Full Day - Panama Canal Coast To Coast - By Land

Reliable, pleasant. Excellent transport. Trustworthy very easy and comfortable tour, would recommend to my friends.

We absolutely loved our tour of the locks with Tito. Tito was knowledgeable, fun to be around, perfectly timed everything and took great photos. We went to the Caribbean side first and had no wait and no crowds. It was wonderful. Lunch was delicious and plentiful, and reasonably priced. Miraflores was busier but the IMAX movie was so interesting. We had taken a cruise ship through the Panama Canal the day before and wanted to learn more about its history and how the locks work, and we came away learning so much. It was a long day but worth it.

Our family had a wonderful time on the Panama Canal Coast to Coast tour. Our guide was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire day engaging. I learned so much about the history and operation of the canal, and the Coast to Coast trip was both smooth and fascinating. Overall, a great trip and an experience I’m really glad I didn’t miss.

The tour took as from the Pacific to the Caribbean by auto. We stopped at key sites including 2 major visitor centers where we were able to see the working of the locks and the process of moving ships through the canal. This included a very large container ship. Fascinating. We had an excellent lunch in Colon. Julio was a great guide. The entire tour too 8 1/2 hours but was well worth the time.

Private tour - only the guide and us, you get what you pay for - very reasonable price for the service received. Mario is a very knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating, good English spoken, EXCELLENT tour guide. If you do get him as a guide, be sure to tip him well.

We spent a lovely day with Gabriel exploring the canal system. What made the experience all the more enjoyable was Gabriel's enthusiasm for and understanding of the canal and its history. He was able to tell us what boats were traversing, their cargo, origin/destination, etc, which added to the fun of seeing the ships rise and fall. We ended the day with lunch in Colon. Gabriel is an excellent driver, to boot. No motion sickness for me - a big plus! Highly recommend this excursion and if you're lucky enough to have Gabriel as your guide, you are in for a wonderful day.

I booked this trip to learn about the Panama Canal while visiting Panama. I happened to get a guy named Mario who was amazing! He was funny, extremely knowledgeable, and made me feel like family! If you are in Panama and want to learn about the canal AND Panama, I highly suggest this booking! Ask for Mario, he’s amazing!

My wife and I spend a terrific day touring the entire length of the Canal with our guide, Gabriel Morales. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Super knowledgeable about the history and current state of the Canal, he was able to answer most of our questions (and we had a lot). Our day started at the Miraflores locks on the Pacific side. There, we saw several ships lined up to enter the Canal, though the view wasn’t great. Afterwards, we saw a 3-D IMAX movie about the history of the Canal. Morgan Freeman narrated. Very high end. But for my money, the best part of the tour was seeing the other locks on the tour. The next lock connected to Gatun Lake, and we had a better view of the ships passing through the Canal. Then, we hopped in Gabriel’s comfortable car and drove an hour to the Atlantic side where we had terrific views of the transit process at the Agua Clara and Gatun locks. Incredibly interesting! We saw several ships travel through the locks and had clear views of how the entire operation worked. We also made a short stop to view the dam on the Chagres River that crested Gatun Lake. After a day of Canal-hopping, Gabriel then took us to a duty-free zone in Colon for lunch. All-in-all it was a long day that went by quickly, and it was terrific experience we’ll remember for many years.

Mario was excellent and very knowledgeable, he gave us a wonderful tour of the Panama 🇵🇦 canal. He was very professional and attentive, will recommend him 💯 percent.

Our little group of three had looked forward to seeing the Panama Canal since we had planned our vacation last year. My friend J had been through the canal before in an official work capacity but had not been able to enjoy the canal as tourist. We lucked out and chose Cositas De Panama and were given Mario as a tour guide. I'll rave more about him later! The tour itself was informative, provided lots of details and history about the Canal and included an IMAX movie about the Canal and how it came into being. We were able to see ships going through the Canal at that point and Mario took us along to the next stop at Aqua Clara where we saw a massive ship going through the locks. Mario showed us a dam that was built by the Americans, took us across the Centennial Bridge, giving us the history of each landmark we saw. Our last stop was a delicious meal out Hudson's in Colon which I will also review separately. This restaurant was recommended by Mario and we were not disappointed! Finally, let me give a shout out to Mario who was charming, knowledgeable and shows a true love for his country and his job. He wants to make sure you enjoy your trip and understand the importance of the Canal. He is accommodating on the trip, letting you stop off for coffee or duck into the souvenir shops and will recommend a good place for lunch. If you get Mario, you'll definitely be in good hands! Great tour! Highly recommended with 5 stars from me and my friends!

