Panama City And Canal Day Trip
Are You Planning To Do A Panama City And Canal Day Trip?
One of the main things to do in Panama is to do a Panama City and Canal Day Trip.
We did that day tour from our resort which was located about an hour and a half away in Playa Blanca.
In this blog post, you will find all the information regarding doing one of those trips yourself.
Also, you will find the answers to a lot of questions about Panama City and the Canal.
🦄 If you want to read about our experience at the all-inclusive Royal Decameron Resort, check out this blog post: What To Expect From An All-Inclusive Resort In Panama
Everything You Need About Panama City And Canal Day Trip
Let’s start with the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Panama City and Canal Day Trip.
What’s the best time of the year to visit Panama?
The best time of the year to visit Panama is during the dry season which is between January and April.
During those months, the weather will be the most ideal for traveling.
If you choose to go during the rest of the year, there might be more rain.
What is the main currency of Panama?
Panama uses the American Dollar as currency.
They have their own currency – the Panamanian Balboa but the American Dollar is used more often.
The two currencies are at par meaning one USD is equal to one balboa.
How safe is Panama?
Panama is one of the safest countries in Central America.
We felt totally safe everywhere we visited in Panama.
However, as with every large city, when visiting Panama City be vigilant with your belongings and avoid areas/people that look suspicious.
If you are on one of the organized tours to the Panama Canal and City, you will not encounter any problems.
What are things that should not be missed on a trip to Panama?
When visiting Panama, do not miss seeing the famous Panama Canal which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Also, you can’t miss seeing Panama City as it is a lovely city that combines the traditional culture with a modern look.
Panama City And Canal Day Trip
The order in which you will do this tour depends on when the ships will be crossing the Panama Canal.
Your tour guide will check that and let you know.
Therefore, you might do the sights in the same order as us or do the canal first and then the city tour.
Panama City
Panama City is located on the Pacific Ocean’s coast and is the capital of Panama.
It is divided into two main sections: the Old Town where you will find all of the colonial-era houses and landmarks and the new Downtown which has skyscrapers and modern buildings.
We entered the city through the Cinta Costera, which is a highway that circles the Old Town.
It is hard to explain but the highway is in the water and it gives some stunning views of both the Old Town and the Downtown.
🎥 Here are two videos that explain what I mean:
Driving into Panama City
The Panama City’s highway
Old Town (Casco Antiguo/Casco Viejo)
Our first stop was the Old Town of Panama City also known as Casco Antiguo or Casco Viejo which is the historic district of the capital.
This charming area offers visitors the chance to see old churches, historic buildings, cute shops/cafes, etc.
There are tons of souvenir shops as well where you can do some shopping.
Souvenirs to buy besides the usual fridge magnets and key chains are rum (the local Abuelo) and Panama hats.
Keep in mind that the original Panama hats are pretty expensive and most of the ones you see in the souvenir shops are dupes for way cheaper.
This area is best explored on foot as the streets are small and the buildings are close by.
We hopped off the tour bus and explored this lovely area on foot as well.
Keep in mind that the cobble streets can be hard on the feet so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes (running shoes, even though it is over 30 degrees).
The day that we went it was around 35° outside so you should bring some water as well.
👉 Grab your own LARQ Bottle Filtered. The Nano Zero Filter technology removes lead, heavy metals, chlorine, microplastics, and other particulates in the water.
What are some of the things to check out in Casco Antique?
- The Metropolitan Cathedral and the beautiful Town Square of Casco Antiguo in front of it
- Palacio de las Garzas (Palace of the Herons which is the office & residence of the president)
- Arco Chato (the stone remains of an old monastery)
- San Francisco de Asis Church and Plaza Simon Bolivar in front of it
- Plaza de Francia (a town square right at the edge of the Old Town, France’s embassy is there as well as a statue, an obelisk, and a large staircase)
Unfortunately, most buildings were closed due to Covid so we only saw the attractions from the outside.
👉 If you are looking to book your Panama City and Canal tour, check out this link: Panama City: Small-Group Miraflores Locks and City Tour
Downtown Panama City
The Downtown area is large and spread out so we explored it by driving around on the tour bus. It would’ve taken us days otherwise.
