Glide deep into Gatun Lake by private boat to Monkey Island, where Geoffroy's spider monkeys and white-faced capuchins come aboard, then visit Panama's only sloth sanctuary. Utterly intimate wildlife encounters in the Canal's flooded rainforest heart.
What to expect
Depart Gamboa Marina and head into the glassy interior of Gatun Lake, the world's largest man-made lake when it was completed in 1913. Your naturalist guide will idle the engine as spider and capuchin monkeys swing from shoreline trees and clamber onto the bow for a closer look at you. The sloth sanctuary stop is genuinely moving — rescued two- and three-toed sloths in various stages of rehabilitation, held by keepers who explain each animal's story. Return via a scenic canal-side route with good chances of spotting crocodiles basking on exposed roots.
Good to know
Transfers from the Gatun Lake pier to Gamboa (approx. 45 min by taxi or arranged transport) must be pre-organised. Morning departures avoid midday heat and offer the best wildlife activity. Book the private-boat option directly for maximum flexibility.