When most people think of Panama, they think of the Panama canal and here’s your chance to see it. The Miraflores Visitors Center offers fantastic outdoor viewing decks of ships passing through the locks and you can admire the entire (long) process. Make sure you are there either between 9-11 or 3-5 when ships are passing through. The best view is from the 4th floor so head straight up there. Your ticket also offers a 4 floor interactive museum that includes the canal’s history and ecology and is very good. The museum has a nice restaurant if you want to enjoy a sunset dinner of the canal. You don’t really need a guide for the Locks or Visitor Center, but many of the day tours of the city include it, and it provides you easy transportation there.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 08:00 – 18:00 (last entrance ticket 17:15)