Five Great Panama Canal Travel Attractions
The Panama Canal does more than link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Between a unique environment shaped by the canal, two coasts mere hours apart, and a history that combines indigenous, American and European influences, Panama’s unique mixture reaches its fullest expression around the Canal itself, but also makes itself known throughout the country. The watchword is diversity. Panama probably contains the most densely packed variety of environments, people, and visual attractions in the world. There are few places where you can visit two oceans in a day without ever getting on a plane. Here are five things that make Panama and the Panama Canal an unforgettable travel destination.
Miraflores Locks: The Miraflores Locks are the defining feature of the Panama Canal. They are used to raise and lower massive ships in transit from one ocean to the other. The locks are so essential to global shipping that vessels are built to fit the locks’ dimensions almost exactly – these are called the Panamax class. It really is amazing to watch titanic vessels clear the locks with extreme precision, leaving just a few inches of clearance on either side.
Fishing on Lake Gatun: Lake Gatun is an essential part of the canal system. It not only provides passage, but serves as a massive reservoir of water for lock operations. It’s a man-made wonder, dotted with islands that used to be hills, before damming and canal construction made the lake what it is today. But Gatun isn’t just pretty; it has some of the world’s finest fishing, including numerous peacock bass. It’s probably the only place in the world where you can fish at a lake while huge cruise ships drift by.
Fort San Lorenzo: Built in the late 16th Century, Fort San Lorenzo has a storied, bloody history. The fort was built by the Spanish, raided by Sir Francis Drake, captured by Henry Morgan in his bloody sack of Old Panama and used by the Spanish again as a fort and a prison, before finally falling to ruins. A tour of the area is practically mandatory, because you’d be hard-pressed to walk along the same trails as so many famous – and infamous – historical figures.
The Gamboa Rainforest: Gamboa used to be a bustling town, built up in the titanic effort to build the Panama Canal. Now it’s chiefly known for its nature resort, where tourists can explore the Panamanian rainforest from canopy level by aerial tram. The dense rainforest is filled with toucans, howler monkeys and hundreds of other species. This is one of the most practical opportunities to explore the rainforest ecology available.
Panama City: Begin or end your trip with Panama City, one of the most exciting cultural centers in the Americas. This unique cultural blend is very friendly to Americans – in fact, many Americans retire here. The US dollar is accepted currency and there’s always something to do by day or night. It’s not all about urban fun, however; visit the Metropolitan Park to see tapir, puma, alligators and other tropical species just minutes away.
Lori Snow
May 5th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Well, I don't know how much it would be, but the costs are a LOT cheaper in Peru. I had my C-section there. The doctors and nurses are more attentive to you. I know that just a doctor's visit is usually between 20 and 50 soles (7 and 15 dollars).
Also if you're just curious and want to know, for example, your glucose and cholesterol levels which cost 5 soles each ($1.50), you don't need to first go to the doctor, then get a doctor's referral, wait a week for results and all of that. (I got my results the next day, depending on which tests you ask for.) You just go straight to the lab people. You don't need prescriptions for things either. If you know what you want to get, you go to the pharmacy and get it that easily.
Some doctors probably would speak English there. Prices vary depending on which private clinic you go to.
May 5th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
hell thats f…. cool, me encanta!!!
May 5th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
the place where i live is the most beautiful city on earth miraflores or miraflowers (look at the flowers) even the name is pretty,so gay lol
May 5th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
sucre? that's an avenue…. i dont even know where you actually are, because sucre has many blocks, and there are two many combis, custers, and buses but not all of them go thru sucre, some buses you will be able to catch them close to sucre
however the best thing would be a taxi cab, they are not that expensive
May 5th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
In Miraflores, I do all these things now.
May 6th, 2010 at 12:13 am
You could take an airplane from Miraflores to Cusco. From here you should take the train to Agua Calientes which is a more touristic solution than a local service. From here you can decide weather to walk the Inca trail, which is gorgeous but takes more time, or hop on the bus to Macchu Picchu. I'll send you a link to a blog where the trip is described completely with pictures, for example of the train and more information on prices!
http://www.yukiba.com/782-machu-picchu-peru-south-america-trip.html
May 6th, 2010 at 8:26 am
this was sooo fun
May 6th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
yo viajare a peru – lima especificamente miraflores.. q lugares me recomiendas para visitar?
