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Panama Canal
Panama Canal
4.5
About
Operating since 1914 and considered one of the wonders of the world, this fifty-mile waterway transports ships by raising them from sea level to more than 85 feet via a series of gravity-powered locks.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • ilona W
    Puerto Rico8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Channel, a place you dont' have to miss
    Historical place for visiting in Panama. Our guide from miviajeapanama (+50763242898) was very friendly and informative. He took us from the hotel directly to the Channel in a private car. The price was well worth and I wouldn't hesitate to send any of my friends on this tour, too.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 17 October 2023
  • Gerry T
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tour of moving to Panama
    We had an excellent trip and toured nearly all of the country. It would be a great place to live in our retirement it if wasn’t such a hassle airports with the biggest problems leaving Canada. The people in panama are really nice and helpful. panama relocation tours are very good at what they do and we would move there in a minute if we were a little younger and things were less upsetting to move from Canada. What we need is someone to take us my the hand and say lets go. Every thing else was great and we enjoyed the trip
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 October 2023
  • Gardengel-IoW
    West Sussex, United Kingdom1,014 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience
    We were on a cruise ship and crossed via the new locks. We arrived at 4am and watched from our balcony. All very interesting. We had a commentator on board giving all manor of information to do with the canals building and use. I didnt stay up for the whole duration! started looking again about 9am. All a necessarily slow process to get through the three locks to the lake then the other three to return to the sea. Possibly a once in a life time journey although I heard someone say they had done it six times this year! Definitely a tick off our bucket list. Or do we return on a smaller ship to cross the original locks?
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 November 2023
  • Prema_C
    Mumbai, India1,023 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do in Panama
    We visited in November 23. The ship passing times were mentioned at the ticket counters. So we knew a ship was to pass. Also our cab driver had already checked the times and brought us in time to watch the imax movie and then the canal. The imax movie was of 40 minutes duration and very informative of the history of the canal. The canal had a viewing area with proper seats and a restaurant for refreshments. There were announcements in English and Spanish of the progress of the ship. Having read about the canal it was very interesting to see it in actual. A visit well worth it.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 December 2023
  • Edward Munene
    Mombasa, Kenya274 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Marvel of Modern Engineering
    My recent tour of the Panama Canal in Panama City with Conozca Tours was a memorable and enlightening experience. This iconic engineering marvel is a must-visit for anyone exploring Panama, offering a unique insight into global maritime trade and logistics. The expertise of Conozca Tours was evident throughout the tour and their guide provided detailed explanations about the canal's history, construction, and its pivotal role in international shipping. The visual spectacle of the massive ships navigating the locks was both educational and impressive, highlighting the canal's significance in global commerce. The icing on the cake though was the 3D Movie Documentary Narrated by Morgan Freeman. That was such an amazing experience. Loved it
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 December 2023
  • Jill
    New Jersey764 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Engineering marvel!
    We really enjoyed the iMax movie at the Miraflores Locks. I wish I could say the same about the viewing platform (be aware, ships are not passing through at all times, check the schedule!). The viewing platform and basically the entire outdoor area became so crowded that it was a fire hazard. People were blocking the stairwells and squeezed so tightly onto the balconies. You could barely get a glimpse of the boats passing through over people's heads. We waited probably about 45 mins after the scheduled time for a boat to pass through, so bring your patience (and a hat to block the sun). The canal itself is amazing and you can really appreciate it and better understand how it operates after watching the movie (so, watch the movie first!). Definitely worth a stop, but temper your expectations
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 December 2023
  • Ricardo R
    Mogi das Cruzes, SP1,876 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Modern wonder on the world
    The channel is about 80km long, a ship takes 8 to 10 hours to cross it. There are four locks, Aguas Claras and Gatun in the Atlantic side, Miraflores and Pedro Miguel in the Pacific side. Miraflores and Aguas Claras have visitor centers and facilities for tourists. Miraflores is 30 min by bus from Albrook station in Panama city. Aguas Claras is close to the city named Colon.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 28 December 2023
  • Jamie L
    Brockville, Canada289 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic - Must Do
    We did the movie first and returned a couple of hours later to see some ships go through the locks. This is an amazing engineering feat, considering it was designed over 100 years ago. There were lots of people there so you have to be patient.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 January 2024
  • Sharon I
    Stanmore, United Kingdom87 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The most fascinating experience
    This has to be one of the most snack g experiences I have ever had. I had no idea that it took at least 10hours to pass thru the canal. I sat and watched most of it on a cruise ship. Mesmerising. If you ever get the once in a lifetime chance to experience it then do it.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 4 January 2024
  • Sue M
    Williamsburg, Virginia1,536 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bucket List Item Checked Off!
    Going through the Panama Canal is the reason to cruise from Panama City up into the Caribbean. I thought it was really interesting to sail from Panama City, going through the Miraflores locks, then the Pedro Miguel lock, then into the Culebra Cut which is the narrow passage way over the continental divide, then arriving at Gatun Lake, then going into the Gatun locks, finally arriving in Limon Bay by Colon. Also we were on a Viking Ocean ship which could travel through the 'old' Panama Canal that has the mules attached to the ship to help guide it through the Canal. In the newer Canal, tugboats are used to guide the larger ships. To me, it is much more historic to go through the original Panama Canal. Such an incredible experience.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 January 2024
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4.5
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George Randall H
Toronto, Canada1,024 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
So my gf and I paid for the buffet lunch as she heard it was a good vantage point to see boats come through the canal. The buffet is expensive, but we were able to secure a seat on the deck at the rail to watch the action. It is very hot on the deck, and the service for the 12 or so glasses of water I had was almost worth it alone. The food was not bad, and the service was pretty good. The concern was all the people that came out to watch the boat pass through and crowded around our table. I had to eat with someone over my shoulder....and someone even sat at the table (we were 2, but had 4 chairs). I know it might be difficult to control, but the restaurant should ensure non paying customers go up to the 4th level observation deck so paying customers can enjoy this.....we paid a premium for lunch for a reason.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

