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Panama Canal Full Transit

On board • across the isthmus • bilingual • lunch and beverages.

• Panama Canal transit cruises
• On board guide
• Lunch & beverages
• Gateway: Panama City Panama

The vessel will then transit through the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks, where it will ascend 18 meters in two distinct steps. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel Locks from Miraflores Locks. The vessel will transit through Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel ascends 9 meters in one step.

After exiting Pedro Miguel locks, the Pacific Queen will travel through the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. In this area you will also be able to observe the work in process for the Panama Canal expansion project.

 You will enjoy a trip through Gatun Lake, which was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. During your transit through Gatun Lake you will pass the Smithsonian Research Station at Barro Colorado. You will also experience the Gatun Locks, which are the only set of locks in the Atlantic sector. In Gatun Locks, the vessel will be lowered a total of 26 meters in three distinct chambers. Upon arriving at Colon, you will disembark at Pier 6, where transportation back to Panama City will be provided.  We should get back to Panama City around 7:30 - 8:00pm.

FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE ? Bilingual guide/narrator, full lunch, soft drinks and water (all you can drink). transportation by bus in the way back. 

It does not include hotel pick up or drop off.   It interested on it we would happy to quote you on it. Coastway Amador  is about 20-30 minutes from most Panama City hotels in downtown and we advise to procure a taxi ride with hotel concierge from the day before your trip.

WHO CAN GO ? Everyone. Minors must travel with a responsible adult.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE ALONG ? Sun protection and confortable clothing.  

WHAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT ? Travel light and avoic carrying what you wont use.

-  This is not an exclusive trip.  You will be one more person in a small boat that could take around 200 persons.

- *** Given itinerary is temptative and subjected to final decision of the Panama Canal Authority which can change it (earlier or later, usually up to a couple of hours).  If that happens we will notify you by email as soon as we get notice of a change so PLEASE check your email.

Year-round Panama Canal transit cruises

The best way to experience the canal is onboard a cruise. During your transit, you will have the unique opportunity to see the Canal up close in operation. 

Website about The Panama Canal Panama

Destinations

• Panama Canal
• Guna Yala - San Blas Archipelago
• Pearl Islands Archipelago
• Mamey Island

Deals & Offers

• Group Discount
• Panama whale watching
• Panama Canal Partial Transit
• Central American Tours
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PANAMA CANAL TOURS

The true panama canal tour, the best boat tour through the panama canal, exclusive tours. true experience + 15 years sailing the panama canal..

Welcome to Panama Canal Tours . Your next big adventure to the second largest  Rainforest  in the   Western hemisphere . Panama! Tour the famous Panama Canal at water level, by boat.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of America with our authentic boat tours, offering you a unique perspective of this engineering marvel.

Experience the Panama Canal at water level, immersing yourself in its rich history and breathtaking scenery. Don’t settle for anything less than the real deal – join us for the ultimate Panama Canal adventure.

Don’t accept imitations, TRULY navigate the Panama Canal. We offer the authentic boat tour through the historic Panama Canal. This is the most thrilling One-Day Tour available in Panama.

Panama Canal Tours, witness the connection of the two largest oceans on the planet with our spectacular tours.

Unforgettable One-Day Cruise Through the Panama Canal

What is the best tour of the panama canal.

Choose from our range of boat tours designed to cater to every traveler’s needs:

• Partial Transits : Experience a 5 to 6-hour journey, witnessing the mesmerizing Pacific locks.
• Full Transits: Embark on a 10 -11-hour adventure, traversing the entire Panama Canal from ocean to ocean.
• Alternative Tour/Transit : Explore the Canal’s waters in a unique way during a 5-hour excursion.

Learn more about each tour option on our website and select the one that best suits your preferences.

The Authentic Panama Canal Tour

R enowned, world-class travel organizations such as TripAdvisor as well as major cruise-ship lines promote our tours amongst their valuable clients. Likewise, our tours are promoted by important hotels, travel agencies and tour operators worldwide. We also find multiple international companies as well as embassies recommending our famous excursions to their executives, diplomatic personnel, friends, and families.

You can be assured that our boat tour through the Panama Canal is the original. We are the Authentic Tour. It is guaranteed that with our tour you will honestly be crossing and experience the true Panama Canal. An undeniable wonder of the modern world.