The Downtown core is modern with large shiny skyscrapers and apartment buildings.
The contrast between the Old Town and the Downtown is staggering.
The coolest building that I have to point out is called the F&F Tower.
It is an office building that looks all twisted (unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a clear shot of it).
Another building you should try and see is the Bahia Grand Hotel which looks like the letter “D”.
Overall, the Downtown looks modern and luxurious.
How come Panama City, Panama is so modern looking?
Panama City has become a modern-looking capital because of the rapid economic growth due to the prosperity of the Panama Canal.
Also, Panama has one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in Central America.
The banking system as well as international trade and commerce have aided in the incredible development that Panama has seen.
What should I keep in mind when visiting Panama City, Panama?
Like most countries in Central and South America, Panama speaks Spanish as its primary language.
However, in the resorts and in Panama City a lot of people speak English as a second language.
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated, especially by the resort staff.
Also, remember that there is no road that connects Panama with Colombia due to the Darien Gap.
It is a dense jungle located on the border between Panama and Columbia.
The Darien Gap is one of the most dangerous areas in the world due to the mountainous terrain, treacherous swamps, wildlife, and criminal groups that operate in the area.
If you want to get from Panama to Colombia you will have to fly or sail.
Also, make sure you bring sunscreen and bug repellent in your luggage.
🦄 If you want more info on what to keep in mind when visiting the Caribbean and the area, check out this blog post: 7 Tips When Visiting Caribbean Countries
What is Panama City, Panama known for?
Panama City is known for its close proximity to the famous Panama Canal. The Miraflores Visitor Center is about 20 mins away.
Also, its proximity to the jungle and different wildlife.
Within the city itself, Casco Viejo, or the Old Town has a variety of colonial-style buildings as well as small shops, markets, churches, etc.
Another interesting thing to see is the Amador Causeway which is a 6km long road that extends into the Pacific.
The Amador Causeway was named after the first president of Panama – Manuel Amador Guerrero.
It was built using soil that was excavated during the construction of the Panama Canal.
The Amador Causeway offers lovely views toward Downtown Panama City and on it, you will find some interesting attractions such as the Biomuseo.
Is Panama City, Panama worth visiting?
Yes, Panama City is worth visiting!
It is a modern city with skyscrapers and luxury hotels in the Downtown core.
And at the same time, it has preserved its cultural and historical identity over the years – Old Town.
Panama City is a beautiful place where you see the best of both worlds – the colonial buildings as well as the new modern ones.
It’s as if the past and present are living side-by-side.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Panama City.
Lunch In Panama City
For lunch, we took the Amador Causeway which connects the mainland with these three small islands.
They are called Naos, Perico & Flamenco and they are all connected.
The restaurant we went to was called Sirena (located on Flamenco, which is the furthest).
We had to pick the meat beforehand, I chose a local fish and my partner had the chicken.
Here is also where you will find a duty-free shop.
Our resort was located in an area called Rio Hato which is about an hour and a half from Panama City.
The airport there is so tiny that it doesn’t have a duty-free shop.
So if you are anywhere in that area, you need to come to Panama City to shop at the one located on those islands.
If you are flying from Panama City airport then you are okay, they have a duty-free there.
Also, besides the duty-free shop, there is a cool Panama sign (I saw one in the downtown area too).
And we took some pictures with the sign and the city behind us.
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What kind of rum does Panama have?
From the duty-free store, we bought a whole bunch of products: my partner purchased some chocolate and a large bottle of Abuelo rum.
Abuelo is locally produced and probably the most famous rum in the country.
If you like rum you should definitely grab a bottle – the older the tastier.
It is available in a variety of different ages but I did try different ones and the older ones were tastier.
I got some small bottles for my family and friends as well as some snacks and chocolates.
The staff was so nice and helpful and one of them even gave me two free small bottles of Abuelo rum.
From this area, you can take some nice pictures of the skyline as well as the marina.
What kind of food is Panama City, Panama known for?
We found the food in Panama in general to be delicious and well-cooked.
It includes rice and beans which are usually served together, ceviches, platano (plantain), seafood, etc.
The national dish of Panama is Sancocho which is a type of soup.
