PORTS OF CALL - Panama Canal
Panama Canal (Cruising Canal)
.aspx)
The canal is both an engineering marvel and one of the most significant waterways on earth. Stretching 50 miles from Panama City on the Pacific side to Colón on the Atlantic side, it provides passage for over 12,000 ocean-going vessels per year. Seeing your ship nudge its way through the narrow canal, with vast tracks of virgin jungle on both sides, is an unforgettable sight. Sure, it may take only a day to cruise the canal but the memory will last a lifetime.
Don't Miss
While you're sailing through the Panama Canal, take time out to explore the beautiful surrounding area. A great way is a kayaking ecological tour through the islands that surround Gatun Lake. Rich in animal and plant life, these islands are home to 93 species of mammals, 366 species of birds and 1,368 species of vascular plants.
Fun Things To Do
- Explore Portobelo, the former emporium of the riches of the New World, once an important commercial depot and a paradise for pirates.
- Take a tour of the Gatun Locks, once the most massive in the world and still an impressive sight today.
- Go monkey-watching on a tour of the small islands dotting the Chagres River.