We had a great day with Julio exploring the Panama Canal! We loved seeing the original locks and the new locks from the ground after crossing the canal on several cruises. Julio got us to both locks in time to see ships passing through. He gave us great background on the canal and Panama overall. He’s also a very safe driver and has a comfortable car. Definitely recommend this tour with Julio!

Working with Mario of Cositas was amazing. The personal touch to his private tour was spectacular. I felt safe as a solo traveler. He speaks English and Spanish, is very accommodating, polite and most of all knowledgeable of his Tours. Lunch is not included but he stopped at my request in Colon to have food at Hudson. The home cooked meal was fresh and tasted amazing. The staff was perfect. Eeryone knows Mario so we had an amazing experience. Mario even takes great pictures to capture your memories. If you're going to see the Canal, go with him in the Northern región of Colon because it is less crowded and a personalized experience that makes you feel like a celebrity.

Mario is an outstanding tour guide! He’s upbeat, personable, and brings such a great energy to the experience. His knowledge and enthusiasm made every part of our trip both fun and memorable. We truly appreciated his attention to detail and the way he connected with everyone. Highly recommend!

I requested a coast to coast experience and especially wanted to eat lunch in Colon. My guide Julio delivered a superb full day of fun and adventures. Mario connected with me on WhatsApp and he understood my limited time window in Panama. We exchanged numerous messages and found a solution.

This was one of the best private guided tours we have ever taken. This specific tour let us see all the sights/locks of the canal—-from Pacific to Atlantic . We got a great understanding of the achievement the canal represents, how it operates, its political history, and much more. Mario seems to have boundless energy and is passionate about pleasing his clients. We had such great communication, with Mario, that we immediately booked another tour with their company. It was customized for us and included all the sites we wanted to see (Amador, Ancon, and other sites beyond the canal) and more. Both Kathy and Mario are exceptional guides. They are both very knowledgeable. They listened carefully to our preferences and questions and shared personal experiences with us. It was a profound, personal, emotional, and joy-filled experience. Not a moment was wasted. Every minute was interesting. It’s clear they love introducing people to what their country has to offer. I would recommend this tour and tour company.

Very well organized full day tour of the Miraflores ( Pacific) and Aguas Claras ( Caribbean) locks Finished with lunch at cruise terminal in Colon. Cathy my guide for the day was a delight, knowledgeable, and excellent driver and very personable. Cositas is a small tour company specializing in tailor made tours in Panama. I would definitely use them again when I return to Panama for tours to other interesting areas.

Mario was a thoughtful guide, attentive to the physical needs of these two senior travellers. He was aware of an upcoming transit and made sure the timing was right for us to see all stages of it. His background knowledge of the canal is encyclopedic. He is also able to answer questions and offer background on a variety of social, cultural, and natural topics. We asked for a lunch stop with typical Panamanian food, and he delivered. This was one of many highlights! The IMAX production was amazing. Don't skip that part! When the Santa Clara lock unexpectedly ceased operation, we discussed alternatives and ended up having a trip through parkland with bird and animal sightings and hearing a troupe of howler monkeys. Another highlight. A walk on the beach and a soak of the feet in the Caribbean? Priceless! Mario genuinely loves his country, and we came away feeling we have a friend in Panama. We enthusiastically recommend.

I’ll advise them to go and do it. Activities were abundant. No regrets at all. One important advice is do it a little bit later than we did ours to avoid the rain.

This tour should definitely be on your bucket list when visiting Panama. It gives you the opportunity to visit the locks at both ends of the canal (Miraflores and Agua Clara). The views at Agua Clara is amazing, not only do you get to see the ships transit the new locks, you also get to a glimpse of the Gatun lake. Added to all of this, the tour is being done by a knowledgeable guide. Mario brings a wealth of knowledge with him and will surely have the answer for any question you have. His personality and aura makes the tour more enjoyable, he will go the extra yard to make your visit memorable. I highly recommend this tour, you will not regret it!

Excellent all-day tour of the full length of the Panama Canal. Mario, our guide was very knowledgeable and a first class communicator. We would strongly this tour for anyone who wants to delve more deeply into the workings of the canal, the movements of the shipping and operation of the locks. We certainly came away with a much greater familiarity and understanding of this engineering marvel.

