Traveler Reviews

• Merryhands 19-Feb-2020

  Going through the locks is interesting, but there is way too much waiting around: lots of boring along with a few minutes of interesting. I would say it's not worth the time (takes all day) and expense. The lunch was good. The tour guide was OK.

• Susan W 14-Feb-2020

  We had been to Panama before, and to the Miraflores Visitors Center, which we loved. But the experience of going through the canal is completely different, and totally amazing. The half day tour can be a long half-day — we were picked up at our hotel at 10am and returned there at 7pm. The tour guide on the boat was fabulous, the food was great, and we can't recommend this highly enough.

• Rose G 14-Feb-2020

  I read reviews about Bay Island Tours being unreliable. I only booked the afternoon before and to triple check I gave them my phone number, e mail and hotel number should there be any hiccups.
  I was told I’d be picked up between 4 and 5am at the hotel. Got up at 3.30 and waited until 5.05. I got the hotel to call and was informed that there weren’t any boats that day! I spoke to them asking why they didn’t call me or the hotel. No apology.
  I rescheduled for the next day. Told someone would pick me up at 10amwhich they did. Got to the office at 10.20 and we’re told we would leave at noon. Why pick me up so early?! At 12.20 we drove past my hotel on the way up the canal.
  I’m glad I did a tour of the canal. I’d just recommend a note reliable company.

• Elizabeth D 13-Feb-2020

  Was very happy with this Partial Transit tour. Hotel pick up was a wonderful perk. Staff and guide were very pleasant and accomodating. Would do it again. They also fed us a good breakfast and lunch.

• Anonymous 10-Feb-2020

  Tour guide was great. Lunch was superb. Canal travel on board boat had many options for good photos from many decks

• Tim K 03-Feb-2020

  The boat ride through the canal was amazing to say the least and our guide was very informative and entertaining. It is a great experience going through the locks. Much better than just watching ships from the visitor centre. The boat was great with lots of space, beer and a buffet lunch. The only issue was the wait times. Of course we had to wait for our turn to go through the canal and then the locks. It’s a 2 hour window and that was completely expected and explained. But getting us organized to drive to the boat was very long and pretty inefficient. And that had nothing to do with the canal time windows. We got picked up at 8:30-9 am, and went through city to the boat tour office where we waited almost an hour before the bus headed back through city, then headed to the boat. That whole process took more than 2 hours. If they could be more efficient with that, it would have been a five star day. But the boat ride itself is highly recommended - worth it!

• Corazon A 30-Jan-2020

  Long wait but our tour guide, JC was very informative. Lunch was not good. Driver was very nice and went out of his way to take us to a hotel for a clean bathroom.

• Esteban G 22-Jan-2020

  Juan Carlos excellent good food, good experience, would recommend. No that’s it you are being annoying. We should be able to say how much we want,

• Jack G 01-Jan-2020

  This is a must see and experience adventure. You travel through and completely in the actual ORIGINAL locks built by USA in 1904-1914. The highlight is our Guide.. JUAN CAR9. Amost magnificent and humorous individual. You will enjoy every moment as you travel through History and the 3 Locks of the Panama Canal....

• Sharron L 23-Dec-2019

  Go in the morning. It rains most afternoons this time of year. We did not get our pick up time til late the afternoon the day before. Might want a light jacket (windy).