Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

This was one of the most disappointing tour experiences I’ve had. We paid for a 48-hour hop-on hop-off tour, but the service didn’t come close to what was advertised. From the very beginning, things were disorganized. We arrived at Avenida Balboa around 8:30 a.m., and there was no staff member to greet passengers or explain where to board. The tour started around 8:33 a.m., but it was rushed and got to the canal around 9:15 a.m. —not even an hour. The guide barely spoke understandable English, which made it difficult to follow the tour. At many of the main attractions, the explanations were extremely brief or incomplete. The buses themselves were in poor condition. They were dirty, the seats bounced constantly, and some felt like they were barely holding together, making the ride uncomfortable. The worst part was what happened at the Panama Canal. We were told buses came every hour (10:30, 11:30, and 12:30). We arrived at the pickup point around 12:05 p.m., and there was already a long line of passengers waiting in the rain. The bus left without waiting even 5–10 minutes for people who were already lined up to board. When we contacted the office to get help, Eileen hung up on us instead of helping resolve the situation. That level of customer service was unacceptable. Overall, the buses were poorly maintained, communication was poor, the English was very limited, and customer service was extremely disappointing. We expected a professional 48-hour sightseeing experience, but this fell far below expectations. I would not recommend this company.

A good tour to get to know Panama City, however, it is worth noting that on the first-hour departure, the sound equipment on the bus made a hellish noise that prevented the guide from providing the necessary information, although I thought it should have had a little more clarity and information with its own voice, since the vehicle had few people. The second trip was very good because the guide José Carlos spoke Spanish slowly and everything was understandable, in addition to his friendliness. There was even the case where we were at the mall and arrived late for boarding and the team (driver and guide) had the patience to wait for us at a distance of approx. 150 meters. I recommend.

The bus was old and a bit bockety but the host was great , I think his name was Adolfo . Really good tour including a large area.

Pros: The tour price was reasonable, and the tour guide was good, but he struggled to speak in English. We saved some money on the trip to the Panama Canal as the bus stopped there, and we were able to stay and visit for a while, and then we were picked up after. Cons: The bus seemed old and it croaked, shaked badly, and was definitely in need of maintenance. I booked the 48 hours and now I wished I had done the 24 hours instead, as I learned everything in a couple of hours. The bus was open air and it was hot and humid at the end I felt very tired.

Great opportunity to hop off to experience the Panama Canal then hop back on. Very relaxing way to see the City.