fernandez s
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK92 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
I took a city tour bus ride to the canal. A 24 hr pass cost $35.00 usd a $2.00 discount with coupon. You pay $10 for a 45min. IMAX movie narrated by Morgan freeman illustrating the history of the canal, excellent!! You can pay $20 for the museum, initially I thought this price included the imax movie, it does not. Worth the price. There are other tours out there but this bargin basement deal let’s you see the canal and educates as well. I even got to meet 2 of the canal workers by coincidence. They were very friendly. Highly recommend it, however the souvenirs and food was overpriced. You can buy the same trinkets in old town Panama for a third of the price, save your money.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Piotr P
Poznan, Poland381 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
We went by taxi from the hotel 15$ approx. 45 minutes drive. The entry to the museum and 3D cinema was 30 $ per person. Plan your visit when the ships are going through the lock. Museum is interesting to see the history of the channel. Also visiting the cinema for 3 D movie about channel is worth of this 10$. For the whole trip plan 3 - 4 hours.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

UtahJerry
Salt Lake City, UT400 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
It's not exciting to watch a ship pass through , but it certainly fascinating especially when you think of the engineering feat that it was 100 years ago. It is worth seeing just for the contribution it makes to worldwide commerce. You are moved through several floors of history and artifacts as you work your way to the upper deck where you can view ships going through the locks. They have guides on each floor that provide some history and them move you on to the next floor. I found them hard to understand and I felt rushed through the floor. I would have liked to have more time to view the exhibits. They only allow 15 people in every 15 minutes and I assume they are trying to get each group through in that 15 minute slot. Once you reach the upper deck you can stay as long as you wish. There is an IMAX theater, but it has been closed due to COVID so we were not able to go there. There is a lot of history in the surrounding area, so I would recommend taking a tour to get the whole story.
Written 7 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

