The Panama Canal is one of the greatest engineering achievements in human history — a 51-mile artificial waterway cutting across the Isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Called the "Crossroads of the World," the canal saves ships from traveling 13,000 miles around the hazardous Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.
France began the project in 1880 under Ferdinand de Lesseps — builder of the Suez Canal — but abandoned it after nine years, 20,000 deaths from malaria and yellow fever, and financial ruin. The United States took over in 1903 and opened the canal on August 14, 1914. The canal operates through a system of six lock chambers — three on the Atlantic side, three on the Pacific — that act as elevators, raising and lowering ships between oceans using the water of Gatun Lake, the world's largest man-made lake.
The full transit takes 8–10 hours. As your ship passes through, three observation points at the Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores Locks give extraordinary views of the locks in operation. The 2016 expansion widened the canal to accommodate ships up to 160 feet wide — opening the route to a new generation of large cruise ships.
🚢 Disney Adventure Makes History (February 2026)
On February 2, 2026, Disney Cruise Line's Disney Adventure set the record as the largest cruise ship ever to transit the Panama Canal — the first vessel exceeding 200,000 gross tons to make the passage. At 208,100 gross tons, 342 meters (1,122 feet) long, and 46.4 meters (152 feet) wide, the ship passed through the Neopanamax Locks with approximately eight feet of clearance on each side. Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales presented a commemorative plaque to the captain at the Agua Clara Locks during the transit.
Photo by Lewis Harrison-Pinder
Infographic credit: @thepanamacanal/Twitter
📺 Fun To Watch
🚢 Types of Panama Canal Cruises
Full Transit Cruise — Ships cross the entire 51-mile length during daylight hours, passing through all six locks, Gatun Lake, and the Culebra Cut. Typically 10–14 day repositioning cruises sailing between Florida and California (or vice versa). May also form part of world cruises or South America circumnavigations. Note: most full transit cruises do not stop in Panama itself.
Partial Transit Cruise — Typically 10–11 night round-trip cruises. The ship passes through some locks, enters Gatun Lake, then turns around and exits the same way. Provides a solid experience of the locks and the engineering feat without the full crossing. Often combined with western Caribbean port calls.
Small Ship Cruise Tours — For a more immersive experience, small ship cruises (often under 150 passengers) offer full-transit and land-based Panama explorations lasting one to two weeks. Far more access to the canal's details and Panama's landscapes than a standard cruise ship transit.
Getting Around Panama Canal
Transportation options once you're ashore.
🌊 Panama City (Pacific Side)
🚕 Taxis & Rideshare
Taxis are widely available at the Amador Causeway cruise terminals. Uber operates reliably in Panama City and is generally the safer and more straightforward option — fares are in USD and clearly shown in the app before you confirm. Taxis are metered but confirm the fare before getting in. Panama City is a large, spread-out metropolitan area — taxis and rideshare are essential for reaching Casco Viejo, the Miraflores Locks, and other attractions.
🚌 Metro & Bus
Panama City has a modern metro system — clean, air-conditioned, and inexpensive. Line 1 connects the city center and is useful for reaching the historic area. The metro card (Metrobus card) is required and available at stations. City buses are extensive but complex to navigate for visitors with limited port time.
🚗 Car Rental
Available at Tocumen International Airport and in the city. Driving in Panama City is on the right. Roads are generally good but traffic can be heavy. Most useful for reaching the Pearl Islands launch points, Pacific beaches, or Soberanía National Park independently. All major international rental brands operate here.
🚶 Walking — Casco Viejo
The UNESCO World Heritage colonial quarter is entirely walkable once you arrive — taxis or Uber drop you at the entrance and the compact peninsula can be explored on foot. The area is hilly in places and cobblestoned — wear comfortable shoes. The neighborhood is safe during the day; exercise normal caution at night on less-traveled streets.
🌊 Colón (Atlantic Side)
🚕 Taxis from Colón 2000
Taxis queue at the Colón 2000 cruise terminal. Do not walk outside the terminal perimeter in Colón — the city has significant safety concerns and is not recommended for independent exploration on foot. Taxis to organized excursion departure points, the Gatun Locks observation area, and other attractions are the safest and most practical option.
