Colonial Panama & Miraflores
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Port
Colon, Panama
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$124.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 6¾ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Air-conditioned transportation takes you 90 minutes across the Panamanian isthmus to the colonial area of Panama City.
Head up the coastline to the UNESCO World Heritage Site El Casco Antiguo — Colonial Panama City. You will learn about the piracy that was rampant here in the old days and forms an integral part of this area's history. On a leisurely 45-minute walk, you'll appreciate the distinctive architecture here, influenced by an interesting blend of French, Spanish and Italian styles.
An extra 30 minutes of free time allows you to explore on your own in Casco Antiguo.
Continue to the Miraflores Locks — part of the engineering marvel that makes up the Panama Canal. The Miraflores Locks Observation Center offers a close-up view of ships passing through the locks. Within the IMAX Theater, you'll take a virtual trip through this Wonder of the World with the movie A Land Divided, A World United. The film sweeps from the days when Conquistadors struggled through a water-soaked quagmire, to the 19th-century French canal-digging debacle, to the American engineering achievement that revolutionized shipping and tropical medicine. It is also about the visionary present, documenting efforts by Panama to expand the 100-year-old waterway to accommodate post-Panamax ships. Enjoy a close-up view of the passing ships and functioning of the locks from the top floor of the center. The lock gates at Miraflores are the tallest of the three because of the extreme tidal variation in the Pacific Ocean. In contrast, the tidal variation on the Atlantic coast is minimal. As many as three vessels can make the transit simultaneously, and it takes only about ten minutes for the transit to be completed. The water enters and leaves the locks solely by gravity, as there are no pumps or other devices to assist in this process.
En route back to the ship, you'll pass the former Canal Zone, where abandoned American military installations are a reminder of the area's strategic importance, and pause for arts and crafts shopping at Fort Amador.
Notes:
Depending on canal scheduling, you may or may not actually see vessels in the lock chambers. Terrain includes cobblestones and uneven surfaces. Expect some wait time. Tour sequence may vary. A light snack is provided.