From the Roman aqueducts to the entire city of Machu Picchu, there are places that will take your breath away with the sheer ingenuity of their design. Central America is home to one that gave an entire country a reason to exist in the first place and is still its main source of income. There are different options for Panama Canal travel that will make it possible for you to see this marvel in action.
The Panama Canal is the main source of income for the eponymous country. On the Caribbean side it starts at Colon and then it ends at Balboa, near the capital on the Pacific coast. It covers a distance of less than 50 miles, much less than the route around Cape Horn that ships used to have to take if they wanted to travel between the Caribbean and the Pacific before the engineering marvel was completed in 1914.
A ship entering the Canal at Colon does so at sea level. When it reaches the Gatun Locks, it's raised many feet higher to the level of the Lago Gatun. It then traverses this man-made lake and a gorge known as the Gaillard Cut. At the Pedro Miguel Locks it's lowered about 30 feet and then a mile or so further at the Miraflores Locks, it's taken back down to sea level. Now it can sail on to Balboa and the Gulf of Panama.
There is no better way to see how the locks operate than to be on a ship or a boat going through them. Some companies offer tours that will take you through at least the Miraflores Locks but can take you all the way to Colon too. Another option is to charter your own yacht for the voyage. Most spectacular is to be on a huge cruise liner, though.
Crossings are expensive and if you're traveling on a tight budget, there is always the option of finding employment on a boat and letting the owner carry the costs. Cruise liners often have vacancies for various jobs. If you don't want to commit to a long contract, ask around in Panama City to find a position as line-handler only for the crossing. Usually this doesn't pay well if at all but you'll have a unique experience.
Another way to see the locks in action is from the sidelines. Take the bus to the town of Gamboa and for much of the way you'll have the Canal to your left. For a closer look, ask a taxi to take you from the capital city to the Miraflores Locks. If you're in Colon, go to the Gatun Locks instead.
A railway line follows more or less the same route from Balboa to Colon. A passenger train travels here once a day, with the ships to the west and the jungle to the east providing unforgettable views. It takes only about an hour to complete the journey.
The most popular season for Panama Canal travel is the dry season, between December and April. This usually corresponds with cruise season too. If you'd like to save money and avoid crowds of tourists, the rainy season is a good option too. Everything is cheaper then and it usually doesn't rain until the afternoon. The only real drawback of traveling during this time is the uncomfortably high humidity levels.
The Panama Canal is the main source of income for the eponymous country. On the Caribbean side it starts at Colon and then it ends at Balboa, near the capital on the Pacific coast. It covers a distance of less than 50 miles, much less than the route around Cape Horn that ships used to have to take if they wanted to travel between the Caribbean and the Pacific before the engineering marvel was completed in 1914.
A ship entering the Canal at Colon does so at sea level. When it reaches the Gatun Locks, it's raised many feet higher to the level of the Lago Gatun. It then traverses this man-made lake and a gorge known as the Gaillard Cut. At the Pedro Miguel Locks it's lowered about 30 feet and then a mile or so further at the Miraflores Locks, it's taken back down to sea level. Now it can sail on to Balboa and the Gulf of Panama.
There is no better way to see how the locks operate than to be on a ship or a boat going through them. Some companies offer tours that will take you through at least the Miraflores Locks but can take you all the way to Colon too. Another option is to charter your own yacht for the voyage. Most spectacular is to be on a huge cruise liner, though.
Crossings are expensive and if you're traveling on a tight budget, there is always the option of finding employment on a boat and letting the owner carry the costs. Cruise liners often have vacancies for various jobs. If you don't want to commit to a long contract, ask around in Panama City to find a position as line-handler only for the crossing. Usually this doesn't pay well if at all but you'll have a unique experience.
Another way to see the locks in action is from the sidelines. Take the bus to the town of Gamboa and for much of the way you'll have the Canal to your left. For a closer look, ask a taxi to take you from the capital city to the Miraflores Locks. If you're in Colon, go to the Gatun Locks instead.
A railway line follows more or less the same route from Balboa to Colon. A passenger train travels here once a day, with the ships to the west and the jungle to the east providing unforgettable views. It takes only about an hour to complete the journey.
The most popular season for Panama Canal travel is the dry season, between December and April. This usually corresponds with cruise season too. If you'd like to save money and avoid crowds of tourists, the rainy season is a good option too. Everything is cheaper then and it usually doesn't rain until the afternoon. The only real drawback of traveling during this time is the uncomfortably high humidity levels.
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