It consists of soup broth, different vegetables, corn, and chicken. It usually comes with a side of rice.
👉 If you are looking to book your Panama City and Canal day trip, check out this link: Panama City: Half Day City and Panama Canal Tour
Can I drink the water in Panama City?
Technically, yes! The quality of the tap water is good enough to be drinkable.
However, as tourists, we are not used to the chemicals and minerals in the Panamanian tap water.
Therefore, I would suggest drinking bottled water or getting a LARQ Bottle Filtered.
👉 Grab your own LARQ Bottle Filtered. The Nano Zero Filter technology removes lead, heavy metals, chlorine, microplastics, and other particulates in the water.
Panama Canal
We went to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, located 20 mins away from Panama City.
We saw the Panama Canal in the afternoon.
The Panama Canal connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean and all day long there are ships making their way across it.
A lot of people don’t know this but in 2007 work began to expand the canal enabling it to accommodate larger vessels.
This is why in my pictures you will see the original locks in the foreground and the new wider ones in the background.
Lucky for us we were able to see boats in both.
👉 If you are looking to book your Panama City and Canal day trip, check out this link: Panama City: Half Day City and Panama Canal Tour
What we saw in the Panama Canal
When we visited Panama, Covid was starting to spread around and cause chaos.
Which is why there was no one on the streets of Panama City or in the area where the canal is.
There were only two tour groups at the Visitors Center which was fine because we didn’t have to try and find a spot to take pictures.
Before you head to the Panama Canal, keep in mind that the process of the ships going through the locks takes a long time.
If there are smaller boats in the old locks, they might have to wait until a bigger boat comes.
Then all of them would be transferred through the locks at the same time.
We saw a large tanker crossing the new locks and a yacht, a small boat, and a larger boat crossing the original locks.
Again it takes a lot of time for them to go through the locks, we were there for at least two hours.
There is a person who is talking on the PA system explaining in Spanish and English how the locks work when the boats start approaching.
The Miraflores Locks are usually packed with tourists but due to Covid, it was pretty quiet which was totally fine with us.
I remember as a kid reading about the Panama Canal and seeing it with my own eyes was an unforgettable experience.
It was so interesting to see how the locks actually work.
Why was the Panama Canal built?
The Panama Canal was built to aid the shipping process of goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and coasts.
The goal was to make the process quicker and cheaper as well as for the ships to have to sail shorter distances overall.
When was the Panama Canal built?
Construction started on May 4, 1904, and it took 10 years to complete.
Therefore, the canal opened on August 15, 1914.
Why is the Panama Canal important?
The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway that tremendously aids with global trade.
It is an enormous engineering marvel, spanning over 80 km, cutting Panama in half.
The construction of the canal created a significant shortcut for all the boats that were trying to get from one ocean to the other.
Before they had to go around the south edge of South America (Cape Horn) which took them 5 to 6 months or over 20,000 km back in the day.
Who owns the Panama Canal?
Originally, the canal was under joint American–Panamanian control.
However, in 1999, the government of Panama took full ownership of the Panama Canal.
The canal is currently operated by the Panama Canal Authority which is a government-owned agency.
How long does it take a ship to go through the Panama Canal?
The ships can enter from either direction. It takes them about 8-10 hours to cross from one side to the other.
How many locks does the Panama Canal have?
The Panama Canal has 3 sets of locks – Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, and Gatun Locks.
On the Pacific side, the locks are spread over a mile and are divided into three different chambers.
There you will find the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Miraflores Locks with the Miraflores Lake located between them.
The Miraflores Locks are the ones you will see when you visit Panama City.
On the Caribbean side, the locks are not designed to go down as gradually.
There are three chambers right beside each other that drop the ship over 80 feet directly from Gatun Lake to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
These locks are the Gatun Locks.
This map of the Panama Canal will help you visualize the layout.
Why does the Panama Canal have a lock system?
The system of locks allows the canal to go up and down the hills that are naturally there.
Not only are there hills but the two oceans (Atlantic and Pacific) are not at the same sea level either.
Therefore, the canal transports the ships, using the lock system, from one sea level (one of the oceans) up to the level of Lake Gatun and then down the other side to the sea level of the other ocean.
Why is the Panama Canal not at sea level?
