Balboa
This port on Panama’s Pacific coast affords you the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal landside, and see how it operates at Miraflores Locks or explore the magnificent rainforest in the nearby national park. Enjoy the lush foliage, watch for exotic birds or hike along a forest’s nature path.
Chiriqui Lagoon
This marine park is a group of islands that are located at Almirante Bay in the province of Bocas del Toro (its name was given after Christopher Columbus who discover America) and the Chiriqui Lagoon. It has a surface of 13,226 hectares. This is one of a few protected areas of Latin America that preserve, simultaneously, the wildlife and habitat of beaches, coral reef and mangroves.
Coiba Island
The islands off the coast of Panama offer some of the finest snorkeling, birding and deep-sea fishing in the world. Coiba is among the most pristine. Immerse yourself in this naturalist's paradise near the Coiba Island National Park.
Colon
There's more to Panama than the canal. Panama's ethnic mix is reflected in its arts. This is a proud nation that honors its many Indian tribes and its rich Spanish legacy. You can shop for traditional arts, such as wood carvings and ceramics, tour an Embera Indian village or take part in a peaceful kayaking trip. One thing is sure - once you've embraced Panama, you'll find it hard to leave.
Cristobal Pier
Located in the city of Colón, Panama, Cristobal Pier is best known as a stop on the Panama Canal. But it also offers visitors a wide range of attractions, including access to both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. In fact, it is one of the few places where you could actually go swimming in both bodies of water in the same day. Colón was established in 1850 by Americans building the Transcontinental Railroad. Today it serves as a popular stopping point for people using the modern successor to that important link between oceans.
Fuerte Amador
This recently developed port with its modern shopping plazas is just next door to Panama City, once a vital link along the Golden Main. In 1671, it was ransacked and destroyed by the Welsh buccaneer Henry Morgan and a new colonial city was built: Casco Antiguo, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit both old and new, and shop for duty-free bargains including the famous molas hand-woven by the Cuna Indians of San Blas.
Gamboa
Pause at mid-way in your transit of the Canal to visit the luxury Gamboa Rain Forest Resort, located in a national reserve. Here you can sail through the forest canopy on a tram, be tickled by butterflies, thrilled by captive snakes, swim in a huge two-deck pool, walk the nature trail and witness native dances of the Embera tribe.
Gatun Lake
Essential to controlling the water level for the locks of the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake was created at the time the canal was built. It's held in place by a massive earthen dam, and is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world at 23.5 miles long.
Limon Bay
At the mouth of the Panama Canal, Limon Bay is the scene of a festive, sunset deck party.
Panama Canal
The unique location of the Isthmus of Panama at Central America's narrowest point between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean provided the idea for creating a passageway between the two bodies of water. In 1880, the French made the first attempt to build a canal, but disease and financial problems defeated them. In 1903, Panama and the United States signed a treaty by which the United States agreed to take over the project. The following year, the U.S. purchased the rights and properties from the French Canal Company and construction began. The project took ten years to complete at a cost of about $387 million. Over 200 million cubic yards of material were removed during the construction; over half of it was excavated from Gaillard or Culebra Cut.
The official inauguration of the waterway took place on August 15, 1914, when the SS Ancon transited the canal. Since then, more than 825,000 vessels have transited the waterway, making it one of the busiest and most fascinating cruise ship destinations in the world. The construction of the canal has had far-reaching effects on the world's economic and commercial development. The principal trade routes using this waterway are from the East Coast of the U.S. to the Far East and the West Coast of South America and from Europe to the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada.
The Panama Canal was managed and operated by the United States until December 31, 1999.
Puerto Amador
Puerto Amador, situated at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal is a manmade peninsula extending out into the Pacific Ocean. This one-mile causeway connects four small islands. There are shops and restaurants on a large marina that provides a panoramic view of Panama City's impressive skyline and serves as the home for the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research.
A major cruise hub, this bustling port provides a great launching point for further exploration. From here, take in the sights of Panama City, the region's dynamic trade capital.
San Blas Islands
The San Blas Islands are situated off Panama"s northeast Caribbean coast. A stop in the islands provides a sharp contrast to what you"ve just seen, or will see, traversing the canal. While the canal is a monument to man"s determination to change the environment to meet his needs, the San Blas Islands showcase a society that was, and is, content to live in nature as it is. San Blas is inhabited by primitive Kuna Indians, who rule the islands as an autonomous province. The Kunas have tightly preserved their own language and cultural traditions over the centuries, despite influences from European colonies. The Kunas" economy is reliant upon its coconut and fishing industry, much of which is exported to Colombia. The Kuna women, adorned with necklaces and arm bracelets, are known for their intricately made stitchery, the so-called "molas", which are sold to visitors to the islands.
