Panama Canal Tickets and Tours

The Panama Canal is an engineering marvel that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, shortening travel times and facilitating global trade. In recent decades, it has become a must-see destination for tourists due to its fascinating history dating back to the 19th century. During your holiday in this Panamanian paradise, I recommend visiting the surrounding area, as it offers some of the best activities in Panama City.

You can start your adventures on the banks of the canal, which borders the rainforest, where you will find zip-line jumps, boat trips and viewpoints. But the more daring travellers take a helicopter ride to see its immensity from above. Of course, there are museums, visitor centres and fun activities that make it even more attractive. It is important to be aware of a few details that will make your experience easier, so here is a guide with places of interest and recommendations for your visit to the Panama Canal.

The best way to explore this jewel of Panamanian engineering is through an organised tour, which will allow you to explore the most emblematic corners of Panama City and learn about the history of the canal. Its construction and operation are shrouded in curiosities and legends, which you can discover on your own or by joining one of the best tours in the city, which enhance the experience with the company and commentary of a tour guide.

This way, you can appreciate the canal from Calzada de Amador and see the ships passing through the locks, which function as an elevator and facilitate the transition from the Pacific to Gatún Lake. Specifically, they are located in the areas of Pedro Miguel, Agua Clara, Miraflores, Gatún and Cocolí.

In the surrounding area, you can also see the old American military bases and Fort Clayton. In addition, a tour can facilitate access to the Miraflores Visitor Centre and the former residence of the Canal Administrator. But the tour is not limited to the canal area; these experiences also take you to the Old Town of San Felipe, the Plaza Francia and the Cathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua.

Details of interest

• Price: from £55.
• Duration: approximately five hours.

A visit to the Panama Canal on your own can be an enriching and fun experience. This way, you can see the points of interest at your own pace. You can opt for a short boat ride and savour every detail. On board, you can observe how the locks work, which cushion the change in water level between the sea and Gatún Lake.

Another gem you can appreciate from this perspective is the Culebra Cut, one of the most difficult sections to work on during the construction of the canal. Afterwards, I recommend walking around and seeing the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge up close, two landmarks that connect South America and North America.

I also encourage you to learn about its history at the visitor centres and museums, where admission ranges from 5 to 15 euros, and there are even free alternatives. In addition, the Panama Canal, through its immensity, reaches the fall of Gatún Lake, which offers unforgettable experiences such as zip-lining.

Details of interest

• Price: admission starts at £7 and usually includes access to the IMAX theatre, which offers 3D exhibitions.
• Duration: between 8 and 10 hours to cross the entire canal, but you can see its main attractions in less than 5 hours by alternating between boat and walking tours.
• Opening hours: you can visit at any time, but it is advisable to go between 9:00 and 11:00 or between 14:00 and 17:00, when there are fewer tourists.
• Recommendations: the low season is from May to November and is the best time to escape the crowds and see the locks at your leisure. I also recommend downloading the Panama Canal app, which is available on the Apple Store and Play Store and provides weather information, water levels and timetables.

If you want to see the Panama Canal from a privileged perspective, you should definitely take a helicopter flight. This exciting experience offers you a 30-minute or 2-hour (depending on your choice) window of time with access to the panorama from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, passing over the immensity of the canal. The most important skyscrapers and monuments that distinguish the city also shine in the air.

These types of tours depend largely on the weather, so I recommend considering the dry season from December to April, when the sky is clear and sunny. This way, you can clearly see every place you will encounter from the moment you leave Albrook Airport, where the helicopters usually take off.

Details of interest

• Price: from €840 per group.
• Duration: 30 minutes or 2 hours.

The history of the Panama Canal is complex, but there are places where you can learn about its history and how it works. The visitor centres are very popular and are located throughout the area, each offering a different perspective that is ideal for learning about the locks, ship traffic and biodiversity with interactive and sensory exhibits. Here is a guide to what you can see in these spaces:

• Miraflores Visitor Centre: this is one of the most important centres and offers guided tours lasting approximately an hour and a half through its 3D theatre and spaces that focus on the history of the locks and ships.
• Agua Clara Visitor Centre: this is the best place to get panoramic views of Gatún Lake and the locks that surround it.
• Panama Canal Interactive Centre: a 1936 building ideal for a multi-sensory experience with special effects and simulation games that take you through the history and biodiversity of the canal.
• Panama Canal Administration Building: there are murals depicting the construction process of the canal. This makes it easier to understand its importance and see the Gatún Lake spillway.

Details of interest

• Prices: admission to the visitor centres varies. As a reference, Miraflores costs from €7 and for Agua Clara you must book at least €5 in advance. The Interactive Centre and the Administration Building are free.
• Opening hours: the Miraflores and Agua Clara centres are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while the Interactive Centre can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Administration Building is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Duration: we recommend spending at least an hour and a half at each site, but it will depend on your itinerary.

Another way to access the Panama Canal is on board a boat, which is a very special experience that allows you to discover this narrow waterway in detail. The route takes you across the isthmus and allows you to see all the locks, as well as sail alongside the colourful boats that cross the area every day. You will see different types of catamarans, including oil tankers, container ships, bulk carriers and car carriers.

