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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Enjoy Panama Vacation

Panama is a very small country in Latin America but, it is also one of the major tourist attractions of the world and you can enjoy your Panama Vacation . Panama is a land of possibilities. It is a land of fascinating natural beauty and so is your Panama vacation. Eco tourists from all across the world find heavenly bliss in their visit to Panama. Both registered species of birds and migratory birds find home in the offshore islands of Panama. The pristine beaches, the tropical rainforests also attract lot of tourists who want to find peace away from the hustle bustle of city life.

There are more than 10 natural parts in the country to enjoy during Panama vacation. The forests and wildlife refuges serve as the habitat for diverse species of plants, birds and animals. The country comprises of many islands for your Panama vacation. The coral reef of Panama also attracts a lot of visitors. When in Panama, you could go for the ecotourism trips. These trips can last for up to 14 days. Tourists prefer to go for these trips on foot and enjoy the nature at its best. Water adventure is also one of the most popular activities that you can take as a tourist. You could go for deep sea diving, snorkeling, or boating; whichever seems exciting to you. As a tourist there is no end to the options that you could explore in Panama. The country has a rich global heritage and boasts of rich cultural background.

Adventures in Panama Vacation

Due to the natural abundance of Panama, Panama vacation has become one of the most popular destinations for adventure sports. Surfers from all across the world are attracted by the Panamian Pacific. Matches of international standards are held every year. You could also go for hiking in the mountains. Panama is a place where you can be with your family. Excepting the main city, most of the parts of this country are yet to catch up with the busy metropolitan lifestyle. This is the reason why Panama can be your perfect getaway. Now if you want to plan a trip to Panama for this holiday; the first thing you should do is look for a good travelling package online.

Options in Panama Vacation

When you surf the net, you will see that you have loads of options as far as the ideal Panama vacation package is concerned. You can find Panama vacation packages that are tailor made for families. Or you could find individual Panama vacation packages for trips to Panama. You can also choose in accordance to the area of your interest. If you are someone who would like to explore the marine life of Panama; your trip will be centered on visiting the most beautiful marine ecology sites of Panama.

Since you are offered with a wide array of choices, you will have the option to pick the package that suits you best for Panama vacation. You can compare the prices and go with the one that comes within your budget. But, make sure that you are dealing with a reputed travelling agency here. If you really want to explore this country to its optimum; you must make sure that you have the right guide to tell you how to enjoy Panama vacation.

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Panama special tourism zones divide up the region and can help you decide where to travel. The La Amistad is Panama special tourism zone 1 and located in the Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui provinces. Featured is the Baru National and the La Amistad International Parks. Here you will also find sixty one attractions that are cultural and natural making this zone a favorite for eco-tourism. You will find the main concentration of sites to visit in the Boquete, Sereno River, Volcan, and Cerro Punta areas.

Panama special tourism zone 2

In zone 2 in Panama you will find the largest Marine Park in the country with reefs and plenty of beaches along with the Afroantillian culture. The architecture of the Bocas del Toro city features the great culture of this region. Here you will also find over seventy attractions including crystal waters along white, sandy beaches making this another favorite of the eco tourist as well as with divers.

Panama special tourism zone 3

The Arco Seco coast region is found in the Panama special tourism zone 3. The provinces along the coast include Los Santos and Herrera. These areas are unique featuring socio-cultural and traditional events that attract many tourists and visitors.

Panama special tourism zone 4

In Farallon you will find eight kilometers along the coast of the Pacific in Panama special tourism zone 4. The provinces include Cocle and Panama. There are twenty four natural attractions which includes the seventeen beaches. Other attractions include the eco-tourism hotspot the Anton Valley.

The Metropolitan zone 5’s principal attraction includes cultural and historical attractions, shopping, natural parks, business activities and Panama City. There are over one hundred-twenty attractions in this Panama special tourism zone alone.

In Colon you will find Portobello and this is the Panama special tourism zone 6 and has multitudes of diving spots, beaches, Historical Monuments and a National Park. There are over eighty attractions in zone 6 including ruins of forts to and underwater reefs to explore.

In the Caribbean region of the Kunas, San Blas is the seventh zone of Panama. Known for exotic islands, corral reefs and sandy white beaches that guards this traditional native American area. You will find more than two hundred attractions and more that three hundred islands made from coral that are along the sandy white beach areas.

In the Panama special tourism zone 8 you will find the Archipelago de Las Perlas. Here are over thirty islands and eight-three beaches including the Pearl Island Archipelago. There are many sport fishing areas and coral reefs to enjoy. With over one hundred thirty attractions that are natural and geared to the fishing and sports enthusiast.

The Darien region is zone 9 of Panama and has over seventy attractions both natural and cultural. The Darien National Park is the main attraction of zone 9 and has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. This makes this zone the ideal destination for adventure and ecological tourism.

With the zones breaking out the attractions both natural and cultural makes choosing a destination based on your preferences is much easier now with Panama special tourism.

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