The Colon Port, located in Colon City, Panama is an incredibly important port; commercially and for the tourism industry that maintains this city. Americans who worked on building the Panama railroad also founded the city in 1850. The city's surroundings are the Panama Canal Zone; though it is not part of the canal itself. The Colon cruise port became the world's second largest duty free port after it was made a free trade zone in 1953. Colon City is the second largest city, after Panama City, on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal.
Shopping
Colon Port is a duty free shopping port and you should make the most of it. Many of the shops here are local owned; offering numerous crafts and handmade products for you right at the Colon port of call. If you would like to do some additional shopping, visit the Colon 2000. This is a large and ever expanding shopping complex. Because of the duty free shopping available here, the Colon Port sees an average of 70 ships per year for this shopping complex.
Things to See
When you reach the Colon cruise terminal, you do not have to look far to find something to do. Portobelo is a short distance from the port itself. There, you will find five Spanish forts as well as a Spanish Colonia treasure house. You may tour these buildings. The Portobelo Ruins are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. You may wish to visit Black Christ Church and Museum located in Portobelo as well. It has a dedication to the patron saint of the city, San Juan de Dios. Religious memorabilia dating back to the founding of the city is available here.
Ride the Historic Panama Railroad from the Colon port of call, which will take you from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast within two hours. The Fort San Lorenzo is another area to stop and visit, located at the Chagres River. You may also wish to stop and check out the Gatun Locks (called Miraflores) and the Pedro Miguel Locks. These offer impressive sights from the observation platforms.
A few more things to see:
- Go swimming at the Colon beaches; where there is no tide. Playa La Angosta is an outstanding choice.
- Check out the Shelter Bay Marina if you are yachting. It is on site at Fort Sherman.
Restaurants and Bars
Enjoy a quick bite to eat at the Restaurante Grand Café for Panama traditional cuisine. Several restaurants are available at the shopping complex Colon 2000 including: Café Lebanese, Restaurante Café Iguana and Restaurante Oishi Sushi. This location offers worldwide fare rather than just specific Panama cuisine. When you are traveling to Portobelo to enjoy some of the historical sites, you may want to stop at Restaurante Los Canones. This restaurant is located approximately 6 km prior to reaching the city and offers some of the best fare you will find in the entire region.
There is no doubt that the Colon Port is a top destination in Panama City; and the Caribbean in total. It is a "must see and do" for the shopping and also for its historical significance.