Transit the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans

An amazing journey as your cruise ship is raised 26 metres to cross a Continent

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean at the narrowest point of Central America. Its 50 mile length was a massive construction, started by the French and finished by the Americans in 1914. Yellow fever and malaria plagued its builders in this area of rainforests and a wet and humid climate.

Once hoped to be a sea level canal connecting the oceans the Panama Canal now has 6 locks – the three Gatun locks on the Atlantic side rising ocean-going ships some 26 metres to the Gatun Lake. After the long Gaillard Cut through the centre of Panama the canal drops through the Pedro Miguel lock and the two Miraflores locks to the Pacific.

The canal is accessed at the Atlantic end from near Colon, exiting at Balboa near Panama City on the Pacific side. Not all cruise ships can traverse the canal – the “Panamax” ships are built to the maximum size the canal will take, and these can cruise from ports such as Fort Lauderdale via the Caribbean to the Pacific coast at San Francisco or Los Angeles.

Some ships do a ‘partial transit’, usually from the Atlantic side to the huge Gatun Lake above the locks – noted for its unspoilt wildlife island in the centre.

The alternative to the canal for larger cargo and cruise ships is a long cruise around Cape Horn at the tip of South America, and currently works are in progress to enlarge the canal so that bigger ships can use it.

Watching the locks on the live webcam is a fascinating experience – see the ‘mules’, the two ended locomotives used for pulling ships through the locks, and watch huge ships rising and falling as the locks are filled or emptied. Perhaps take a trip on the Panama Canal Railway which follows the line of the canal from ocean to ocean.

Blue Water Holidays offers a selection of cruises through the Panama Canal.

Live Panama Canal Webcams

Gatun Locks

Miraflores Locks

The webcams and the animation below are copyright of the Panama Canal Authority - www.pancanal.com

Nowadays a popular cruise accessed by the Panama Canal is around Costa Rica with its abundant and interesting wildlife. We offer sailing cruises, expedition cruises and luxury cruises to this amazing region.

See our
Costa Rica Cruises
for details of our sailing and small ship cruises exploring the inlets and islands around the coasts of Central America