Aerial Tram & Sloth Sanctuary tour from Panama City

The aerial tram is the only one in Panama, and it puts you inside the canopy instead of below it.

An aerial tram tour from Panama City that takes you 600 meters above the rainforest canopy in Gamboa, where you board a gondola to watch birds and spot sloths and monkeys, then visit an Observation Tower overlooking Soberania National Park, the Chagres River, the Panama Canal and native Emberá villages, followed by time at the Sloth Sanctuary to learn about sloth behavior and conservation efforts. Hotel pickup is included, and the full outing runs about five hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rainforest aerial tram and sanctuary visit

• Pick up at hotel
• Drive 45 minutes to Gamboa
• Board aerial tram gondola
• Observe birds, sloths, and monkeys
• Reach Observation Tower for views
• Visit Sloth Sanctuary
• Explore Butterfly House and exhibitions
• Return to Panama City

The Experience

The day starts with a 45-minute drive from your hotel to Gamboa, where you board a gondola on the aerial tram -- the only one operating in Panama. The tram carries you 600 meters above the rainforest canopy, a vantage point that changes what you can see: birds move through the branches at eye level instead of far below, and the canopy itself becomes the landscape rather than a green ceiling. Sloths and monkeys move through the same space, though spotting them depends on timing and luck. After the tram ride, you reach an Observation Tower with views across Soberania National Park, the Chagres River, the Panama Canal, and scattered Emberá villages below.

The second half of the day moves to the Sloth Sanctuary, where the focus shifts from observation to understanding. You'll watch sloths in their habitat and learn about their behavior, diet and the conservation work keeping the species stable. The Sanctuary also includes a Butterfly House where you can see the species living in the rainforest, plus orchid and frog exhibitions. A 45-minute drive returns you to Panama City afterward. Bottled water and snacks are provided throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport.
• bottled water and snacks.
• aerial tram ride.
• access to the Observation Tower.
• entry to the Sloth Sanctuary.
• Butterfly House, orchid and frog exhibitions.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Monkey Adventures

Is this one for you?The tour moves between the tram, the tower and the sanctuary with a guide, so it suits travelers who want to see the rainforest canopy and learn about sloths without arranging transport or navigating the sites alone. The pace is steady but not strenuous, and the five-hour span works for most fitness levels.

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Top questions

What birds and animals might I see on the aerial tram?

The aerial tram passes through the rainforest canopy where different species of birds live and move at the level of the gondola. Sloths and monkeys inhabit the same canopy space, though spotting them is not guaranteed and depends on the time of day and season.

What can I see from the Observation Tower?

The Observation Tower offers panoramic views of Soberania National Park, the Chagres River, the Panama Canal, and native Emberá villages spread across the landscape below.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup from your hotel in Panama City is included, followed by a 45-minute drive to Gamboa and another 45-minute return drive at the end of the day.

What is the Sloth Sanctuary, and what will I learn there?

The Sloth Sanctuary is a facility where you observe sloths in their habitat and learn about their life, habits and the conservation efforts protecting the species from decline.