To see the Panama Canal, the easiest option is the Miraflores Visitor Center, on the Pacific side, open every day: admission costs B/. 17.22 (equal to US dollars) for a non-resident adult, IMAX film included, and the visit takes about 1 h 30 min according to the Canal Authority. The real tip: check the same day the ship transit schedule published on the official website, because the locks do not operate in both directions all day.
About 80 kilometers (50 mi) long between the Atlantic and the Pacific, the canal operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, according to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). This page brings together the official hours and prices of the visitor centers, how the locks work explained simply, and our calculations based on ACP figures. For the rest of the country, see our guide to visiting Panama.
Our travel deals for Panama Canal
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Panama Canal.Compare flights- eSIMSailyAnother eSIM plan to compare: data, validity, network.See Saily plans
Panama Canal: key facts
- Miraflores Visitor Center: open every day from 8 am to 6 pm, ticket office 8 am to 5 pm — checked on 24 October 2026 on visitcanaldepanama.com (ACP)
- Non-resident price: B/. 17.22 per adult, B/. 7.22 for ages 6 to 12, free under 6; IMAX film included.
- Caribbean side: Agua Clara center (expanded locks), US$10 per non-resident adult, ticket office 8 am to 3:30 pm.
- Visit length: about 1 h 30 min at Miraflores, about 3 hours at Agua Clara, according to the ACP.
- Booking: not compulsory; official online ticket office at tickets.visitcanaldepanama.com.
- To check on the day: the « ¿A qué hora pasan los barcos? » (what time do ships pass?) section of the official website.
Visitor center hours and prices
The Canal Authority runs several sites open to the public. The two where you can watch ships pass through the locks are Miraflores (Pacific side, near Panama City) and Agua Clara (Caribbean side, near Colón).
| Site | Hours | Non-resident adult | Child 6–12 | Stated duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miraflores Visitor Center | 8 am – 6 pm every day (ticket office 8 am – 5 pm) | B/. 17.22 | B/. 7.22 | about 1 h 30 min |
| Agua Clara Visitor Center | 8 am – 5 pm every day (ticket office 8 am – 3:30 pm) | US$10 | US$5 | about 3 h |
| Canal Interactive Center (Santiago de Veraguas) | 9 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday (ticket office until 4:30 pm) | free | free | — |
| Interoceanic Canal Museum (Casco Antiguo) | 10 am – 6 pm Tuesday to Sunday | US$5 to US$15 | — | — |
At Agua Clara, the ACP noted at the time of our check that the snack bar, restaurant and shop were temporarily closed: bring water. For residents and Panamanians, prices are different (US$3 per adult, free up to age 18): they do not apply to tourists.
What you see at Miraflores
- The terrace and stands overlooking the locks: you follow ships passing and the movement of the gates. The ACP gives a capacity of 450 people for the new viewing platform and a lower platform accessible by wheelchair.
- The 3D IMAX film on the history and operation of the canal, narrated by Morgan Freeman (45 minutes). Showtimes listed: 8:45 am, 9:45 am, 11 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm, 4 pm and 5:15 pm.
- The exhibition areas and a children’s park.
What you see at Agua Clara
Agua Clara overlooks Gatún Lake and the locks of the expanded canal, inaugurated in 2016. The center offers a panoramic viewing platform, a screening room (12 minutes) and a path that runs along the lock. It is the right choice if you want to see the largest ships, which do not pass through Miraflores.
When to see ships pass
This is the information other guides forget. The locks do not see ships passing in both directions all day: each day the official website publishes, for Miraflores, a cut-off time in the morning and a resumption time in the afternoon, and the reverse for Agua Clara. On the day of our check, the schedule was not yet online (« aún no se encuentra disponible »), a sign that it is published day by day. Our advice: check it the same morning, or the official « Canal de Panamá » app, before choosing your visit time.
The canal averages 37 transits a day (Destination de Voyage calculation based on the 13,404 transits of 2025 published by the ACP, divided by 365). So there is almost always something to see, but not at every hour at every lock.
