Monkey Island Tours
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Panama’s Monkey Island on Lake Gatun is home to four monkey species—mantled howler, white-faced capuchin, Geoffroy’s tamarin, and lemurine owl monkeys)—as well as crocodiles, toucans, sloths, iguanas, and numerous exotic birds. Riverboat tours to the island offer visitors the chance to observe the monkeys and other wildlife.
The Basics
A trip to Monkey Island represents one of the most popular excursions from Panama City. Many guided boat tours also include a chance to see transiting ships from water level in the Panama Canal, as well as visits to the Rainforest Discovery Center and Embera Village, depending on the option chosen.
It’s also possible to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific in a single day trip via the Panama Canal, with a stop at Monkey Island and San Lorenzo National Park along the way.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Monkey Island is a must-see for animal lovers and families traveling with kids.
- Don’t forget to bring rain gear; showers are frequent even during the dry season.
- Bring along sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and bug repellent to protect yourself from the tropical conditions.
- Remember to refrain from feeding or harassing the monkeys and other animals.
How to Get There
Monkey Island is accessible via boat, typically departing from the Gamboa Marina 22 miles (35 kilometers) north of Panama City. The boat ride along the Chagres River takes about 30 minutes each way. The easiest way to get there is to join a guided day trip from the Panama capital.
When to Get There
Thanks to a year-round tropical climate due to its location near the equator, there’s not really a bad time to visit Panama City and its outdoor attractions, such as Monkey Island. If possible, visit from mid-December to mid-April, the area’s dry season, for the least chance of rain.
History of Monkey Island
Monkey Island is, in fact, a series of small islands. When the expansion of the Panama Canal necessitated the relocation of monkey populations to a large island, some of the animals weren’t coexisting well. They were ultimately separated into smaller populations, each on their own island. Habitat encroachment continues to be a problem for these monkey populations, as well as other indigenous species.
Address: Lake Gatún, in Chagres River Valley between Panama and Colon, Panama
Admission: Free; prices for tours vary widely
8 Tours & Activities to Experience
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SPECIAL OFFER
SPECIAL OFFER
From
$105.00 USD
Soberania National Park, Monkey Island and Indian Village from Panama City
- Escape the metropolitan madness of Panama City on an exhilarating full-day tour to Soberania National Park and Monkey Island, led by a professional guide. Marvel at a fascinating tableaux of native wildlife as you explore lush jungle replete with thousands of exotic bird species. Climb aboard a boat destined for Monkey Island, a verdant enclave home to many different monkey species, and then visit an authentic Indian village to learn about the area’s rich local culture. Enrich your cultural knowledge on this exhilarating Central American excursion.
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$135.00 USD
Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal and Jungle Tour
- Travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during this 8-hour tour of the Panama Canal. With your local guide, explore the canal by sea and on foot, viewing the ships passing through the locks and the variety of plant and animal life on the canal's shores. Explore Gatun Lake and Monkey Island, home to howlers, capuchins and tamarins. Stop at the Gatun Locks Visitor Center to get an overview of the canal's history through informative displays and exhibits. Eat a picnic lunch near the Gatun Dam before moving on to explore San Lorenzo National Park and Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the Caribbean Sea. All activities, entrance fees, lunch and round-trip transportation from Panama City hotels are included.
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From
$70.00 USD
Monkey Island Tour from Panama City
- Observe the monkeys on Monkey Island during this 4-hour tour from Panama City. Round-trip transportation from Panama City hotels included. Morning or afternoon tour times available.
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From
$125.00 USD
Panama Canal Eco Cruise and Embera Village Combo Tour
- Take an in-depth look at the famous Panama Canal and the indigenous tribes of the Chagres River during this 8-hour, boat-based, eco-adventure. Cruise amidst the waterways, lakes, and islands that make up the Panama Canal stopping to observe local bird life and primates. Then meet up with residents of the Embera tribe in Parara Puru village for cultural presentations and an included lunch.
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From
$188.99 USD
Gatun Lake and Monkey Island Sightseeing Cruise from Panama City
- Hop aboard a high-speed motorboat through the Panama Canal on a half-day tour of Gatun Lake. You’ll slow down to sightsee around the lake with a naturalist guide, with stops at Monkey Island and Sounds of Silence Island. Marvel at the breathtaking flora and fauna surrounding Gatun Lake, and enjoy a look at the island wildlife. Includes picnic lunch, refreshments and round-trip hotel transport from Panama City.
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$70.00 USD
Panama Canal and Gatun Lake Jungle Eco Cruise
- Cruise the Panama Canal to Gatun Lake on a 3-hour nature tour from Panama City that includes round-trip transport from central Panama City and time to explore Gatun’s wildlife-rich shoreline by boat. Visit jungle islands that were cut off from mainland Panama by construction of the canal, which protect a thriving population of monkeys, birds, crocodiles, and mammals.
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$110.00 USD
Panama Canal Eco-Cruise and Rainforest Discovery Center
- Cruise through the Panama Canal by boat for an up-close experience this important waterway. Look for wildlife on the shores of Gatun Lake, and see ships transiting through the canal. Then head to Gamboa and the Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park, and visit the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center.
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NEW TO VIATOR
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$134.00 USD
Tour Monkey Island and Indian Village
- Experience Gatun Lake’s spectacular wildlife and rich culture on this half-day excursion. After a convenient hotel pickup, travel by boat to an island chain in the middle of the Panama Canal that Howlers and other monkey species call home. Learn about these fascinating primates from an informative guide before continuing to an Embera indigenous village where you’ll enjoy a delicious traditional lunch and watch a live music and dance performance.
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