A full crossing of the Panama Canal is a one-way journey that takes at least 14 days. It usually takes 8 to 10 hours to fully transit the canal, but this may vary depending on ship traffic. If you only have one day to experience the canal, you can take a full transportation tour from ocean to ocean, which normally lasts between 10 and 12 hours. The Panama Canal was first built in 1914 and it made trade faster, easier and cheaper by allowing ships to pass from Panama City on the Pacific Ocean side to Colón on the Atlantic Ocean side.
You can visit the canal in just a day or less if you are already in Central America. On these transit routes, you will visit the locks of the Panama Canal and be able to see them from a unique perspective. You can also take a kayak trip from Project Expedition to see the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks in action before entering the Canal itself by speedboat. There are several excursion options available that allow you to see not only the locks and how they work, but also some of the incredible natural surroundings of the canal.
You can also enjoy the best of both worlds by visiting the Panama Canal by sea and on foot while exploring the nearby jungle. Full Panama Canal voyages are also an important feature of cruise itineraries around the world. This epic 5-hour day trip offers you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Panama Canal and its entire ecosystem.
