A few years ago, I wrote about the world's "poles of inaccessibility"—the points on land that are farthest from any ocean. The Western Hemisphere's most landlocked point is near the tiny Indian reservation town of Allen, South Dakota, fully 1,025 miles away from both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. But there's someplace in the Americas where you can see both oceans at the same time—and it's a lot more scenic than Allen, South Dakota.

On a clear day, you can see two oceans.

To hike to the highest peak in Panama, head for the upland town of Boquete, just 35 miles from the Costa Rican border. You'll want to leave town with your guide before midnight, because the steep dirt road up the stratovolcano can take up to seven hours to travel. Once you emerge from the rainforest, the view is worth the effort. You'll see the sun rising out the Caribbean to your east, if the coast isn't fogged in, as well as the Pacific Ocean to your west. The Atlantic and the Pacific, in one panorama photo!

Bring a jacket, even in the tropics.

At 11,398 feet, Volcán Barú is the 14th highest peak in Central America. (There are other, higher peaks in Costa Rica where a hiker can also see both oceans at once, but they're all farther from the coasts.) This extreme altitude makes Barú the only place in tropical Panama where temperatures ever drop below freezing. Two people have even died of hypothermia there, surrounded by one of the continent's hottest climates.

You can head back toward the ocean of your choice.

On your way down, you might choose to head down the rambling trails on the volcano's west side to the town of Volcán, passing through lush rainforests and mountain meadows. You might catch a glimpse of the elusive Resplendent Quetzal, the region's most famous (and most beautiful) bird. Or head straight back down the Boquete road to soothe your aching muscles in the nearby Caldera Hot Springs.

The Panama Canal will spin you right round.

You can have an even weirder two-ocean experience just a few hours east in central Panama, near the canal. Because Panama makes an S-curve there and runs southwest to northeast, it's possible to watch the sun rise from the Pacific side and set in the Atlantic. In fact, ships actually transit the Panama Canal east to west if they're on a voyage west to east, and vice versa. It sounds crazy, but check a map if you don't believe me.