This was a wonderful, private day trip. Mario exhibits a great passion for the canal and the country and is a wonderful guide. We were able to see several ships transiting the locks while learning about the culture and history of Panama. For lunch we asked Mario for something local so he took us to a great restaurant in Colón! We were not disappointed! We recommend this trip for anyone wanting to learn more about the canal and country!

A must to do thank you Mike excellent coverage of tbd day. The best of the trips so far. A car boat and car all on one from one ocean to the other and following the ships down the canal along the way at stops.

To be able to learn the history of the Panama Canal as well as the people of Panama from such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable person such as Mario made the day seem like an hour. There is so much more to learn and I have so many pictures I post but I think you just need to go see for your self. The people of Panama should be very proud of their accomplishments. The inner workings of the Panama Canal is amazing.

Mario is just fantastic! He is so engaging and knowledgeable. We would gladly go on a tour with him anytime! We highly recommend this tour to learn and see everything you can about the Panama Canal!

We couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide. Mario was incredibly gracious and helpful. He is enthusiastic about Panama, the canal and speaks English. Mom and I were first time visitors and speak very little Spanish. We scheduled the tour for our first day and wish we could have had Mario with us for the remainder of our trip. The day was delightful. Mario sent several messages the day before we arrived, but our flight was delayed and my phone wasn’t receiving WhatsApp messages for some reason. We walked down to lobby 2 minutes late and immediately saw Mario. Poor Mario had arrived 20 minutes early and sent a message we did not see or respond to and I’m sure he was wondering if we were going to show. Despite this he was warm, welcoming and excited to show us the canal. Mario’s enthusiasm and genuine caring lasted the entire day. He went out of his way to answer questions and show us everything about the canal. We were happy to see more than the Miraflores lock. Mario also looked up details about the ships and their size as they passed through the canal. Thank you for an amazing, welcoming tour of Panama Canal and so much more. We will see you again, Mario!!

Mario was amazing. Such a wonderful, fun and educational experience. I have done many tours across multiple countries and this was truly a top notch experience. I cannot wait to return and have Mario as our guide once again!

Mario, our tour guide was greatest. Two days before the tour, I received an email through viator from Mario looking forward to seeing us soon. Before booking, I compared 6 tours visiting Panama Canal. So far, this company stands out because it has the most detailed explanation of the tour and what to expect. The day prior, Mario got in touch with us via WhatsApp. What stands out regarding this WhatsApp message was Mario was kind enough to reach out, asking how we are doing, confirmed the tour for the next day, what time we'll meet and where and he also sent us his business card with the picture and plate number of the vehicle we'll be using. He asked about our preferred drinks and gave recommendations on where to visit in the area where we are staying. Of all the tours I have been to, this was the first time I have ever encountered such a great and unique service even before the tour started. It was personalized, which is great because it gave you confidence about the company and we were able to plan our morning. On the day of the tour, true to his word, Mario was not on time BUT ahead of time. We were on the road 2 mins before the actual tour should start. I didn't expect that it was only me and my friend going on the tour which made it feel like a private one. Mario knows what he is doing. He made sure me, and my friend are comfortable. Mind you, my friend speaks only Spanish and I only English. But Mario made sure that he would explain in both languages and not make one feel left out. The most challenging part was the timing of the ships passage through the canal. Mario made sure we did not waste any time. The ship was 2 hours late to pass through Gatun lock, but Mario took us to see Colon instead of waiting. We avoided the crowds in Miraflores because of Mario's proactiveness in prioritizing on getting the entrance and IMAX tickets when we passed by it earlier in the day. So, when we went back in the afternoon, we don't have to line up for ticket and saw another ship pass through. On top of it, Mario made sure we'd see the important events in the building of the Panama Canal. The quality of service, proactiveness, time management and friendliness were unremarkable to the point that we invited Mario to join us for dinner. It's not like other tours that would bring you to shops for commission or recommend a place for commission. It was like having our own private local friend touring us in Panama. He even took pictures of us on his phone and sent it to us through WhatsApp. He followed up on how we were doing the next day and the day of our departure. I have nothing but good words for this company. They just stated a year ago and they are really setting the bar on how a tour company should operate and treat their clients. I felt how proud Mario is of his country, Panama and how much he wanted to share and make sure we'll experience all the best Panama has to offer. Highly recommend this company.

Mario was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable at explaining the history of the Panama Canal and gave us tips on places to visit during our stay.

