Panama Canal

One of the modern wonders of the engineering world, the Panama Canal is so much more than a superbly functional link between the world’s two great oceans.

It also opens up a wealth of wonderful opportunities for an unforgettable cruise holiday of a lifetime to beautiful and charming cities and countries each with their own fascinating heritage.

Immense locks along the Panama Canal’s 80km raise cruise ships 26 metres, a thrill in itself as you come face to face with the canal sides and then enjoy the sights and sounds of the colourful birds and animals that inhabit the lush forests beyond.

You’ll learn about the tales of endeavour, heroism, tragedy and turmoil that accompanied this amazing waterway’s journey from inception to completion.

Your Panama Canal Cruise may be part of an itinerary that also takes in some of the Mexican and Caribbean ports of call described elsewhere in the destination guides on your Imagine Cruising site.

It may also give you the chance to visit Central America’s most charismatic and exciting towns and cities on a surprisingly varied and memorable cruise holiday of a lifetime.

Places like Costa Rica’s Limon where you can take an exhilarating aerial tram ride through the leafy rainforest canopy or a jungle boat trip filled with wildlife encounters.

Or Puntarenas in Costa Rica, home to fine Spanish colonial architecture and fantastic beach restaurants serving sumptuous locally caught seafood.

On the Pacific Coast of Guatemala the port of Quetzal is your gateway to sites of Mayan ruins as well as a volcanic interior whose lush valleys accommodate hundreds of species of birds and rare orchids.

Roatan, one of the three beautiful Honduran islands is an eco-tourism paradise with coral reefs, sublime beaches and bounteous botanical gardens. It’s also a great place to discover local craft markets as well as one of Central America’s prime scuba diving destinations.

Balboa greets you at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal and, as well as being a pretty waterfront, is your access to the Panama City, one of the highlights of any canal cruise.

Explore its well-preserved old town area with its Spanish colonial influences displayed in its Metropolitan Castle and ornate squares.

Another stop to look out for on a cruise to this region is Colon, which has undergone a massive recent redevelopment to provide an amazing array of superb shopping malls to add to its other fabulous features like a journey through lush jungle to San Lorenzo Fort, a buccaneer base of the infamous Captain Morgan.

A cruise on and around the Panama Canal will leave you with a treasure trove of memories that will last a lifetime.

Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and P&O Cruises are just a few of the world’s leading companies including the Panama Canal in their itineraries.