Panama Canal Tour: New Locks Agua Clara & Monkey Island Tour

Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center, the most impressive visitor center along the Panama Canal, where you will witness the new expanded canal in operation since 2016, including the passage of massive Neo-Panamax ships.

Gatun Locks, in operation since 1914, offering a fascinating contrast between the canal’s original engineering and today’s modern expansion—two generations of canal history in one tour.

The Chagres River is the natural backbone of the Panama Canal system and one of the most important rivers in Panama’s history. Its waters were dammed to create Gatun Lake, which supplies the massive volume of freshwater needed to operate the canal’s locks and allows ships to cross the Isthmus of Panama. Controlled by the Gatun and Madden (Alajuela) Dams, the Chagres regulates water levels, prevents flooding, and ensures safe navigation. Within Gatun Lake, large ocean-going ships pass along marked navigation channels very close to the river’s original course, offering a unique sight where massive vessels move through what feels like a natural rainforest lake. Flowing through dense tropical forest, the Chagres also supports rich biodiversity and provides drinking water to Panama City and Colón, making it a vital link between global maritime trade, engineering, and nature in Panama.

Soberanía National Park is a protected tropical rainforest located along the eastern side of the Panama Canal and is one of the best places near Panama City to experience wildlife in its natural habitat. As we drive through this area, it is common to spot sloths, monkeys, toucans, iguanas, or other rainforest animals resting in the trees or crossing near the road. The park is also historically significant, as it surrounds the area of El Renacer Prison, the former military base where Manuel Noriega was incarcerated in his final years. This unique combination of rich biodiversity, canal history, and modern Panamanian heritage makes Soberanía National Park a fascinating place where nature and history coexist side by side.

Gamboa Town is an amazing and historic place located at the junction of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal. One of its most iconic landmarks is the Titan Crane, a massive industrial crane built in Germany in 1914 and later sold to the Panama Canal authorities (Isthmian Canal Commission) for use during canal operations. While the exact sale price was never officially documented, historians estimate the crane cost around USD 150,000–200,000 at the time, a very high investment in the early 20th century, reflecting its advanced engineering and importance. Installed in Gamboa, the Titan Crane played a key role in canal maintenance and construction and today remains a powerful symbol of the canal’s industrial heritage.