May 7th, 2010 at 3:09 am
Peru: un pais de esperanza, un pais de una voluntad inquebrantable, ese es mi pais.
May 7th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
well, there's a lot of ways to came to plaza san miguel. but it's like 15 minutes in car if you go by costa verde, an avenue near to the beach.
but if you go by the city it's like 30 minutes.
=D
May 8th, 2010 at 2:24 am
First of all Miraflores, Lima and Peru are very different places which you might be use to in America. If you expect to find a lot of similarities, then I would suggest to stay at home. If you are looking for a change and can adapt easily to a new environments and a new way of life, then proceed.
Miraflores is considered one of the nest districts in Lima. It houses most of Lima's 5 start hotels, best restaurants and shopping centers. It borders another popular district, San Isidro, considered Lima's financial district. Both this areas are very popular with tourists and ex-pats.
Housing in this areas will be more expensive than other areas in Lima, specially because of it's popularity with ex-pats.
Overall, everything else will pretty much be the same through out Lima in regards to cost of living, attitude towards Americans, employment opportunities.
However, regarding employment it is not easy for a non-Spanish speaking foreigner to get a good job in Lima. The unemployment rate is quite high and there is a lot of competition for good jobs. It will depend a lot on contacts your girl might have that can open doors for you. Most Americans I have known that lived in Lima usually worked as English teachers, translators or for American based companies.
Food is great, as long as your palate likes to adventure beyond McDonalds and BurgerKing.
Finally, to the guy that answered that Peru is close to communism, I would ask him to please respond to subjects he has knowledge of. Today, Peru is far from being a communist/populist country and the current goverment has distance themselves from Chavez's and has good relationships with the USA and Europe.
May 8th, 2010 at 7:34 am
mostro!
May 8th, 2010 at 9:18 am
impossible, you need to take a flight to cuzco, from there take a train to machu picchu. flight time is around 1 hour, train time around 4 hours, so you get the idea =/ besides, going for 1 day to such magnificent place? get at least 4 days , there is more to see in cuzco than Machu Picchu,
May 8th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Hi from Brazil!
Very good your flight and movie.
His video shows that Lima is beautiful and you as very good in Paragliding.
Congratulations for your movie
Saludos desde Brasil!
Muy bueno vuelo y vídeo.
Pudo perceber por su producion que Lima es muy bonita y vos muy bueno en parapente.
Felicitaciones por su video
May 8th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
esta chevere el video !!!
May 8th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Miraflores and san isidro district
, the best hotels there 
check this link ,
http://www.peru.info/e_ftossttbusquedaeng.asp?tb=aloj&ic=2&cl=1&ct=1&ts=1&xdDpto=&consulta=submit&clasif=Hotels&txtclasif=Hotels&txtCateg=All&dDpto=&txtCampo=
http://www.peru.info
May 8th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
On a recent trip to Peru a month ago, I used two different ATM's in Miraflores.
I was given the exchange rate of 3.00. This was also the exchange rate I was given by the money exchangers that stand on the street corner. They advertise 3.05 however you will never get it. They always come up with some kind of excuse.
Both ATM's charged me a $3.50 service fee which was later refunded by my bank in the USA (It's their standard procedure to refund ATM fees.)
You might as well get Soles from the ATM since if you get USD you'll have to exchange it for soles anyway.
Another word on exchanging money – Make sure the bills you are exchanging are in perfect shape – no tears and no markings, otherwise they won't accept them. Be careful exchanging USD on the streets, there is also a lot of conterfiet Nuevo Soles floating around.
May 9th, 2010 at 6:25 am
Buen video lindo panorama desde el aire,bien producido felicitaciones!.Ah quiero acotar (leo los comentarios)que aca en California los mas ricos viven en cerros.Un abrazo a mis paisanos! viva el Peru!
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