Panama Canal, the world’s engineering marvel, has improved the sailing time going from the East to the West of the Americas. The once 2-month journey through the rock strewn and wind-battered seas has now become 8 to 24 hours. What a great ease of passage! And, if you’re planning your next getaway and wondering what else the world famous Canal has to offer, then I tell you there’s a lot more. Besides the short cut, you’ll certainly appreciate the Panama Canal as a unique tourist destination.

Panama Canal Has An Interesting History

The idea of building the Panama Canal started as early as the 16th century with the French being the first to do the construction. They started digging in 1881, but the workers were forced to stop because of major problems like serious illnesses and mud slides. In 1904, the American engineers took over the Panama Canal project. The US engineers did a great job technologically and medically. They did the excavation work while improving the sanitation in the surrounding towns, thereby reducing the risks of deadly diseases. In 1914, the Panama Canal was completed. Its cost was $387 million and 25,000 human lives.

Great Scenery To Enjoy In Your Panama Canal Cruise

Besides its mechanical wonders, Panama Canal has a number of stunning and great natural scenery to offer. There are the untouched, tangled jungles in the waterfront that has a variety of flora and fauna. You’ll also see more than 120 species of wild life in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument. If you want to enjoy Panama’s landscape, the best time to visit is during the dry season which is from December to April, when there is not too many rains.

The ports of call depend on the Panama Canal cruise line and the length of your itinerary. Regular trips range from 10 to 14 nights, but if you want, you can spend more days, say 30 days or more, at sea on some tourist towns. Tourists normally stop at Colon, Panama because it is where the world’s 2nd biggest duty free zone is located. Native crafts, along with brand-name items, are sold here. The San Blas Island is another destination worth visiting. And the Panama City offers a mixture of colonial and cosmopolitan sites, besides the ease of access to the surrounding rainforest.

The Panama Canal cruises allow you to explore the Latin America – from the shores of Costa Rica to the coffee country of Colombia. To lure you further are the pristine beaches, snorkeling activities, the panoramic view of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, partying in Miami, or having a stroll through San Diego

The Future of Panama Canal

The Panama Canal will celebrate its 100 years of construction in the year 2014 with a $5.25 billion engineering innovation and expansion. A third lane of shipping traffic and other amenities is under construction. And it is expected to accommodate “post-Panamax” vessels. These are the commercial carriers and mega ships that exceed the original limitations of 1,000-ft. long and 100-ft. wide. The official estimate is that after the renovation, shipping and tourism in Panama Canal will double, to give both Panama and Latin America a much needed boost in their economies.You should visit Panama Canal

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