Travel advisory · PanamaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Panama.The warnings cover only these areas: Mosquito Gulf, Colón, Curundú, El Chorrillo, San Miguelito.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Mosquito Gulf · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, US
Colón · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
Curundú · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
El Chorrillo · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
San Miguelito · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France

Also named by one government: Darién border zone with Colombia (France), Darién Gap south of Yaviza (New Zealand), Darién south of Metetí to Colombian border (Canada), Parts of Darién Region (US), Arena (Canada), Arraiján (France), Calidonia (France), Colombian border zones (Spain), Cristobal (France), Darién Province (France), Eastern Darién Province (Italy), Eastern part of Guna Yala (San Blas) (France), El Cacao (Canada), Isla de Cusapín (Spain), Juan Díaz (France), La Chorrera (France), Pedregal (France), Quebro (Canada), San Felipe (France), Santa Ana (France), Tocumen (France)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	Remain vigilant, follow local authorities' advice after earthquake	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution due to crime (regional advisories)	Aug 19, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Take normal security precautions (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country	Oct 13, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	High Degree of Caution	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Niveau de sécurité globalement satisfaisant, vigilance renforcée dans certaines zones (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Panama Canal

Watch ocean-going ships pass through the Panama Canal’s locks, which connect the Pacific and Atlantic across Panama.

Find a room in Panama Canal Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Panama Canal

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The Panama Canal links the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic through a system of locks, channels and artificial lakes. At a lock, water raises or lowers a ship so it can travel between sections of the canal at different elevations. Watching a vessel move through gives you a close look at how the waterway works. The canal opened in 1914, and a new set of locks opened in 2016 to accommodate larger ships.

From Panama City, Miraflores is the most accessible place to watch ships use the locks. Agua Clara, on the Caribbean side, gives visitors a view of the expanded locks. A boat trip is another way to travel on the canal. Panama’s dry season runs roughly from mid-December through April, a practical period for planning a visit. Set aside part of a day for a visit to a lock. Allow more time if you are crossing the country to see the canal or adding a boat trip.

Panama Canal in five

Check Miraflores hours and ticket pricesMiraflores is open daily 8:00 to 18:00, with the ticket office closing at 17:00. Non-resident adults pay B/.17.22 including the IMAX film. Buy on the canal's official ticket site.Miraflores Locks visit
Check the transit schedule before you goThe canal's visitor site publishes a ship transit schedule, and the center says transits vary by schedule. Look before you leave so your visit matches a ship in the locks.How the canal works
Add Agua Clara for the expanded locksAgua Clara Visitor Center, near Colón, overlooks the larger locks of the expanded canal. It is open daily 8:00 to 17:00, and non-resident adults pay B/.10.Which canal experience
Take a partial transit tour for the water viewThe tourism authority says tours from the Causeway ports and Gamboa offer a partial crossing and an afternoon on Gatún Lake. Ask operators about duration and what is included.
Visit the Canal Museum in Casco AntiguoThe Interoceanic Canal Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, with eleven exhibition rooms and audio guides. Non-resident adults pay $15.Panama City

Things to do in Panama Canal

See all attractions in Panama Canal

Sight · Panama CanalReserva Natural Punta Patiño

Sight · Panama CanalPedro Miguel Locks Viewpoint

Sight · Panama CanalMiraflores Visitors Center

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Panama CanalPut the places you like in Panama Canal on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Length: About 80 km between the oceans
Locks: Gatún (Atlantic); Pedro Miguel and Miraflores (Pacific)
Gatún Lake: 26 m above sea level
Getting there: Miraflores about 15 min by car from downtown; Agua Clara about 1 h
Time needed: Miraflores 15 min by car from downtown; Agua Clara about 1 h

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, clear decks
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry season
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry season, hot
AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry season, hot
MayRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rains begin
JuneRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Green season
JulyRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Green season
AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Green season
SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Green season
OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Heaviest rain
NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Heaviest rain
DecemberRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Drier

Average daily high and low in Panama City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Panama Canal

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 30°
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 96%

Panama Canal

07:55 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today29°23°96%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
Tue29°24°98%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
Wed30°23°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu27°23°99%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 99%.
Fri30°23°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sat30°24°94%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 94%.
Sun31°24°91%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 91%.

Updated 03:55 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Day trips from Panama Canal, the full guide

Before you go to Panama Canal

Canal visitor center ticketsOfficial ticket sites for each centerBook tickets

Partial transit and lake toursCauseway and Gamboa departuresCompare canal tours

eSIM for a canal dayMaps and ride apps from the cityRead the guide

Insurance for a Panama stopoverCover for delays and day tripsRead the guide

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Rules for Panama Canal, checked

Miraflores Visitor Center: daily 8:00 to 18:00, ticket office to 17:00; non-resident adults B/.17.22, ages 6 to 12 B/.7.22, under 6 free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Agua Clara Visitor Center: daily 8:00 to 17:00, ticket office to 15:30; non-resident adults B/.10, ages 6 to 12 B/.5, under 6 free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Interoceanic Canal Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00; non-resident adults $15, students and seniors $7.50, children 5 and up $5.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

All Panama Canal guides

a wall covered in lots of different colored tiles

Head to headMiraflores or Agua Clara: which Panama Canal visit fits you?Checked Oct 2, 2026

How toMiraflores Locks visit: hours, tickets, IMAX film and timingChecked Oct 2, 2026

How toHow the Panama Canal works: locks, Gatún Lake and what you seeChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Panama Canal

Panama City

Casco Viejo, Metro and where to stay

Read the guide Portobelo

A Caribbean-side trip from the capital

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Official sites versus resellers

Read the guide All of Panama

Regions, entry basics and money

Read the guide

Panama Canal FAQ

Can you visit the Panama Canal?

Yes. The Miraflores Visitor Center near Panama City has a viewing deck, exhibits and an IMAX film, and Agua Clara near Colón overlooks the expanded locks. Boat tours also offer a partial crossing.

How much does it cost to visit the Miraflores Locks?

The canal's visitor site lists B/.17.22 for non-resident adults and B/.7.22 for ages 6 to 12, with under 6 free. The ticket includes the IMAX film. Check the official page before you go.

What time do ships pass at Miraflores?

It varies. The center says transits depend on the schedule, and the visitor site publishes a transit schedule. Check it for your date rather than assuming a fixed morning window.

Can tourists cross the Panama Canal on a boat?

The tourism authority describes partial crossing tours from the Causeway ports and Gamboa, with time on Gatún Lake. Ask operators about duration, price and what is included.

How long is the Panama Canal?

Roughly 80 km from ocean to ocean, per the Panama Canal Authority, which runs the waterway around the clock, every day of the year.