The Panama Canal
The Eighth Wonder of the World
The Panama Canal is one of the greatest engineering feats in human history — an 82 km long canal connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific and annually handling over 14,000 ships. Since its opening in 1914, it has revolutionized global trade: instead of traveling 15,000 km around Cape Horn, ships cross Panama in 8–10 hours. The revenue (over 3 billion dollars annually) makes the canal Panama's economic lifeline.
Miraflores Locks — A Must-See
The Miraflores Locks are the best and most accessible place to experience the canal up close. The excellent visitor center offers:
- Observation Deck (4th floor): Huge container ships and cruise liners glide through the locks — just 20 meters away. The Neopanamax ships fill the chambers to within a few centimeters. It's a fascinating, almost surreal spectacle.
- Museum (3 floors): The history of the canal's construction — from the failed French attempt (22,000 dead!) to the American completion in 1914 and the handover to Panama in 1999. Interactive and excellently presented.
- IMAX Theater: Documentary film about the canal's construction and the 2016 expansion.
Admission: $15 (adults), $10 (children). Open: 9 AM–5 PM daily. Best time: Mornings 9–11 AM or afternoons 2–4 PM, when the big ships pass through. You can find the current schedule on pancanal.com.
Canal Transit — Experience the Canal Yourself
You can also transit the canal yourself! Partial Transit (halfway, 5h, from $185) from Panama City through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks to Gatún Lake. Full Transit (entire canal, 8–10h, from $250) — a unique experience, but only available to tourists on a few days per month. Book early!
💡 Tipp
Check the ship schedule on the official website pancanal.com before heading to the Miraflores Locks. On some days, only small ships pass through, while on others, huge cruise liners and Neopanamax freighters glide through — this makes a huge difference in the experience.
