The Panama Canal

Panama's biggest attraction and most famous landmark, the Panama Canal stretches 80 km (50 mi) from the edge of Panama City to the Caribbean port of Colón, and a paved road follows its route between the islands of the Amador Causeway and the inland port of Gamboa. The most interesting spot for viewing the canal is the visitor center at the Miraflores Locks. North of Miraflores the road to Gamboa heads inland but still passes a couple of spots with canal vistas, namely the Pedro Miguel Locks and the one-way bridge over the Chagres River. The bridge (and Gamboa in general) offers front-row views of the big ships as they pass though the canal; it's one of the waterway's narrowest spots. The Panama Canal Railway train to Colón continues north from Gamboa past other vantage points, which is much of that trip's draw. Two other spots with impressive views are the monument erected by the country's Chinese community on the Bridge of the Americas'' western side, and the Esclusas de Gatún (Gatún Locks), 10 km (6 mi) south of Colón. But nothing matches the experience of getting out onto the water, which can be done on a canal transit tour or on a nature tour or fishing trip on Gatún Lake.