Agua Clara Locks & Panama City

OVERVIEW

See the Panama Canal's newest, most innovative set of locks and enjoy a panoramic tour of the surrounding area. The Agua Clara locks were built to provide an alternative lane for ships that are too long and too wide to pass through the canal's original locks. The guide will explain their complex operation in easy-to-understand terms so you can truly appreciate this marvel of engineering. You will also learn some the fascinating history of the land bordering the canal, an area known as the Canal Zone until Panama assumed control of it in 1999. The Amador Islands that you will see just offshore are manmade with rock excavated from the canal when it was dug. Driving through Panama City will present a glimpse into its pre-canal history, as the oldest section was founded in 1519. For centuries, it was the starting point for pack animals to carry cargo across the isthmus to the Caribbean Sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View the Aqua Clara locks and learn about their cutting-edge engineering.
• See the attractions in the surrounding area, which Panama didn’t govern until 1999.
• Drive through Panama City for an understanding of its past and vision for the future.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.