agua clara locks visitor center the panama canal
The Agua Clara Visitor Center is the canal’s newest visitor center and the only venue offering panoramic views of Gatun Lake. Aside from the gift shop and projection room, it is entirely outdoors. Open and spacious, the center is perched high on a hilltop, overlooking the southern entrance to Agua Clara Locks, and consists of a projection room, gift shop, three large viewing areas, and a .6 mile (1 km) hiking trail.
The primary platform, which resides at the back, overlooks the locks and offers the best views of the lock chambers, control tower, and Atlantic Bridge. To the left are two open additional observation areas, providing better views of the anchorage and Gatun Lake.
Vessels entering into and departing from Agua Clara Locks pass in front, so you get a close-up view of these monstrous vessels and the tugboats accompanying them; the largest ships that transit the Canal pass through Agua Clara Locks. The southmost set of chamber doors is visible, which you can watch open and close as the vessels enter and depart from the lock chamber. To the right, you will see the immense control tower, two adjacent lock chambers, and the newly-built Atlantic Bridge. Depending on your arrival time, you might see multiple vessels in the locks simultaneously. Gatun Locks, the adjacent set of locks, is visible in the distance, though it is quite a long way away and challenging to discern. In front and off to the left is the anchorage, where you’ll see numerous vessels anchored. The anchorage is a designated area where vessels wait before recommencing transit.
The Agua Clara Visitor Center is very different than its older sibling at Miraflores Locks. At Miraflores, you are physically much closer to the locks but denied the expansive views of Gatun Lake. In addition, the Agua Clara Visitor Center is almost entirely outdoors, aside from the gift shop and projection room, whereas the Miraflores Visitor Center consists of two large, enclosed buildings.
In the new locks — Agua Clara and Cocoli — all vessels are accompanied by tug boats, fore, and aft, as depicted in these photos. In the old locks — Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores — they are not used.
Unfortunately, a long metal security fence runs along and in front of the viewing platform, partially obstructing your view of the locks and vessels below. I found it annoying, as did everyone else. To get a clear, unobstructed view, you must position yourself at either end of the platform where the ground is higher. Visitors tend to congregate in these areas for just that reason.
The anchorage resides just south of Agua Clara and Gatun Locks. You'll have an unobstructed view from all three observation platforms at Agua Clara Locks and should see several ships during your visit. Depending on a vessel's transit schedule, ships often park in the anchorage before recommencing transit, northbound or southbound.
The primary viewing platform has roofing under which you can shelter if it rains or if you want to step out of the sun; the other two viewing areas are open, like the photo above. Ample seating is available, and there is a small playground for children.
There are no public buses that service the Agua Clara Visitor Center, so you must arrange transportation. From the city of Colon, the official taxi rate is $6.00, though you will have to pay extra for each additional passenger. It takes just 15-20 minutes to get there.