🚌 Organized Excursions
Strongly recommended from Colón. The Colón 2000 terminal has organized excursion operators offering transport to the Gatun Locks visitor area, Gatun Dam, Portobelo (UNESCO colonial fortifications), rainforest boat tours on Gatun Lake, and the Panama Canal Railway to Panama City. Organized tours provide safe, managed transportation and are the best use of a Colón port day.
🚂 Panama Canal Railway
One of the great train journeys in the Americas — the historic railway runs parallel to the canal between Colón and Panama City, a 47-mile journey through jungle and along the canal taking about an hour each way. The passenger service operates once daily in each direction. An extraordinary way to see the canal from ground level and arrive in Panama City for sightseeing. Book in advance as seats are limited on cruise ship days.
Things To Do in Panama Canal
Make the most of your time ashore.
🎯 The canal transit is the primary experience — but Panama's port cities offer extraordinary attractions for those with time ashore:
The Canal Transit Itself — The primary and overwhelming attraction of any Panama Canal cruise. Watch from deck as the ship enters the 110-foot wide lock chambers and rises or descends between oceans through a series of gravity-fed water lifts. The Gatun Lock has grandstand seating where local canal-watchers gather. Position yourself on deck before first light — the dawn approach to the first locks is one of the great moments in cruise travel.
Miraflores Locks Visitor Center — The Pacific side's premier observation facility — a multi-level museum and observation deck directly overlooking the Miraflores Locks. Watch ships transit in real time from just feet away while interactive exhibits explain the canal's engineering, history, and operation. One of the best-designed visitor attractions in Central America.
Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo) — UNESCO World Heritage Site — Panama City's beautifully restored 17th-century colonial quarter on a small peninsula in Panama Bay. French, Spanish, and Caribbean colonial architecture, world-class restaurants, rooftop bars with extraordinary views of the modern city skyline, Guna mola vendors, and one of the most atmospheric urban neighborhoods in Latin America. An essential stop if your ship calls at Panama City.
Panama Viejo Ruins — The ruins of the original Panama City founded in 1519 — the oldest continuously occupied European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. Destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. The stone ruins and cathedral tower are accessible and atmospheric — a genuinely ancient piece of New World history.
Biomuseo — Frank Gehry's only building in Latin America — a brilliantly colorful museum dedicated to the biodiversity of Panama and the extraordinary role the isthmus played in connecting North and South America, enabling the great exchange of species between continents. One of the finest natural history museums in the Americas in a building that is itself a work of art.
Pearl Islands Day Trip — From Panama City, speedboats take visitors to the Las Perlas archipelago — the filming location of the US Survivor — for a day on extraordinary Pacific island beaches. One of the finest beach excursions accessible from any canal cruise port.
Rainforest & Wildlife (Soberanía National Park) — Just 30 minutes from Panama City — one of the most accessible tropical rainforests in the world. The Pipeline Road birding trail is legendary among ornithologists for its extraordinary diversity. Harpy eagles, sloths, howler monkeys, and hundreds of bird species in a forest that begins at the edge of the city.
Beaches & Outdoors in Panama Canal
The best beaches, parks, and outdoor experiences for cruise passengers.
🏖️ Panama has exceptional beaches — most requiring a short excursion from the port cities:
Pearl Islands (Las Perlas Archipelago)
About 50 miles offshore in the Pacific — a stunning archipelago of 90 islands and islets with outstanding beaches and crystal-clear Pacific water. These islands served as the filming location for the US version of Survivor. Day trips by speedboat depart from Panama City — a genuinely extraordinary beach excursion that feels far from any cruise ship infrastructure.
Isla Grande
On the Caribbean side near Colón — a lush, jungle-backed island with beautiful Caribbean beaches accessible by short boat ride. A popular day trip from Colón with a very different character from the Pacific side beaches. Turquoise Caribbean water and a relaxed local atmosphere.
Santa Clara & Farallon (Pacific Coast)
About 90 minutes west of Panama City on the Pacific coast — stretches of dark volcanic sand beaches at some of Panama's beach resorts. Good surf and a more undeveloped coastline character. Best reached by rental car or organized excursion.
Shopping in Panama Canal
Where to shop and what to look for.
