The Panama Canal Expansion Project
The New Locks & Other Panama Canal Points of Interest
Are you getting ready to spend some time exploring Panama? When it comes to things to do in Panama, you must check out what is quite possibly of the most extraordinary engineering projects of all time. The Panama Canal of course!
The Panama Canal is a 50 mile inter-oceanic canal stretching from Panama City on the Pacific to the City of Colon on the Atlantic. This construction project that was envisioned in the late 1800’s. Can you imagine?! There is so much history and interesting facts about the Panama Canal, you really need to explore more than just one set of locks. There are several points of interest along the Panama Canal you should see.
If you’re headed into the Panama Canal Zone, be sure to plan sufficient time to visit the various points of interest along the canal. Here are our top picks that you should definitely check out.
Miraflores Locks Visitor Center
Probably the most visited point of interest along the Panama Canal is the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Miraflores Locks is one of the most fascinating points of interest along the Panama Canal for many reasons. Spending a couple hours at the Miraflores Locks watching the canal at work will help you appreciate engineering marvel that forever changed the world by uniting the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Miraflores Lock is also home to a fascinating museum with four different exhibition halls on separate floors. The first floor holds The History Hall, the second floor the Hall of Water: Source of Life, on the third floor The Panama Canal in Action exhibit, and finally on the fourth floor you’ll find The Panama Canal in the World exhibit. Don’t forget to take some time to wave to the cruise ships on the deck after you finish the last exhibit. The whole museum should take you around 1 – 2 hours to complete depending on how long you spend at each exhibit. For more in-depth information, click on the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center link above.
Visiting Hours: Daily 8am to 6pm. You will want to arrive a minimum of one hour prior to closing to ensure you have enough time to get through most of the exhibits.
Entrance Fee For Non Residents: $20 adults, $12 Children ages 6 to 12, children under 6 are free.
Additional Amenities: There is a snack bar and gift shop open during visiting hours for basic needs. There is also a restaurant, the Atlantic & Pacific Co which is located on the second floor with a great view of the ships passing the canal. During the day they are open 11am to 5pm, and offer a Sunday Brunch from 11:30am to 4:30pm. At this time they do not have a website, but you can call +507 232 3120 to make reservations (which are recommended).
We should mention that the Gatun Locks are also open for viewing however, the Gatun Locks do not have the amazing caliber of interactive museum that Miraflores does. This is why we recommend the Miraflores Locks over the Gatun Locks if it works out in your schedule. Sadly, climate change among other factors has affected the levels of water making it more difficult for ships to pass through Gatun Locks.
All in all, Miraflores is most definitely an important stop along the Panama Canal and will leave you with a greater understanding of why the Panama Canal has been referred to as The World’s 8th Man-Made Wonder of the World! If you are staying in Panama, we recommend the guided Panama City & Canal Tour which visits the locks as well as a few other points of interest in Panama City. That is the best deal in Panama City. If coming on a cruise ship and short on time, we have the Miraflores Locks Express tour that takes you directly to the locks, or go on your own with the Panama’s Hop On Hop Off tour.
Want a little taste of what you will see first-hand? Check out the ships passing through the Miraflores Locks on their Live Cam.
Agua Clara Visitor Center
On the Atlantic side of the canal near Colon city, you’ll find another important point of interest on the Panama Canal, the Panama Canal Expansion & the Agua Clara Locks. Inaugurated June 26, 2016, the Agua Clara Locks are the newest locks along the Panama Canal and allow for the largest ships to pass through. In fact, the Panama Canal expansion project nearly doubled the size of the ships that can navigate the canal.
The Agua Clara Visitor Center is the perfect place to learn all about the expansion project. Agua Clara Visitor Center boasts an exceptional panoramic view of Lake Gatun on one side and the newly expanded Agua Clara Locks on the Atlantic side. Every day various cargo ships and other vessels transit through the canal, adding up to 15,000 ships annually!
