For me, the attraction of Panama is the canal, one of the engineering marvels of the modern world. It is fascinating to stand at the Miraflores Locks visitor centre and watch the massive container ships inch their way through the lock process at such close distance. One ship I saw had over 1300 containers! The canal can be experienced from many ways. You can stay at a hotel on the banks of the canal, close to the Bridge of the Americas and watch the boats slowly pass by; or stay at a first-class resort in the rainforest at Gamboa close to the canal. In spite of the large shipping movements, the banks of the canal are home to a lot of wildlife; monkeys, sloths, iguana, crocodiles and many species of birdlife, and a small-boat excursion with half a dozen or so fellow passengers can get very close to the canal side. On a number of days throughout the year, you can participate in a full transit of the canal aboard a local sightseeing boat traversing the three sets of locks; alternatively, you can also take a train which runs alongside the canal from Panama to Colon on the Caribbean side. Beyond the canal, Panama has a lot to offer especially for the ornithologist with hundreds of bird species to be found even within the Panama City area, and many more farther afield such as the infamous Darien Jungle.