Fifty miles long, the awesome Panama Canal takes ships eight hours to transverse (and often costs them toll fees of over $100,000). A system of locks and manmade lakes rely on gravitational forces to lift the giant boats over the Panama isthmus -- ships rise as high as 85 feet over sea level -- and set them down again on the other side. The French began construction of the canal after their successful completion of Egypt's Suez Canal, but yellow fever, other diseases, and the difficulty of excavating rock from the middle of the jungle caused them to abandon the project. American President Theodore Roosevelt then took over the project through controversial political maneuvering, and the canal was finally opened under American control in 1914. Ownership passed back to the Panamanians in 1999, and in their hands the canal has consistently exceeded all previous traffic, revenue, and safety records.

Construction is nearing completion on Panama’s newest museum dedicated to biodiversity, designed by distinguished architect Frank Gehry.

Punta Culebra Nature Center (PCNC) is a non-profit initiative of STRI that relies on the support of the Smithsonian Foundation of Panama and international entities. It offers visitors an open-air museum focusing mainly on marine science and education, conservation and interpretation of marine coastal environments. More than 700,000 students and visitors have visited PCNC since it opened in 1996, and hundreds of schools have taken part in its educational program.

Here, you will see a remote point of land located near the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal known as Isla Galeta. Starting in the 1930’s, the island was used for communication and intelligence research by the U.S. Navy. In 1959 it became a Naval Security Group Activity, and a Wullenweber antenna array was constructed on the site making it a state of the art Cold War defense facility. The nearest city, Colon, is the second largest duty-free port in the world.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution (STRI) in Panama, is a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution based outside of the United States, is dedicated to understanding biological diversity.

“La Granja” or “The Farm” offers a huge variety of agricultural and adventure activities. Try your hand at composting or learn about the farm’s thriving animal population. Other more adventurous activities include fishing, ziplining, horseback riding, bicycling or kayaking on Gatun Lake.

La India Dormida, or the Sleeping Indian Maiden, is known to reflect the silhouette of a sleeping maiden when seen from afar. Hike to the top of the mountain for breathtaking views of El Valle and the surrounding area.

Chagres National Park contains tropical rainforests which are teeming with natural beauty, including stunning vistas, abundant tropical flora, and significant amounts of wild life. There are 900 or so endemic plant species, more than scientists have been able to identify and name. Of the 114 mammal species in Chagres National Park, four occur nowhere else. Bird watchers have identified 396 species in the park. There are 95 varieties of reptiles in the park and 79 kinds of amphibians.