We had a fantastic day with Mario! He was so warm and engaging from the moment he picked us up at our hotel. His knowledge of the canal and its history is extensive and he explained everything in great detail. We had a great understanding of the operation of the canal and locks by the end of the day. If he couldn’t answer a question, he checked his resources for an answer. His enthusiasm for transmitting Panamanian culture and history was infectious. He was very accommodating to our desires as the tour unfolded, ensuring that we saw everything on the itinerary at optimal times. We felt very comfortable with him as he was so patient as we took pictures, made restroom stops and shopped for souvenirs. We never felt rushed but saw everything. We felt like we were leaving a family member when the tour ended and he dropped us at the hotel! He also sent us all the pictures he took as promised. I would highly recommended this tour to anyone who wants to see both ends of the canal and learn about different aspects of Panamanian culture along the way.

Mario is an excellent guide who takes you to both viewing sites of the locks, with a stop in Colón for a bite to eat at a local place with authentic flavor. Mario is highly knowledgeable and can help answer any questions you have about the Canal, its history, or even the ships passing through. He'll even help you with any questions you may have about your stay in Panama. I highly recommend this tour. It's an absolute MUST for your vacation in Panama!

We had a wonderful day with Mario. He is an excellent guide and a great person. We went to the Miraflores locks, got all information about the panama canal, it's function and history. We wanted to see a big ship in the locks - even if none was to see at Miraflores, he promised we will - and we did in Aqua Clara! We went through Colon, had a great lunch and we were able to gain many new impressions of panama. For us the highlight of the tour was Mario himself. He made the day very special for us as he is such a cheerful, positive person and you feel that he really loves his job. Thank you so much for this amazing tour, which was one of the highlights of our vacation :)

The tour was very informative and educational. We learned a lot about the country and culture. Our guide was very good in answering our questions and providing water and beer. It was a great day

The most beautiful experience of our cruise! From the booking, the exchanges with Mario were quick clear precise, and smiling which does not spoil anything! Always attentive, Mario managed the meeting perfectly with a high quality and comfortable van. He also served as our guide throughout the day. He knew the canal perfectly well, but also the history of his country he loves, and his city. He shared his passion with us, answering all the questions and requests of the group. The walk in Casco Viejo charmed the members, and the discovery of the new neighborhood and the Causeway offered an interesting contrast. This walk made us want to discover more about Panama.

Excellent. I was very excited to see the Panama Canal and since I was going, I wanted to see it complete, so I chose this tour. I visited all the locks, watched the IMAX movie about the history of the canal and ended with a typical lunch of food in Columbus. Everything was great: the opportunity to see and enjoy this wonder and more with the explanations and company of Mario de Cositas de Panama, a luxury guide, for his knowledge and for being a very friendly and fun person. Thank you very much.

A day that will last a long time. Make the canal along its entire length with our guide Mario who was not stingy with information about the canal and the history of Panama. He advised us when visiting the locks and visiting the city of Colon. Not to mention the video report and photos of the day. Another big thank you to you Mario.

Very nice experience with a very experienced guide We visited the surroundings of Panama City with a lot of explanations , and finally the miraflora locks where we saw a very large cargo car carrier crossing. It was very impressive and worth the trip. Our guide Catherine Barnfield, has given us detailed and documented explanations. She was very kind , patient and answered all questions very acutely . A guide to recommend to have a good day and understand how the canal and locks work

Es war einfach fantastisch! Danke an diesen Touranbieter. Mario, unser Tourguide, versorgte uns mit super vielen spannenden Infos und vielen Insidertipps, die wir nur durch ihn erfahren haben. Muchas gracias! C & C

A história do Canal é riquíssima, adorei saber de todos os detalhes da construção, valeu muito a pena visitar todas as eclusas e assistir elas funcionando. Acompanhar um navio atravessando... é uma experiência única e imperdível. Mario, nosso guia, foi maravilhoso, muito atencioso, gentil e prestativo. Super recomendo esse passeio.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful city of Panama and having Mario's services as a guide during my tour. I want to highlight that the experience was absolutely wonderful and enriching thanks to his knowledge, kindness and skills as a tour guide. From the first moment, Mario was extremely professional and friendly. His passion for his work and his deep knowledge of local history and culture were evident in every explanation he gave us. He was able to convey his enthusiasm in an infectious way, making each stop on our itinerary truly fascinating. What impressed me most about Mario was his ability to explain the most complex details in a clear and accessible way.

Excellent Tour! Mario is a very good guide and he consented us the whole trip, in addition to the tour, he took us to eat, a very good local food and gave us several tips for the rest of the trip, we highly recommend it, it is the option to really know the canal and part of Panamanian culture.