I'll be in Panama City Panama at the end of the month.
I'd like to see the canal, I don't think I need a tour through the canal, just to see it.
Does anyone have recommendations of how I go about doing that.
I've read that a tour through the canal is like $180 and half a day
Is the only other option to see the canal through the visitor center????
thanks
The best way to do the canal is on a cruise, that is what we did, but if you don't want to do that, I have some suggestions.
There is a railway that goes across close to the canal, that might interest you. Also, there may be boat tours that actually go through the canal, if you can do that, I recommend that.
Also, make sure you read the book "Path Between the Seas" by David McCullough. It provides an excellent history of the building of the canal, starting with the failed French attempt.
Take a look at the "things to do" menu on TripAdvisor - I see several day tours and day cruises based in Panama City that might be of interest.
I think doing a cruise is overkill. It is so easy just to take a cab from town to the Miraflores locks. Just negotiate the price including waiting time with your driver ahead of time. If I recall correctly about an hour or 1.5 hours should be enough time to see the locks open and close before heading back to town
EDIT: Just noticed this is an OLD thread, from AUGUST.
It would be helpful if you gave a little more detail, like why you are in Panama City, and for how many days. Is it in connection with a cruise? The main reason I ask is that not all areas of Panama City are considered safe for naive tourists alone. OTOH, Colon, at the other end of the canal, there is almost NO place safe for an unaccompanied tourist. We were bussed by our cruise company from the Panama City arrival days to Colon, for embarcation. It's quite a long distance. The hotel warned (yes, I know they have an economic interest ... ) to use only their approved car service company for our independent explorations in Panama City.
If you are asking, "Is the canal a security zone that I am not free to stroll the length of at leisure?", that is correct.
the reason this reopened is that there is spam in the message which reopened it, soon to be gone
