FULLTRANSITOcean to Ocean Lenght: 10 horas** FARES **Sometimes
there are delays for reasons that are out of our control. We highly
recommend having an open schedule and avoiding serious commitments or
flights out after this. Also due to the high demand created by the Panama opening to cruises
there is the possibility that an extra transit might be schdeluded
on some Sundays. If yourtravelling
plans call for a better accomodation on this day
rather the traditional Saturdays check with us for its availability on that
particular date.
This tour should be considered a once in a life time experience as rarely
people are able to see such engineering wonder from this perspective. Our
transportation will pick up at your Hotel, then be
transferred to the BalboaPort to embark the
vessel and start this famous journey.
Upon departure, get in to the Panama Canal in MiraFlores Locks, experience how your ship is raised up
to 54 feet in a two step process. This activity is achieved by sending
water from Pedro MiguelÂ’s lake by gravity to
fill the chambers where the ship is locked. Once the first set of locks is
transited, the vessel gets in to Pedro MiguelÂ’s
locks to be raised up to 85 feet. Again no water pumps are use, they take advantage on gravity to transfer water
from GatunLake, which is higher,
to fill the last Chamber of the Pacific site.
Then, the ship transits the GatunLake, once, the biggest
man-made in the world until reaching Gatun Locks in the Atlantic side.
Here, the ship will be lowered to sea level using the same system, however,
instead of filling the chambers they will be emptied in a three step
process.
It is worth to know that fiftytwo million gallons
of fresh water are thrown to the ocean per full transit. This experience
ends in Cristobal where transportation will be waiting for the transfer back
to Panama City. The tour includes
breakfast, soft drinks, lunch, transfers and specialized guide.
The following are the dates when the Full Panama Canal Transit takes place:
DATES 2006 JAN 7 - 21, FEB 4 - 18, MAR 4 - 18, APR 1 - 15, MAY 6 - 20, JUN 3 - 13, JUL 1 - 15. AGO 5 – 19, SEP 2 –16, OCT 7 – 21, NOV 4 – 18, DIC 2 – 16..
Light clothes, insect repellent, hat, sunscreen and very comfortable shoes,
are suggested. Do not forget your camera and lot of films.
The Partial Canal Transit from Balboa or Gamboa takes place
every Saturday. This tour gives you the opportunity to transit one set of
Locks. The ship departs from Balboa and goes right into the Miraflores
Locks, the ship
is raised up to 54 feet in a two steps process. This activity is achieved
by sending water from Pedro Miguels
lake by gravity to fill the chambers where the ship is locked. Once the
process is finished, get into PedroMiguelsLake. Calling at
Gamboa you are then transferred to a bus to return to Balboa approximately
at
The other version of the partial
transit departs Flamenco by bus to Gamboa to take the boat that will
transit the locks lowering it from the lake to the ocean taking you back to
the Flamenco pier. Transportation will be waiting for transfer to Hotel in
both cases. The tour includes breakfast or sandwiches. Also some Fridays a
night transit is possible from Flamenco to Gamboa by boat returning by
autobus to Flamenco. No transits are scheduled for Christmas or New Year.Light clothes, insect repellent, hat, sunscreen
and very comfortable shoes, are suggested. Do not forget your camera and
lots of film.
