Explore Central America on a Panama Canal Cruise

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Panama City from the Pacific Ocean


A cruise through the Panama Canal is more than a rare opportunity to see this major engineering achievement; it’s also a chance to enjoy some of Central America's unique ports. Here’s a look at just some of the ports that may be included in a Panama Canal itinerary.

Fuerte Amador, Panama, sits on a narrow causeway at the western end of the canal, with plenty of duty-free shops, locally handcrafted gifts, and restaurants. But there’s also the Biomuseo, a Frank Gehry-designed museum that highlights the area’s extreme biodiversity, and the Punto Culebra Nature Center, where you can meet some of Panama’s wildlife, including sloths. Fuerte Amador is just five miles from Panama City’s historic Casco Viejo (Old Town), which has beautiful colonial architecture set around lovely plazas. You can also visit the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center to learn even more about the canal and watch other ships pass through.

Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, is a major seaport on the Pacific Coast. The dock is in an industrial area, so most visitors board a bus to see one or more of the nearby attractions. These include the Paseo de los Turistas in Puntarenas, a beachfront walkway lined with shops and restaurants; the local specialty is a Churchill, a combination of shaved ice, flavorings, and ice cream. Or, visit the wide beach at Jacó, with a stop to see crocodiles along the Tarcoles River. Carara National Park is a sanctuary for gorgeous scarlet macaws as well as other animals and plant life. If there’s time to venture farther inland, the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest has forest trails and hanging bridges.

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, is another commercial shipping port that’s also a gateway to wonderful sights, including the historic city of Antigua Guatemala. This UNESCO World Heritage site is filled with outstanding Spanish Baroque architecture and cobblestone streets. The scenery is breathtaking, too, as the city is surrounded by three massive volcanoes. You can also visit the Pacaya Volcano complex, which is active but calm enough to hike on the solidified lava fields. Guatemala produces some of the world’s best coffee, and several plantations offer tours and tastings. Or, if you like deep-sea fishing, you can go in search of sailfish, dorado, and tuna.

For more information about Panama Canal cruises that call on these ports – and others, like Puerto Chiapas and Huatulco, Mexico – talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.

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