Panama Canal and City Tour: Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo

Three landmark stops that show you how the canal works and why the city grew around it

A guided tour of Panama City covering the Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo and the Amador Causeway, with a live guide in English or Spanish and hotel pickup included. You'll see how ships pass through the canal's locks at the visitor center, walk the colonial architecture of the old town, and drive across the causeway to the islands for views of the skyline and the Bridge of the Americas.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Casco ViejoEntry included2h
2. Miraflores Locks1h
3. Amador CausewayEntry included2h

Panama City and Canal Highlights

• Visit Casco Antiguo Old Town
• Explore Panama Canal visitor center
• Drive along Amador Causeway
• See Bridge of the Americas viewpoint

The experience

The tour starts at Casco Viejo, the old town founded more than 300 years ago. You'll walk through colonial streets and see churches like La Iglesia San José, built in 1675 and known for its golden altar. From there you move to the Miraflores Locks, where the Panama Canal visitor center lets you watch how the locks work and understand what each one does as ships cross between the Atlantic and Pacific.

The Amador Causeway is where the day opens up. This road runs through the sea to reach the islands, and it gives you one of the best views of the new city's skyline. You'll also cross the Bridge of the Americas, which offers another angle of the canal and the port. From here you can see Cerro Ancón, the highest point in Panama City. The causeway has a duty-free zone and restaurants if you want to stop for lunch.

A personalized guide leads the whole tour and speaks either English or Spanish. Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport. The tour runs five to six hours and needs a minimum of two passengers to operate.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in English or Spanish with a live guide.
• entry to the Miraflores Locks visitor center to watch the canal's locks in operation.
• walking tour of Casco Viejo's colonial architecture and churches.

Information

Lasts 5h–6h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 75 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by Alex_tourservices

Is this one for you?The tour takes five to six hours with walking in Casco Viejo and time at the visitor center, so plan for a full morning or afternoon. A minimum of two passengers is required for the tour to run, and your guide speaks either English or Spanish. Confirm your language preference when you book.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Miraflores Locks visitor center and what will I see there?

The Miraflores Locks visitor center sits at the Panama Canal and shows you how the locks function. You'll see the mechanics of each lock and understand how ships move from one ocean to the other through this engineering system.

How old is Casco Viejo and what will I walk through there?

Casco Viejo is more than 300 years old and filled with colonial building designs. You'll see churches including La Iglesia San José, founded in 1675 and famous for its golden altar.

What views do I get from the Amador Causeway?

The Amador Causeway runs through the sea to the islands and gives you one of the best views of Panama City's skyline. From the causeway you also cross the Bridge of the Americas, where you can see the canal and port from another angle, and spot Cerro Ancón, the city's highest point.

Does the tour include lunch or time to eat?

The Amador Causeway has restaurants and a duty-free zone where you can stop for lunch, though the meal itself is not part of the tour.