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The Panama Canal, one of the seven industrial wonders of the world, is a must-see while you’re in Panama. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Panama Canal!
About the Panama Canal
The canal cuts through Panama, creating a shortcut for ships that previously had to sail around the southern tip of South America. Ships navigate through a series of locks in the canal, where they are raised above sea level to sail across Gatun Lake, then are lowered back to sea level.
Fun fact: Ships transiting through the Panama Canal have a Panamanian pilot to navigate, and the Panama flag is flown as a courtesy. Check out our Panama Fun Facts post for more!
History of the Canal
The idea of a passage through Central America dates back to 1513 when Spanish explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa discovered that only a small piece of land, what is now modern day Panama, separated the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Spain performed multiple surveys of the land, but ultimately decided against constructing a passageway due to the area’s hilly and tropical terrain.
The idea of a canal through the isthmus of Panama was resurrected when gold was discovered in California in 1848. Instead of traveling across the United States, it was quicker for people on the East Coast to take a steamship to the Atlantic side of Panama, cross Panama either by foot or railroad, and then take a ship from the Pacific side of Panama to California. All of this traffic meant a high demand for a water passage through Panama.
France was the first country to attempt the construction of a canal. The effort was led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the developer of the Suez Canal. He used the same approach as he did for the Suez Canal and suggested a sea-level canal. Disastrous landslides along with the spread of yellow fever and malaria ruined the project. Funding was pulled from France’s canal project in 1888. An estimated 20,000 lives were lost in the effort.
In 1902, the United States Senate voted in favor of building a canal through Panama. Construction began in 1904 after Panama granted the United States control over the canal for $10 million. After much debate, the United States decided to construct a canal with a lock system. Ships would transit through a series of locks to be raised and lowered between sea level and the level of Gatun Lake. On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal was officially opened.
The Panama Canal Museum is a great spot to learn even more about the canal’s history. Check out our Casco Viejo Walking Tour post to learn more about visiting it while in Panama’s historic district.
If you’re a reader, we highly recommend adding Panama Fever to your reading list. This book offers fascinating insight into the construction of the canal.
How the Locks Work
The Panama Canal Locks utilize gravity to lift and lower ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake – about a 26 meter difference. The lock system lets ships ascend or descend through a series of step locks, allowing the ships to remain level while getting them to the water level needed.
Visiting the Panama Canal
There are two spots where visitors can get up close to the Panama Canal: The Miraflores Visitor Center and the Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center.
Miraflores Visitor Center
Located on the Pacific Ocean side of Panama, the Miraflores Visitor Center is the closest option for those staying in the Panama City and Casco Viejo areas. The center consists of observation decks to watch the canal locks in action as well as a museum focusing on the history of the canal. The entry fee is $10 USD per adult. We recommend you budget one to two hours to spend at the center. When you’re ready to head back to the city, there are usually plenty of taxis waiting outside.
Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center
The Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center is located on the Atlantic Ocean side of Panama, about an hour drive from Panama City. From the observation deck, visitors are able to see Gatun Lake, the locks, and the Atlantic Ocean. On a typical day, you could see a handful of ships waiting on both sides of the locks for their time to sail through. The visitor center can be reached by car, or you can go there as part of a day trip with a tour group.
The Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center is close to Fort San Lorenzo, which we highly recommend checking out while you’re in the area. Check out our 3 Days in Panama itinerary for more information about visiting these sites!
Best Time to Visit
Generally, ships transit through the Miraflores Locks from 9 AM – 11 AM and 3 PM – 5 PM local time. You should try to avoid going to the Miraflores Visitor Center in the middle of the day. Ships typically transit through the Agua Clara Locks in the early afternoon.
If you’re wanting to watch a certain ship pass through the canal, or are just curious to know more about each ship, check out the MarineTraffic app! The app allows you to see the origin and destination of the ship as well as its country of registration.
Note: These times are just an estimate, and the direction or timing of ship traffic is subject to change. The canal controllers will stop ships from moving through the canal due to bad weather or poor visibility.
Check out our TikTok to see what our trip to Panama was like!
Looking for more to do in Panama? Check out our 3 Days in Panama Itinerary!
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited October 2022 | Posted May 2023
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