Some tour operators well sell you the idea that you will navigate the Canal, when truth be known they only take you on a tour of the bay entrance to the canal. We, on the other hand, navigate the Canal from ocean to ocean. We take you inside the locks. You will sail along the very Canal itself alongside the huge cargo ships as they too make this exhilarating journey. You want the true experience, don´t accept imitations.

As part of our fascinating tours, you will find yourself sharing canal width with some of the largest cargo and cruise ships the world has to offer.

Our expert narrators delight in completely submerging you in the intriguing history of both the Canal and the country. They will explain for you the of the locks, the Chagres River and Gatun Lake as well as point out special sites as you come upon them through the trip. Navigate and learn about the one-and-only Panama Canal. Unquestionably the most important man-made canal on the planet.

Home » Travel Guides » Panama » 15 Best Panama Canal Tours

15 Best Panama Canal Tours

The Panama Canal is a wonder of the engineering world and is a conduit between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the largest engineering projects on earth, and took 33 years to complete. The Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, located at either end of the canal, lift ships a staggering 26 metres above sea level before lowering them again on the other side.

With the fascinating locks, the man-made Gatun Lake, Gamboa rainforest, and Monkey Island, this canal and the surrounding areas are indeed worth a visit at least once in your life.

Below are the 15 best Panama Canal tours to help you make the most of your visit.

1. Panama Canal, Colón Rainforest and San Lorenzo Fort Tour

On this 7-hour guided tour, you can discover a plethora of sites in addition to the Panama Canal. You will be picked up from your hotel in Panama City and taken to the Colon Rainforest in an air-conditioned vehicle. Here, tourists get on board a ferry and enjoy the nature from a minibus. Tourists love to take pictures here, and this place is an amazing spot to discover wildlife.

After exploring Colon, tourists get to visit the historical San Lorenzo Fort and learn about its history. This guided tour then takes you to the last destination, the Panama Canal’s expansion at Agua Clara.

The tour includes pick-up and drop-off service, transportation to the sites, fresh local fruit, and a selection of drinks. It is a really good option if you enjoy the mystic scenery of nature and wildlife, and also love to visit or learn about significant historical sites.

2. Monkey Island and the Indian Village Tour

Discover Monkey Island and a real Indian village on this fascinating eco tour, whilst traveling through the waters of the Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal.

You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the River Chagres for a 2-hour cruise in the Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal. Here, tourists love to look out for wildlife and capture pictures of themselves amongst the natural beauty and the nearby bays. Next, get an opportunity to visit the famous Monkey Island, which is home to white-faced monkeys. Here, you may encounter other species of animals as well.

You will also visit a real Indian village where you can learn about the culture, traditions, and history of the inhabitants there.

This tour is a great option for you if you wish to interact and learn about new cultures while getting to experience unique things on the way.

This tour is a 7-hour guided tour. The price includes taxes and the boat tour price and offers a pickup service as well.

View Prices & Reviews

3. Private Miraflores Visitor Center Panama Canal Tour

Get to see the Panama Canal busy at work, from the Miraflores Locks at the Miraflores Visitor Center on this private guided tour.

Enjoy the view of the Panama Canal and watch the ships traveling to and fro between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.

This tour is a 3-hour guided tour and includes a pick-up and drop-off service, along with other transportation and water.

4. 6-Hour Panama Canal Cruising Tour

Get the most of the Panama Canal by cruising on a ship through the waters for 6 hours. This tour is guided and will let you experience the Panama Canal in a very realistic way.

This tour will take you through a section of the Panama Canal, to the world-famous Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. Here, you get to see the engineering wonder close up, and marvel at the sight of the huge ships.

The tour further takes you to the Pacific Ocean marina at Flamenco and also lets you see the Centennial Bridge.

This tour includes drinks and lunch as well.

5. Jungle and Gatun Lake at the Panama Canal Tour

Discover the Panama Canal from a very different aspect and take a look at a plethora of sites whilst cruising in a huge ocean vessel.

Depart from Lake Gatun and get a motorboat for traveling around. Tourists here get to see fauna and flora, the expansion of the canal, and will even learn about the history of this place.

This tour then leads you past the jungle to the Monkey Island. Lastly, there is a floating house on the lake where you can enjoy traditional cuisine and then sit back to unravel the marvels of this place at your own pace.

This is a one-day guided tour.

6. Panama Canal Tour including a variety of sites

Discover the beauty of the rainforest on an old-fashioned train and see the San Lorenzo Fort and the National Park’s focal points.

