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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Colon, Panama

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Panama is best known for its Panama Canal and there are specific cruises that make the Canal their central focus. However, since this lens is concentrating on specific Caribbean Destinations, the Panama Canal cruises will be the topic of another lens. Colon is the principal Panamanian stop of the Western Caribbean cruises.

Colon was established by Americans in 1850 as the terminus of the Panama Railroad and was called Aspinwall by them. It was built on Manzanillo Island which was linked to the Panamanian mainland by a causeway. Part of the island was drained to allow the erection of permanent buildings.

The population today has sizable South Asian and Arab communities living in the remaining prosperous areas of the city. The majority of the city's population are of West Indian and mixed mestizo-hispanic ancestry.

Since the 1960's there has been a decline in living standards in this city of 200,000 plus and drugs and other related problems have risen. However, if you stick to the regularly scheduled shore excursions, your experience here should be a pleasant one.


Click for Fort Sherman, Panama Forecast





This lens is one of a series that the author is providing on over twenty cruise destinations in the Caribbean. Each lens will include general information on the destination, suggested shore excursions, and video and photographic illustrations where appropriate.


A Few Photos Of Colon by Stephen Conn

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Suggested Shore Excursions For Panama

As in other destinations, you have a wide range of shore excursions that you can choose from, but you can only choose one or two shore excursions within the time you have available.

Remember that you can always see the rest on your NEXT cruise to Panama. I am listing a few of the shore excursions listed by Carnival cruise lines below. The full list of twelve excursions can be found HERE.

If you go to the Carnival Cruise Lines site above, you will be able to click on links for each excursion which will give detailed descriptions of each excursion.

The photos with the excursions below are from Carnival's site and are specific to their excursions. Other cruise lines may have different excursions.

Follow the links on the linked excursions to see the original pictures and a more detailed description of the excursion.

  • Aerial Tram & Ecological Encounter

     5.5 hours The aerial tram gives you an overwhelming look at the beautiful plants and animals typical of Panama's neo-tropical forests.


  • Embera Indian Village Experience

     3 hours
    Take this once in a lifetime chance to visit this amazing Embera Indian tribe, who live today much like they did when Vasco Nunez de Balboa first set foot in Panama.


  • Grand Tour

     5 hours Don't miss this opportunity to experience the world's most incredible ecosystems, some of the most amazing tribal cultures in the world as well as the eighth wonder of the world, the Panama Canal.


  • Panama Canal Tour

     8 hours VTake this incredible excursion and witness the wonders of the Panama Canal. Everyone should travel the Panama Canal from sea to sea at least once. With this excursion, you can do just that. You will board a bus that will take you to the Pacific side, and get on a large ferry that will take you through the locks and cross the continental divide. View this marvel of man's technology and enjoy the scenery as you do. It is an excursion you won't forget.


  • Panama City Tour

     8 hours Panama City is the only place in the world where you go from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean in an hour.



  • Two Oceans By Railroad

     6 hours This is a once in a lifetime chance to see two oceans in one hour by traveling the Isthmian Railroad, the world's first Trans-Continental railroad. As you travel on a track running parallel to the Panama Canal, you will not only get to see the countryside, including crossing over the intercontinental divide, but may be lucky enough to see some ships making the Panama Canal crossing.

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Christ Church By The Sea In Colon







Current Weather In Colon, Panama

Current weather conditions in Colon, Panama

Local Pollen Reports

24°C (Feels like 26°C)

Last update: 5/30/12 10:00 PM Local Time

Humidity: 94%
Visibility: 10.0 km
Dew Point: 23°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1010.8mm steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 3km/h From: Airport Conditions
powered by weather.com

Tonight


Low
Low: 25°C
Sunrise: 5:58 AM
Sunset: 6:36 PM
 

Thursday
May 31 


N/A
High: 32°C
Low: 24°C
Sunrise: 5:58 AM
Sunset: 6:36 PM

Friday
Jun 1 


PM T-Storms
High: 32°C
Low: 24°C
Sunrise: 5:59 AM
Sunset: 6:36 PM

Saturday
Jun 2 


Scattered T-Storms
High: 33°C
Low: 24°C
Sunrise: 5:59 AM
Sunset: 6:37 PM

How About Some Colon Souvenirs?

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Other Caribbean Destinations You Might Like



Colon, Panama is only one destination on the Western Caribbean Cruise Routes. Although the specific destinations vary by cruise line, there are certain destinations that are common to most of these cruises. Several more of these are listed below.



Cruise Ship Off Grand Cayman


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Every time I do a new Caribbean Destination lens, I try to add some additional glitz and glamour to it. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I don't. I am even going back to add upgraded touches to the previously published lens. If there is something you like about this lens, let me know. If you think I overdid it, let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

  • VillaDejaBlue Dec 27, 2011 @ 2:51 pm | delete
    Nice lens
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    Sounds like a lovely place. I hope to visit soon!
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