Panama Canal travel has become a major tourist attraction in its own right. Many people now come here solely to see or experience this manmade wonder. It's not just about a tropical holiday in the sun or a few days of luxury abroad cruise liners plying this route. A lot of passengers are attracted by the adventure of sailing from one ocean to another one.
The historic nature of the project is undeniable, given that it allows ships to hop across from the Atlantic to the Pacific over the Isthmus of Panama. Prior to 1914, ships had to take a 9,000-mile circuitous route around South America to get from one ocean to the other. After the canal was built, it takes the same ships only eight hours to barrel through the middle via the Caribbean Sea.
It wasn't just an engineering marvel, but also a seismic continental realignment that has contributed hugely to globalization. It fueled the rapid development of the U. S. West Coast and other coastal areas facing the Pacific. One of these developments was the cruise industry, which got a huge boost after it started picking up passengers at Atlantic seaports and taking them through the Caribbean Sea to the canal and then through to the Pacific.
Travelers not on a cruise who want to see the canal in person will have to fly in and land at Tocumen Int'l Airport. Visa formalities may differ based on nationality. However, all visitors seeking a tourist visa do need a passport and a return ticket, along with sufficient traveler's checks or cash, and a tourist card. This $5 card is waived for U. S. Citizens who are on cruise ships and intend to stay onboard while the ship is docked.
The Miraflores Visitor Center located in Panama City is the best way for people already inside the country to take a closer look at the canal. It has observation decks that allow people to watch giant ships being guided through the locks. It also has a nice restaurant, an exhibition hall and a gift shop.
Some tours also take people out on Gatun Lake for day trips. This manmade lake feeds the locks with the millions of gallons of water needed to raise and lower massive ships. Visitors are taken out on motor boats to explore the lake and the lush tropical jungle around it. Apart from the gigantic ocean liners, people get to see everything from exotic birds and monkeys to iguanas and crocodiles.
Those who have a week or more may book a cruise for a more leisurely experience. There's a whole industry centered around taking people on Caribbean cruises that start from various ports in the U. S. And then make their way through the Caribbean in huge ocean liners that carry thousands of passengers and crew. Some are dedicated to a full transit from ocean to ocean, while others offer a partial transit.
There are so many aspects to Panama Canal travel that it is almost impossible without some planning and the expertise of a capable tour company. The journey through the canal and explorations of Gatun Lake and Panama City are just the core parts of the trip. There is so much more to see and do in the vicinity. Factor in a cruise with stops at dozens of Atlantic and Pacific ports, and it makes for an unbeatable holiday.
The historic nature of the project is undeniable, given that it allows ships to hop across from the Atlantic to the Pacific over the Isthmus of Panama. Prior to 1914, ships had to take a 9,000-mile circuitous route around South America to get from one ocean to the other. After the canal was built, it takes the same ships only eight hours to barrel through the middle via the Caribbean Sea.
It wasn't just an engineering marvel, but also a seismic continental realignment that has contributed hugely to globalization. It fueled the rapid development of the U. S. West Coast and other coastal areas facing the Pacific. One of these developments was the cruise industry, which got a huge boost after it started picking up passengers at Atlantic seaports and taking them through the Caribbean Sea to the canal and then through to the Pacific.
Travelers not on a cruise who want to see the canal in person will have to fly in and land at Tocumen Int'l Airport. Visa formalities may differ based on nationality. However, all visitors seeking a tourist visa do need a passport and a return ticket, along with sufficient traveler's checks or cash, and a tourist card. This $5 card is waived for U. S. Citizens who are on cruise ships and intend to stay onboard while the ship is docked.
The Miraflores Visitor Center located in Panama City is the best way for people already inside the country to take a closer look at the canal. It has observation decks that allow people to watch giant ships being guided through the locks. It also has a nice restaurant, an exhibition hall and a gift shop.
Some tours also take people out on Gatun Lake for day trips. This manmade lake feeds the locks with the millions of gallons of water needed to raise and lower massive ships. Visitors are taken out on motor boats to explore the lake and the lush tropical jungle around it. Apart from the gigantic ocean liners, people get to see everything from exotic birds and monkeys to iguanas and crocodiles.
Those who have a week or more may book a cruise for a more leisurely experience. There's a whole industry centered around taking people on Caribbean cruises that start from various ports in the U. S. And then make their way through the Caribbean in huge ocean liners that carry thousands of passengers and crew. Some are dedicated to a full transit from ocean to ocean, while others offer a partial transit.
There are so many aspects to Panama Canal travel that it is almost impossible without some planning and the expertise of a capable tour company. The journey through the canal and explorations of Gatun Lake and Panama City are just the core parts of the trip. There is so much more to see and do in the vicinity. Factor in a cruise with stops at dozens of Atlantic and Pacific ports, and it makes for an unbeatable holiday.
