These days, Panama Canal travel is an attraction all by itself. Lots of people come to the country just for this experience. There's more to it than beaches and a tropical paradise with the chance to board a luxury cruise liner. On the contrary, the main draw for most visitors is the sheer curiosity of getting a first-hand look at a grand project that enables ships to cross over from one ocean to another.
There's no denying the historic nature or importance of this canal, which cuts through the Isthmus of Panama to link the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. Before it was built, ships had to sail 9,000 miles around South America's tip. Starting from 1914, the voyage from the Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea, into the canal and then out into the Pacific was reduced to a mere eight hour run.
It wasn't just an engineering marvel, but also a seismic continental realignment that has contributed hugely to globalization. It fueled the rapid development of the U. S. West Coast and other coastal areas facing the Pacific. One of these developments was the cruise industry, which got a huge boost after it started picking up passengers at Atlantic seaports and taking them through the Caribbean Sea to the canal and then through to the Pacific.
Travelers not on a cruise who want to see the canal in person will have to fly in and land at Tocumen Int'l Airport. Visa formalities may differ based on nationality. However, all visitors seeking a tourist visa do need a passport and a return ticket, along with sufficient traveler's checks or cash, and a tourist card. This $5 card is waived for U. S. Citizens who are on cruise ships and intend to stay onboard while the ship is docked.
The Miraflores Visitor Center located in Panama City is the best way for people already inside the country to take a closer look at the canal. It has observation decks that allow people to watch giant ships being guided through the locks. It also has a nice restaurant, an exhibition hall and a gift shop.
Some tours also take people out on Gatun Lake for day trips. This manmade lake feeds the locks with the millions of gallons of water needed to raise and lower massive ships. Visitors are taken out on motor boats to explore the lake and the lush tropical jungle around it. Apart from the gigantic ocean liners, people get to see everything from exotic birds and monkeys to iguanas and crocodiles.
Taking a leisurely cruise is more satisfying, but requires a bigger budget and a lot more time. An entire industry of cruise liners competes for passengers who want to take a Caribbean cruise on giant ships that can carry thousands of crew and passengers. Many offer an ocean-to-ocean full transit, while others may include a partial transit as part of the itinerary.
Panama Canal travel has so many facets that it's very hard to make the most of it without assistance from a professional tour company. Apart from the canal journey, Gatun Lake and Panama City, there are many other attractions and destinations within easy reach. Take some time out for a cruise and it becomes even more memorable, with stops at dozens of ports on the Atlantic as well as Pacific coasts.
There's no denying the historic nature or importance of this canal, which cuts through the Isthmus of Panama to link the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. Before it was built, ships had to sail 9,000 miles around South America's tip. Starting from 1914, the voyage from the Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea, into the canal and then out into the Pacific was reduced to a mere eight hour run.
It wasn't just an engineering marvel, but also a seismic continental realignment that has contributed hugely to globalization. It fueled the rapid development of the U. S. West Coast and other coastal areas facing the Pacific. One of these developments was the cruise industry, which got a huge boost after it started picking up passengers at Atlantic seaports and taking them through the Caribbean Sea to the canal and then through to the Pacific.
Travelers not on a cruise who want to see the canal in person will have to fly in and land at Tocumen Int'l Airport. Visa formalities may differ based on nationality. However, all visitors seeking a tourist visa do need a passport and a return ticket, along with sufficient traveler's checks or cash, and a tourist card. This $5 card is waived for U. S. Citizens who are on cruise ships and intend to stay onboard while the ship is docked.
The Miraflores Visitor Center located in Panama City is the best way for people already inside the country to take a closer look at the canal. It has observation decks that allow people to watch giant ships being guided through the locks. It also has a nice restaurant, an exhibition hall and a gift shop.
Some tours also take people out on Gatun Lake for day trips. This manmade lake feeds the locks with the millions of gallons of water needed to raise and lower massive ships. Visitors are taken out on motor boats to explore the lake and the lush tropical jungle around it. Apart from the gigantic ocean liners, people get to see everything from exotic birds and monkeys to iguanas and crocodiles.
Taking a leisurely cruise is more satisfying, but requires a bigger budget and a lot more time. An entire industry of cruise liners competes for passengers who want to take a Caribbean cruise on giant ships that can carry thousands of crew and passengers. Many offer an ocean-to-ocean full transit, while others may include a partial transit as part of the itinerary.
Panama Canal travel has so many facets that it's very hard to make the most of it without assistance from a professional tour company. Apart from the canal journey, Gatun Lake and Panama City, there are many other attractions and destinations within easy reach. Take some time out for a cruise and it becomes even more memorable, with stops at dozens of ports on the Atlantic as well as Pacific coasts.
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