Here, you can also sightsee and learn about the wildlife in the area. Tourists love to capture pictures here and look out for different kinds of animals.

This is a 7-hour guided tour and includes transportation. A pick-up and drop-off service is also offered.

7. 5-hour Panama Canal and Monkey Island Tour

Brace yourselves to set out on an exciting full-day tour at the Panama Canal. Avail yourself of the pickup service and depart from your hotel, to the Panama Canal Visitors Center. Here, tourists can learn about the Canal and how it works. You can also visit the museum here.

The tour then leads you through the Miraflores and Pedro Locks to Lake Gatun. After spending some time there, tourists are taken to Monkey Island and then back to their respective hotels.

This is a 5-hour fully guided tour.

8. Panama Canal Partial Transit Tour

This tour takes tourists on a boat through the waters along the Panama Canal to the Pacific entrance, where you are then moved to pleasure boats. From there, the boats take you to the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. You also get a chance to discover the Gaillard Cut, which is the narrowest section of the canal. Tourists are disembarked at Gamboa.

Amidst of all this, a commentator is available that tells you every detail about the places you visit.

The tour lasts for about 5 hours and is guided.

9. Panama Canal and City Day tour

Discover not only the Panama Canal but Panama City as well. This tour enables you to visit the Panama Canal and see the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

It then leads you to the top of Ancon Hill to admire the scenery. Furthermore, tourists also get to see the Punta Culebra museum and the Casco Viejo site.

This tour lasts about for 8 hours and is guided.

10. Panama Canal Tour from the Airport

Make the best of your layover by heading to the Panama Canal right from Tocumen International Airport.

This is a private guided tour lasting for about 3 hours. You will get a chance to marvel at the wonder of engineering and explore the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

On your way back to the airport, you can enjoy the sights of Panama City from the comfort of a private car.

11. Panama Canal and the Jungle Experience Tour

Take the opportunity to escape Panama City and discover the amazing sights beyond. Visit the world-famous Panama Canal, and also see the National Park along with Monkey Island.

This tour is perfect for people who wish to visit the Panama Canal, the National Park, Gamboa Rainforest, Lake Gatun, and Monkey Island, all in one go. The tour also takes you to an Indian village where you can learn about the customs and culture of the people there.

This guided tour lasts for about 7.5 hours.

12. Panama Canal and the City Walking Tour With Your Local Guide

Visit the Panama Visitors Center at the Miraflores Lock and unravel some of the mystery of this engineering wonder. Your local guide can teach you a lot about the history and the modern day, and even help you envision the future of the Panama Canal.

After this, your local guide will take you to sites awaiting your presence in the city. From the Ancon Hill, Casca Viejo, and Punta Culebra to the Bridge of Americas, tourists will be able to enjoy everything like locals and at their own pace.

This guided tour takes about 7 hours to complete.

13. Panama City and Panama Canal Half-day tour

Experience a visit to the world-famous Panama Canal, and Panama City for a lifelong memory.

This tour first takes you towards the Panama Canal, and then to the area called Casco Antiguo. It then gives the tourists the amazing opportunity to view the canal and the city from the Amador Causeway.

This guided tour lasts for about 4 hours.

14. 5-hour Eco-Cruise in the Gatun Lake on the Panama Canal

This five-star tour enables you to visit the world-famous Panama Canal and go on a boat adventure, taking pictures of the beautiful scenery and wildlife in the rainforest and discovering the history and present of the canal at Miraflores Locks.

This tour then heads towards Gatun Lake which is also manmade, and this tour will help you learn about the ecological and scenic aspects of it. You might want to click pictures here.

This guided tour lasts about for 5 hours.

15. Panama City and Panama Canal Railway Half-day Tour

Travel from Panama City to the world famous Panama Canal on an old-fashioned train that will lead you from the Panama City to Colon along the Canal. During this half-day tour, you can enjoy the view of the mystic canal and click pictures for a keepsake.

This tour takes you through the Isthmus of Panama from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Amidst this, you can enjoy the beauty of the lush green rainforest around you. Tourists will also get a chance to unravel the mystery of the Gatun Locks and learn about the history of the place.

This tour is guided and lasts about for 5 hours.

