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Panama Canal Full Transit Tour
1 day
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Panama Marine Adventures, Panama City Panama
Our check in point is at Flamenco Marina, located on the last island of the Amador Causeway. It is right next to the Panama sign and behind the Duty Free Shop.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Bridge of the Americas, Balboa, Panama City Panama
The Bridge of the Americas is a road bridge in Panama, which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Designed by Sverdrup & Parcel, it was completed in 1962 at a cost of US$20 million, connecting the north and south American land masses.
Pass By: Panama Canal, Gatun Lakee, Panama City Panama
The vessel will then transit through the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks, where it will ascend 18 meters in two distinct steps. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel Locks from Miraflores Locks. The vessel will transit through Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel ascends 9 meters in one-step.
After exiting Pedro Miguel locks, the Pacific Queen will travel through the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides.
During your Panama Canal full transit tour you will enjoy a trip through Gatun Lake, which was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. As you transit through Gatun Lake you will pass the Smithsonian Research Station at Barro Colorado. You will also experience the Gatun Locks, which are the only set of locks in the Atlantic sector. In Gatun Locks, the vessel will be lowered a total of 26 meters in three distinct chambers. Upon arriving at Colon, you will disembark at Colon 2000, where transportation back to Panama City will be provided.
Pass By: Centennial Bridge, Pan-American Highway, Panama City Panama
Panama's Centennial Bridge is a major bridge crossing the Panama Canal. It was built to supplement the overcrowded Bridge of the Americas and to replace it as the carrier of the Pan-American Highway. Upon its opening in 2004, it became the second permanent crossing of the canal.
Pass By: Chagres River, Gamboa Panama
The Chagres River in central Panama, is the largest river in the Panama Canal’s watershed. In the past, this river was an important means of communication between one coast and the other, as it was part of the famous colonial road “Cruces”, originally built by the Spanish crown during the 16th century and of massive use by adventurers and explorers during the following centuries until the creation of the Panama Canal. During the 20th Century the river was dammed twice, and the resulting reservoirs – Gatun Lake and Lake Alajuela – formed an integral part of the canal and its water system.
Pass By: Barro Colorado Island, Panama
Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the vast jungle area that is now the Gatun Lake was teeming with an overwhelming abundance of wildlife. As the region was flooded to create the lake, animals took refuge in the mountain peaks, which are now the many islands that dot the renowned lake. Barro Colorado Island is the biggest island formed where the Smithsonian Research Institute has established the most important research center in Panama due to its biodiversity.
Pass By: Gatun Lake, Panama City Panama
Gatun Lake forms a major part of the Panama Canal and it was created between 1907 and 1913 by the construction of the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. The lake is situated in the Valley of the Chagres River and the geography was ideal for the creation of a large lake. The damming of the river flooded the originally wooded valley and hills although many hilltops became islands. At the time it was created, Gatun Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world.
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This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Panama Marine Adventures, Panama City Panama
Our check in point is at Flamenco Marina, located on the last island of the Amador Causeway. It is right next to the Panama sign and behind the Duty Free Shop.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Bridge of the Americas, Balboa, Panama City Panama
The Bridge of the Americas is a road bridge in Panama, which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Designed by Sverdrup & Parcel, it was completed in 1962 at a cost of US$20 million, connecting the north and south American land masses.
Pass By: Panama Canal, Gatun Lakee, Panama City Panama
The vessel will then transit through the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks, where it will ascend 18 meters in two distinct steps. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel Locks from Miraflores Locks. The vessel will transit through Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel ascends 9 meters in one-step.
After exiting Pedro Miguel locks, the Pacific Queen will travel through the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides.
During your Panama Canal full transit tour you will enjoy a trip through Gatun Lake, which was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. As you transit through Gatun Lake you will pass the Smithsonian Research Station at Barro Colorado. You will also experience the Gatun Locks, which are the only set of locks in the Atlantic sector. In Gatun Locks, the vessel will be lowered a total of 26 meters in three distinct chambers. Upon arriving at Colon, you will disembark at Colon 2000, where transportation back to Panama City will be provided.
