Visit the Panama Canal

Watch giant cargo ships narrowly squeeze through the locks of the world-famous canal linking the two sides of the Americas – an astounding feat of engineering.

The Panama Canal opened in 1914, but as a feat of engineering it's no less impressive today than it was when it transformed intercontinental trade routes a century ago.

Allowing passage between the Pacific and the Caribbean, the canal cuts through the narrowest point of the Central American isthmus – a mere 77km that spares ships the 15,000km voyage around Cape Horn. Little wonder then that the Canal Zone, owned until 1999 by the US, not only made a monumental impact on the world economy but also became a meeting point for goods, people and ideas from all corners of the globe.

Whether it's the historical perspective, the extraordinary human achievement or simply the sheer spectacle of watching gargantuan cargo ships slide through the locks that interests you, you'll be surprised at what an astonishing experience it is to see the Panama Canal in action. We'll take you on a guided tour of Miraflores Locks, where you can see water levels rise and fall with remarkable efficiency and huge vessels squeeze through the channel with barely 60cm of clearance on either side. There's also an excellent visitors' centre presenting the history of the canal's construction and explaining its modern economic context.