{"id":18703,"date":"2026-11-12T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18703"},"modified":"2026-11-11T16:29:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T21:29:56","slug":"tourists-on-shoulders-gamboa-dock-access-locked-affecting-businesses-for-40-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/business-economy\/tourists-on-shoulders-gamboa-dock-access-locked-affecting-businesses-for-40-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourists on Shoulders? Gamboa Dock Access Locked, Affecting Businesses for 40 Families"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has imposed new restrictions on Gamboa<\/a> dock access<\/strong>, a move that has disrupted tourism operations<\/a> and drawn sharp criticism from local communities<\/a> who depend on the public pier<\/a> for their livelihoods. The restrictions, implemented approximately two weeks ago, affect roughly 40 families including tour operators, fishermen, and indigenous communities<\/a> along the Chagres River<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A padlock now secures the gate at the public dock, preventing vehicles from approaching embarkation points. Users of the facility discovered the lock alongside a blue sign stating that the Panama Canal reserves the right to restrict access to areas at any time without prior notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\".
. The restrictions, implemented approximately two weeks ago, affect roughly 40 families including tour operators, fishermen, and indigenous communities along the Chagres River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Impact on Tourism and Gamboa Dock Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The sudden closure has created significant hardships for elderly tourists and those with mobility issues. Videos and photographs shared by affected parties show visitors being physically carried in chairs to reach boats, a situation that has alarmed tour operators who rely on the dock for daily excursions to Monkey Island and three Ember\u00e1 and Wounaan indigenous communities across the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00darsula Kiener, who owns a tourism agency, challenged the Canal Authority’s position. “The Gamboa public dock is public, just as its name says. They sell us that the Canal belongs to everyone, but they have been limiting our access” [Translated from Spanish], Kiener said. She noted that this pier represents the last accessible point for tour operators, as the alternative dock sits inside the Gamboa Rainforest Resort property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por La Estrella de Panam\u00e1 (@laestrellaonline)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n