egerena
Boston, MA133 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We recommend visiting the Miraflores locks to get information and view of the Panama Canal. We encourage everyone to watch the movie because it is very informative. The theater has a large capacity with comfortable seats. We had to make a long line to buy the tickets. The building has multiple floors to view the locks. We recommend getting there after 2:00 p.m. to see ships go by. Don't forget to see the museum on the first floor, it has interesting photographs and artifacts of the history of the canal. Miraflores has several places that sell food. The parking is free and close to the building.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cnj840
Dillon, CO71 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
We took a cheap Uber to the Panama Canal (~$5 for 20min drive, but you could take a bus for 25¢ if you figured out the bus system). We didn’t have a reservation even though the website says you need one (this may be a Covid thing, I’m not sure). The website fails to mention that boats only pass through between 8 and 10am and then 2-6pm, but trust me, this is important! It would be a huge disappointment to miss watching boats passing through the canal! We couldn’t find any info on how many boats are expected for the day, but I’d recommend showing up around 2pm and planning to spend a few hours there. It’s worth it!

Due to Covid, the IMAX movie and museum were closed, but the entry price seems to be reduced because of that. And there were employees making announcements on the upper viewing deck and explaining what was happening in front of us (English and Spanish). The upper viewing deck is the best spot for viewing, and not the bottom floor like they may encourage (just to clear out the crowd a little). The Panama Canal is DEF worth a visit! I thought it might be overrated, but I really, really enjoyed it.

There wasn’t wifi to call an Uber after, but there are taxis waiting and we negotiated them down in price. Or, you could take the bus into town and get an Uber from there.
Written 13 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Don R
Salem, MA47 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
It goes without saying that partial (recommended) or full transit tour should be apart of any itinerary when visiting Panama. I would highly recommend staying at one of the hotels where the tour operator picks you up, because making arrangements to do it yourself can be a little onerous and you have to get up at the crack of dawn. The transit itself was really nice. My tour started in Gamboa, traversed the MiraFlores Locks and ended just outside the northern aspect of Panama City. The guides were informative and it was interesting to learn the history of the canal.
Written 25 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Darcy F
Medicine Hat, Canada5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Couples
We toured the Canal in 2019 and also in 2006 before they opened up the new addition. In both times, we hired Miguel Rudas to take us to the canal plus around Panama City which was more convenient and more economical. I have known Miguel now for 14 years and he is the most trustworthy person I know. He is also very reliable and punctual and speaks good English which can sometimes be an issue in Panama. I would highly recommend him. His contact info is:
miguelviajes29@hotmail.com or through What’s App: +50765326621
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gail O
Nokomis, FL60 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We have been traveling with Tauck for almost 10 years and have always enjoyed their tours. This one, however, was not one to write home about. Granted, Panama is not a real tourist destination although they are trying. So the pre stay Day was a waste of time. Once on Board the Ponant ship and into Canal things got somewhat better. Rooms on ship were very small so we needed a traffic light to pass ! food was great. Wet landings went ok but some of the zodiac drivers seemed like trainees. . Tour directors tried but because we were grouped together we had the same guide all trip. Others seemed to be better. San Jose was a major disappointment. Over crowded, run down with very little to offer tourists l
We stayed at the Marriott in Panama and San Jose, both were very nice.
It was very hot with not much relief even at night. Not much shopping time so purchase when u can. Native goods were very nice . After that the only place to shop is woodcart stop and coffee plantation. Airport has some very nice gifts also.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jcisinthehouse
Monterrey, Mexico4,544 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
To see this place up close and working you need to go to Miraflores visitor center. Check the website the day of your visit to know the times the boats will be crossing. I wanted to share the website here but it was deemed as advertising so I had to remove it.

Visitor center is open from 8am to 6pm, but the boats usually cross until 8-9am and again starting at 2-3pm.

The 3D Imax movie is totally worth to see, I suggest you watch it before going to the observation deck.
They will announce once the boats are coming, make sure to go up to the 4th floor and take your spot. It may seem it is not crowded, but once the boats are coming everybody goes out and it will be a mob.

We took an uber from Cinta Costera and it was $4. On the way back it was $11.50 since we left around 5:30pm and it was rush hour. There are taxis out there and you’d have to negotiate your rate
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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