15 Best Panama Canal Tours:

• Panama Canal, Colón Rainforest and San Lorenzo Fort Tour
• Monkey Island and the Indian Village Tour
• Private Miraflores Visitor Center Panama Canal Tour
• 6-Hour Panama Canal Cruising Tour
• Jungle and Gatun Lake at the Panama Canal Tour
• Panama Canal Tour including a variety of sites
• 5-hour Panama Canal and Monkey Island Tour
• Panama Canal Partial Transit Tour
• Panama Canal and City Day tour
• Panama Canal Tour from the Airport
• Panama Canal and the Jungle Experience Tour
• Panama Canal and the City Walking Tour With Your Local Guide
• Panama City and Panama Canal Half-day tour
• 5-hour Eco-Cruise in the Gatun Lake on the Panama Canal
• Panama City and Panama Canal Railway Half-day Tour

You will then enter the south end of the Gailard Cut where the Chagres River flows into the Canal. The Gailard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. The Pacific Queen will travel the Cut's 13.7 kilometers on the way to Gamboa Dredging Division. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides.

You will disembark at the Gamboa Dredging Division where you will board motor coaches for a 45-minute ride back to the Flamenco Marina.

Our tour starts at the Flamenco Resort and Marina. Passengers board motor coaches for a 45-minute ride to the town of Gamboa where the Panama Canal Dredging Division is located. Once in Gamboa, passengers board the Pacific Queen to start the water portion of the tour. The Panama Canal partial transit tour begins at the north end of the Gailard cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. The Pacific Queen will travel the Cut's 13.7 kilometers on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides.

Before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks at the southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the Centennial Bridge which crosses over the Canal. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one step. You will then enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At Miraflores Locks the vessel is lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps.

Once in the Pacific Ocean the vessel will sail to the beautiful Flamenco Marina where passengers disembark. On the way to Flamenco, you will pass under the Bridge of the Americas, and later, you will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City's splendorous skyline.

Check-in time:

The Panama Canal Tour departure times are subject to possible changes according to the operating conditions established by the Panama Canal Authority. Please contact us the day before your tour to re-confirm the check in time.

• The Northbound Partial Canal tours have a check in time approximately between 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.
• The Southbound Partial Canal tours  have a check in time approximately between 9:00 a.m.  – 10:00 a.m.

If you have a scheduled transfer with us, please note that we will arrange to pick you up at least one hour before the designated check in time.

What’s included

The Panama Canal partial transit tour includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (from selected hotels)
• Northbound Transit: Breakfast & Light Lunch 
• Southbound Transit: Buffet Lunch
• Served sodas and waters
• Bilingual guide

CHILDREN (3-12)

What to bring

• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Umbrella or raincoat and
• Money for souvenirs.

Book your tour now!

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The Panama City & Canal Tour is the perfect introduction to Panama City and its Canal. Along this captivating journey through the heart of Panama City, you will see highlights such as the renowned Ancon Hill, must-see places such as Casco Viejo - the old town with its beautiful and colorful colonial architecture, the Amador Causeway with spectacular views of the skyline and ocean and much more!

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This Monkey Island Panama Tour is an unforgettable adventure through the fauna and flora of Panama's luscious rainforest on a private boat will allow you to explore the fascinating biodiversity that resides within the Panama Canal. You may experience close encounters with its residents such as the capuchin and the Geoffroy's tamarin monkeys along with a variety of bird species, reptiles and much more.

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Embera Village & Waterfall Eco Tour

Delve into the vibrant culture and breathtaking natural beauty of the Embera Village on this immersive tour. From traditional dances and handicraft demonstrations to pirogue rides through lush rainforests, discover the rich traditions and stunning landscapes of the Emberá community in an unforgettable adventure on the Chagres River and National Park.

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Insight and Technology

Mega-canals could slice through continents for giant ships.

The Panama Canal may soon have a giant neighbour across Nicaragua – and two huge waterways could be built in Asia. Will they help or hurt the environment?

By Fred Pearce

11 April 2017

Venice it ain’t

Plainpicture/Sabine Vielmo

AFTER years of protest, the world’s biggest civil engineering project yet is now cleared for takeoff. Late last month, the Supreme Court in Nicaragua turned down the last environmental claim delaying the construction of the $50 billion Interoceanic Grand Canal.

It will carve a 273-kilometre channel through the small Central American country to connect the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean – even though the Panama Canal, 1000 kilometres to the south, already does the job, and received a massive upgrade less than a year ago.

