Panama Canal & the Pacific Coast

Discover Panama City and the UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo during a guided walking excursion through the capital. Enjoy the sights of Colón during a 90-minute drive across the isthmus to the gleaming waterfront of Panama City. Lined with modern glass skyscrapers that stand in contrast to the pastel facades of Casco Viejo (Old Town), it is considered one of the most striking urban coastlines in Latin America. Explore the sights of the city before continuing to Casco Viejo to discover this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanied by your guide, stroll the old cobblestone lanes and view the pastel-colored colonial buildings and the stately cathedral. Later, you will have free time to explore more on your own; along with its antique charm, the Casco offers some of the city’s most stylish hotels, bars and boutiques. After, return to your awaiting ship.

Meet the keepers of the Panamanian rain forest, the Emberá tribe, who share their vivid culture warmly and openly. Travel by motor coach to the Chagres National Park, and then onward by traditional dugout canoes to the Emberá Village, where you will be welcomed by the Chief and treated to some ceremonial dancing. The Emberá are one of seven indigenous Panamanian groups, living much as they did in pre-Columbian times. Most Emberá live in round huts on stilts with extended family; peek inside and share a typical lunch of fish and plantains. The Emberá wear little clothing, but paint elaborate patterns on their bodies using the black dye of the jagua plant. You might even be invited to have one of these temporary tattoos painted on your skin. You will also have the chance to see Emberá craftspeople at work and buy perfectly coiled baskets, bright uhuasarongs, instruments, or jewelry.

Witness the engineering ingenuity of the Panama Canal and the precision of the Miraflores locks in action. Since opening more than 100 years ago, over a million vessels have traveled through the famous waterway, connecting culture and commerce from around the world. The locks were one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken when they opened in 1914. No other concrete construction of comparable size was carried out until the Hoover Dam. At the Miraflores Visitor Center, watch an IMAX movie about the canal and see the Miraflores locks from a unique perspective while visiting the operational area with a private guide from the Panama Canal Authority. After lunch, visit the Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center to learn more about this engineering marvel and the massive Panama Canal Expansion Project, which doubled the waterway’s capacity when completed in June 2016.

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the lush Gamboa rainforest on board an open-air aerial tram. Panama’s tropical rainforest is one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. You will experience nature up close as your tram climbs from the forest floor, through the dense undergrowth, up to the sun-drenched canopy approximately 280 feet above the ground. Via an audio guide, listen to a description of the tropical plants and local wildlife as you travel through the treetops. Keep watch for the colorful birds and butterflies, white-faced capuchin monkeys and sloths that call the jungle home. Climb the stairs to the top of the Gamboa Observation Tower, where you will enjoy phenomenal views of the Chagres River, Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal. Back on the ground, you may even hear the distant call of howler monkeys as you enjoy a light refreshment prior to returning to port.

Experience one of history’s greatest feats of engineering during a ferry ride through the Panama Canal. Started by the French and completed by the US, construction of this artificial waterway took 33 years and cost the lives of tens of thousands of workers. Today, more than 13,000 ships pass through it annually. Take a scenic drive through the lush rain forest to the small village of Gamboa, located at the confluence of the Chagres River and the canal. Embark on a ferry cruise down the canal, passing through the Culebra Cut—an artificial valley cut from solid rock that crosses the Continental Divide—en route to the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks. Watch as these engineering marvels work to lower your vessel down to the height of the Pacific Ocean. Your cruise will end at the port of Balboa, from which you will transfer to your awaiting ship.

Discover expansive rain forest jungle during an invigorating boat ride through the Panama Canal. Speed through the heart of this manmade wonder, one of the most difficult engineering projects in human history. Your vessel will reduce its speed as you reach your destination, Gatun Lake—a large artificial lake created when the Gatun Dam was built during the early 20th century. Its verdant islands and surrounding waters are habitats for an array of flora and fauna. Your trained naturalist guide will talk about this delicate ecosystem and point out wildlife. Sail past stumps of mahogany trees peeking out above water teeming with fish, caimans, crocodiles and turtles. Keep watch for capuchin and howler monkeys cavorting above you in the trees. The jungle is also home to three-toed sloths, butterflies and many species of birds, such as toucans. At the end of your tour, you will transfer back to your ship.

Explore the waters of Gatun Lake on an eco-cruise, then revel in human ingenuity at the Panama Canal locks. Transfer to the Rainforest Lodge and Marina, where you will board your catamaran-style boat for a cruise on Gatun Lake—a large, man-made freshwater lake created when the Gatun Dam was built during the early 20th century. Its jungle-covered islands and the surrounding waters are home to numerous flora and fauna. Your knowledgeable guide will offer insight into this delicate ecosystem and point out wildlife. Sail past the stumps of old mahogany trees that stick out above the water and keep watch for capuchin and howler monkeys jumping through the trees; you may also see exotic birds, sloths and crocodiles in their natural surroundings. Afterward, continue to the Agua Clara Visitor Center for panoramic views of the Panama Canal and an opportunity to see the locks operate.

Discover Panama from a different perspective at the BEC Experience Center and explore Casco Antiguo on your own. Journey by motor coach to Panama City to visit this modern cultural attraction, nestled in the historic heart of the city, Casco Antiguo. The BEC Experience Center offers immersive experiences that invite guests to experience Panama through the senses. On arrival, explore on your own and learn about Panamanian treats, including Boquete’s world-famous coffee, chocolate crafted from local cacao, and Balboa beer, a national favorite. Savor a curated selection of coffee during a private tasting, then continue to a local restaurant for lunch. Cap your day with free time to stroll through Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to landmarks including the Plaza Mayor, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Theatre. After, return via coach to your awaiting ship.