PANAMA CANAL TOURS:
OCEAN TO OCEAN PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT
- 10 - 12 hrs:
(The duration of the full transit greatly depends on
the ship traffic on the Panama Canal. Please be aware that in exceptional cases you might
return to your hotel at night time)
On August 15, 1914 the SS Ancon made the first official
ocean to ocean transit through the Panama Canal. This event, that soon proved to have
changed the world forever, was possible thanks to the labor of more than 75,000 men and
women who worked for 10 years facing unprecedented challenges. Since 1914, more than
900,000 vessels have transited through the waterway bringing commerce, cultures and people
from all corners of the world closer together.
The Panama
Canal tour starts with an early morning pick up at your hotel in Panama City for a short
transfer to Flamenco Island, at the Causeway of Amador on the Pacific side of the canal.
You will first sail under the bridge of the Americas, which raises over 100 meters above
sea level and reunites the land divided during construction of the canal forming another
link in the Pan-American Highway. Breakfast is served buffet style.
The Panama
Canal is 80 kilometers long from deep waters in the Pacific Ocean to deep waters in the
Caribbean Sea. It was cut through the lowest and one of the narrowest saddles of the long
mountainous Isthmus that joins North and South America. The original elevation was 95
meters above sea level where it crosses the Continental Divide.
Northbound on
the Panama Canal, the first stop is at Miraflores locks, which are the tallest in the
locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. The boat will be
raised 17 meters above sea level in two steps to enter Miraflores Lake which is almost 2
kilometers long. A transition from salt water in the Pacific Ocean to fresh water in the
locks chambers and lake take place here. Next the ship is raised in one step, this
time an additional 9 meters, at the Pedro Miguel locks. At this point the ship will be
sailing in Gatun lake at 26 meters above sea level and entering Gaillard Cut, the
narrowest section of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long portion of the waterway was
carved through rock and shale and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental
Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and was increased to 152 meters
in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate to the demands of today's transit needs, the
Panama Canal Authority recently completed the monumental task of widening the Cut to 192
meters in straight sections and up to 222 meters in curves.
This allows
for unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax vessels, the largest ships that fit in the
Panama Canal locks. Gaillard Cut opens up into Gatun Lake where the Chagres River flows
into the waterway near the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's Dredging Division.
The Chagres River has the distinction of being the only river in the world that flows into
two oceans and it is the main source of fresh water which guarantees the operation of the
waterway.
Lunch is
served buffet style, while enjoying views of the giant cranes and dredging equipment near
Gamboa, ships traveling southbound carrying cargo or passengers and the islands that dot
Gatun Lake.
Half way
through the voyage in Gatun Lake you will pass by Barro Colorado Island where the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has been carrying out research on rainforest
biodiversity since soon after this area was flooded and the lake was formed. Gatun Lake
covers an area of 423 square kilometers and the islands in it are actually the tops of
hills and mountains that were not flooded. Gatun Lake was once the largest man-made lake
in the world. Just before reaching the Gatun locks on the Caribbean side of the Panama
Canal you will see Gatun Dam. The locks at Gatun will lower the ship 26 meters to sea
level in three steps and the ship will continue along a channel to the Port of Cristobal.
You will disembark in Cristobal and board a coach bus that will take you back to Flamenco
Island on a 1:30-hour comfortable ride. At Flamenco Island, your Ancon Expeditions of
Panama driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.
Included:
- Bilingual Narrator on board
- Soft drinks and water (all you can drink)
- Continental Breakfast
- Full lunch which includes various Panamanian dishes
- Transportation from / to your hotel in Panama City
What to bring::
- Binoculars (available for rent at Ancon Expeditions of
Panama)
- Camera
- Cap or hat
- Sunscreen
- Light clothing
- Light raincoat
- Tennis shoes or sandals
- Cash in small denominations if intgerested in purchasing
souvenirs, snacks or alcoholic beverages
PARTIAL TRANSIT
(The duration of the full transit greatly
depends on the ship traffic on the Panama Canal. Please be aware that in exceptional cases
you might return to your hotel at night time)
NORTHBOUND
DESCRIPTION:
The
Panama Canal partial tour starts with an early morning pick up at your hotel in Panama
City** for a 15 minute drive to the Port of Balboa in the Pacific side of the canal, where
you board a comfortable passenger ferry. You will first sail under the bridge of the
Americas, which raises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites the land divided
during construction of the canal forming another link in the Pan-American Highway.
Northbound
on the Panama Canal, the first stop is at Miraflores locks, which are the tallest in the
locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. The boat will be
raised 17 meters above sea level in two steps to enter Miraflores Lake which is almost 2
kilometers long. A transition from salt water in the Pacific Ocean to fresh water in the
locks chambers and lake take place here. Next the ship is raised in one step, this time an
additional 9 meters, at the Pedro Miguel locks. At this point the ship will be sailing in
Gatun lake at 26 meters above sea level and entering Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section
of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long portion of the waterway was carved through
rock and shale and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original
width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In
order to accommodate to the demands of today's transit needs, the Panama Canal Authority
recently completed the monumental task of widening the Cut to 192 meters in straight
sections and up to 222 meters in curves. This allows for unrestricted two-way traffic of
Panamax vessels, the largest ships that fit in the Panama Canal locks. The Gaillard Cut opens up into Gatun Lake where the
Chagres River flows into the waterway near the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's
Dredging Division, where we disembark. From
there, you will be transferred to Balboa where our Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver will
be waiting to take you back to your hotel.
SOUTHBOUND
DESCRIPTION:
This
morning you will be picked up at your hotel for a short transfer to the Amador Marina.
From there you will take a 40 minute coach bus ride to the town of Gamboa, site of the
Panama Canal's Dredging Division, where you board a comfortable passenger ferry. At this
point the boat will be sailing in Gatun Lake at 26 meters above sea level which is part of
the Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long
portion of the waterway was carved through rock and shale and it is flanked by the
backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92
meters and was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate to the
demands of today's transit needs, the Panama Canal Authority recently completed the
monumental task of widening the Cut to 192 meters in straight sections and up to 222
meters in curves. This allows for unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax vessels, the
largest ships that fit in the Panama Canal locks. Southbound on the Panama Canal the first
lock set that you pass today are Pedro Miguel locks, where the ship is lowered 9 meters.
While enjoying your lunch on board, you will pass through Miraflores Locks, which are the
tallest in the locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. In
two steps, the boat will be lowered from 17 meters above sea level to sea level in the
almost 2 kilometer long lock set. Here, a transition from fresh water in the lake and lock
chambers to salt water in the Pacific Ocean takes place. Before leaving the Panama Canal
and entering the Pacific Ocean you will sail under the bridge of the Americas, which
raises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites the land divided during construction
of the canal forming another link in the Pan-American Highway. You will disembark the
ferry at the Port of Balboa at Causeway Amador, from where you will be transferred back to
your hotel.
Included:
- Bilingual Narrator on board
- Soft drinks and water (all you can drink)
- Continental Breakfast
- Full lunch which includes various Panamanian dishes
- Transportation from / to your hotel in Panama City
What to bring::
- Binoculars (available for rent at Ancon Expeditions of
Panama)
- Camera
- Cap or hat
- Sunscreen
- Light clothing
- Light raincoat
- Tennis shoes or sandals
- Cash in small denominations if intgerested in purchasing
souvenirs, snacks or alcoholic beverages
