Description
Would you like to kayak in the Panama Canal? The Panama Canal Kayaking tour takes you through the permitted areas of passage in the Panama Canal. It is not possible to go through the locks or on the main navigation channel for ships which is marked with buoys for safety reasons.
Both the Soberania and the Chagres National Parks are located within the Panama Canal. This area is rich in nature with a vast tropical forest which is in place to protect the main resource of the canal: fresh water. Every time a ship crosses the Panama Canal it requires 52,000,000 gallons of fresh water which is spilled from Lake Gatun. This lake was once the largest artificial lake in the world.
The area surrounding Gamboa where the Monkey Island Tour is done, which is part of Lake Gatun, has many islands which are actually the tops of mountains. They are covered with all kinds of tropical flora and fauna. It is possible to see turtles, iguanas, lizards, crocodiles, sloths, and four different types of monkeys: white face (capuchino), howling, spider and titi. It is also possible to see birds such as king fisher, fishing eagle and toucans. The Panama Canal Kayaking tour will take you through such an important biodiversity hub that the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute opened its Tropical Research Station of Barro Colorado in 1946.
The Panama Canal Kayaking tour starts at 8 a.m. with a pickup in your hotel in Panama City. The drive will pass the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks to arrive at the Public Ramp in Gamboa. Take a motor boat for an hour to reach the starting destination for the kayaking trip around 10:30 a.m. Spend an hour going through the channels in search of wildlife. Lunch will be served in the motor boat and then the exploration can continue. Arrive back at your hotel around 3 to 4 p.m.
Includes:
- Transportation to and from Panama City
- Kayaks
- Gear
- Guides
- Lunch
- Taxes
Available: year round.
Time: 8 hours.
What to bring? Swimsuit, light or dry fit clothes that can get wet, aqua shoes / strapped sandals / sneakers, hat, sunscreen, towel, windbreaker, rain jacket or dry bag in the rainy season, change of clothes and passport or ID.
Important information: the Panama Canal Kayaking requires a minimum of 4 passengers. There is a maximum of 12 people per tour. Please consult for available tour dates.
Any person between the ages of 9 to 70 can participate in the Panama Canal Kayaking tour. Minors must have a responsible adult.