Rainforest & Gatun Lake & Locks Cruise
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Port
Gatun Lake, Panama
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,14,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$109.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Depart the pier for a scenic approximately 45-minute drive to local marina and board a tour boat for a 1½-hour eco-cruise on Gatún Lake. Gatún is a large artificial lake in the Republic of Panama. It forms a major part of the Panama Canal, carrying ships during their transit across the Isthmus of Panama. The lake was created between 1907 and 1913 by the building of the Gatún Dam across the Chagres River. The hills bordering the valley of the Chagres open up widely around the area of the lake, but come together to form a gap at the location of the dam.
Glide over the water, passing lush rain forest. You're headed to a secluded region of Lake Gatún -- the perfect spot to experience firsthand the splendor and excitement of the jungle. Exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles are just a few of the animals that you may see in their native surroundings -- they are part of the much larger population of reptiles, mammals, insects and birds that inhabit the Panamanian forest. In fact, the more than 50,000 acres of rain forest here is home an incredible 105 species of mammals, 525 species of birds and 124 species of reptiles and amphibians. And, amazingly, this is one of the most accessible green zones in the world. Afterwards, re-board your air-conditioned transportation for a tour of the new Agua Clara Locks on Panama Canal. Spend approximately one hour at the Visitor Center observing the locks in operation. Your guide explains the engineering feat required to move ships over a continental divide that separates two oceans. These New Locks give you a modern perspective of the Panama Canal as they are part of the expansion project that allows the canal to accommodate the larger neo-Panamax class of ship.
Finally, re-board your air-conditioned transportation for the drive back to your ship.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. This excursion will depart from Gatún Lake and will end in Colón where you will re-join the ship. The Panama Canal Authority assigns specific time slots for the transit of a vessel through the locks. The ship will anchor in a designated area and will wait for instructions. Once clearance is transmitted to the ship, procedures begin to bring the ship's tour passengers ashore. Therefore, tour departure times may vary and will be announced onboard. The return time of the ship to Colón may also be delayed due to transit through the locks. We recommend that you are prepared for any potential delay of the ship's arrival to Colón and plan accordingly by bringing any needed medication or essential items on tour. Facilities are available at the terminal in Colón while waiting for the ship's arrival in case of delay.