The topography of the area makes the idea of building the Panama Canal at sea level impossible.
Also, as I mentioned above, the two oceans are not on the same sea level and have different levels of high tide.
The Pacific Ocean lies slightly higher than the Atlantic Ocean.
Building the Panama Canal the way that they did, with the lock systems, also helped not having to dig out an excessive amount of soil and rocks.
Without the locks system, the canal would have had to be way deeper, and digging in the area was extremely difficult due to the rock type.
Also, it would have been more expensive and taken longer than 10 years to build.
Can private boats use the Panama Canal?
Yes, private boats can use the Panama Canal!
When we were at the Miraflores Locks, we saw a small yacht with a few people on board pass the locks.
However, don’t forget that you will have to pay the Canal Fees in order to use the canal. The fees depend on the size of the vessel.
Also, keep in mind that the process of passing the Panama Canal is slow and time-consuming.
You will need to know how to expertly navigate the boat and follow the instructions provided which can be pretty confusing and stressful.
Can a submarine sail through the Panama canal?
Yes, submarines can go through the Panama Canal but they cannot be submerged.
Therefore, they have to be on the surface in order to cross.
👉 If you are looking to book your Panama City and Canal day trip, check out this link: Panama City: Half Day City and Panama Canal Tour
How much does it cost to go through the Panama Canal?
The cost depends on the size and type of the ship as well as how much and what type of cargo it has.
Also, there are additional fees and surcharges that can be applied to ships that want to cross the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal Authority is the agency that sets the fee and toll amounts.
In what direction does water flow through the Panama Canal?
Fresh water enters the Panama Canal from Gatun Lake, and it flows in both directions to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Gatun Lake is the highest point in the Panama Canal, which means that the water will naturally flow downwards through the locks on each side.
Gatun Lake is a large man-made lake in the middle of the Panama Canal.
The purpose of Gatun Lake is to act as a water supply reservoir to operate the intricate system of locks along the Panama Canal.
Can all ships fit through the Panama Canal?
No, they can’t! The old locks in the Panama Canal are not big enough to accommodate the modern large ships that need to go through it nowadays.
It is either because they are too wide or long or both. The bottom part of the ship can also be too long and go too deep into the water and get stuck.
Also, another restriction can be the height of the ship as it will have to go underneath the Bridge of the Americas located on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.
However, in 2016 they opened the new locks which are now able to accommodate a lot larger vessels than the original locks.
The largest ship that can go through the original locks is called a Panamax and the largest ship that can go through the new locks is called New Panamax.
Here is an image, that shows the size difference between Panamax and New Panamax.
How to see the Panama Canal?
The best way to see the Panama Canal is on an organized tour.
There are tons of tours to the Panama Canal mostly departing from Panama City.
Therefore, most of them are Panama Canal day trips.
Also, you can see the Panama Canal in an exciting and unique way on a Panama Canal and Monkey Island Tour.
🦄 I wrote a whole blog post about it, that you can check out here: Panama: Jungle Adventure Trip
👉 From Panama City: Gamboa Rainforest Guided Tour with Lunch – this tour is similar to the one we did
🎥 Here are some videos of the boats passing through
Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) – Large Tanker
Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) – Yacht & Small Boat
also,
Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) – Yacht, Small Boat & Large Boat
Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) – Large Boat
🦄 Panama Related Posts:
11 Best Panama City, Panama Hotels & Places To Stay
13 Best Things To Do In Playa Blanca, Panama
5 Best Hotels In Playa Blanca, Panama
Conclusion: Panama City And Canal Day Trip
In conclusion, a day trip to Panama City and the renowned Panama Canal unfolds as a journey through history, culture, and engineering marvels.
From the modern skyline of Panama City to the historic Casco Viejo, the cityscape seamlessly blends old and new.
The highlight of the day, the Panama Canal, stands as a testament to human ingenuity, allowing visitors to witness the intricate operations of this iconic waterway.
The Miraflores Locks offer an up-close encounter with the fascinating process of ships transiting through the canal, providing insight into the canal’s vital role in global trade.
Whether navigating the historic streets or standing at the canal’s edge, a day trip to Panama City and the canal promises an enriching and memorable experience.
