Gamboa Rainforest & Aerial Tram From Panama City

280 Feet Above the Canopy: Gamboa's Aerial Tram & Canal-Side Rainforest

You ascend 280 feet on an aerial tram through the rainforest canopy, walk guided trails with a local who knows where to look for wildlife, and eat lunch included in the price. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you leave your hotel and return without arranging transport yourself. Bring a camera, hat, and sunscreen. The canopy is dense but the sun finds you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Gamboa Rainforest by Aerial Tram

• Ascend to highest peak by aerial tram
• Enjoy views of rainforest canopy

The experience

The aerial tram climbs faster than you'd expect. One moment you're stepping into the cabin, the next you're suspended 280 feet above the forest floor, surrounded by a thousand shades of green pressing in from every direction. It's not what most people picture when they think of Panama City. You're expecting urban sprawl, but instead you get this: the rainforest rising up around you, thick and alive, with the Panama Canal visible in the distance. Your local guide points out the canopy layers as you ascend, naming birds and insects you'd never spot from the ground. The whole thing takes maybe twenty minutes, but it feels longer because you're taking it in slowly, trying to catch movement in the leaves.

After the tram, the Gamboa Rainforest experience unfolds on foot. Your guide moves at a pace that lets you actually see things, not a rushed march through the trees. You're looking for wildlife, and sometimes you find it: monkeys in the branches, sloths hanging motionless, the occasional snake draped across a limb. The humidity is real, and the sounds are constant: insects, birds, water moving somewhere you can't quite see. Bring a camera, because the light filtering through the canopy creates moments that photos never quite capture, but you'll want to try anyway. A hat and sunscreen aren't optional here. The sun finds gaps in the leaves.

Lunch happens at the midpoint, and it's included: local food, nothing fancy, but it tastes right after a few hours in the heat. Bottled water comes with it, which matters more than it sounds when you're sweating through your shirt. The whole experience runs about half a day, and hotel pickup means you don't have to figure out how to get to Gamboa from Panama City on your own. That part alone saves you time and the back-and-forth of negotiating a taxi or finding the right bus.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an aerial tram ride to 280 feet, a guided rainforest walk with a local guide, lunch, bottled water, and all activities. What you bring is up to you, but a camera, hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes make the difference between a good day and a frustrating one.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gamboa Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see rainforest wildlife and the Panama Canal without spending a full day or arranging your own way there: the half-day length and included pickup mean you're back at your hotel by early afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Gamboa Rainforest tour?

It's a half-day experience, typically running 4–5 hours including transport from your hotel.

What's included in the tour?

The aerial tram ride, guided rainforest walk, lunch, bottled water, all activities, and hotel pickup and drop-off if you select that option.

How high does the aerial tram go?

The tram ascends to 280 feet above the forest floor.

Will I see wildlife?

Wildlife sightings depend on the day and time, but monkeys, sloths, birds, and insects are common. Your guide knows where to look.

What should I bring?

A camera, hat or cap, sunscreen lotion, comfortable clothes, and comfortable walking shoes. The rainforest is humid and the sun is strong.

Is the Panama Canal visible on this tour?

Yes, the canal is visible from the aerial tram and some points along the rainforest trails.

Do I need to arrange my own transport?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you select that option when booking.