Panama Panamá AncónMiraflores Locks

Miraflores Locks

XCW5+RG5, Panama City, Panamá Oeste Province, Panama

4.7(4.5K)

Open until 5:15 PM

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Cultural

Outdoor

Family friendly

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Phone

+507 276-8449

Website

visitcanaldepanama.com

Open hoursSee all hours

Thu8 AM - 5:15 PMOpen

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Posts

Alan EganAlan Egan

A man-made wonder and a feat of engineering. The movie in the IMAX here, narrated by Morgan Freeman, is everything you need to know about the Panama Canal and worth the price of admission. As of 2024 it is $18US to get in the gate. The Visitors Centre here is top class, with the restaurants, museum and cinema. Also there are great viewing spots of the locks and incoming ships. With the enormous size of the ships, it is a slow process, but seriously impressive to see, if you appreciate the scale and ingenuity of this operation. Around 10,000 people work here and approximately 30 ships pass though here per day. Total transit for a ship from the Pacific to the Caribbean Sea is 10 hours and vice versa. When I was flying to Panama from Costa Rica, I got an amazing view from my window of all the huge cargo ships in the Pacific awaiting their turn to pass through - the view reminded me of the English Channel during the storming of Normandy in World War 2. The canal voyage is so precise, all ship captains cede control to Panamanian specialists. Each lock is 8 stories high, based on a 15th century Leonardo Da Vinci design. When a ship is in a chamber millions of gallons of water rushes in to raise the level to the same depth as on the other side of the next lock. This is all done by gravity and there is not a single water pump in the Panama Canal, which I found pretty mad. This water can lift a 70,000 ton ship in 10 minutes. The whole system is also powered from the same dam that made the canal possible. This canal was a long time coming, that many thought was an impossible dream to link these 2 major oceans. The Spanish conquistadors surveyed a possible canal nearly 500 years ago but met impenetrable jungle and walked away after they couldn't cut a way through. Then French engineers who built the Suez canal resurrected the idea and tried for 9 years to dig a trench a mile wide and 350 feet deep, through a mountain range of solid rock. More than 20,000 died of sickness and exhaustion. They didn't know it at the time but it was mosquitos causing yellow fever and malaria. In the end, they gave up the dream as they did not have the means to dig through the Western Mountains or tame the turbulent Chagres River. When Panama became independent from Colombia in 1903, the Americans expressed an intention to succeed where the French failed. American Engineer John Stevens decided to use The Chagres River to their advantage by damming it and creating a lake with multiple locks, of a magnitude never seen before. This would enable a lot less digging of the Western Mountains than the French had to do, but his work could not commence until the workers were protected from the dangers the tropics brought. The Americans launched a huge eradication program of the 2 kinds of mosquitos that caused the diseases, and the region was free from yellow fever and malaria 2 years later. The canal was opened to shipping in 1914, but it's thunder was stolen as World War 1 started on the exact same day. The Americans (Jimmy Carter) handed over control of the canal to Panama outright in 1977. It was feared they would not be able to handle it, but it has been running like clockwork ever since, and they have even overseen a major expansion to the capacity of the canal after the turn of the century. Panama is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited because of the rainforests, beaches and wildlife, but you would still be missing out if you ignored this modern marvel.

balooko31balooko31

Very chaotic and disorganized, they need to totally revamp the tourist experience. We arrived shortly after 2 pm (because the boats don't go through in the morning to 2 pm) and there was chaos and confusion. The entrance area had makeshift lines without any structure to them. Groups of people were bypassing the line, walking through the line, leaving the line to go elsewhere, etc. Once you got through the outdoor waiting area to get inside, you go to pay $10+7 for an entrance ticket and IMAX movie. Then you go up some escalators to wait in more lines. (We went on a mid weekday to hopefully avoid longer weekend lines.) Once you get through the lines to view the Canal and boats, you see crowds of people already filled up the seating, the staircases, etc so it's hard to view anything. And yes, people line up the staircases leaving little room to safely walk up and down. Rain can also be an issue, so wet staircases full of people jockeying for position to see the boats is a major safety hazard. Anyways, if you're lucky to see the Canal, you might also see groups of random tourists who somehow got access to the dock area (assume with some special tour group, don't know how one gets that). The IMAX movie was a good watch, as it told the story about how the Canal got built. Again, you will wait in another line, and if you get shuffled to the end of the line after leaving the Canal viewing area, you won't be able to purchase any popcorn/drinks/etc because you'll just walk right past that all. They are missing out on sales from those people who were told to stand in line (which is outside the theater area) then walk directly into the theater. My suggestion would be to revamp the whole tourist experience, add more elevated seating and viewing, fix the line issues, move the tour group people away from the regular people who have paid and waited in lines (so our pictures aren't obstructed and annoyed we didn't get a similar experience). So many things could make this a better experience for tourists, a total overhaul would be wonderful.

Nooran OstadeianNooran Ostadeian

️ A Captivating Technological Marvel, But Plan Wisely! 🌪️ Visiting this extraordinary technological marvel was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To fully grasp the sheer power and ingenuity behind the system, you must witness it firsthand. However, a word of caution - proper planning is essential to make the most of your visit. On the day of my visit, the sun was scorching hot, and the venue was bustling with crowds. It's important to be prepared for these conditions, so I recommend wearing comfortable clothes, bringing sunscreen, and staying hydrated throughout your visit. To avoid disappointment, I strongly advise checking the schedule and ensuring that you time your visit correctly. This technological marvel operates on a specific timetable, so it's crucial to be there at the right time to witness the system in action. Don't make the mistake of going there hoping to see the lock without prior knowledge of the schedule. Fortunately, you don't necessarily need a guided tour to enjoy this experience. Simply arrive at the venue and purchase your ticket to gain entry. The awe-inspiring technology and breathtaking views are more than enough to captivate you without the need for additional commentary. Despite the potential challenges, I can guarantee that the experience will be well worth it. Witnessing the engineering prowess and raw power of this technological marvel is an unforgettable moment that will leave you in awe. In summary, planning ahead is essential when visiting this technological wonder. Be aware of the schedule, dress appropriately for the weather, and come prepared. Without a doubt, this venue offers an experience that you won't want to miss! ⚙️🌪️ #TechnologicalMarvel #PowerfulEngineering #PlanAheadForSuccess

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Reviews of Miraflores Locks

4.7

(4,495)

5.0

1.0

5.0

️ A Captivating Technological Marvel, But Plan Wisely! 🌪️

Visiting this extraordinary technological marvel was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To fully grasp the sheer power and ingenuity behind the system, you must witness it firsthand. However, a word of caution - proper planning is essential to make the most of your visit.

On the day of my visit, the sun was scorching hot, and the venue was bustling with crowds. It's important to be prepared for these conditions, so I...