Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a 77 km (48 mi) ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Normally, the average time of a vessel in Canal waters is about 24 hours, 8 to 12 hours of which are spent in transit through the Canal proper. The Canal operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and transiting vessels of all nations.

Visitors can access the attractions of Panama City and the Panama canal, as well as fine dining along the Amador Causeway and the chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as jogging, biking, rollerblading, or fishing, all with Panama City's skyline as backdrop. Other attractions include the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

Things to See and Do

* Panama City
* Miraflores locks
* Amador Causeway
* Casco Viejo - historic part of Panama City
* Pedro Miguel Locks

General information

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - Balboa, U.S. dollar (PAB, USD)
Language - Spanish
Population - 820,000 approx
Land Area - 77 km2 (length)
Electricity - 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT minus five hours
International Country Telephone Code - +507

Port Location - Cruise ships dock at the port of Balboa (near Panama City).

Travel Links - International flights to Panama arrive at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), which lies about 20 miles east of Panama City (from all countries) or David Airport (from Costa Rica in AirPanama).

There's only train service between Panama City and Colon. It's mostly a freight train, but it has a very nice passenger car. The train ride offers excellent views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rainforest.

Panama City has one of the most modern bus terminals in Latin America. The terminal is next to the Albrook airport (the domestic terminal) and it is very easy to find a bus here. All of the internatinal buses(tica bus too) start and end in this terminal.