After you’ve gotten your fill of the spectacular view, make your way down to the Projection Room to learn about the history, process and future plans for the canal. Then walk through the gorgeous ecological path and admire diverse species of flora and fauna native to the region that are so important to maintaining the watershed. Traveling with the family? There is also a dedicated children’s play area for little ones to have some fun and get out the wiggles too.
Visiting Hours: Daily 8am to 4pm. You will want to arrive a minimum of one hour prior to closing to ensure you have enough time to get through most of the exhibits.
Entrance Fee For Non Residents: $15 adults, $10 Children ages 6 to 12, children under 6 are free.
Additional Amenities: Just like Miraflores Locks, Agua Clara has a snack bar and gift shop open during visiting hours for basic needs. In addition, there is a full service restaurant with a spectacular view open from 12pm to 4pm.
If you have already been to Miraflores Locks and are looking for something new and different, Agua Clara is definitely worth checking out. Coming to Colon on a cruise ship? Those arriving on the Atlantic side are just a hop skip and a jump away. Beat the crowds and let us help you set up a private tour to the Agua Clara Locks. Since you missed the construction of the canal, you can still check out this collection of videos from various stages of construction.
The Amador Causeway
One of the most visited points of interest along the Panama Canal is the Amador Causeway. The causeway was originally built back in 1913 using debris and rocks that were excavated from the Culebra Cut. Named after the first president of Panama, the Amador Causeway extends over 6 kilometers into the Pacific Ocean where the canal meets the Pacific. The jetty of rocks connects Panama City with four man-made islands, Naos, Perico, Culebra and Flamenco. Fuerte Amador was a US Military fort made to protect the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.
The Amador Causeway was once an important part of the US Military, but now it is probably best known for it’s spectacular views of the Panama City skyline. As one of the most popular destinations in Panama, the Amador Causeway is not to be missed while on vacation in Panama. There is no shortage of things to do while visiting The Amador Causeway. A casual stroll along the boardwalk is the perfect way to spend some time with friends or family while admiring an extraordinary view of the city and the cargo ships entering the canal. This booming boardwalk is home to traditional and international food restaurants to satisfy any hunger craving. Biking the Amador Causeway has also grown in popularity ever since the expansion of the Cinta Costera that links a bike path from the heart of Panama City to the Amador Causeway.
There are also a few points of interest worth visiting on the Amador Causeway as well. First off is the hard to miss colorful & contemporary architecture of the BioMuseo. Designed by Frank Ghery (Guggenheim Museum), this colorful attraction celebrates the natural history of Panama. Admission is currently $18 for adults & $11 for kids ages 5 to 17. Keep in mind they are closed on Mondays. The Hop On Hop Off bus tour has a stop there, and most city tours stop off for at least a photo op.
Another of point of interest on the Amador Causeway is the Punta Culebra Nature Center. A leftover of the military base, the center is run by the Smithsonian Research Institute. This is one of our favorite activities for families. It is a hands on science center revolving around nature found on the Isthmus of Panama. Admission here is much cheaper at only $7 per adult and $1 per child. Keep in mind it is also closed Mondays. Hours of operation are staggered, we suggest taking a look at their website prior to visiting. A stop at the Punta Culebra Nature center is part of our Panama City & Canal tour as well.
Needless to say, there are a million different reasons that Amador Causeway is one of the best points of interest on the Panama Canal. Don’t just take our word for it, let this video inspire you.
The Panama Canal Administration Building
Considering the logistics of the entire world looking to pass through the canal, it is no wonder the Panama Canal needed a control center. In 1912, Chief Engineer George W. Goethals set out to create a centralized Panama Canal administration center. The Panama Canal Administration Building officially opened its doors on July 15, 1914, exactly a month before the official opening of the canal. The Panama Canal Administration building sits high atop a hill in Balboa Heights overlooking the canal and is an icon in Panamanian history.
