Panama Canal Partial Transit: Cross the Locks & Culebra Cut

Rise 56 feet through working locks and navigate the Culebra Cut aboard a guided canal transit.

A 7-hour guided cruise through the Panama Canal crosses the Miraflores Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks and Culebra Cut, rising 56 feet above sea level. You board at a central check-in point, pass through a single-level lock into Gatun Lake, and observe the Centennial Bridge and Bridge of the Americas from the water. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch and non-alcoholic beverages are included. The guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Panama Canal partial transit experience

• Check in point
• Cross half of the Panama Canal
• Cross the 1 level lock
• Get to the beginning of Gatun Lake

What’s included

• Non-alcoholic beverages and lunch are served during the cruise.
• guided sightseeing commentary in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at your accommodation.

Times

• Saturday and Sunday No fixed time

Another day? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 200 3 private ›

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Ages Adult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Event Plus Panama, S.A.

Prices and times updated yesterday

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The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and moves to the check-in point where you board the vessel for a partial transit of the canal. The boat enters the Miraflores Locks first, where the water rises 56 feet to lift the ship into the canal's upper level. From there you pass through the Pedro Miguel Locks and into the Culebra Cut, the channel carved through the continental divide that was the engineering challenge of the original canal construction. The route also passes the Centennial Bridge and the Bridge of the Americas, both visible from the water as you move through the system.

Lunch and non-alcoholic beverages are served during the 7-hour journey, so there's no need to arrange food separately. The guide provides commentary in English or Spanish throughout the transit, explaining how the lock system works and the history of the canal itself. The boat returns to the original check-in point, and hotel pickup and drop-off complete the day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens when the boat enters the Miraflores Locks?

The Miraflores Locks raise the vessel 56 feet above sea level, lifting it from the Pacific entrance into the canal's upper level so it can pass through the Culebra Cut and into Gatun Lake.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 7 hours from hotel pickup through the return, including the transit itself, lunch and the journey back to your hotel.

Is lunch included in the price?

Yes, lunch and non-alcoholic beverages are both included during the cruise. No separate meal cost.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price for most hotels. Hotels located after the Bridge of the Americas are not covered by the pickup service.