Interesting facts:
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In order for a boat to pass through the canal, a Panama Canal Pilot must be on board as the Captain, guiding the vessel during entire duration.
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It takes an average of 8-10 hours to sail through the canal, but it can take longer for bigger ships and other factors (weather, lighting, etc), even up to 14-19 hours.
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The same Pilot or Pilots must remain on the vessel until it completes its trip through the canal.
Tips for a visit:
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It is recommended to visit the Canal in the early morning or late evening for less crowds and to see boats making their way through the locks.
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The canal boat traffic changes direction mid-day, and during that transition, there are not many boats passing through.
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There is a restaurant at the Miraflores Locks on the canal. Although a little pricey in my opinion, it does have great window and outdoor seating area if you wish to experience the ships passing through the locks in this manner.
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There is a 3D video in the canal’s IMAX Theater that lasts approximately 45 minutes and costs $10/person that is WORTH IT!! Great history and information; a native to Panama City described it to us as “a movie that makes us feel proud to be Panamanian.” Is there a better testimony then that?
Here is some footage from our visit to the Panama Canal. It’s incredible how little room for error there is due to the size of the ships passing through. See how much space there is between the large ships and the canal walls?
