This is the best way of doing a tour of the three cities of Panama, the Panama Canal and the beautiful rainforest that surrounds it.
Enjoy amazing aerial views of the Panama Canal, from coast to coast, admire the lush tropical rainforest of National Park Soberania and the protected area of San Lorenzo and very unique perspective all three cities of Panama.
The Republic of Panama is the narrowest part of the American continent and with only 80 kilometers from one coast to the other, precisely in the area of the Panama Canal and Panama City; it allows us to visit several of the touristic highlights of Panama City by air on this 1 hour helicopter adventure.
This morning our guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to drive you to a private hangar located inside the domestic airport Marcos A. Gelabert. Your helicopter and captain will be expecting you and while he gives you a short briefing on the flight, our staff will help you gear up for this unforgettable experience.
After takeoff in Panama City and a quick look at our new and impressive skyline, you will head up north, flying over the Panama Canal, from the Pacific coast all the way to the Caribbean Sea, over pristine rainforest and parallel to the Panama Canal Railway.
Once on the Caribbean, you will fly over the City of Colón and its duty free zone, the second largest one in the world, strategically located right at the entrance of the Panama Canal. From here you will turn to the west to fly over the impressive Castle of San Lorenzo (UNESCO site) and the month of the Chagres River, a strategic point for Spanish commercial routes during colonization times.
Start your way back to the Pacific coast by flying over the protected area of San Lorenzo and the length of the Chagres River until you reach Gatun Lake again. Admire the Gatun Locks, the longest lock system of this amazing feat of engineering from the early 20th century, and fly over the impressive new locks of the Panama Canal expansion project, finished at the beginning of the 21stcentury, with a cost of over 6 billion dollars.
From here you will fly directly to the majestic ruins of Old Panama (UNESCO site), which was founded in 1519 and became the first Spanish city on the Pacific coast of the Americas. Continue your journey to the Colonial Quarter of Panama and fly over the new city of Panama, which was built after the destruction of Old Panama by Pirate Henry Morgan and modernized many times from its foundation in the 17th century until our times.
After landing again in Albrook, our guide will take you on a walking tour of the Colonial Quarter, for an up close visit to this interesting area and a taste of traditional Panamanian cuisine.