Most people go visit the Miraflores Locks when visiting the Panama Canal, yet the ultimate experience is to do a Full Canal Transit. Depart early morning from the Flamenco Marina in the Amador Causeway and embark in your journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Pass under the bridge of the Americas, while observing the Bay of Panama and Panama City’s skyline.You will soon transit the first set of locks, Miraflores Locks, where you will go up 18 meters in two steps. Next you will enter the Miraflores Lake, an artificial late that separates the Miraflores Locks from the Pedro Miguel Locks. Transit through the Pedro Miguel Locks and rise 9 meters in one step. After these two locks you will be in the Atlantic side and through the treacherous Culebra Cut, which is the most narrow point in the Panama Canal. The Culebra Cut is named after its snake form and was the biggest challenge when building the Panama Canal. Up to this day this cut still requires extreme maintenance because of its landslides. In this area you can also observe the Panama Canal Expansion.

The Panama Canal Transit will take you through the Gatun Lake, which was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River and is the second largest man made lake in the world. The Gatun Lake feeds the Panama Canal with water and is also the home of the Smithsonian Research Station at Barro Colorado. Passing the Gatun Lake you will reach the Gatun Locks, which are the only locks on the Atlantic side and be lowered 26 meters in three steps. After crossing this last set of locks you will arrive to Colon City on the Atlantic side, where you will find transportation awaiting to take you back to Panama City.

Panama Canal Full Transit Tours include bilingual guide, soft drinks and water, continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and transportation back from Colon to the Marina. You should bring comfortable clothes, hat, sunblock, sunglasses, raincoat, money for souvenirs and of course a camera to take plenty of photos!

Panama Canal Transits dates are seasonal, so it is important that you take this into consideration when planning your Panama Vacation. Full transits are usually available on Saturdays once a month and in the high season (December-April) there might be a second date (always on Saturday) each month.

 

Monkey Island Tours | Full Transit Tour | Partial Transit Tour | Helicopter Tour

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