Panama Canal Partial Transit Southbound Tour

* Important: Pickup and check-in times are confirmed the day before the tour. This is because the exact schedule is not released by the Canal Authority until the day before the tour. You will receive an email from Tiqy before 5pm the day before the tour confirming check-in and pick up times. If you do not receive this email you need to contact us to confirm the tour times.

This tour starts at Flamenco Island (Isla Flamenco), which you can get to by taxi or bus in about 15 minutes from Panama City. Here you will complete check-in at our check-in office (right next to the Panama Sign). Check-in normally occurs between 10.00 and 11.00am. You will then board a motor coach and be brought to Gamboa where the Panama Canal Dredging Division is located. Here you will board the Pacific Queen.

For those who have foreigners tickets, there is a free pick up and drop off included at some hotels. If you have a foreigner ticket, the pickup time at your hotel is normally between 9.00am and 10.00am (pick up time may vary every day depending on the Panama Canal Authority). You can see the list of select hotels for pick up and drop off at the end of this description. If you have a foreigner ticket and would like to be picked up from one of these hotels, you need to reply to your booking confirmation email and request to be picked up at your hotel. You do not have to be staying at the hotel, you can go there in the morning and be there for the pickup time.

You have until 11:30 am the day before the tour to provide us with the name of the hotel where you want to be picked up and returned. If we receive this information after this time we will not be able to organize your transportation and you will have to go on your own to Isla Flamenco where you have to check in. People who are picked up at their hotel, will be brought straight to Gamboa and will complete check-in at Gamboa, and then board the Pacific Queen.

You will start your southbound journey through the canal by sailing into the Gaillard Cut where the Chagres River flows into the canal. This area is one of the main points of interest for visitors, and your guide will explain how it was carved through the Continental Divide. You will travel 13.7 kilometres on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks. Your guide will give you an introduction to the canal and explain what is going to happen on the tour. The guide is bilingual in English and Spanish and is available for any questions that you might have.

The Pedro Miguel Locks are the first set of locks that you will go through. Here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one step. Before entering the Pedro Miguel Locks, you will have seen the new Centennial Bridge which crosses over the Canal. During the process of going through the two locks you will be able to see the gates opening and closing, and the water lowering. Normally you are alongside a much larger vessel when going through the locks. It is amazing to see the size of these vessels. There are great photo opportunities while going through the locks.

You will then arrive to the Miraflores Lake. The Miraflores Lake is an artificial body of fresh water that separates Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

Normally at this time, you will be served lunch on the boat. Although the order of events can change depending on the schedule of the canal. Lunch consists of chicken, sautéed vegetables, rice, green salad, a dinner roll, cake and a cookie. There is unlimited soda and water on the boat for the entire trip. There is wine and beer available for purchase. There is also a snack bar for additional purchases.

You will then enter the Miraflores Locks where you will be lowered 18 metres in two steps of 9 metres each step. After going through the Miraflores locks you will have reached the Pacific Ocean. You will have to sail under the bridge of the Americas, and out to the Panama Bay where you will see the amazing Panama City Skyline.

You will finish your tour at Flamenco Island (Isla Flamenco). The boat journey in total is normally between 4 and 5 hours, so you normally disembark at Flamenco Island around 15:30. All times can vary depending on the Schedule of the Canal. Some days the tour takes longer or shorter than other days. There will be buses waiting in Isla Flamenco to bring people back to their hotels.

List of pickup/drop off hotels for those who have foreigner tickets:

- Hampton by Hilton
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Best Western Zen
- Wyndham Tryp (Panama Centro)
- Novotel
- Hyatt Place Panama
- The Bristol
- Riu Plaza Panama
- Marriott Hotel
- Hilton Doubletree
- Golden Las Americas
- Hard Rock Hotel
- Intercontinental Miramar
- Hilton Panama
- American Trade Hotel
- Radisson Panama Canal
- Sheraton Grand Panama
- Ramada Plaza (Punta Pacifica)
- JW Marriott Panama

Please respond to your booking confirmation email if you wish to be picked up at one of these hotels.

* Please note that prices are higher when booking for a date during high season (November 1st to April 30th).
* There is no specific vegetarian option, but it is cafeteria/buffet style so you can avoid the meats
* There are currently no gluten free options on the menu, so we recommend bringing something yourself if you have gluten free requirements
* If there is no availability on the day that you want, please check the other tours on this website as we also have a southbound tour which runs on different dates.