IMAX Theatre & Miraflores Locks

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

What you will visit:

Miraflores Locks Visitors Center
Offering a unique Panama Canal experience, the Miraflores Visitors Center offers dynamic views of canal transits from outdoor observation decks. Inside, it features a variety of displays in its terrace dedicated to one of the seven wonders of the modern world. You will learn about the canal's biodiversity, its complicated history, and its function and international importance. A gift shop offers a variety of canal-themed items and accessories.

IMAX Film Presentation, Panama Canal 3D: A Land Divided – A World United

View "Panama Canal 3D: A Land Divided – A World United" on one of the largest IMAX screens in the world. This sweeping cinematic event is narrated by Academy-Award winning actor Morgan Freeman and takes the viewer on an electrifying journey. Experience the locks and mechanical operations of the canal, glide airborne over Panama, the railway and the country, then discover the beauty of the tropical rainforest from the seat of a native canoe. This epic film begins in the days of the conquistadors and progresses through the American engineering achievement that revolutionized shipping. Experience the visionary efforts to expand the 100-year-old waterway to accommodate post-Panamax ships, drawing you finally into the fusion of the old and the new Panama.

What you will see along the way:

After boarding your motorcoach for the 90-minute drive, you'll make your way to the Miraflores Locks Visitors Center. Here, panoramic views of canal transits can be seen from the observation decks. The lock gates at Miraflores are the tallest of the three due to the extreme tidal variation that takes place in the Pacific Ocean. Depending on the size of each vessel, you can see anywhere from one to three vessels make the transit simultaneously. From the moment a vessel enters the locks, it takes approximately 10 minutes for the process to be completed.

Special Notes:

Depending on canal scheduling, you may or may not actually see vessels in the lock chambers. The Panama Canal Authority assigns specific time slots for the transit of a vessel through the locks. The ship will anchor in a designated area and will wait for instructions. Once clearance is transmitted to the ship, procedures begin to bring ship's tour passengers ashore. Therefore, tour departure times may vary and will be announced onboard. The return time of the ship to Colon or Cristobal may also be delayed due to transit through the locks. We recommend that you are prepared for any potential of delay in the ship's arrival to Colon or Cristobal and plan accordingly by bringing any needed medication or essential items on tour.

Depending on the voyage and itinerary guests will be dropped off in either Colon or Cristobal.