Take a Trip Down a Famous Canal: Panama

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A few months ago, I started working as a writer for a construction firm in the United States. I am one of this people who get super excited when I go to Home Depot, so a job with a construction company was the perfect fit! I know somewhere, my dad is super proud. Hopefully this makes up for that time I almost sawed off his finger while helping him build a bird house. Granted I was like 9 at the time. And it was an accident. But my now 34-year-old self still feels bad.

Right now, I am totally geeking out over a massive construction project that is wrapping up in Panama. And this isn’t just any ordinary expansion project; this is one of the largest expansion projects in the world! The Panama Canal expansion project, dubbed Third Set of Locks Project, is intended to double the capacity of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a man-made, 48-mile waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The waterway cuts through the country of Panama and features a series of lifts that helps ships to pass through the canal. The Panama Canal has been instrumental in the trade industry for more than a century.

The nine-year, $5.4 billion expansion project doubles the canal’s cargo capacity. A third lane has been added so that more and larger cargo ships can pass through. The project is expected to be complete this summer. If you are interested in learning more about the expansion project, click here.

The two main ports for the Panama Canal are located near the cities of Cristóbal and Panama City. Both cities are in the country of Panama. There are daily tours of the Panama Canal available to tourists. You can even experience the canal first hand from a boat, or you can get a bird’s eye view from the Panama Canal Museum.

Now aside from seeing one of the greatest feats the engineering world has ever seen, there’s a number of reasons why you should visit Panama Canal. There are also a few International Vacation Home Exchange vacation home properties in the country. So your lodging is covered.

1)      Panama City. The city is both a vibrant metropolis and a historic wonder. It is also a regional hub of trade and immigration. As a result, the city has become a melting pot of cultures from both the east and the west. The skyline glows with glass and steel towers. Panama City is also the gateway to both sandy beaches and lush rainforests.

2)      Historical wonders. Here’s a fun fact, Panama was once under water. Now, the country bridges North and South America. For more than a century, nearly a third of the world’s gold passed through Panama. You can see the ruins of forks that were attacked by pirates. 

3)      Easily Accessible. Most major airlines will fly to Panama from cities such as Madrid, Miami, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

4)      Indigenous tribes. There are about a half dozen indigenous tribes living in Panama. You may have seen documentaries on these tribes on the Discovery Channel.

If you are looking for a way to relax during your trip, you can also do a little bird watching. Panama is home to nearly 1,000 bird species. You may even catch a glimpse of these species during a hike through a tropical forest. Because, why not; you are in Panama!

Thank you to guest travel writer Carla Pruitt. You can follow Carla on Twitter at @crobscarla