There are Panama Canal observation centers positioned along the 48-mile long canal. Each one gives visitors an up-close encounter with this engineering marvel in its own particular way. Here’s how to find the Panama Canal observation center that’s right for you.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Panama Canal Observation Centers
Miraflores Visitor Center
The Miraflores Visitor Center Panama Canal observation area is closest to the city center. It includes a movie theater where a film about the history of the canal is shown in English and in Spanish. Four exhibition halls contain more information, including displays about biodiversity around the canal. There’s also a gift shop, and, of course, observation decks where you can watch ships passing through the Miraflores Lock.
The lunch at Atlantic & Pacific Co., a restaurant at the Miraflores Visitor Center, is also said to be terrific. The menu has a la carte items and, as its name suggests, there’s plenty of fish and seafood. It also has a daily buffet from 11:30 am- 4:00 pm.
Agua Clara Visitor Center
Near Colón, on the Atlantic side of the canal, the Agua Clara Visitor Center is the newest canal-side observation center and the only place where you can get a good look at the larger locks, which were opened in 2016 after nine years of construction at a cost of more than 6.7 billion dollars. The larger Panama Canal locks are the size of four football fields and accommodate larger so-called“NeoPanamax” ships, which can carry 12,000 containers as opposed to the older “Panamax” ships, which carry “just” 5,000 containers.
The Agua Clara Visitor Center has an observation area with two views: one of Gatún Lake and one of the new larger locks. There’s also a restaurant, gift shop, snack bar, and a short nature loop trail that’s suitable for walkers of all ages.
Gatún Locks View Deck
Technically part of the Agua Clara Visitor Center (located 10 miles away) circuit, the Gatún Locks view deck looks over Gatún Locks, which is one of the longest set of locks in the Panama Canal.
It’s a simpler facility than the Miraflores Visitor Center or the Agua Clara Visitor Center, but you can get closer to the action and it doesn’t get nearly as crowded.
Panama Canal By the Numbers
Original Cost of the Panama Canal
It cost $375 million to build the original Panama Canal.
Panama Canal Specs
The concrete walls of the original Panama Canal locks are 55 feet thick. The doors on the locks of the original Panama Canal are 47 to 82 feet high, seven feet thick, and they’re hollow and buoyant, which means that even though these doors weigh up to 662 tons, a pair of 25 horsepower motors can open and close them.
Panama Canal’s History
In 2014, the original Panama Canal celebrated its 100th birthday and much of the original construction,including those massive lock doors which hold back tons and tons of water, is still being used today.
What It Takes to Keep Cargo Moving
The Panama Canal employs around 10,000 people and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
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