Panama Canal Partial Transit

Package Overview

The Panama Canal Partial Transit offers you the opportunity to cruise through Pedro Miguel Locks and Miraflores Locks (two of the three lock sets of the Panama Canal), on a 250 passenger ferry. During low season from April through November the tour runs mostly on Fridays and Saturdays and during high season from December through March from Thursdays through Saturdays. The Panama Canal celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2014 and the Panama Canal expansion works, a monumental US$5.25 billion project, are due to be completed in 2015.

Inclusions

• Sightseeing
• Bilingual narrator on board, soft drinks and water, breakfast (only included on Northbound Transits), full lunch which includes various Panamanian dishes, transportation from/to your hotel in Panama City (please note that a $35 per person roundtrip surcharge based on 2+ persons must be added to day tours beginning and/or ending at Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Canopy Tower, Playa Bonita or hotels near Tocumen Airport)
• This morning you will be picked up at your hotel by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver for a short ride to the Flamenco Marina, in Amador, where you will transfer to our outfitter's coach bus for the 40 minute drive to the town of Gamboa, half way up the Panama Canal, where you will board the Panama Canal transit day cruiser.
• The journey begins where the Chagres River flows into Gatun Lake, 26 meters above sea level. Cruising southbound, the first highlight of the day will be crossing Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long portion of the waterway was carved through rock and shale between 1904 and 1914 and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters. 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 can currently fit in the Panama Canal locks. The majestic Centenario Bridge soars over Gaillard Cut.
• As the cruise continues you will reach the first set of locks that you will cross today. At Pedro Miguel locks the ship will be lowered 9 meters into Miraflores Lake. While you enjoy lunch on board, you will reach Miraflores Locks, which are the tallest in the canal's locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. In two steps, the ship will be lowered from 17 meters above sea level to sea level. The transition from fresh water from the lake and lock chambers to salt water in the Pacific Ocean takes place here.
• Before leaving the Panama Canal and entering the Pacific Ocean you will sail under the bridge of the Americas, which raises over 100 meters above sea level reuniting the land divided during the construction of the canal and forming a link on the Pan-American Highway. You will disembark at the Flamenco Marina where your driver will be waiting to bring you back to your hotel.
• (NORTHBOUND DESCRIPTION)
• This morning you will be picked up at your hotel by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver for a short ride to the Flamenco Marina, in Amador, where you will board the Panama Canal day cruiser. The journey begins on the Pacific Ocean heading north. You will cruise under the bridge of the Americas, which raises over 100 meters above sea level reuniting the land divided during construction of the canal forming a link on the Pan-American Highway.
• As the cruise continues you will reach the first set of locks that you will cross today. Miraflores locks, which are the tallest in the canal's locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean, will raise the ship 17 meters above sea level in two steps into Miraflores Lake. A transition from salt water in the Pacific Ocean to fresh water in the locks chambers and lake take place here. While you enjoy lunch on board, you will reach Pedro Miguel locks where the ship is raised 9 more meters. At this point the ship will be cruising on 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 between 1904 and 1914 and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters. 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 can currently fit in the Panama Canal locks. The majestic Centenario Bridge soars over Gaillard Cut.
• The Panama Canal opens up into Gatun Lake where the Chagres River, the main source of water used in the canal operation, flows into the waterway near the town of Gamboa where you will disembark. From here, you will ride 40 minutes on a coach bus back to Flamenco Marina where your driver will be waiting to bring you back to your hotel.

Price & Rates

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• P.O. Box 0832-1509 (WTC) Panama, Republic of Panama, PanamaPanama - 1509
• XXXXXX9415 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@anconexpeditions.com View Mail ID

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