Monkey island - Half day
When the Gatun Dam was built in the early 1900s, it prevented the Chagres River from flowing into the Caribbean Sea, creating Lake Gatun, which at the time was the largest man-made lake in the world.
Today, Gatun Lake is an invaluable asset to the Panama Canal, as it carries tens of thousands of ships each year for 33 kilometers on their journey through the Isthmus of Panama.
Monkey Island is home to four species of monkeys:• White-faced Capuchin Monkey - Also known as the White-throated Capuchin or White-headed Capuchin due to its predominantly “white” upper body. These monkeys are very social and live in groups of around 20 across Central and South America. The lifespan of the capuchin monkey in Gatun is on average about 50 years.
• Mantled Howler Monkey - The howler monkey often enjoys making an appearance for vacationers on Gatun Lake Tours. Many agree that the howler monkey is the loudest animal in all of Panama because it communicates with loud sound audible up to 5 kilometers away. You will likely hear howler monkeys communicate with each other from your boat on Gatun Lake!
• Tamarin Monkey - Found only in Panama and Colombia, this is the smallest monkey in all of Central America. The Tamarin monkey particularly appreciates the tropical rain forests located along the Panama Canal. If you take a tour of Gatun Lake between April and June, you may see a mother with her cubs as this is their birth season.
• Gray-bellied night monkey - Also known as the lemur owl monkey, this species is native to Panama. Vacationers often miss seeing this monkey as it sleeps during the day and forages for food at night. You can expect the monkey to have a gray belly, but it actually has a gray coat on its back that turns into a reddish brown coat on its underside. Unfortunately, the gray-bellied night monkey is vulnerable to extinction in the future.
The islands, which are actually the hilltop covered in rainforest of Gatun Lake, are also home to a wide variety of other wildlife besides monkeys.Spectators visiting Gatun Lake may also spot green iguanas, three-toed sloths, crocodiles, and toucans.
