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 holiday in the Panamanian paradise I recommend visiting the surrounding area, 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'll find zip-line jumps, boat rides and lookout points. But more daring travellers will take a helicopter ride to see the vastness from above. Of course there are museums, visitor centres and fun activities that make it all the more appealing. It is important to be aware of some details that will make the experience easier, 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 organised tour, so 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 in the city, which enhance the experience with the company and commentary 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 surrounding area you can also see the old American military bases and Fort Clayton. In addition, a tour can provide access to the Miraflores Visitor Centre and the former Canal Administrator's residence. But the tour is not limited to the canal, these experiences also take you to the Old Town of San Felipe, Plaza Francia and the Cathedral Basilica Santa María la Antigua.

Details of interest

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

A self-drive tour of 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 savour every detail. On board you will be able to observe the operation of the locks, which cushion the change in water level between the sea and Gatun Lake.

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 at the visitor centres and museums, whose entrance fees range from 5 to 15 euros, and there are even free alternatives. Additionally, the Panama Canal, through its immensity, reaches the Gatun Lake drop, which is home to unforgettable experiences such as jumping on a zip line.

Interesting details

• Price: Tickets start at 7 euros and usually include access to the IMAX theatre, which offers 3D exhibits.
• Duration: between 8 and 10 hours to cross the entire canal, but you can see the main attractions in less than 5 hours alternating between boat and walking tours.
• Opening hours: You can see it at any time, but it is advisable to visit it 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 best time to escape the crowds and see the locks in peace and quiet. In addition, I recommend downloading the Panama Canal app, which is available in the Apple Store and Play Store and offers weather information, water levels and schedules.

If you want to see the Panama Canal from a privileged perspective, you should definitely take a helicopter flight. This thrilling experience offers you a 30-minute or 2-hour window of time (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 you consider the dry season from December to April, when the skies are clear and sunny. This way, you can clearly see every place you will encounter from your departure from Albrook Airport, where the helicopters usually depart.

Interesting details

• 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 journey and workings. The popular visitor centres are scattered around, each offering a different perspective, ideal for learning about the locks, ship traffic and biodiversity with interactive and sensory exhibits. Here's a guide to what you can see in these spaces:

• Miraflores Visitor Centre: this is one of the most important and offers guided tours of about an hour and a half through its 3D theatre and spaces that focus on the history of the locks and ships.
• Agua Clara Visitor Centre: the best place to get panoramic views of Gatun Lake and the surrounding locks.
• Panama Canal Interactive Centre: 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 depicting 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: Admission to the visitor centres varies. For reference, Miraflores starts at €7 and for Agua Clara you must book at least €5. The Interactive Centre and the Administration Building are free.
• Opening hours: the Miraflores and Agua Clara centres are open daily from 8:00 to 17:00, while the Interactive Centre can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00. The Administration Building is open from 7:00 a.m. to 16:00.
• Duration: it is recommended to dedicate at least an hour and a half to each one, but it all depends 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 get to know this narrow waterway in detail. The route takes you along the isthmus and allows you to see all the locks, as well as sail in the company of the colourful boats that pass through the area every day. You'll 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.
• Timetable: the boats run 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, which is why you can't miss the Mirador de las Américas. This is a symbolic enclave that offers the most impressive views of the city and its canal. Ships will pass before your eyes, while in the background the Panama flag flies from the Ancon Hill.

From here you can also see the entrance to the canal and the commercial activity that floods the city. Another remarkable detail is that it is a building built in honour of the Chinese influence in Panama, so its façade has symbols of the culture such as terraces, pavilions, arches, statues and hieroglyphics.

The best thing is that Las Américas is a free viewpoint and can be visited 24 hours a day, although the most impressive photos are taken in the afternoon. But if you want to see the boats without the crowds, I recommend going in the morning. Note that it's located across the iconic Bridge of the Americas, which is 61 metres high and also offers panoramic views of the city.

Interesting details

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

To connect with the nature that runs through the Panama Canal, I recommend you book a kayaking experience, where you can explore the fauna and flora, or simply soak up the sun under the warm Panamanian panorama. Of course, a certain amount of fitness is required, as you will have to paddle for a while.

You will probably pass through the narrow currents, surrounded by weeds and animal species, but you will also enter its vastness 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.
• Timetable: Most kayak trips only depart on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays at around 7:00.

To keep your budget in check, you can take advantage of the free activities offered around the Panama Canal, including a hike up Ancon Hill. It is a favourite hideaway for those who love nature and want to escape from pollution, considering 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. While 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 theunobstructed viewsof the canal is from March to April. Keep in mind that the hike up the hill is usually low-intensity and worth 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.
• Opening hours: it is open from 8:00 to 16:00 and the weather is more pleasant in the morning.

For a front row view of the entrance to the Panama Canal I recommend going to the city's widest and most modern thoroughfare. Known as Balboa Avenue, it's one of the best places to see it, as it's located on the ocean's edge and is always crowded with dozens of ships.

It has two boardwalks overlooking the canal, where you can watch the commercial activity 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 observation deck 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 safety equipment that holds you 152 metres above the ground. 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 honour of those who defended the sovereignty of the canal. Of course, you have to stop by the Goethals Monument, an exotic piece that commemorates the engineer of the Panama Canal.

Details of interest

• Opening hours: The avenue is open 24 hours a day, but it is advisable to visit 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 Calzada de Amador, 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 Marine Exhibition Centre at Punta Culebra to familiarise 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, within walking distance 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. Moreover, its façade is worth admiring, as it is an old building remodelled in 1996.

It is unlike other museums, with 1,350 pieces ranging from pre-Columbian times to the present day. Therefore, it is a didactic experience that allows you to learn about the construction process, listen to testimonies and admire collection images. Highlights 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: admission to the museum starts at €5.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.