Miraflores Locks Visitor Center at a glance
The Miraflores Locks are on the Pacific side of the canal, within the Panama City area. The visitor center has an outdoor viewing platform over the locks, a play area and a 3D film shown in an IMAX cinema. You do not need a boat or a tour to come here. You buy a ticket and walk onto the platforms.
The ticket prices below were listed for non-residents in October 2026. IMAX is included in the ticket.
Miraflores Visitor Center tickets and hours
Prices in US dollars, as listed in October 2026.
| Visitor | Entry (2026) |
|---|---|
| Non-resident adult | $17.22 |
| Non-resident child, 6 to 12 years | $7.22 |
| Non-resident child under 6 | Free |
| Panamanian or resident adult, with proof | $3.00 |
| Panamanian or resident up to and including 18 | Free |
| Retired person with national ID (jubilado) | $1.50 |
The center is open every day from 08:00 to 18:00, and the ticket office closes at 17:00. No regular weekly closing day is listed. Tickets are sold on the spot, and an online shop with date and time selection is linked from the canal authority's visitor site. The shop may show as offline, so do not count on it. Check the current status before you travel.
Do not plan your visit around the old museum floors, as it is not clear that all of them are open. The viewing platforms, the film and the play area are the parts to count on. The lower platform is wheelchair accessible.
Our picks: Miraflores and the locks
Two tours to the locks, one with Miraflores entry and one at the Agua Clara side.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Gatun Lake boat tour and Miraflores Locks
Transfer from a downtown hotel, a boat tour on Gatun Lake and entry to the Miraflores visitor centre, which costs $17.22 for non-residents when bought on its own.
Check availability →
Panama City and canal half-day tour
A bilingual guide, air-conditioned transport, water and snacks, and a walk through Casco Antiguo. Canal visitor centre entry is only included with the matching option (the official Miraflores ticket costs $17.22 for non-residents), and BioMuseo is seen from outside.
Check availability →
Agua Clara and Gatún locks by road
Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, water, snacks and fruit. Canal entry costs $10 per person (one ticket covers both locks).
Check availability →Panama Canal tours from Panama City
Visit the locks with a guide or combine them with a boat trip on the canal, with live prices and availability.
Watching ships at Miraflores
What decides whether you see a ship.
No fixed ship times
The canal authority publishes a daily schedule of ship movements that changes from day to day. Do not rely on fixed time windows from old blogs.
Film times are not ship times
Films start at 08:45, 09:45, 11:00, 12:15, 13:30, 14:45, 16:00 and 17:15. These are cinema shows and say nothing about when a ship enters the lock.
Fewer ships on some days
Low water has reduced daily transits, with 33 allowed from 15 October 2026. You can still see ships, but plan a buffer and read the schedule on the day.
Ships in the lock
In the old locks, locomotives hold the ships in position. Tugs do the same job in the newer locks. See map and locks.
How to get to Miraflores
By public bus, taxi or tour.
MiBus runs the route C810 between the Albrook terminal and Miraflores. You need a transit card, as the fare is not paid in cash on board. Children under 4 travel free. Check the travel time, frequency and last departure for C810 on the day, and ask about parking fees if you drive.
A taxi or a ride service is the simple option if you start from a hotel in the city. Agree the fare before you get in, and arrange your return ride before you leave the center. A tour covers the transfer, and some tours combine the locks with a boat trip through part of the canal.
Agua Clara Visitor Center near Colón
The second visitor center is on the Caribbean side, at the Agua Clara Locks of the expanded canal. It is on Calle Golf in Colón, which makes it a long day trip from Panama City. Count on about 3 hours on site. The center is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00, and the ticket office closes at 15:30.
Here you get a panorama of the lake and the new locks, a room with a 12-minute film and a 1 km nature trail of medium difficulty. The snack bar, restaurant and souvenir shop are listed as temporarily closed with no reopening date, so bring water and food.
The canal authority lists Gatún with the same offer, open 08:30 to 16:30, and says to buy tickets at the Agua Clara ticket office. Ask at the ticket office which ticket covers which area before you pay.
Agua Clara tickets (2026)
Prices in US dollars, as listed in October 2026.
| Visitor | Entry (2026) |
|---|---|
| Non-resident adult | $10.00 |
| Non-resident child, 6 to 12 years | $5.00 |
| Under 6 | Free |
| Panamanian or resident adult | $3.00 |
| Panamanian or resident up to 18 | Free |
| Retired person with national ID (jubilado) | $1.50 |
Colón is not Panama City. You must plan the way back separately, as there is no reliable public bus directly to the visitor center. Agree a taxi fare in advance. A guided trip or a pre-agreed driver solves this. If you travel on a cruise that stops at Colón, a ship excursion is the easiest way to see Agua Clara. See Panama Canal cruises.
Plan the rest of your trip
Useful pages before you go.
Miraflores Visitor Center: frequently asked questions
How much is the Miraflores Visitor Center?
In 2026 a non-resident adult pays $17.22 and a child aged 6 to 12 pays $7.22. Children under 6 are free. IMAX is included in the price.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 08:00 to 18:00. The ticket office is open from 08:00 to 17:00.
Can I be sure to see a ship at Miraflores?
No. Ship movements change each day and no fixed times are guaranteed. The film start times are not ship times. Check the daily schedule on the day.
How long should I plan?
Plan on a couple of hours for the platforms and the film. Add the transfer from the city.
Is Agua Clara worth the trip?
It is worth it if you want to see the expanded locks. It is on the Atlantic side near Colón, so it is a longer day. Adults pay $10.00 and children aged 6 to 12 pay $5.00 in 2026.
Can I get there by public transport?
For Miraflores, MiBus route C810 runs from Albrook. For Agua Clara no reliable public bus to the center is confirmed, so plan a tour or a driver.