This year marking exactly a century since its completion, this 82-kilomter (51-mile) waterway linking the Paific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea looms large Panama tourism, both because of the cruise ships traversing it but also being high on the list of visitor priorities, attracting nearly a million per year. Virtually all  tour operators run excursions here from Panama City (though it´s also pretty easy to visit independently via car or even public bus). Miraflores is are the closest to the capital of the canal´s three locks, and it has a viewing platform and a museum about the canal´s history and technical aspect.

Roger W