Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal opened a key trade route, allowing ships to pass more easily between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. While trade was the reason for the canal’s construction, visitors to Central America can also take advantage of the canal as a way to get an extensive look at this beautiful tropical area via a Panama Canal cruise.

Traveling by water is a great way to see the canal’s namesake country. A Panama Canal cruise is also a great way to take in neighboring Costa Rica. If you’re thinking about making a visit to the area, consider a tour offered by a provider like Tauck that won’t constrain you to the ship, instead allowing you to explore these unique lands.

Here are some of the tropical delights you can expect to encounter during a Panama Canal cruise:

The Panama Canal: Giant locks shuttle ships through the 48-mile canal, which stands as one of the greatest feats of human engineering. Visitors get a firsthand view of some of the world’s great freighters and a look at of the shipping trade. Ships pass through the expansive man-made Gatun Lake during the voyage.

Darien Provence, Panama: An indigenous community welcomes visitors and provides a look at traditions and daily routines that have been practiced since the 1500s. The town is reached by boat via the Mogue River. Visitors can take home intricate carvings of wood and vegetable ivory made from a palm plant.

Coiba Island National Park: This island off Panama’s Pacific coast features miles of white-sand beaches, offering the perfect chance for snorkeling or good old-fashioned relaxing. The island also features some of the rarest animal species in the world, providing an extra perk for nature enthusiasts.

Panama City: Located on the Pacific side of the canal, Panama’s capital city is overflowing with history and culture. Panama City is the first European city on the Pacific coast of the Americas and the ruins of the Convent of St. Francis, the King’s Bridge and St. John’s Hospital offer visitors a glimpse into the past.

Rainforest tours: The Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Gamboa, Panama, offers visitors the opportunity to tour a rainforest via an aerial tram with a naturalist as your guide. Visitors to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica can hike through the forest and catch glimpses of the hundreds of plant and animal species that inhabit the area.

Volcano Irazú National Park: This Costa Rican treasure offers visitors the opportunity to explore lava trails carved over time by the tallest volcano in the country. A hike to the top of the crater provides a view of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on a clear day.

If Tauck’s navigating this great aquatic passageway and taking in the beauty of the rainforest is in your future, visit Tauck’s website to see all that a Panama Canal cruise has to offer. Few travel opportunities give vacationers such a unique glimpse into the histories of both the modern and natural worlds.