Panama City

Panama City's cruise port at Balboa sits at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The Miraflores Locks Visitor Centre is the closest major attraction, about 15 minutes away, with a viewing platform where you watch ships being raised and lowered through the canal system. A museum inside explains the canal's construction and operation. Casco Viejo, the old town, is a UNESCO-listed district of colonial buildings, churches, and plazas being restored amid the ongoing life of the neighbourhood. Some blocks are beautifully restored with restaurants and boutique hotels, while others remain in their original state. The modern skyline along the Cinta Costera waterfront is dramatic and relatively recent. The Causeway (Amador Causeway) extends into the bay and has restaurants, bike rentals, and views of the canal entrance. Ceviche is the local lunch staple. The US dollar is the currency.