Gatun Locks & San Lorenzo

We will leave the hotel and head north on the highway. After taking a detour, we will get closer to the Canal and be able to see if vessels are using the Gatun locks, looking for the rising and lowering of water as the steel gates open and close. A full explanation of the canal operation will also be offered at this point. Afterward, we will cross the Canal using a road built at the bottom of the locks to go to the San Lorenzo Fort. We will also cross Fort Sherman, a US military base where the legendary Jimmy Beach is located. The San Lorenzo fort is one of the oldest Spanish forts in America. The pirate Henry Morgan was jailed here and learned of the cross path used to move the gold from Panama to the Caribbean shore to wait for its shipment back to Europe. At a later date, he would use this way to attack Panama City from the back, destroying and sacking it. This fact, plus the open ocean waters in front of the Fort, caused the construction of three forts around Portobelo to divert the shipments that way. Finally we will depart back to the city hotel you are staying at.