Rapid Travel Chai

The Panamá Canal is a short drive or taxi ride from Panamá City. A must-see, even for those not typically interested in feats of engineering.

The main visitor center is at the Miraflores Locks with a cheaper ticket for viewing platforms only or a few dollars more grants access to the interesting museum and 10-minute film. The thrill depends on boats passing through, so the museum, film and cafe are a good fall-back if nothing is happening or determined to wait for a ship. There is no access to any of the operational facilities.

The canal’s official website has a wealth of information and live cameras so you can get an idea.

Miraflores Locks

The approach from the Pacific

Bell of first ship to pass through the canal

Mock control room

Simulator ship

Just a few minutes further north is the San Miguel Locks for completists only. There is a small car park but no facilities and the view is obstructed by a chain link fence.

San Miguel Locks

Reaching for a clear view

San Miguel Locks

Completists will want to continue to the coolest of the locks, a 1-hour drive north to Gatun on the Caribbean side, to be covered in the next post.