03 Panama: Sailing from Ocean to Ocean...

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart..." - Helen Keller

(A cargo ship crossing the Panama Canal)

Day 03: 21/06/25 (Saturday)

Activity: Panama Canal Cruise and Gamboa Tour
Hotel: Casa Miller Hotel, Panama City

(Hotel Casa Miller, Panama City)

(Waiting for the Tour bus at the hotel lobby)

The day began early at 6:00 a.m., when Mr. Alonso, our cheerful guide, and Mr. Manuel, the driver, picked the four of us up. Skipping breakfast, we joined other tourists on the bus as it made its rounds through Panama City, gathering travelers for the day’s adventure.

Panama itself is a fascinating country, a narrow isthmus connecting Central and South America. Its most iconic landmark, the Panama Canal, cuts through the heart of the land, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and serving as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. The capital, Panama City, reflects this dual character: a bustling modern skyline of glass towers and casinos standing alongside colonial Casco Viejo and the lush greenery of the Metropolitan Natural Park.

(One of the canal expansion locks in Panama Canal)

(Overloaded cargo ship entering from the Pacific Ocean)

(A bridge over the Chagres River)

(The train track along the river)

(Exploring the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve)

After about a 45-minute drive, we arrived at Gatún Lake in Gamboa. From the jetty, we boarded a boat and set off on a cruise through the Panama Canal and the surrounding Gamboa Rainforest Reserve. Our destination was the famous Monkey Island - home to playful capuchins, vocal howler monkeys, and tiny tamarins. The lake’s scattered islands also sheltered birds, sloths, and other wildlife.

(A small jetty at Gatun Lake)

(Enjoying the Panama Canal Cruise)

(One of the many tourists cruise boats)

(Cruise boats docking. Time to watch the wildlifes)

(The white-nosed coatimundis)

(A white faced monkey)

(Some monkeys are playfully tame)

(The wild ones are keeping their distance)

What made the experience even more impressive was learning the history of Gatún Lake itself. An artificial freshwater lake created by damming the mighty Chagres River, it lies 27 meters above sea level. Together with Alajuela Lake, it forms the essential water system that powers the canal’s operations.

(Comfort break, sharing the washroom)

(Having brunch at a Chinese Restaurant)

After the boat cruise, we stopped for a short coffee break at a nearby Chinese restaurant, before heading to the Agua Clara Locks on the Atlantic side of the canal. Here, we witnessed the sheer scale of global trade in motion: a massive cargo ship slowly made its way through the locks, lifted step by step before sailing out into the Atlantic Ocean. Watching the locks operate after a short introductory video gave me a deeper appreciation of the precision and engineering genius behind the canal.

(The Canal De Panama)

(Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center)

(Tug boats assisting to align the cargo ship)

(The opening of the locks for ships to pass through)

(A cargo ship passing through the locks)

(The tourists viewing area)

(Souvenirs of Canal De Panama)

By midday, we traveled on to Portobelo, a historic port town on the northern coast. Known for its colonial forts and once a hub of Spanish treasure fleets, Portobelo carries centuries of stories in its stones. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the skies opened up in a torrential downpour. Our planned picnic lunch had to be moved indoors, so we settled for a buffet in the Visitor Centre instead. Visiting the fort drenched in rain wasn’t ideal, and the poor visibility meant no photos this time - just memories.

(Heavy rain at Puerto Bello)

(No sign of the rain stopping)

(Stranded visitors listening to the guide)

(Our buffet lunch at Puerto Bello)

( The historical fort in the background)

The return journey to Panama City was quiet and uneventful. By 3:30 p.m., we were back at our hotel, where a long afternoon nap felt like the perfect way to end such a packed day.

👈02 Turkey/Panama: Spanish Colonial Influences...

    04 Panama: Embera Indigenous Village Experience...👉