Visiting the Panama Canal is one of the most popular things to do in Panama City. Inaugurated in 1914, the Panama Canal is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and every year between 13,000 and 14,000 ships cross between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. As you contemplate the enormous torrents of water that flow through the locks and the huge steel doors that slam shut to control the flow of water, it's hard not to be impressed when you visit the Panama Canal. If you're looking for ways to make your tour of this incredible monument more affordable, here are some tips and tricks to consider.
Take a Guided TourIf you're not really interested in seeing the Panama Canal for free and don't mind shelling out a little money, I highly recommend some of the guided tours of the Panama Canal. These tours are a great way to get an up-close look at this incredible engineering feat and learn more about its history. You'll get to see ships crossing through the locks and hand over control to a pilot from the Panama Canal Transit Authority.
Visit for Free
One of the best travel tricks I found during my trip to Panama was to learn how to visit the Panama Canal for FREE.You can take a bus from Panama City to Gamboa, which is located at the entrance of the canal. From there, you can take a ferry across Gatun Lake, which will take you through a pleasant stretch of 37.5 kilometers of the canal. This is a great way to experience this incredible engineering feat without spending any money.
Take a Cruise
Going by boat is expensive, but seeing the Panama Canal up close and in person is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it sure beats sailing the long road.The Infinity is what is known as a Panamax vessel, since it is the maximum size that can fit in the Panama Canal. As ships cross the locks, they must hand over control to a pilot from the Panama Canal Transit Authority. There are quite a few tips about Panama Canal cruises that you should consider if you're thinking of embarking in transit. For the most part, the Panama Canal is a two-way street, but there are sections that are too narrow for ships to cross each other, so there is a tight schedule for managing it.
Visiting the Panama Canal is an incredible experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. With these tips and tricks, you can make your tour of this incredible monument more affordable.
