Cruising the Panama Canal

Sure, you can catch a glimpse of this engineering marvel that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from its shoreline, but why not get right into the action? Cruising through the Panama Canal, which is bordered by lush, tropical rain forests, offers some of the best birdwatching, snorkeling and hiking in the Americas. Talk about a scenic shortcut.

But before you embark on such a cruise, it's best to get your facts straight. Dredging up the Panama Canal was no easy feat. Just ask the French, who were first to tackle the task of connecting the two seas. France lost nearly 22,000 men to malaria, yellow fever and landslides in the process, and finally abandoned the project in 1889. The U.S. then assumed control, poured $350 million into the effort, and finally opened the canal in August 1914. Now, instead of traveling a treacherous route along Cape Horn, ships can zip across the 50-mile canal, cutting their travels from California to New York in half.

But cruising through the Panama Canal isn't just about bragging rights. Crowd on deck to watch as six giant locks gently lift and lower your enormous ship more than 200 feet. Think a slow-motion roller coaster, but trade the uncomfortably tight harness for a chaise lounge and some expansive views (and maybe a cocktail). Cruises offer either a trans-canal experience, meaning you cross all six locks, or "partial crossings" that crosses one lock and then turns around.

However, the locks are only half the fun. Costa Rica's Limon (Atlantic side) and Puntarenas (Pacific) are the most popular ports off the Canal, and both offer a dizzying number of excursions for cruisers looking to stretch their sea legs. Afro-Caribbean culture pulses through Limon, where a four-day Mardi Gras-like festival each October lures thousands to the rustic town. From here, get up close and personal with nesting Green and Hawksbill turtles with a canoe ride through Tortuguero National Park, fly through the forest's canopy of delicate orchids and colorful toucans on an aerial tramway in Braulio Carrillo National Park, or snorkel near the palm-fringed, white-sand beaches of Cahuita. Pack your hiking shoes if you're headed for Puntarenas. The Poas Volcano has crater lakes that brim with iridescent waters, Villa Bianca offers a "cloud walk" through heavy-misted rainforest, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens has one of the world's largest enclosed butterfly parks.

While ships generally sail September to April, savvy travelers wait until the rainy season ends in November before hopping aboard.