Ship transits
Raised and lowered.
Adam Jones — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ibn Fawda al-Ameriki — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alexey Komarov — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Youngiovani — CC BY-SA 3.0
The best-known place to watch the Panama Canal at work, at the locks nearest the Pacific. Container ships, tankers and huge cruise ships pass here in two steps as the chamber fills or drains to raise or lower the ship about sixteen metres, while small electric locomotives tow it on rails along the walls. The locks were built as part of the original canal that opened in 1914, and their giant steel gates still work in much the same way. From the visitor centre's multi-storey terraces visitors see ships a few metres away, while loudspeakers explain what is happening, the ship's flag and its cargo. The centre has a small museum on the canal's history, operation and environmental impact, a big-screen film and a restaurant overlooking the locks. Ships pass all day, but transit times in each direction change, so ask at the entrance. The terraces get crowded in high season, so go early. It is hot and humid all year, with heavy afternoon rain from May to November, so carry water and an umbrella.
Raised and lowered.
Towing the ships.
In the centre.
Miraflores Visitor Center, about 20 minutes north-west of downtown
Throughout the day, but the transit direction changes at different times, so ask at the entrance and go early.