Why the duplication? Proponents of the canal say it will ease congestion that the upgrade can’t address, and create new economic opportunities for Nicaragua. By shortening journeys, it could even help stem the rise in the shipping industry’s share of global carbon emissions , which could reach 17 per cent by mid-century .

But the project also raises troubling questions about the environmental chaos that could ensue when alien species navigate between newly linked oceans. This matters even more given that Nicaragua’s mega-canal isn’t the only one in the works. On the other side of the world, backers of two others have been watching progress closely. One of them will make the Nicaragua project look downright petite.

“Gargantuan ships carrying over 20,000 containers are quickly making canal upgrades look out of date”

The natural world can’t keep pace with our escalating demand for far-flung goods. An increasing proportion of the world’s freight in everything from cotton and crude oil to computers and Christmas toys edges through just two artificial waterways: the Panama Canal and, across the world, the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea.

Shortcuts for ships

But canals are choke points that are vulnerable to disruption by any number of causes , including administrative screw-ups, natural disasters and the age-old threat of piracy.

It is getting harder to keep maritime traffic flowing smoothly, despite our best efforts. Last June, the Panama Canal saw a $5 billion overhaul completed; in 2015, the Suez Canal was augmented by a second shipping lane cut through Egypt’s Sinai desert, at a cost of $8 billion.

And yet such infrastructure upgrades may not be enough. Gargantuan new ships that can carry over 20,000 containers have quickly made them look out of date . In January, the Panama Canal had to reduce the number of parking berths for super vessels, warning of “unusual delays”.

Little wonder the Nicaragua canal was an easy sell for some.

In 2013, President Daniel Ortega signed a deal with Chinese investor Wang Jing and his company, HKND Group, licensing them to build a canal across the country and giving them a 50-year concession on its operation. Wang’s canal, three times as long and twice as wide as the Panama Canal, would provide a new option for ships plying between China and the US east coast.

Unsurprisingly protests ensued, delaying construction. The project has enraged Nicaraguan ecologists. Its most outspoken critic is Jorge Huete-Perez at the University of Central America in Managua, a former president of the country’s Academy of Sciences. Huete-Perez told New Scientist the canal would cut through biosphere reserves and destroy 4000 square kilometres of rainforests and wetlands. He also warned it would decimate coastal coral, mangroves and beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs – as well as inundating the villages of several indigenous forest tribes. “The canal project represents the worst nightmare for Nicaraguan conservationists,” he says.

Read more: Seven megaprojects that would change the world

Fears are perhaps greatest for Lake Nicaragua. Spanning almost half the width of the country, it is the nation’s chief source of fresh water. More than 100 kilometres of it lies on the canal’s route, requiring a trench three times the lake’s existing depth to be built. That will “irreversibly alter the aquatic environment of Nicaragua,” says Axel Meyer of the University of Konstanz in Germany.

Not every scientist is against the idea. Freshwater biologist Jeffrey McCrary, who is based in Nicaragua, says peasant farmers have already destroyed most of the country’s pristine rainforest . Rather than removing what remains, the canal could trigger economic activity that would give them alternative jobs. HKND’s chief project adviser Bill Wild, a construction industry veteran, agrees. “Personally, I believe that the canal is the only thing that will save the Nicaraguan environment.”

The project has had a positive environmental assessment, produced for HKND by a UK consultancy. But last November, Nicaragua’s Academy of Sciences dismissed it as “propagandistic” and having “no scientific foundation”.

Nonetheless, environmental objections have now been sidelined. Ortega, newly re-elected and keen to get going, has increased his attacks on opponents of the canal, snuffing out protests. Construction could start before the end of the year.

While the Nicaraguan canal promises to vastly expand the Central American shipping corridor, a further two mega-canals are being negotiated. They would offer alternatives to two other major sea routes, namely the Bosporus – Russia’s sole southerly maritime access to the outside world – and the narrow Straits of Malacca, the gateway to China. Their advocates have watched the Nicaragua protests with interest, and their mood may well have been lifted by developments there.

Bypassing the Straits of Malacca would mean cutting a 50-kilometre notch through a finger of land called the Kra isthmus, in the south of Thailand (see map) . This would give China, the region’s superpower, the option for its ships to avoid the congested straits, shortening a route used at present by a third of all international cargo shipping. Container ships sailing between Shanghai and Mumbai, for example, would be able to shave more than two days off an 11-day journey.

