¡Bienvenidos al Canal de Panamá!

Let's start with a few facts about the canal:

• There are approximately 144 routes that transit through it in order to reach 1,700 ports in 160+ different countries!
• It operates 24 x 7.
• The canal possesses 3 sets of locks; two (Miraflores and Pedro Miguel) in the Pacific, and one (Gatún) in the Atlantic.
  • The locks work on the principle of gravity. From the Atlantic, a vessel is raised to the level of the Gatún Lake at 26 m. above sea level.
• The canal extends 80 km. and it make take a vessel from 8 to 10 hours to transit through it.
• Approximately, 35 to 40 vessels transit per day.

From the visitor's center at the Miraflores Lock, you can easily watch a vessel transit through it ... and perhaps, hear a few insightful facts!

... and if you were lucky enough to be on a cruise or any other vessel transiting through the Panamá Canal, this is what you would be able to experience as you exit through the last two locks heading to the Pacific Ocean.