Panama City, Panama, December 18, 2013 – Coinciding with its centennial countdown, the Panama Canal is highlighted as one of the best tourist destinations for 2014.
CNN International has included the Panama Canal on its list of 11 places to go in 2014. The list highlights a series of destinations not to miss in 2014 and Panama is second on the list right after Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.
Celebrating its 100 years in 2014, the Panama Canal offers visitors several options to discover this engineering marvel and live the Panama Canal experience during its centennial.
Miraflores Visitor Center (Pacific)
From Miraflores Visitor Center, visitors are able to learn about the past, present and future of this marvel of modern engineering that besides connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, has been uniting the world since 1914.
Visitors are able to enjoy ship transits from the roofed terrace with panoramic view and see in detail Panama Canal operations. The center features a theater, showing a 3D movie, four exhibition halls, two snack bars, a restaurant with panoramic view and a gift shop.
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday (holidays included) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Restaurant is open until 11 p.m.
Expansion Observation Center (Atlantic)
From the Expansion Observation Center visitors are able to witness the next 100 years of the Panama Canal in the making by observing the construction of the new locks of the waterway, one of the largest infrastructure projects of the early 21st century.
Immersed in a tropical forest and from an unrivaled viewpoint (50 meters above the Panama Canal), visitors may enjoy two views of the waterway: Gatun Lake and a first-hand look of the Expansion construction site.
In the center, visitors are able to discover Panama’s wildlife in the ecological trail and see a movie explaining the Expansion Program. Amenities include a restaurant overlooking Gatun Lake, a cafeteria, a children’s playground and a gift shop.
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday (holidays included) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Gatun Visitor Center (Atlantic)
Just a few kilometers away from the Expansion Visitor Center, Gatun Visitor Center, offers the opportunity to discover the longest locks complex of the waterway.
With an observation deck right in the middle of the action, visitors are able to see the all types of vessels, ranging from cruise ships to container vessels, as well as picturesque sailboats with adventurers navigating around the world.
The Gatun Visitor Center also has a souvenir shop.
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday (holidays included) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors are invited to go to the website VisitCanaldePanama.com to discover more about these centers as well as other points of interest of the Panama Canal experience or call +507 276-8325 for additional information.
About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. Please refer to the ACP’s website: http://www.pancanal.com/ or follow us on Twitter @thepanamacanal.
