If you are looking for information about the best month to cross the Panama Canal and discover the incredible experience of traveling from one ocean to another, then you have come to the right place.
This Canal was created in the 19th century, and obviously, its purpose was to connect two areas that were far apart: the East Coast area of the United States and Europe. Before the Canal, you had to go around Latin America. Before, it was necessary to travel 15,000 kilometers; suddenly, thanks to this engineering work, now you only have to travel less than 70 kilometers.
But besides being a tool to make trade exchanges in a much faster and easier way, it is also tourism that is increasingly booming. Navigating through the Canal and going from one ocean to another is something that many people want to do. That is why today we will tell you the best time of the year to do it and other interesting facts that you will find fascinating.
What is the weather like in the Panama Canal?
In the Panama area, there are two different seasons: wet and dry. The wet season, which logically is the one with an enormous amount of rainfall, begins in April, more or less in the middle of May. Then it lasts until November, and the worst months are September and October.
And on the other hand, the dry season goes from November until mid-April. As you can probably imagine, this is when people prefer to cruise the Panama Canal to enjoy the good weather and the views without being under constant shelter.
However, the temperature does not change much in any of the seasons. This means you can expect an average of 26 to 28 degrees Celsius throughout the year. There will be some months with rain and others without.
That said, you should not think that the rainy season is an absolute impediment to making the trip because the curious thing about the tropical climate of Panama is that the rain is usually located at a specific time of day: this is in the evening and dusk, while the morning and noon are generally with good weather and sunshine.
On the other hand, another element you must consider is hurricane season, from June to October. Therefore there may be some changes in the route if you go through the Caribbean and somewhat rough water.
Then… What is the best month to make the trip?
According to what we have told you, it is evident that the best time to make the trip through the Panama Canal is during the dry season, from November to April. Only in this way can you be sure to enjoy the cruise without fear of rain and the cancellation of some plans.
And within this, what we consider is that the best month of the year to make a cruise through the Panama Canal is the month of December. And this is easy to understand because we must not forget that tourism is massive during other dry seasons.
Some vacations usually coincide during January, for example, and also in March and early April, making everyone want to make the cruise plan. This translates into somewhat higher prices and the inconvenience of waiting in lines and being more crowded on the cruise plane.
In December, this does not happen because, in the first few weeks, there can still be some rain that is ending from the wet season, and people do not want to risk it, so they wait until later. But you can take the risk because we assure you that the rain ends this month and there is very little chance you will suffer.
Conclusions on the best month to cruise the Panama Canal
In short, we recommend that if you are thinking of scheduling with your partner, your family, or alone, the perfect time to take a cruise through the Panama Canal, take into account the tips we have given you:
- The best month to go is December because it is the midpoint between the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season, which coincides with the season of highest tourism demand.
- In case your vacation coincides with the dry season… Don’t worry; it is possible to buy tickets in advance to avoid problems with price increases and crowds.
- But if you can only travel from April to November, that is, in the rainy season, because, for example, it coincides with your summer vacation, do not think it will be a bad experience. The rains are, as we said, only at certain times of the day, and the nature of Panama at this time is alive more than ever, and you will be able to enjoy it more.
Whichever month you travel, you will enjoy it to the fullest. Look for information on the best cruises, where they are good for you (from the west or east coast, generally), and what tips you should follow for clothing depending on the season and the excursions you will do.