Panama City tour: Panama Canal, Casco Viejo & Amador Causeway

The Miraflores Locks let you watch container ships rise and fall through the canal in real time.

A guided tour of Panama City covers the Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks, the Kuna Tribe marketplace, Amador Causeway and the colonial district of Casco Viejo, with hotel pickup and a driver-guide. You'll watch ships transit the locks, browse local crafts, photograph the skyline, and walk through centuries-old plazas and churches in the historic quarter before returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Panama Canal2h · entry included
2. Amador Causeway1h
3. Casco Viejo2h

Panama City tour and sightseeing

• Visit Miraflores Locks and watch canal movie
• Explore Panama Canal Museum
• Watch ships passing through the canal
• Shop at Kuna Tribe Marketplace
• Drive to Amador Causeway for photos
• Visit duty free store at Amador Causeway
• Walk and explore Casco Antiguo historic district
• Drive through new city architecture
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour starts at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, where you watch the mechanism work and see ships pass through. A short film at the Panama Canal Museum explains the canal's history before you move to the viewing platform. From there, the route takes you to the Kuna Tribe marketplace, where artisans sell handmade crafts and souvenirs, then to Amador Causeway for photographs of the Panama City skyline and a stop at the duty-free store if you want to browse.

The final stretch covers Casco Viejo, the historic district rebuilt in 1673 after the original city's destruction. You'll walk through multiple plazas and visit churches that anchor the neighborhood's colonial architecture, then drive through the modern city center to see the contemporary skyline before heading back to your hotel. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and the pace allows time at each stop without rushing between them.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included within city limits, along with bottled water, snacks and a driver-guide for the full route. The tour runs approximately six hours, though traffic and time of day can shift the exact duration. Children from age three are welcome, and infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within city limits.
• bottled water and snacks.
• driver-guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to the Miraflores Locks viewing area and Panama Canal Museum film.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Airport Travel and Discover Panama 365

Is this one for you?The tour covers six hours with walking in Casco Viejo and time at each stop, so it suits travelers who want to see multiple landmarks without a rushed pace but aren't looking for an all-day commitment.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly happens at the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal?

The Miraflores Locks are where you watch container ships and tankers rise and fall through the canal's water-filled chambers. You'll see the locks operate in real time from the viewing platform, and the museum film beforehand explains how the system works and why the canal matters to global shipping.

Is there time to shop at the Kuna Tribe marketplace, or do you just drive past?

The Kuna Tribe marketplace is a stop where you can walk around and browse. Artisans sell handmade crafts and souvenirs there, so you have time to look and buy if anything catches your eye.

What is Casco Viejo and what do you do there?

Casco Viejo is the historic district of Panama City, built in 1673 and now the ancient heart of the city. You'll walk through the neighborhood to visit multiple plazas and colonial churches, seeing the architecture and layout that survived from the original settlement.

Does the tour include lunch or meals?

The tour includes bottled water and snacks, but not lunch or other meals. You can eat at restaurants in Casco Viejo or elsewhere during the tour if you want a full meal.

How does hotel pickup work, and what areas does it cover?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within Panama City limits. The driver will collect you from your hotel at the start and return you there at the end of the tour.