Partial Canal Transit

The visit invites you to feel the excitement of going through part of the canal. Observe the actual workings of the locks and the way water fills the basins in order to allow vessels to pass through the canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. The tour starts with the shuttle service to the Modern International Flamenco Marina where you will set sail to the entrance of the canal. In the boat, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the city, the Bridge of the Americas and the spectacular gulf dotted by numerous ships waiting to pass through the canal.

Later on, the ship will enter the basin and the huge metal screens will close so that the basin fills up with water. Every vessel should be secured using mooring lines in order to be towed by electric locomotives called mules which move over parallel rails to keep vessels aligned. In just eight minutes, water will reach the established level and the lock will open by the side of the stem allowing the ship to pass to the following basin.

The tour continues at the Miraflores Lake up to reach Pedro Miguel’s locks where the level rises another nine metres, then the canal shrinks and the ship will continues under the Centennial Bridge until it reaches the famous Gaillard Cut or Culebra Cut, known for its meandering bends where the Chagres River converges on. The tour ends in Gamboa where you will disembark in order to go back to the hotel.

Note - Collective visit along with other visitors, from different countries. On some dates, the itinerary is inverted, that is to say, the tour starts in Gamboa and finishes in Flamenco Marina. Operates most weekends, selected Thurs-Sun.