Panama Canal travel has grown into a mini-tourist industry all by itself. Many people come to the country just for this one attraction. It's not only because they get to soak in the tropical climate and beaches, and certainly not just because it's part of a luxury cruise itinerary. Rather, the main draw seems to be the chance to experience something unique and grand. It's an adventure that takes people from one ocean to another.
The Panama Canal was a historic project that barreled through the Isthmus of Panama and linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in 1914. This was previously a 9,000-mile journey all the way around the southern tip of South America. Now, it's just a quick eight-hour trip down the middle via the Caribbean Sea and the canal.
It was a marvel of modern engineering and a tribute to mankind's ingenuity. Even so, the global impact was stunning because it transformed the natural order of the world's interlinked bodies of water and land. The U. S. West Coast and other Pacific-facing regions were able to develop at a rapid pace. One such growth was a whole new cruise industry, with ships picking up passengers from Atlantic ports in the U. S. And crossing over to the Pacific Ocean without wasting weeks sailing the seas.
Most other foreign visitors who plan to get a first-hand look of this manmade wonder will be landing at Tocumen International Airport. Visa requirements vary by nationality. However, everyone will need a passport, a $5 tourist card, a return ticket and a minimum amount of cash or traveler's checks in hand. U. S. Citizens who plan to stay put on a cruise ship for the duration of their stay in the country do not need to worry about the tourist card.
Visitors who are already in Panama City and want to get a closer look at the canal should head for the Miraflores Visitor Center. Giant ships being shepherded through the locks are clearly visible from the observation deck. The visitor center also has a few other tourist facilities such as a restaurant, gift shop, exhibition hall, etc.
One of the best day trips in the area is a day spent exploring Gatun Lake and its surroundings. This is a gigantic artificial lake that was created to feed the locks with the water required to raise and lower ships. These day trippers get to ride on motor boats out on the lake and poke around in the tropical jungle that surrounds the lake. The giant ships compete for visitors' attention with crocodiles, monkeys, exotic birds and iguanas.
A luxury cruise in these parts is definitely an experience not to be missed, but it does not come cheap and requires plenty of time. Every major cruise company has huge ships that can carry passengers and crew members numbering in the thousands . Some are dedicated to offering a complete transit on the canal from one ocean to the other, while other cruises may include partial transits as part of a larger Caribbean cruise itinerary.
There are so many facets to Panama Canal travel that it's hard to manage the itinerary unless it's planned properly and undertaken under the guidance of a tour operator. There's the amazing journey through the canal, and the prospect of being able to explore Panama City, Gatun Lake and the rest of the country. Throw in a cruise with stops at various ports of call on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and it makes for a pretty much unforgettable trip.
The Panama Canal was a historic project that barreled through the Isthmus of Panama and linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in 1914. This was previously a 9,000-mile journey all the way around the southern tip of South America. Now, it's just a quick eight-hour trip down the middle via the Caribbean Sea and the canal.
It was a marvel of modern engineering and a tribute to mankind's ingenuity. Even so, the global impact was stunning because it transformed the natural order of the world's interlinked bodies of water and land. The U. S. West Coast and other Pacific-facing regions were able to develop at a rapid pace. One such growth was a whole new cruise industry, with ships picking up passengers from Atlantic ports in the U. S. And crossing over to the Pacific Ocean without wasting weeks sailing the seas.
Most other foreign visitors who plan to get a first-hand look of this manmade wonder will be landing at Tocumen International Airport. Visa requirements vary by nationality. However, everyone will need a passport, a $5 tourist card, a return ticket and a minimum amount of cash or traveler's checks in hand. U. S. Citizens who plan to stay put on a cruise ship for the duration of their stay in the country do not need to worry about the tourist card.
Visitors who are already in Panama City and want to get a closer look at the canal should head for the Miraflores Visitor Center. Giant ships being shepherded through the locks are clearly visible from the observation deck. The visitor center also has a few other tourist facilities such as a restaurant, gift shop, exhibition hall, etc.
One of the best day trips in the area is a day spent exploring Gatun Lake and its surroundings. This is a gigantic artificial lake that was created to feed the locks with the water required to raise and lower ships. These day trippers get to ride on motor boats out on the lake and poke around in the tropical jungle that surrounds the lake. The giant ships compete for visitors' attention with crocodiles, monkeys, exotic birds and iguanas.
A luxury cruise in these parts is definitely an experience not to be missed, but it does not come cheap and requires plenty of time. Every major cruise company has huge ships that can carry passengers and crew members numbering in the thousands . Some are dedicated to offering a complete transit on the canal from one ocean to the other, while other cruises may include partial transits as part of a larger Caribbean cruise itinerary.
There are so many facets to Panama Canal travel that it's hard to manage the itinerary unless it's planned properly and undertaken under the guidance of a tour operator. There's the amazing journey through the canal, and the prospect of being able to explore Panama City, Gatun Lake and the rest of the country. Throw in a cruise with stops at various ports of call on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and it makes for a pretty much unforgettable trip.
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