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Panama Vacation - Day 3 Itinerary

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Panama is well known for the Canal and many visitors would like to see more than just the locks. Some take a partial or full canal transit. You can travel to Amador causeway on the pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and from there you head to Balboa to the Administration building of the Panama Canal. You will then travel along the railroad passing by former military bases Albrook Airfield and Fort Clayton before arriving at the first set of locks. You may see vessels as they transit through Miraflores Locks. There is an exceptional viewing Center that will help you understand this engineering marvel. After about 2 hours you then head north passing Pedro Miguel Locks, the smallest of all three locks to Gamboa. Gamboa, which is in the center of the 55,000-acre Soberania Park, on the banks of the Rio Chagres. Unlike most visitors who only peer at the canal from the locks, you can take a fast boat through the Panama Canal and through Gatun Lake. You can navigate your way up the waterway passing jungle islands and vessels making your way to Gatun Locks.

The Waterway Orientation Service, operated by the Panama Canal Commission, welcomes visitors at the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side of the Isthmus. A special spectator area provides a vantage point for viewing transiting ships. At the visitors center, a topographical model and pictures provide you with more information about the operation of the Canal. Bilingual guides are also available with all the details, information and statistics of the Canal.

At the Gatun Locks, on the Atlantic side, there is also a pavilion but no guides are available. Other places of historical interest around the Canal on the Pacific are Stevens Circle, the port of Balboa, the Crafts Plaza in front of the Balboa Theater, the Administration Building with its beautiful high dome ceiling and mural paintings depicting the digging of Gaillard Cut at Gold Hill and the Summit Botanical Garden where these is an interesting display of animals found in the surrounding rainforest, and trees and plants are identified with small signs. The garden also offers picnic and playground areas.

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