【Panama Canal】Experience humanity's challenge to "move the seas" up close.
The Panama Canal (Canal de Panamá), a symbolic landmark of Central America, spans approximately 80 kilometers, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Opened in 1914, it continues to serve as a vital hub for global maritime logistics.
📍Visiting Location
Miraflores Locks / About 20 minutes by car or taxi from central Panama City
🕰️ Best Timing to Visit the Canal
- Ships pass through twice a day (morning and afternoon)
- Aim to visit during passage times / If you want a front-row spot on the observation deck, it's recommended to arrive an hour early
💸 Admission Fee (as of March 2024)
- 17.22 Panamanian Balboa (PAB) = approximately 2,550 JPY
→ Includes film screening, exhibits, and access to the observation deck
- Tickets can be purchased at the local counter or reserved online
🌟 How the Panama Canal Works (Simple Explanation)
- The canal consists of three sets of locks and three artificial lakes
- When a ship arrives, the water level within the locks is adjusted step-by-step to match the sea level, allowing passage
- While now electronically controlled, it’s astonishing to learn that operations were once manually handled
- The scale and precision of this over 100-year-old engineering marvel are truly remarkable
🌟 Highlights
- The theater screens films that make the history and mechanics of the Panama Canal easy to understand
- On the observation deck, you can closely watch massive cargo ships gradually move through the locks
- Always check the ship passage schedule before visiting
- Convenient access via taxi or ride-hailing apps / Ensure you have transportation arranged for your return trip