The Panama Canal: Miraflores Visitor Center

Once of the must-see places for all visitors to Panama is the Miraflores Visitor Center. It stands on the east side of the Miraflores locks and gives uninterrupted views of the ships that pass through the locks. Presidents and stars such as Julio Iglesias and Ricky Martin are just some of the half a million visitors who visit this great attraction every year.

After buying a very reasonably priced ticket, visitors tour the History Hall and learn about the Spanish, French and American efforts to link the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. A computer stores all the names of those who worked on the canal between 1903 and 1914. Visitors can search for their family names – with surprising results sometimes! There are videos, photographs and scale models of dredging machines which show the harsh reality of building the Canal, against the very forces of nature. The second floor of the Visitor Center is all about the importance of water. It shows how the gates function and how the water in the locks lifts giant ships up and down the different levels.

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The third floor is the Canal in Action. Try out the simulator and see if you can guide the ship through the locks! The top floor shows trade routes and different types of ships before visitors can exit to one of the three observation terraces overlooking the lock. If you are lucky, you will soon see a container ship or cruise boat link up to the trains (mules). Tug boats assist in pushing the ship into the lock. It is often a tight fit! The gates close, the water enters or exits the chamber and the ship is raised or lowered. A multi-lingual commentary gives important information about the ship, the lock process and the fee paid. Each ship pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to avoid the cost and time of sailing around South America.

When you have seen enough, visit the café or restaurant for an excellent meal with the best view in town! There is also a souvenir shop and a theatre which shows the story of the building of the Panama Canal against all the odds.

To plan your Panama vacation please contact to our Travel Department: info@thepanamaclub.com or by phone +507 211-1466