How the canal works
According to the ACP, the locks act as water elevators: they raise ships from sea level to Gatún Lake, at 26 meters (85 ft) above sea level, then lower them on the other side. Each set takes the name of the town where it was built: Gatún on the Atlantic side, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores on the Pacific side. The water comes from Gatún Lake, by gravity. In between, the Culebra Cut, about 13.7 kilometers (9 mi) long, is the narrowest part of the canal.
| Panamax locks (Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, Gatún) | Neopanamax locks (Cocolí, Agua Clara) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chamber length | 304.8 m (1,000 ft) | 427 m (1,401 ft) |
| Chamber width | 33.53 m (110 ft) | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Depth | — | 18.3 m (60 ft) |
| Area of one chamber (calculated) | 10,220 m² (110,010 sq ft) | 23,485 m² (252,790 sq ft) |
| Container ship capacity | up to 5,000 TEU | more than 14,000 TEU |
| In service since | 1914 | 26 June 2016 |
Our calculation: a Neopanamax chamber has an area about 2.3 times that of a historic chamber. This is why the biggest container ships, LNG carriers and cruise ships can only be seen at Agua Clara or Cocolí, not at Miraflores.
Tickets: official site or tour?
The admission ticket is bought at the counter or on the ACP’s online ticket office (tickets.visitcanaldepanama.com). Resellers and agencies mostly sell tours with hotel transport and a guide: compare what is included (admission, transport, guide’s language) before paying, and check that the admission ticket is not an extra.
If an agency offers you another package around the canal, ask what comes from the ACP’s official site and what comes from the private operator.
Getting there and access
Miraflores is west of Panama City, Agua Clara near Colón, on the Caribbean side. We do not give journey times: they depend heavily on traffic. The official addresses are published on the ACP’s visitor website. For visas and entry rules, see entry requirements for Panama.
Common mistakes
- Arriving at Miraflores at a time when no ship is passing: check the official schedule for the day.
- Arriving at Agua Clara after 3:30 pm: the ticket office is closed even though the center stays open until 5 pm.
- Confusing the price of a tour (transport + guide) with the official admission price.
- Looking for the biggest ships at Miraflores: they go through the Neopanamax locks (Agua Clara, Cocolí).
When to go
The canal can be visited all year since it operates continuously. For the weather in Panama and the choice between dry season and rainy season, see our page on the best time to visit Panama. On the ground, the ACP has announced measures linked to the drop in rainfall in the canal basin: water management of Gatún Lake remains a closely watched issue.
What to see nearby
- Panama: Casco Antiguo, the San Blas islands, Bocas del Toro, and the map of Panama.
- Gatún Lake, the heart of the canal at 26 m (85 ft) above sea level, visible from the Agua Clara viewing platform (ACP).
- The Amador Causeway, built in 1913 with rock excavated from the Culebra Cut, linking the city to four islands (Naos, Perico, Culebra, Flamenco), according to the ACP.
- To combine: neighboring Costa Rica or Colombia.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit the Panama Canal?
At Miraflores, B/. 17.22 (equal to US dollars) per non-resident adult and B/. 7.22 for ages 6 to 12, IMAX film included; at Agua Clara, US$10 and US$5. Free under 6. Prices recorded on 24 October 2026 on the official website.
What are the Miraflores locks’ opening hours?
The center is open every day from 8 am to 6 pm; the ticket office closes at 5 pm.
What time do ships pass at Miraflores?
It changes every day: the official website visitcanaldepanama.com publishes the morning cut-off time and the afternoon resumption time. Check it on the same day.
Do you need to book?
No, the ticket is bought at the counter; the official online ticket office lets you buy it in advance.
How long is the Panama Canal?
About 80 kilometers (50 mi) between the Atlantic and the Pacific, according to the Canal Authority.
Miraflores or Agua Clara?
Miraflores is near Panama City and shows the historic locks; Agua Clara, on the Caribbean side, shows the expanded locks where the largest ships pass.
Our sources
- Panama Canal Authority, visitor website (visitcanaldepanama.com): home page, Miraflores and Agua Clara pages, consulted on 24 October 2026
- Panama Canal Authority (pancanal.com): « History of the Panama Canal », « Discover the Expanded Canal » and home page (13,404 transits in 2025), consulted on 24 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculations: average transits per day and lock chamber areas, based on ACP figures
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official websites before you go.