The environmental impact of the project has not been studied but could be considerable, says Ruth Banomyong of the Thammasat University in Bangkok. However, as in Nicaragua, political will is unlikely to bow to environmental concerns. With an estimated cost of $20 billion, the Thai canal will be the cheapest of the proposed mega-canals, as well as the simplest to build. Another plus is that it would fulfil a promise made in 2013 by Chinese premier Xi Jinping to create a “maritime silk road”.

“The canal project represents the worst nightmare for Nicaraguan conservationists”

Both the Thai and Nicaraguan canals are dwarfed by a project being plotted to connect the Caspian Sea with the Persian Gulf. Its route would cleave right across Iran, stretching some 1400 kilometres. But length is hardly the biggest challenge. It would also need to traverse mountains up to 1600 metres high, requiring more than 50 giant locks, says Peyman Moazzen, a marine engineer based in Singapore, who has studied the scheme.

But the geopolitical prize might be worth the effort. Such a link would give Russia a long-desired sea route to east Asia that avoids the circuitous journey via essentially Western-controlled seaways like the Bosporus and the Suez Canal. Any environmental concerns would probably be trumped by the fact that Iranians think one of the proposed routes could double as an irrigation canal, watering the desert sands of eastern Iran.

The fates of both the Thai and the Iranian canals may well be determined by what happens in Nicaragua. A major protest will take place in Managua on 22 April, but legal avenues have been shut. The only remaining barriers are raising the money and any faltering in political will.

There may be one last, slim hope for opponents of the canals: an altogether different way for ships to get between oceans. Engineers in South Korea say it might be easier, and more environmentally friendly, to span the relatively flat Kra isthmus with a railway sturdy enough to carry ships weighing up to 100,000 tonnes (not much smaller than the Panama Canal now takes). The Korea Railroad Research Institute, which has pioneered the idea of these so-called “dry canals”, suggested earlier last year that it could be built for a quarter of the cost of the Thai canal . A similar project has been proposed in Honduras, just north of Nicaragua.

Is this the start of a new spate of monumental projects that archaeologists will be studying 10,000 years from now ? It all depends on how fast we want our stuff.

This article appeared in print under the headline “Carving up continents”

• environment /

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Travis Kelce Appears to Wipe Away Tears as Taylor Swift Performs ‘Mega-Mashup’ at Amsterdam ‘Eras Tour’ Show

Travis Kelce left hand-in-hand with Taylor Swift following her final Eras Tour concert in Amsterdam.

But fan footage shows that Kelce, 34, was feeling the love well before he and Swift, also 34, left the Johan Cruijff Arena in the Netherlands capital on Saturday, July 6.

In a video shared via TikTok on Sunday, July 7, the footballer is seen appearing to wipe tears from his eyes as Swift performs “Everything Has Changed.” The track was part of a surprise song selection that also featured “ Mary’s Song (Oh My My) ” and “So High School.”

Kelce watched Swift’s final Amsterdam show from a VIP box alongside Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes , who is seen in the video checking in on Kelce when he becomes noticeably emotional.

Related: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship Timeline

Fans have dubbed Swift’s song medley the “Travis Kelce mega-mashup” as the selection is believed to nod to the footballer.

“Mary’s Song” mentions the number 87, which may refer to Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs jersey number, while “So High School” was inspired by Kelce, as discussed on the “ Bussin’ With the Boys ” podcast on June 24 where Kelce revealed the track’s “got a little bit of a sentimental meaning.”

@rlknyc Travis’s reaction to Taylor singing this mega mashup (about him) — what does it mean? We can only speculate. Just glad MOTHER is freaking happy! #theerastourontiktok #taylorswift #swifttok #taylorandtravis #taylornation #happiness #theerastourtaylorswift #swifties #everythinghaschanged @Taylor Swift @Taylor Nation ♬ original sound – RLKnyc

Kelce was also seen singing along to both “Mary’s Song” and “So High School” during the concert.

The fan video has delighted fans of Swift and Kelce, with one TikTok user commenting, “I love the [sic] Brittany Mahomes went to check in on him,” and another writing, “My heart can NOT handle this level of loving out loud … I can not stop crying.”

Once Swift wrapped her show, the singer joined Kelce backstage. The athlete then hyped up the crowd in support of Swift as the pair left hand-in-hand.

Brittany and Patrick, both 28, traveled to the European city from London, where they have been enjoying the city in recent days. The pair attended Wimbledon, with both of them sharing a series of photos from the tennis event via Instagram on Sunday.

