Panama Canal Tickets and Tours

The Panama Canal is an engineering marvel that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, shortening travel times and facilitating world trade. In recent decades it has become a must-see destination for tourists, due to its fascinating history dating back to the 19th century. During your vacation in the Panamanian paradise, I recommend visiting its surroundings, as it hides some of the best activities in Panama City.

You can start your adventures on the banks of the canal, as it borders the rainforest, where you will find zip line jumps, boat rides and viewpoints. But the most daring travelers take a helicopter ride to see its immensity from above. Of course there are museums, visitor centers and fun activities that make it more attractive. It is important that you are aware of some details that will facilitate the experience, so here is a guide with places of interest and recommendations for your visit to the Panama Canal.

The best way to explore the jewel of Panamanian engineering is through an organized tour, this way you can explore the most emblematic corners of Panama City and learn about the history of the canal. Its construction and operation is surrounded by curiosities and legends, which you can access on your own or by joining some of the best tours of the city, which enhance the experience with the company and comments of a tour guide.

In this way, you can appreciate the canal from Calzada de Amador and see the transit of ships through the locks, which function as an elevator and facilitate the transition from the Pacific to Gatun Lake. Specifically, they are located in the areas of Pedro Miguel, Agua Clara, Miraflores, Gatun and Cocoli.

In the surroundings you can also see the old American military bases and Fort Clayton. In addition, a tour can facilitate access to the Miraflores Visitors Center and the former residence of the Canal Administrator. But the tour is not limited to the canal, these experiences also take you to the Casco Viejo de San Felipe, Plaza Francia and the Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Antigua.

Details of interest

• Price: from 62 €.
• Duration: approximately five hours.

A self-guided visit to the Panama Canal can be an enriching and fun experience. This way you can see the sights at your own pace. You can opt for a short boat ride and savor every detail. On board you can observe the operation of the locks, which cushion the change in water level between the sea and Lake Gatun.

Another jewel that you can appreciate from this perspective is the Culebra Cut, one of the most difficult sections to work on during the construction of the canal. Afterwards, I recommend you walk around and take a close look at the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, two enclaves that connect South America and North America.

I also encourage you to learn about their history in the visitor centers and museums, whose entrance fee ranges from 5 to 15 euros, and there are even free alternatives. Additionally, the Panama Canal, through its immensity, reaches the fall of Gatun Lake, which hosts unforgettable experiences such as jumping on a zip line.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance fee starts at 7 euros and usually includes access to the IMAX theater that offers 3D exhibits.
• Duration: between 8 and 10 hours to cross the entire canal, but you can see its main attractions in less than 5 hours alternating between boat and walking tours.
• Hours: It can be seen at any time, but it is advisable to visit between 9:00 and 11:00 or between 14:00 and 17:00, when there are fewer tourists.
• Recommendations: the low season runs from May to November and is the most advisable to escape the crowds and see the locks quietly. In addition, I recommend downloading the Panama Canal app, which is available in the Apple Store and Play Store and offers weather information, water level and schedules.

If you want to see the Panama Canal from a privileged perspective, you should definitely take a helicopter flight. This experience is exciting and offers you a time window of 30 minutes or 2 hours (depending on your choice) with access to the panorama from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, passing through the immensity of the canal. The most important skyscrapers and monuments that distinguish the city also shine in the air.

This type of tour depends largely on the weather, so I recommend that you consider the dry season from December to April, when the sky is clear and sunny. This way, you can clearly see every place you will find from your departure from Albrook Airport, where helicopters usually depart.

Details of interest

• Price: from 840 € per group.
• Duration: 30 minutes or 2 hours.

The history of the Panama Canal is complex, but there are places of learning that will guide you through its trajectory and operation. The visitor centers are very popular and are distributed in the surrounding areas, each one offers a different perspective ideal for learning about the locks, the transit of ships and biodiversity with interactive and sensory exhibits. Here is a guide to what you can see in these spaces:

• Miraflores Visitors Center: is one of the most important and offers guided tours of about an hour and a half through its 3D theater and spaces that focus on the history of the locks and ships.
• Agua Clara Visitor Center: is the best place to get panoramic views of Gatun Lake and the surrounding locks.
• Panama Canal Interactive Center: a 1936 building ideal for a multi-sensory experience with special effects and simulation games, which take you through the history and biodiversity of the canal.
• Panama Canal Administration Building: there are murals that represent the construction process of the canal. This way, it is easier to understand its importance and to see the Gatun Lake spillway.

Details of interest

• Prices: entrance fees to the visitor centers vary. For reference, Miraflores starts at 7 € and for Agua Clara you must reserve at least 5 €. The Interactive Center and the Administration Building are free.
• Hours: the Miraflores and Agua Clara centers are open daily from 8:00 to 17:00, while the Interactive Center can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00. The Administration Building is open from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Duration: it is recommended to dedicate at least an hour and a half to each one, but everything will depend on your itinerary.

Another way to access the Panama Canal is aboard a boat, in fact it is a very special experience that allows you to know in detail this narrow waterway. The route takes you through the isthmus and allows you to see all the locks, as well as navigate in the company of the colorful boats that pass through the area every day. You will be able to see different types of catamarans, including oil tankers, container ships, bulk carriers and car carriers.

