panoramic observation decks and interactive exhibits, offering visitors a modern space to watch vessels in transit while learning about the Canal’s past and expansion.

Gatun Dam

Gatun Dam is one of the largest and most important structures of the Panama Canal. Built between 1907 and 1913 across the Chagres River, it created Gatun Lake, which at the time was the world’s largest artificial lake. The dam measures about 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) long and up to 30 meters (98 ft) high, and its construction was a key part of making the Canal possible. Gatun Lake serves as both the main water reservoir that powers the Canal’s locks and a vital navigation channel for ships crossing between oceans. Beyond its engineering importance, the surrounding area is rich in wildlife and lush tropical forest, making it a scenic highlight for visitors to the Canal’s Atlantic side.

Location

Activity location

Pedro Miguel Locks
- Calle Tobago
- Panamá, Provincia de Panamá Oeste, Panama

Meeting/Redemption Point

Pedro Miguel Locks
- Calle Tobago
- Panamá, Provincia de Panamá Oeste, Panama

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