NORTHBOUND DESCRIPTION:

The Partial Panama Canal Transit starts with an early morning pick-up at your hotel in Panama City by your driver for a 15-minute drive to Flamenco Marina on Causeway Amador. Here, our tour outfitter welcomes you for embarkation on its comfortable passenger ferry. You will first sail under the Bridge of the Americas, which rises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites the land divided during the construction of the canal, forming another link in the Pan-American Highway. Northbound on the Panama Canal, the first stop is at Miraflores Locks, which are the tallest in the locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. The boat will be raised 17 meters above sea level in two steps to enter Miraflores Lake, which is almost 2 kilometers long. A transition from salt water in the Pacific Ocean to freshwater in the lock chambers and lake takes place here. Next, the ship is raised in one step, this time an additional 9 meters, at the Pedro Miguel locks. At this point, the ship will be sailing in 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, and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate 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 the unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax vessels, the largest ships that fit in the Panama Canal locks. The Gaillard Cut opens up into Gatun Lake, where the Chagres River flows into the waterway near the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's Dredging Division, where we disembark. From there, you will be transferred to Flamenco Island, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.

SOUTHBOUND DESCRIPTION:

This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel by your driver for a short transfer to the Amador Marina, where our tour outfitter will welcome you. From there, you will take a 45-minute coach bus ride to the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's Dredging Division, where you board a comfortable passenger ferry. At this point, the boat will be sailing in Gatun Lake at 26 meters above sea level, which is part of the Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer-long portion of the waterway was carved through rock and shale, and it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide. The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate 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 the unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax vessels, the largest ships that fit in the Panama Canal locks. Southbound on the Panama Canal, the first lock set that you pass today are the Pedro Miguel locks, where the ship is lowered 9 meters. While enjoying your lunch on board, you will pass through Miraflores Locks, which are the tallest in the locks system due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific Ocean. In two steps, the boat will be lowered from 17 meters above sea level to sea level in the almost 2-kilometer-long lock set. Here, a transition from fresh water in the lake and lock chambers to salt water in the Pacific Ocean takes place. Before leaving the Panama Canal and entering the Pacific Ocean, you will sail under the Bridge of the Americas, which rises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites the land divided during the construction of the canal, forming another link in the Pan-American Highway. You will disembark the ferry at Causeway Amador, from where your Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver will take you back to your hotel.

Departure Dates:

*NORTHBOUND TRANSIT
**Combined with the Ocean-to-Ocean Transit. Partial Canal Transit passengers get off the boat at Gamboa.