🛍️ Panama City has the most sophisticated shopping in Central America — and some genuinely distinctive local products:
Molas — The Essential Panama Souvenir
Molas are intricate multilayered textile panels made by the indigenous Guna (Kuna) people of Panama's San Blas archipelago — among the finest traditional textile art in the Americas. Authentic molas are sold by Guna women near Casco Viejo and in Panama City markets. Each piece is handmade and takes weeks to complete. The most meaningful and genuinely Panamanian souvenir available.
Panama Hats
Ironically, the finest "Panama hats" are actually made in Ecuador — but they are sold throughout Panama and the name stuck from the canal construction era when workers wore them. A classic souvenir with genuine historical resonance. Look for hand-woven toquilla straw versions for the finest quality.
Multiplaza Pacific Mall
One of Central America's best shopping malls in Panama City — luxury brands, international retailers, and a full range of dining. All prices in USD. The most complete retail experience in the region.
Casco Viejo Markets & Boutiques
The restored colonial quarter has excellent independent boutiques selling Panamanian art, crafts, coffee, and artisan goods alongside Guna mola vendors. A far more interesting and authentic shopping experience than a mall — every purchase supports local artisans and the neighborhood's ongoing restoration.
Dining in Panama Canal
Where to eat and drink ashore.
🍽️ Panama City has the most sophisticated dining scene in Central America — a genuine food capital with world-class chefs and an extraordinary range of influences:
Maito
Panama City · Sustainable Panamanian Cuisine · $$$$
Consistently ranked among the best restaurants in Latin America — Chef Mario Castrellón's flagship uses indigenous Panamanian ingredients and sustainable sourcing to create dishes that tell the story of Panama's extraordinary biodiversity. A genuinely world-class restaurant in the heart of Central America.
Donde José
Casco Viejo · Intimate Panamanian · $$$$
A tiny, extraordinary tasting menu restaurant in the UNESCO World Heritage colonial quarter — inventive Panamanian cuisine in an intimate setting. Chef José Carles uses traditional ingredients in modern preparations. One of the most talked-about dining experiences in Central America. Book well in advance.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio
Panama City · Peruvian Seafood · $$$
Celebrity chef Gastón Acurio's Panama outpost bringing Peru's extraordinary ceviche culture to the isthmus. Exceptional raw seafood preparations, tiradito, causas, and classic Peruvian dishes in an elegant setting.
Casco Viejo Street Food
Casco Antiguo · Casual · $
The restored colonial streets of Casco Viejo have excellent street food vendors and casual cafes. Fresh empanadas, ceviche de corvina (the local version with Panama's Pacific sea bass), patacones (twice-fried plantains), and fresh tropical fruit are the essential casual eating experiences.
Top Tours & Shore Excursions
Book before you board for best availability and pricing.
Aerial Tram and Miraflores Locks
⏱ 6.5 Hours · Moderate activity
<p>On this excursion, you will experience the Gamboa rainforest, see abundant colorful birds and butterflies while you w...
Book This Tour →Embera Indians and Miraflores Locks
⏱ 6.5 · Moderate activity
<p>Take a trip back in time and visit an authentic Embera Indian village where these indigenous people are committed to ...
Book This Tour →Panama Canal – FAQ
Common questions from cruise passengers.
What is a Panama Canal cruise?
A Panama Canal cruise either fully transits the canal (ocean to ocean, Atlantic to Pacific or vice versa) or does a partial transit — entering the canal and returning. Full transits are typically on longer repositioning cruises. Partial transits are more common on Caribbean itineraries.
How long does it take to transit the Panama Canal?
A full transit of the Panama Canal takes approximately 8-10 hours. Ships pass through three sets of locks — Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores — crossing 50 miles from ocean to ocean.
How do the Panama Canal locks work?
The locks work like a water elevator — ships enter a chamber and massive gates close behind them. Water floods in (or drains out) to raise or lower the ship to the next level. No pumps are used — it's entirely gravity-fed from Gatun Lake.
What is the expanded Panama Canal?
The expanded canal (opened 2016) added a new set of larger locks — the Agua Clara locks on the Atlantic side and Cocoli locks on the Pacific side — capable of handling much larger Neo-Panamax ships including many modern cruise ships.
Cruise Passenger Tips & Photos
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