Pass By: Centennial Bridge, Pan-American Highway, Panama City Panama
Panama's Centennial Bridge is a major bridge crossing the Panama Canal. It was built to supplement the overcrowded Bridge of the Americas and to replace it as the carrier of the Pan-American Highway. Upon its opening in 2004, it became the second permanent crossing of the canal.
Pass By: Chagres River, Gamboa Panama
The Chagres River in central Panama, is the largest river in the Panama Canal’s watershed. In the past, this river was an important means of communication between one coast and the other, as it was part of the famous colonial road “Cruces”, originally built by the Spanish crown during the 16th century and of massive use by adventurers and explorers during the following centuries until the creation of the Panama Canal. During the 20th Century the river was dammed twice, and the resulting reservoirs – Gatun Lake and Lake Alajuela – formed an integral part of the canal and its water system.
Pass By: Barro Colorado Island, Panama
Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the vast jungle area that is now the Gatun Lake was teeming with an overwhelming abundance of wildlife. As the region was flooded to create the lake, animals took refuge in the mountain peaks, which are now the many islands that dot the renowned lake. Barro Colorado Island is the biggest island formed where the Smithsonian Research Institute has established the most important research center in Panama due to its biodiversity.
Pass By: Gatun Lake, Panama City Panama
Gatun Lake forms a major part of the Panama Canal and it was created between 1907 and 1913 by the construction of the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. The lake is situated in the Valley of the Chagres River and the geography was ideal for the creation of a large lake. The damming of the river flooded the originally wooded valley and hills although many hilltops became islands. At the time it was created, Gatun Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world.
Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Professional guide
- Snacks in the afternoon
- Unlimited sodas and waters
- Bus transportation from Colon back to Panama
- Roundtrip hotel transfer
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages onboard
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 210 travelers
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
70%
Reviews
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Excellent trip through 6 locks and a man made lake. Cant experience the enormity of the Canal and the infrastructure / personal required unless you take this trip. The commentary was superb and the boat was perfect size to move around and take photos.
And had to switch to another tour company that company was okay we got out at Gamboa but missed Colon. Do a better job notifying folk.
the whole trip was fabulous, Gus was very informative and i think it was worth the money, the whole experience was great
This tour is the experience of a lifetime and certain to please any curious or seasoned traveler. Staff is stellar; very courteous, organized, and well-prepared! Our tour narrator, Gus, is unparalleled in his knowledge, enthusiasm, energy, and sense of humor. While the full transit makes for a long day, we believe a partial transit would have diminished the awe and magic of the canal's history and grandeur. Worthy of anyone's bucket list, this tour is definitely a magnificent highlight of our vacation.
This was a terrific trip and one we highly recommend. It is unlike any other tour that you have taken to be able to transit the entire length of the Panama Canal, to get to see the whole path of the canal, see how it works, to travel through the locks and to travel with other ships is an experience you'll never forget. It is a long day, but don't be put off by that, it is very interesting, the ship is comfortable and you'll be well taken care of by the crew. All of the crew were very nice, very helpful and informative about the canal. We have two very nice meals breakfast and lunch plus snacks and plenty of beverages. All of which made the trip very easy and comfortable and kept us focused on the highlight of the trip - seeing the canal ! Very much worth the trip!
The cruise was incredible! I was glad that we picked the full transit tour instead of the the partial. The staff was friendly and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. The bathroom situations wasn't ideal, there were about 8 bathrooms available at the beginning of the trip about 3 at the end. The boarding, eating, exiting and transferring onto the bus went considerable smooth. I had tried to contact the service provider Panama Marine Adventures several times by phone and email with a question. I never got a response. Viator also tried to contact Panama Marine Adventures with my concern but we still did not get any response.
This was an incredible tour. Definitely worth the price and the time. Had considered doing the half transit tour, but the full transit tour was worth it.