The transit thru the Panama Canal is the best way to experience and enjoy of one of the marvels of engineering of all times. The tour begins when a transportation picks you up on your hotel and takes you to marina where the water portion of the tour starts.
The transit tour starts at the north end of the Gaillard cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value.The vessel will travel the Gaillard Cut for over 13 kilometers on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks.
As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides; and just before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks, at the southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the new Centennial Bridge which crosses over the Canal.
Once the vessel enters into the Pedro Miguel Locks – which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, it will be lowered 9 meters in one step in order to reach the level of the Miraflores Lake – which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean.
Once into the Miraflores Locks, the vessel will be lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps to reach the Pacific Ocean level. From there, the vessel will sail to the marina where you will disembark – passing under the Bridge of the Americas, and with the chance to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City’s splendorous skyline.