If you plan to spend at least seven days in Panama City, you have to include this plan in your itinerary, as it is a complete adventurelasting approximately five hours. This close-up view allows you to see the daily lives of the pilots and their crew, listen to the sounds of nature and enjoy breathtaking views of Gatún Lake, the Chagres River and the Centenario Bridge.

Details of interest

• Price: from £98.
• Duration: between 5 and 6 hours.
• Timetable: boats run between 9:00 and 16:30. If you only want to see the boats, they pass through Miraflores at 05:20 and 14:00, and through Agua Clara at 8:30 and 16:30.

The Panama Canal deserves to be admired from different angles, so don't miss the Mirador de las Américas. This symbolic spot offers the most impressive views of the city and the canal. Ships will pass before your eyes, while the Panamanian flag flies in the background on Ancón Hill.

From here, you can also see the entrance to the canal and the commercial activity that fills the city. Another noteworthy detail is that the building was constructed in honour of Chinese influence in Panama, which is why its façade features cultural symbols such as terraces, pavilions, arches, statues and hieroglyphics.

The best thing is that Las Américas is a free viewpoint and can be visited 24 hours a day, although the most impressive photos can be taken in the afternoon. But if you want to see the ships without the crowds, I recommend visiting in the morning. Keep in mind that it is located across the iconic Bridge of the Americas, which is 61 metres high and also offers panoramic views of the city.

Details of interest

• Price: free.
• Opening hours: open 24 hours a day.

To connect with the nature that flows through the Panama Canal, I recommend booking a kayaking experience, where you can explore the fauna and flora, or simply sunbathe under the warm Panamanian sky. Of course, you need to be in reasonably good physical condition, as you will be paddling for some time.

You will probably pass through narrow currents, surrounded by vegetation and animal species, but you will also venture into its immensity in a controlled and safe experience that you can enjoy if you plan to visit Panama City with children. In general, I recommend doing this activity in the morning, as the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists.

Details of interest

• Price: from £132.
• Duration: approximately four hours.
• Timetable: most kayak trips only depart on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays at around 7:00 am.

To save money, take advantage of the free activities offered in the area surrounding the Panama Canal, including climbing Ancón Hill. It is a favourite hideaway for nature lovers who want to escape pollution, considering that Panama is one of the countries with the highest CO2 production.

Here you will find the Panamanian flag and you can see the immensity of the canal, as well as the most outstanding skyscrapers and monuments. It is advisable to climb with an expert, as toucans, deer, sloths and other species roam the area. Although they are not dangerous and are used to tourists, tours of Panama City can also take you along the safest routes.

The best time to visit and enjoythe unobstructed views of the canal is from March to April. Keep in mind that the walk to the hill is usually not very strenuous and it is worth reaching the last stretch.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free.
• Duration: the climb is not very steep and takes about an hour and a half.
• Opening hours: it is open from 8:00 to 16:00 and the weather is more pleasant in the morning.

To see the entrance to the Panama Canal from the front row, I recommend going to the widest and most modern street in the city. Known as Balboa Avenue, it is one of the best places to see it, as it is located on the oceanfront and is always crowded with dozens of ships.

It has two boardwalks overlooking the canal, where you can watch the commercial activity during the day or enjoy the illuminated panorama at night. The best angle to see the Panama Canal from this avenue is Poin Panama, an interactive viewpoint with 360° views.

It is located diagonally across from the avenue and is a popular attraction for the more adventurous, as it offers different activities that give a privileged view of the canal. For example, you can walk around the building with safety equipment that holds you 152 metres above the ground. Another alternative is to go zip-lining or swing on a swing for 30 minutes.

Additionally, from this avenue, it is easy to visit the Martyrs' Monument, which has 21 columns and was built in 1964 in honour of those who defended the sovereignty of the canal. Of course, you have to stop by the Goethals Monument, an exotic piece commemorating the engineer of the Panama Canal.

Interesting details

• Opening hours: the avenue is open 24 hours a day, but it is recommended to visit during the day. If you are going to Poin Panama, keep in mind that it is open from 10:00 to 20:30.

During your stay, you must visit the Amador Causeway at least once, a road that connects to the main islands and allows you to see the canal from another angle. In particular, I suggest booking a bike tour of Panama City to ride along the Cinta Costera and get panoramic views of the causeway.

Here you can sample Panamanian and international cuisine or visit the Punta Culebra Marine Exhibition Centre to learn about the species that surround the canal and the rainforest. Best of all, it offers a museum experience through interactive exhibits and activities ideal for children.

On the other hand, a short distance away is the road to the Interoceanic Museum of Panama, a site of interest that offers a journey through the history of the canal. In fact, it houses 11 rooms with audio guide exhibits that explore its construction, changes and bureaucratic tensions. In addition, its façade is worth admiring, as it is an old building that was remodelled in 1996.

It is unlike any other museum, as it has 1,350 pieces ranging from pre-Columbian times to the present day. It is therefore an educational experience that allows you to learn about the construction process, listen to testimonies and admire images from the collection. The most notable areas include:

• The interoceanic route.
• The trans-isthmian routes.
• Life in the zone.
• The route for sovereignty from 1903 to 1964.
• The route for sovereignty from 1964 to 1999.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to the museum starts at €5.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.