If you plan to spend at least 7 days in Panama City, you have to include this plan in your itinerary, as it is a complete adventure withan approximate duration of five hours. This approach allows you to see the day-to-day life of the pilots and their crew, hear the sounds of nature and get breathtaking views of Gatun Lake, the Chagres River and the Centennial Bridge.

Details of interest

• Price: from 98 €.
• Duration: between 5 and 6 hours.
• Schedule: the boats make tours between 9:00 and 16:30. If you only want to see the boats, you should know that they pass through Miraflores at 05:20 and 14:00, while they pass through Agua Clara at 8:30 and 16:30.

The Panama Canal deserves to be admired from different angles, so you can't miss the Mirador de las Americas. It is a symbolic enclave that offers the most impressive views of the city and its canal. The ships will pass before your eyes, while in the background flies the flag of Panama nailed to the Ancon Hill.

In addition, from here you can see the entrance of the canal and the commercial movement that floods the city. Another remarkable detail is that it is a building built in honor of the Chinese influence in Panama, so its facade has symbols of the culture such as terraces, pavilions, arches, statues and hieroglyphics.

The best thing is that Las Americas is a free viewpoint and can be visited 24 hours a day, although in the afternoon you get the most impressive photos. But if what you want is to see the ships without crowds, I recommend you to go there in the morning. Note that it is located across the iconic Bridge of the Americas, which is 61 meters high and also offers panoramic views of the city.

Details of interest

• Price: free of charge.
• Hours: open 24 hours.

To connect with the nature that runs through the Panama Canal, I recommend you to book a kayaking experience, where you can explore the fauna and flora, or simply sunbathe under the warm Panamanian panorama. Of course, you need to be in good physical condition, as you will be paddling for some time.

You will probably pass through the narrow currents, surrounded by weeds and animal species, but you will also enter its immensity in a controlled and safe experience that you can enjoy if you plan to visit Panama City with children In general, I recommend doing this activity in the morning, as the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists.

Details of interest

• Price: from 132 €.
• Duration: approximately four hours.
• Schedule: most kayak tours only depart on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays around 7:00.

To take care of your budget you can take advantage of the free activities offered around the Panama Canal, which includes climbing the Ancon Hill. It is the favorite hideaway for those who love nature and want to escape from pollution, considering that it is one of the countries with the highest CO2 production.

The Panama flag is located here and you can see the immensity of the canal, as well as the most outstanding skyscrapers and monuments. It is advisable to climb with an expert, as toucans, deer, sloths and other species roam the area. Although they are not dangerous and are used to tourists, Panama City tours can also take you on the safest routes.

The best time to visit and enjoy theclear viewsof the canal is from March to April. Keep in mind that the hike up the hill is usually low-intensity and it is worth it to get to the last stretch.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free.
• Duration: the climb is not very steep and takes about an hour and a half.
• Hours: it is open from 8:00 to 16:00 and the weather is more pleasant in the morning.

To see the entrance of the Panama Canal in the front row I recommend going to the widest and most modern road in the city. Known as Balboa Avenue, it is one of the best places to appreciate it, since it is located on the ocean shore and always crowded with dozens of ships.

It has two boardwalks overlooking the canal, where you can watch the commercial movement during the day or enjoy the illuminated panorama at night. The best angle to see the Panama Canal from this avenue is Poin Panama, an interactive viewpoint with 360° views.

It is located diagonally to the avenue and is a popular attraction for the more adventurous, as it has different activities that give a privileged glimpse of the canal. For example, you can walk around the building with a safety equipment that holds you 152 meters high. Another alternative is to go zip lining or swing on a swing for 30 minutes

Additionally, from this avenue it is easy to visit the Monument of the Martyrs, which has 21 columns and was built in 1964 in honor of those who defended the sovereignty of the canal. Of course, you have to pass by the Goethals Monument, an exotic piece that commemorates the engineer of the Panama Canal.

Details of interest

• Hours: the avenue is open 24 hours, but it is advisable to visit it during the day. If you are going up to Poin Panama consider that it works from 10:00 to 20:30.

During your stay you have to pass at least once through the Amador Causeway, a road that connects to the main islands and allows you to appreciate the canal from another angle. In particular, I suggest you book a bike tour of Panama City to ride along the Cinta Costera and get panoramic views of the causeway.

Here you can sample Panamanian and international cuisine or visit the Punta Culebra Marine Exhibit Center to familiarize yourself with the species that surround the canal and the rainforest. The best part is that it offers a museum experience through interactive exhibits and activities ideal for children.

On the other hand, a short distance away is the path to the Interoceanic Museum of Panama, a site of interest that offers a journey through the history of the canal. In fact, it houses 11 rooms with audio-guided exhibits that explore its construction, changes and bureaucratic tensions. In addition, its facade is worth admiring, as it is an old building remodeled in 1996.

It does not compare with other museums, since it has 1,350 pieces ranging from pre-Columbian times to the present. Therefore, it is a didactic experience that allows visitors to learn about the construction process, listen to testimonies and admire collection images. The most outstanding areas include:

• The inter-oceanic route.
• The transisthmian routes.
• Life in the area.
• The route for sovereignty from 1903 to 1964.
• The route for sovereignty from 1964 to 1999.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance to the museum starts at 5 €.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.