Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Transit
Passengers aboard a ship crossing the Panama Canal will have the opportunity to experience one of the modern wonders of the world in operation. On August 15, 1914 the SS Ancon made the first official ocean to ocean transit through the Panama Canal. This event, that soon proved to have changed the world forever, was possible thanks to the labor of more than 75,000 men and women who worked for 10 years facing unprecedented challenges. Since 1914, more than 900,000 vessels have transited through the waterway bringing commerce, cultures and people from all corners of the world closer together.
The Panama Canal is 80 kilometers long from deep water in the Pacific Ocean to deep water in the Caribbean Sea. It was cut through the lowest and one of the narrowest saddles of the long mountainous Isthmus that joins North and South America. The original elevation was 95 meters above sea level where it crosses the Continental Divide.
Full Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Transit
2009 Departure Dates: January 3, 17 & 29 // February 7 & 21 // March 7 & 21 // April 4 & 18 // May 2 // June 6 & 20 // July 4 & 18 // August 1 & 15 // September 5 & 19 // October 3 & 17 // November 7 & 21 // December 5 & 19.
2010 Departure Dates: Jan 2, 16 // Feb 6, 20 // Mar 6, 20 // Apr 3, 17 // May 1, 15 // Jun 5, 19//
Jul 3, 17 // Aug 7, 21 // Sep 4, 18 // Oct 2, 16 // Nov 6, 20 // Dec 4, 18
Panama Canal partial transit Departure Dates:
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in January, February and March. Every Saturday all year long. Click here for information on the Partial Transits.
2009-2101 Rates: $230 per person for Full Panama Canal Transit. Includes transfers to/from hotel.
Partial Panama Canal Transit is $175 per person. Includes transfers to/from hotel in Panama City.
Minimum of 1 person required for the tour. Prices quoted through November 30, 2009 but subject to change without notice.
ITINERARY FOR FULL OCEAN TO OCEAN TRANSIT OF THE PANAMA CANAL:
The Panama Canal tour starts with an early morning pick up (usually at 6:30 a.m.) at your hotel in Panama City for a 15 minute drive to the Amador Causeway, Balboa, on the Pacific side of the canal, where you will board the transit ship. You will first sail under the bridge of the Americas, which raises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites the land divided during construction of the canal forming another link in the Pan-American Highway. Breakfast is available buffet style.
The Panama Canal is 80 kilometers long from deep waters in the Pacific Ocean to deep waters in the Caribbean Sea. It was cut through the lowest and one of the narrowest saddles of the long mountainous Isthmus that joins North and South America. The original elevation was 95 meters above sea level where it crosses the Continental Divide.
Northbound on the Panama Canal, the first stop is at Miraflores locks. Due to the Pacific Ocean’s extreme tidal variations, Miraflores locks miter gates are the tallest of the canal’s locks system. In two steps, the vessel will be lifted 16.6 meters onto the 2-kilometer long Miraflores Lake in a transition from salt water to fresh water. Next the ship is raised in one step, this time an additional 9.4 meters, at the Pedro Miguel locks. At this point the ship will be sailing in Gatun lake at 26 meters above sea level and entering Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long portion of the waterway was carved through rock and shale and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate to the demands of today's transit needs, the Panama Canal Authority recently completed the monumental task of widening the Cut to 192 meters in straight sections and up to 222 meters in curves. 
This allows for unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax vessels, the largest ships that fit in the Panama Canal locks. Gaillard Cut opens up into Gatun Lake where the Chagres River flows into the waterway near the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's Dredging Division. The Chagres River has the distinction of being the only river in the world that flows into two oceans and it is the main source of fresh water which guarantees the operation of the waterway.
Lunch is served buffet style, while while you enjoy views of the giant cranes and dredging equipment near Gamboa, ships traveling southbound carrying cargo or passengers and the islands that dot Gatun Lake.
Panama is currently undertaking the monumental task of expanding the Panama Canal. The US$5.25 billion grand-scale project contemplates building of even larger locks and deepening the channel to accommodate post-Panamax ships, the largest of all cargo ships that now have to bypass this waterway. The project is estimated to be completed by 2015. You will have the opportunity to look at the advancement of this extraordinary engineering venture.
Half way through the voyage in Gatun Lake you will pass by Barro Colorado Island where the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has been carrying out research on rainforest biodiversity since soon after this area was flooded and the lake was formed. Gatun Lake covers an area of 423 square kilometers and the islands in it are actually the tops of hills and mountains that were not flooded. Gatun Lake was once the largest man-made lake in the world. Just before reaching the Gatun locks on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal you will see Gatun Dam. The locks at Gatun will lower the ship 26 meters to sea level in three steps and the ship will continue along a channel to the Port of Cristobal.
You will disembark in Cristobal and board a coach bus that will take you back to Balboa on an hour and a half comfortable ride. In Balboa your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.
Note: Actual timing of each transit is scheduled by the Panama Canal Commission 24 hours in advance and times of departure and arrival may vary. Occasionally, the Canal transit is run in reverse, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Partial Panama Canal Transits are offered on all Saturdays
and every Thursday and Friday in January, February and March.
PARTIAL PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT ITINERARY:
The Panama Canal partial tour starts with an early morning pick up at our hotel in Panama City for a 15 minute drive to the Port of Balboa in the Pacific side of the canal, where we board a comfortable passenger ferry. We will first sail under the bridge of the Americas, which raises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites the land divided during construction of the canal forming another link in the Pan-American Highway. Breakfast is available buffet style.
Northbound on the Panama Canal, the first stop is at Miraflores locks, which are the tallest in the locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. The boat will be raised 17 meters above sea level in two steps to enter Miraflores Lake which is almost 2 kilometers long. A transition from salt water in the Pacific Ocean to fresh water in the locks chambers and lake take place here. Next the ship is raised in one step, this time an additional 9 meters, at the Pedro Miguel locks. At this point the ship will be sailing in Gatun lake at 26 meters above sea level and entering Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long portion of the waterway was carved through rock and shale and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate to the demands of today's transit needs, the Panama Canal Authority recently completed the monumental task of widening the Cut to 192 meters in straight sections and up to 222 meters in curves. This allows for unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax vessels, the largest ships that fit in the Panama Canal locks. The Gaillard Cut opens up into Gatun Lake where the Chagres River flows into the waterway near the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's Dredging Division, where we disembark. From here we are transferred to Balboa where our Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver will be waiting to take us back to our hotel.
**In some instances the tour may be offered in reverse, starting in Gamboa. In such cases the tour will start later in the morning, it will not include breakfast, but it will include lunch aboard**
WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, camera, cap or hat, sunscreen lotion, light clothing, light raincoat, tennis shoes or sandals. Cash in small denominations is suggested if interested in purchasing souvenirs and beer.
WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, camera, cap or hat, sunscreen lotion, light clothing, light raincoat, tennis shoes or sandals. Cash in small denominations is suggested if interested in purchasing souvenirs and beer.