You are here :: Panama Real Estate » About-panama » Cruise-vacation-central-america

There are many choices of Central American cruise vacations. This article focuses on using a Panama Canal cruise as the backbone of a visit to sights in Central America.

When you come to Panama you have to see the Panama Canal. Many visitors go to the Miraflores Locks near Panama City to see ships come and go. Some just go on line and visit the Panama Canal Authority web site to look at the pictures from Miraflores on the Panama Canal Authority web cams.

Coming to see the Panama Canal allows you to add ports of call in the rest of Central America to your cruise vacation

Just What will you see on a Panama Canal Central America cruise vacation?

The Panama Canal is the system of man made channels, locks, dams, and artificial lakes that connect the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean across the Isthmus of Panama. Since its completion in 1914 the Panama Canal has allowed shipping to cross the fifty mile wide isthmus at the narrowest part of the Americas. The Panama Canal locks allow ships to enter the system from either ocean and to be raised to the level of artificial Lake Gatun, 26 meters above sea level, to transit central Panama before being lowered to sea level on the other side.

Vacation cruises through the Panama Canal traditionally start from either coast of the United States, pass through the Panama Canal and end up on the other coast. On each end of the Panama Canal are approach channels dredged from the sea bed. Then there are the Panama Canal locks, two sets on the Pacific end and one set on the Atlantic (Caribbean) end. In the middle you pass across artificial Lake Gatun formed by the damming of the Chagres River and through the Gaillard Cut, a ditch dug through what was a mountain ridge before they created the lake. The passage takes about 9 hours.

In Costa Rica both Punta Arenas and Puerto Limon are port cities with many attractions for travelers. These ports of call are commonly included in Central America cruise vacations through the Panama Canal.

When to Take Cruises Vacations to Panama and Central America

The best time to take Panama and Central America cruise vacations is from late October to April which is the Panama dry season. Summer (Verano) in Central America is the dry season and winter (Invierno) is the rainy season which is May to October. Panama weather especially is either warm and dry or warm and wet. If you take a side tour involving a little walking bring sun screen, an umbrella, and insect repellant.

Available cruise lengths typically range from 7 to 21 days and take in a variety of stops along the way. Panama Canal cruises with stops in Central America depart from either coast of the United States and arrive at the other. Many Panama vacation cruises stop at Colon, Panama for day excursions. Don't miss a chance to see Panama City or the indigenous Embara villages up the Chagres River.

Typical of Panama Canal vacation cruises including Central America is Carnival's 14 day cruise. Stops include the following: Los Angeles, CA; Manzanillo, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal Transit; Cartagena, Colombia; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Miami, FL

Another interesting port of call on a Central America cruise vacation is Puerto Limon. Princess Cruises offers round trip Fort Lauderdale ten day cruises that include Limon, Costa Rica and Colon, Panama. The stop at Colon allows for a day long Panama Canal excursion, kayaking in the Panama Canal, and more.

Central America vacation cruises are available from many cruise lines. Vacation cruises that visit the Panama Canal offer stops other parts of Central America too. Most include Puerto Limon or Punta Arenas in Costa Rica. All of these vacation cruises including Panama with another stop or two in Central America offer passage through or a day excursion into the Panama Canal. Do some shopping on line. There are lots of choices and lots of deals.