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Panama Canal Cruises; When to Go and What to See

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.

The best way to see the Panama Canal is to go through it on a boat.

Just What will you see on a Panama Canal Cruise?

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.

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. Other boats on your route will include pleasure craft, giant container ships, tankers, and anything else that carries cargo. On occasion the US Navy sends a boat or submarine through although these are usually nighttime passages.

When to Take a Panama Canal Cruise

The best time to take a Panama Canal cruise is from late October to April which is the Panama dry season. Summer (Verano) in Panama is the dry season and winter (Invierno) is the rainy season which is May to October. Panama Canal weather 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 range from 7 to 21 days and take in a variety of stops along the way.

Crystal Cruises, Carnaval Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Windstar Cruise Line to name a few all offer Panama Canal cruises.

Also check out Travelocity, Expedia, TravelZoo, Sky Auction, and Cruise Value Center. These web sites are good for finding deals and comparing cruises.

Come to See the Panama Canal but do not Cruise all of it

There are cruises from the Pacific that enter the Panama Canal and stop at Gamboa for day trips to sights such as Canopy Towers for bird watching in paradise. These cruises then return to the Pacific without a full transit of the Panama Canal.

Cruises Limited to the Panama Canal (and Return by Train)

For residents or long term visitors to Panama a great canal cruise is to take a smaller boat from Gamboa near Panama City to Colon on the Caribbean and then return on one of the passenger cars of the Panama Canal Railway.

However you do it come to see the Panama Canal from the water. Take a Panama Canal Cruise.