Canadian Cruise Experts: Destinations: Panama Canal/Central America

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal has just turned 89 years old in 2003. For sheer awe-inspiring magnitude, no other man-made structure on Earth is so impressive -- Which is why a transit of this incredible engineering wonder is one of the world's most memorable experiences: Truly a Pan-American journey between two oceans.

Central America

See the part of the world that National Geographic describes as "the most biologically intense place on Earth." Discover Costa Rica's sunbrowned Pacific coast, as well as Nicaragua's picturesque horseshoe-shaped bay in San Juan del Sur. Central America is a tropical paradise abundant in exotic wildlife and rainforests, sure to please the most adventurous of nature enthusiasts and sun worshipers.

Top Attractions

El Valle del Río Orosi

This is a village that was abandoned in 1833. All that remains are the ruins of buildings from the 17th century.

Panama Viejo, Panama

These are the ruins of what was once the largest Spanish settlement on the Pacific Coast.

The Panama Canal

Watch ships as they pass through the world famous locks. The best place to watch is at Miraflores Locks, where there is a viewing platform and visitors center.

Parque Natural Metropolitano

A 655-acre park home to more than 250 species of birds and 40 types of mammals. This park is also the site of a tropical research center and a towering crane used to study the forest canopy.

Canopy Adventure

Designed to bring out the Tarzan in even the most timid traveler, this network of cables, pulleys, and harnesses takes visitors on an exciting ride through the rainforest canopy.