Since moving to Panama, we haven’t had time to explore the area like tourists. In honor of Jack’s first visit, Rhys and I finally put on our tourist hats and went to see the canal!
Booking the Tour
Although I am always wary of spending too much on a tour, I also knew I would be unable to navigate the streets of Panama alone. In order to find a great experience for Jack, I went to Viator. We decided to take the Ocean to Ocean tour. The process of using Viator is relatively straightforward. From the website, we purchased the tickets on a specific day and time. A virtual ticket is sent to you via text message with information. There is nothing they don’t take care of!
Monkey Island
Our AMAZING tour guide, Paola, picked us up right on time. As we made our way around to pick up the rest of the group, she chatted with everyone and got to know us a bit. Then we were off to our first stop: Monkey Island.
After a few quick instructions, we hopped in the boat and headed out. Along the way, we passed several massive ships making their way toward the Panama Canal locks, which is pretty impressive all on its own.
I’d been to Monkey Island before, but this was Jack’s first visit. And the monkeys did not disappoint. They came right onto the boat, grabbed their grapes and took off. Apparently, they’ve got the system figured out.
We also learned there are alligators, tiger sharks, and poisonous snakes in the water. Good to know after getting on the boat. 😂 I’m suddenly feeling pretty satisfied with my two lifetime visits to Monkey Island.
Paola made the experience about much more than feeding monkeys. She explained their behaviors, identified birds along the way, and shared all kinds of information about the local plants and wildlife. Someone in our group called her a walking encyclopedia.
I agree. A very engaging walking encyclopedia.
The Panama Canal: Agua Clara Locks
After Monkey Island, we hopped back on the bus for the hour-and-a-half drive to Colón and the Agua Clara Locks. Admission was included with our tour, so we were able to head straight in.
As Paola warned us, watching ships move through the Panama Canal is not exactly a thrill ride. 😂 At times, it’s a little like watching paint dry. But the point isn’t the action. It’s realizing the massive amount of engineering happening right in front of you.
We were lucky enough to arrive while two ships were passing through the locks. Rhys and I were immediately taken in by the views, while Jack was much more interested in studying the ships and how everything worked.
And that really is what makes the Agua Clara Locks worth visiting. You’re watching enormous ships essentially cross a country using a system of locks, water, and some seriously impressive engineering. Once you understand what you’re looking at, the slow pace becomes part of the experience.
Would I call it exciting? Probably not. Would I say you should see the Panama Canal at least once while you’re in Panama? Absolutely.
Fort San Lorenzo: My Favorite Stop
This might have been my favorite stop of the entire day. We’d done Monkey Island before, and the canal was impressive, but Fort San Lorenzo was completely new to us and genuinely fascinating.
The fort was originally built to protect an important trade route from pirates, including some rather famous ones. Sir Henry Morgan attacked and captured the fort in 1670 before making his way toward Panama City. Today, Fort San Lorenzo is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can still wander through the remains and get a surprisingly good sense of what life there might have been like.
Paola brought the history to life as we explored. We touched old cannons, ducked into hidden spaces, and learned about traps designed to fool approaching pirates. This wasn’t one of those historic sites where you stand behind a rope and stare at things from a distance. We actually got to explore it.
The monkeys were fun, and the canal was an engineering marvel, but Fort San Lorenzo was the unexpected winner for me. All three of us loved this stop, and I’d absolutely recommend making the trip.
Is the Panama Ocean to Ocean Tour Worth It?
Absolutely. In fact, I wish we’d done this tour when we first moved to Panama. In one day, we saw monkeys up close, watched ships move through the Panama Canal at the Agua Clara Locks, and explored Fort San Lorenzo, which unexpectedly ended up being my favorite stop. If you only have a few days in Panama and want to see more than just the canal, this is a really efficient way to do it.
