4 to 5 hours ashore
Agua Clara locks
- Taxi about 20 minutes to the Agua Clara visitor center.
- Watch ships move through the new canal locks.
Rather book it? A locks tour.
Colón shore excursions
The Caribbean gateway to the Panama Canal, with canal locks, rainforest, Spanish colonial forts, and Panama City all within a day trip.
Getting ashoreShips dock at the Colón 2000 cruise terminal or at nearby Cristóbal, on the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal. The terminal has shops and taxis; most visitors leave the city on tours.
Colón port day essentials
read this before you book
Which pier you're at
Colón 2000Where most ships dock. Duty-free shops, restaurants and a taxi desk.
CristóbalAn industrial pier about 2 miles west, used by some ships.
Most visitors leave the city on tours.
Taxis
Use the official taxi stand at the terminal and agree on the fare before you go.
Recent fares: Agua Clara locks about $25 to $35 round trip with waiting time; Portobelo about $35 to $50 round trip.
Money
US dollars are used everywhere (Panama's balboa exists only as coins). Taxis and park entry are cash only.
Language
Spanish. English is spoken at the terminal and by tour guides.
Back on board
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before sailing; your ship's daily planner has the exact time. Panama City and the Miraflores locks are about 1.5 hours away by road each way.
Be aware
- Bring a passport book. Some cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, don't accept a passport card or birth certificate for sailings that stop in Panama; check your line's rules.
- Don't walk outside the port gates: Colón has a high street-crime rate. Use official taxis or a tour.
- Uber can't pick up inside the port.
Last checked November 2026. Prices change; confirm before you pay.
Spot something out of date? Tell us
Plan your day in Colón
pick by your time ashore
6 to 8 hours ashore
Gatún Lake or Portobelo
- Boat through the rainforest on Gatún Lake to see monkeys.
- Or drive to the old Spanish forts at Portobelo.
Rather book it? A Gatún Lake boat tour.
9 hours or more
Panama City
- Travel about 1.5 hours across the country to Panama City.
- See the Miraflores locks and the old town.
Rather book it? A Panama City tour; do not do this one on your own.
Times are approximate. Whatever you choose, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Compare tours for each idea below.
Compare Colón tours
Start times and meeting points vary by tour. Check them against your ship's schedule before you book.
We earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Colón tours from GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide's own search results for Colon Panama, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
See all results on GetYourGuide
We earn a commission when you book through GetYourGuide links, at no extra cost to you.
Colón tours from Shore Excursions Group
Shore Excursions Group sells tours built around cruise ship schedules, backed by their guarantee to get you back to the ship. Their tours aren't listed on this page; browse them on their site.
See Colón excursions on Shore Excursions Group
We earn a commission when you book through Shore Excursions Group links, at no extra cost to you. Their guarantee terms are on their site.
Scout's notes on Colón
Short port days
The Agua Clara visitor center, where you can watch ships pass through the canal's newer locks, is a short drive from the port. Boat trips on Gatún Lake to spot monkeys and birds are another popular half-day option.
Long port days
Partial canal transits, the historic Panama Canal Railway, and day trips to Panama City are the classic full-day choices. The forts of Portobelo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visits to an Emberá village on the Chagres River are also popular.
Getting back on time
Panama City is roughly an hour and a half away each way, and traffic can be heavy. Colón itself isn't a city for wandering on your own, so most people stick to organized tours or taxis arranged at the terminal.
From fellow cruisers
Tips from people who've been, read by us before they go up.
No tips yet for Colón. Be the first.