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It is one of the few Caribbean ports without any guided city shore excursions at this time. Most cruise visitors opt for the shore excursions that take them outside of the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portobelo boasts sea views and ruins from its former life as a Spanish colonial town.
Local Currency & Tipping Customs
There are also plenty of opportunities for bird watching, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The nearby Gatun Lake is a great spot for swimming and kayaking. Colon, Panama is home to a number of historical sites, including the ruins of the old Spanish fort, the San Lorenzo National Park, and the Gatun Locks. Cruise passengers can also visit the nearby town of Portobelo, which was once a major trading port for the Spanish Empire. There are also plenty of museums and other attractions that offer insight into the history and culture of the region. Once at the village, the chief welcomes your group, and the Embera people perform a series of traditional dances.
Where is located the Port of Colon Cruise Terminal
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The two locations are about three miles apart and take 10 minutes to reach by regulated taxis. Colón is the provincial capital, and the province has Central America’s largest port system.
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The Colón cruise port is the gateway to the Panama Canal on the Caribbean side and one of the more popular stops on “exotic” western Caribbean cruises. Currently, the four exhibition halls that portray the canal's history, construction, biodiversity and importance are temporarily closed for renovations. The Colón Free Zone is one of the biggest duty-free markets in the world. Head here to find wholesale stores selling everything from clothes to shoes and jewelry during your Colón cruise. If you're heading to Panama City, don't miss out on the shopping there. Shops like Karavan, Beermarkt and Papiro y Yo selling indigenous art, local beer and the ever-popular Panama hats.
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They invested USD 15 million to develop the project for modern Colon cruise port piers and terminals. It has the greatest efficiency among all Central America’s seaports. Cruise visitors to Colon also can go to Panama City on a much quicker shore excursion than early settlers.
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It is worth noting that Colón has a reputation for street crime, but government authorities have made a strong effort to make tourists feel secure within the duty-free zone. Make sure to use a registered taxi when traveling outside of the zone and don’t display wallets or jewelry. Colón Panama is a little more than 200 miles east to southeast of Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.
Here, Christo Negro is on display, a life-size wooden statue of Black Christ that was found on the shores of the harbor and is celebrated with a festival every October. You'll also see the ruins of Fort San Jeronimo and Santiago Battery, two of the five Spanish ports in the area. You'll also notice the Royal Customs House of Portobelo, which was used in the 16th century to stash Peruvian gold and other loot that was seized in Latin America. The Embera people, also called the Choco or Katio Indians, are indigenous to Panama and Colombia; today, about 33,000 people living in Panama identify as Embera.
The beach is also home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, iguanas, and tropical birds, making it a great spot for wildlife viewing. Mercado de Artesanias is a great shopping option near Colon, Panama cruise port. It is a large market that offers a variety of souvenirs, including t-shirts, hats, jewelry, and other items. The market also has a wide selection of local crafts and artwork, making it a great place to find unique gifts.
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When you check out the Panama Canal on your cruise, watch giant cargo ships rise and fall as the Canal opens and closes from the observation deck. You can book a boat tour to experience the canal up close and personal, and many tours include multiple stops in Colón beyond the Panama Canal to deepen your knowledge of the area. Colón is home to one of the largest duty-free shopping areas in the world called Zona Libre, so shoppers might need a second suitcase to take home all their local goods. Colón is a resilient city, building and rebuilding after fires, occupations, and economic recessions.
The mall calls itself, “The only tourism and tax-free mall in the Caribbean”, although some other ports with malls beg to differ. The mall has dozens of shops representing some major international brands. The first stop is a bay on the back side of the island, where you can swim or lounge on the boat's nets.
Cruise passengers will board for shore excursions right outside the terminal. If you take an organized tour, your bus will be in the parking area just a few yards from the gangway. The Cristobal Pier is located in Colon, Panama, on the eastern side of the canal. The lake and the locks are only about a 25 minute drive from Colón via taxi or excursion bus.
Another interesting option is for passengers to hop on a train and go to Panama City. Passengers can board the train at the Atlantic Passenger Station in Mount Hope near the Port of Cristobal. Anyone on a tight schedule can visit the locks and return to Colón within a few hours. Other visitors usually combine the locks with other activities including a kayak or canoe tour around Lake Gatún to view the numerous species of wildlife that live there. Colon 2000 is a growing tourism district with restaurants, shops, casinos and duty free shopping mall.
The Colon Free Zone is primarily a commercial park where companies import and export products free of duty. If you are able to make a purchase, your item will be sent to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City to be retrieved when you depart. If you are part of a cruise, this procedure will probably not work well for you. The currency is named after Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
Though Panama's official currency is the Balboa, you may only see Balboan coins since US dollars are mostly used here. Coins may be mixed US and Balboa so ask for your change in US unless you want a souvenir. Taxi drivers don't need to be tipped unless you have hired one out for the day. The official currency of Panama is the Balboa (PAB), along with the U.S. dollar (USD). You can probably get by in Colón without exchanging currencies, since the dollar is so widely accepted. When at a restaurant or bar, leaving a 10% tip for your server is expected, but tipping taxi drivers for a short trip isn’t required.
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