Panama Railroad

One of the best ways to fully appreciate the extent of the canal is to travel from Panama City to Colón along the historic Panama Railroad. The rails fell into disrepair during the best-forgotten days of the Noriega regime, but in 1998 the Panama government partnered with Kansas City Southern, an American-based railway holding company, to create the Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC).

The primary purpose of the joint venture was to re-establish the Atlantic-Pacific rail link and create a profitable alternative to the Panama Canal trade route. Starting in 2001, PCRC also introduced a passenger service that included a fully-operational vintage train.

Aimed at foreign travelers and wealthy businessmen looking to relive the golden age of railway travel, the vintage train features exotic wood paneling and blinds, carpeted interiors, glass-domed cars and open-air viewing decks. The hour-long ride runs parallel to the canal and sometimes traverses thick jungles and rainforests. Note that the Panama City terminus is actually located in the town of Corazal, which is a 15-minute cab-ride from the capital.