It’s a particularly eventful month for Kelce and Swift, too, who may have first seen sparks fly around this time one year ago.

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Related: Every Time Travis Kelce Supported Taylor Swift at Her 'Eras Tour' Concerts

In July 2023, Swift celebrated the 4th of July with her female friends, including Selena Gomez and the Haim sisters. Three days later, she posted photos from the gathering along with a caption that mentioned her then-single status.

“Happy belated Independence Day from your local neighborhood independent girlies,” Swift posted at the time. “See you tonight Kansas Cityyy.”

Swift’s Kansas City concert was where Kelce tried to make his move by giving her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it, which he attended with the Mahomeses.

In this article

Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce

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The new £8bn river that's set to rival the Suez Canal covering 83 miles

China is no stranger to mega construction and infrastructure projects, as it continues to seek ways to boost economic activity and grow its GDP.

Think back to the Three Gorges Dam project - one of the country's largest engineering undertakings ever.

Started in 1994, the dam was eventually completed in 2006, allowing the navigation of oceangoing freighters and generating hydroelectric power.

It was also intended to provide protection from floods, although the jury is still out on whether it actually does.

Now Beijing is pushing ahead with another mega engineering scheme , which could put the Three Gorges Dam into the shade.

Pinglu Canal will stretch over 134 kilometres from the Xijin Reservoir, near Guangxi's capital city of Nanning, to the port of Qinzhou in the south.

Costing 72.7 billion yuan (£7.9bn), it will complement existing highways and railways to move goods.

It will involve a huge amount of earth removal, three times more than during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

Officials say an estimated 340 million cubic meters of dirt and rocks will be cleared away to make way for China's version of the Suez Canal.

The canal was first conceived back in 2019 should be completed by 2026, if all goes to plan.

Experts say it highlights Beijing's shifting focus towards enhancing maritime connectivity for its Belt and Road Initiative , as opposed to land routes.

The new waterway is expected to shorten the shipping distance from inland river systems to the sea by 560 km, versus going through Guangzhou.

It's hoped it will stimulate economic growth in Guangxi and other parts of relatively less-developed western China.

Wu Peng, an expert in the planning and design of the Pinglu Canal project, said: "The Pinglu Canal will be a pioneering feat in the history of canal construction in China, as it is the largest canal of its kind.

"Inland ships can sail directly to seaport. Upon completion, it will become a very busy canal noted for a large volume of freights, large-tonnage ships and a large number of vessels."

Significantly, the canal is also aimed at boosting growing trade with the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , all of which are grouped with China under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade framework.

Travis Kelce Reveals He Was the Mastermind Behind His Eras Tour Appearance With Taylor Swift

By Larisha Paul

Larisha Paul

Travis Kelce orchestrated his onstage debut during Taylor Swift ‘s recent Eras tour performance in London himself. During a new episode of his podcast New Heights , the Kansas City Chiefs player revealed that he jokingly floated the idea of making an appearance during the 1989 portion of the show, which got the wheels turning in the singer’s mind as she asked him: “Would you seriously be up for doing something like that?”

The pair have been dating for nearly one full year and have both shown praise for the other for how they have navigated their hyper-public relationship . But the stage is a sacred space for Swift. Before Sunday’s show at Wembley Stadium, she had never been joined by any of her boyfriends on a tour stage — even the ones who actually did sing.

Kelce took on the role of one of the men in top hats carrying Swift during the intro to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” He drew inspiration for his choreography from Dumb and Dumber , which features Jim Carey tap dancing. “I always wanted to pull out this move, but I never knew like when I should pull it out where it made sense,” Kelce explained. “That’s one of my favorite moves of all time!”

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Playing with the Chiefs, Kelce is no stranger to high-stakes performances of his own. But his appearance with Swift was more play than pressure. “It was an absolute blast,” he shared. “It was such a fun, playful part of the show, and it was like … the perfect time for me to go up there, just be a ham and have some fun — not only with [Swift] … but the crowd and really try and get everybody excited for the rest of the show. It was awesome.”

Recapping her three sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium on Instagram, Swift wrote: “I’m still cracking up/swooning over @killatrav’s Eras Tour debut.” More than anything, Kelce walked away with one proud takeaway: “I didn’t disappoint Taylor, so that’s all that really matters.”

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