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Fuerte
San Lorenzo & Gatun Locks - PTE008
 Observe
the Spanish efforts to safeguard one of their treasure routes
as exemplified at Fuerte San Lorenzo, a stone fort built in
the late 16th century. The series of successive forts that
were built at this spot, a high bluff at the mouth at the
Chagres River, were meant to protect the final leg of the
trail known as the Camino de Cruces. This was one of the trails
that the Spaniards had developed across the Panamanian isthmus
to carry South American loot back to Europe.
En route you'll pass through Ft. Sherman, until recently,
home of the U.S. military's jungle survival school. This area,
now a protected tract of evergreen rainforest, is home to
many bird, mammal, insect and plant species. We'll take a
short walk in this tropical reserve on an old gravel road
and observe and discuss some of this amazing diversity.
 Afterwards,
we'll stop for lunch at the Tarpon Club, where yet another
view of the Chagres River is afforded below Gatún Dam, the
largest of the Panama Canal system. We will also take a look
at the old French canal, which was started in the 1880´s,
as well as the third locks excavation which was an aborted
attempt by the U.S. government beginning in 1938 to build
a third lane for ships to enter the canal.
From here we go to the nearby Gatún Locks observation area,
where you'll have an impressive view of the Caribbean Sea
87 feet below Lake Gatún. Of course ships can also be observed
here being lowered from lake to ocean level as well.
Requires
a minimum of 2 people, includes lunch.
Tour starts at 7:00 am and returns approximately by 5:00 p.m.
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