Designed in an ‘E’ shape to maximize natural lighting efficiency, astounding murals embellish the cupola. In fact, the murals are the highlight for most tourists. They were painted by the renowned artist William B Van Ingen, the very same New Yorker who painted murals in the Philadelphia Mint & the US Library of Congress. There are 4 panels depicting the building of the canal: excavation of the Gaillard Cut, construction of the Gatun Dam, construction of the Miraflores Locks, and finally construction of one of the lock gates. Paired with marble columns and flooring, this building is an architectural masterpiece that leaves visitors breathless. Certainly a spectacular point of interest along the canal, the Panama Canal Administration Building is a must-see during your visit to Panama!
Goethals Memorial
While you are visiting the Canal Administration building, don’t forget to stop for a moment and appreciate Goethals Memorial located at the base of the rolling green lawns in front of the building. If you visit any of the above listed museums or read up about the challenges of building the canal, then you will truly appreciate why this memorial was constructed.
Renowned for overseeing the construction of the Panama Canal, George Washington Goethals was an American civil engineer and army officer. In March of 1934, the monument in his name was raised to honor the perseverance it took to complete the canal. The monument itself is an impressive white marble conception that is definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area. Paying the monument a visit is the perfect way to appreciate the work and dedication that it took to create what is now one of the Wonders of the Modern World.
Monument to the Martyrs of January 9th
This beautiful monument was built in memory of the 21 Panamanian students who lost their lives during a riot on January 9th of 1964. During that time, the Panama Canal was considered US territory. Needless to say, conflict was bound to arise at some point. A struggle for recognition sovereignty and the raising of the Panamanian flag on in the Canal Zone resulted in massive protests with over 30,000 people.
What was once Balboa High School, is now known as the Ascanio Arosemena Training Center. Here you can find the stunning monument dedicated to the students who are now regarded as heroic citizens in Panama’s History. Ascanio Arosomena was actually the first casualty as he was trying to help rescued other injured students. Comprised of 21 pillars, one for each martyr, and surrounded by two pools symbolizing the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, the memorial is definitely worth a stop as you explore the Panama Canal Zone. The monument to the martyrs of January 9th is a powerful testament to the pride and unity of the people during this tumultuous time in Panamanian history.
There is a lot more to learn about this part of Panama’s History in the Canal Zone. If you would like to know more, this link has a ton of resources to review from both sides of the conflict.
Interoceanic Canal Museum (aka Panama Canal Museum)
Located in the heart of Casco Viejo, the Interoceanic Canal Museum is dedicated completely to sharing the history of the construction of the Panama Canal. The building was originally constructed in 1874 as the Grand Hotel before it was bought and became the main center of operations for first the French and later American groups who took part in the elaboration of the canal.
A beautiful building from The Grand Hotel building was renovated then established as the Interoceanic Canal Museum in 1997. The museum is made of eleven exhibition rooms. Tours of the museum room by room are narrated by an audio guide ($5) to give you an in-depth look at the history of one of the most extraordinary engineering feats of all time. The museum is also often host to a great variety of different temporary guest exhibitions.
Visiting Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays 9am to 5pm. You will want to arrive a minimum of one hour prior to closing to ensure you have enough time to get through most of the exhibits. Closed Mondays.
Entrance Fee For Non Residents: $10 adults, $5 Children ages 5 and up, children under 5 are free.
Additional Amenities: This museum also has a lot of rotating exhibits. If you have gone in years past, it is worth checking out the latest exhibition.
The history of the museum building itself is truly fascinating. For more information you can check out the museum’s website.
While in the neighborhood of Casco Viejo, be sure to stop by Plaza Franzia & the monument to the French who originally began excavation & construction of the Panama Canal.
Let Us Help You Find The Perfect Panama Canal Tour
Not only is the Canal an important part of Panamanian history, but it’s also an unforgettable place to visit. Private, public, brief or in-depth, we would love to assist you in finding the perfect Panama Canal tour!
This is just a list of the main Panama canal points of interest, but there are so many other things to do in Panama you need to plan ahead to fit them all in. Panama has a fascinating history and visiting Panama Museums and Canal Visitor Centers will open your eyes to what an amazing nation Panama has evolved into.