On board the Gatún Explorer:

The vessel was custom-made for navigation on Gatún Lake.

A new and fascinating way to discover Gatún Lake is being offered by Panama City Tours. It is a series of excursions on board the Gatún Explorer, a 61-foot custom-made vessel equipped with everything necessary for lengthy excursions in jungle areas.

Besides giving visitors the chance to enjoy close-range views of the large ships that transit the Panama Canal, the Gatún Explorer offers an in-depth experience with the rich ecosystems along the verdant bays and islands of the Lake, where visitors are able to disembark to engage in fishing, trekking and kayak exploration.

The vessel is equipped with berths for nightime excursions, a small, on-board library offering Panama-related books and videos, restroomsand a small bar. Excellent tropical foods and drinks are served on board.

For more information, contact Jesus Prestán, (507) 263-8918, www.panamacitytours.com / www.gatunexplorer.com

Passengers can engage in kayak excursions, bird watching and fishing.

Pasengers can enjoy a wide range of water sports.

Mr. Carl D. Davis, owner of the Gatún Explorer.

The Gatún Explorer is owned and managed by its builder and skipper, Carl D. Davis. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Davis brought the vessel in pieces four years ago and worked on its assembly for approximately a year.

With over 15 years of experience in the tourist industry, Davis decided to move to Panama with the country's emergence as a new cruise ship destination.

The Gatún Explorer is not only Mr. Davis' boat. It is his permanent home on the Isthmus, a fact that has allowed him to have an in-depth knowledge of virtually every corner of Gatún Lake. "Living on the boat has afforded me with a deeper perspective than what the average tour guide of the lake would normally develop," he said.