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What to do and see in Colon, Colon Province: The Best Rail Tours
About 50 miles northwest of Panama City, Colón is home to the northern gateway of the Panama Canal as well as Afro-Caribbean descendants of those workers who helped build the canal in the early 20th century. Colón’s greatest claim to fame—and the main reason visitors come here—is the Colón Free Zone, a massive shopping showroom where wholesalers, retailers and the general public shop. You’ll also find Colón 2000, a cruise-ship port with restaurants, a supermarket, and shops selling duty-free merchandise. The most scenic way to travel here is by way of the restored Panama Canal Railway, featuring elegant, wood-paneled and carpeted rail cars (based on 19th century designs) that takes you on a hour-long journey through the rainforest to Colón.
Restaurants in Colon
1. Panama Canal & San Lorenzo Fortress
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
We will observe the pass of big vessels in the new locks of the Panama Canal located in Agua Clara (Caribbean Locks). Later, we will go to the incredible San Lorenzo fortress in the middle of the rainforest. You will relive the stories of the real Pirates of the Caribbean.in this historic site.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, Snacks
Exclusions: Gratuities, Breakfast, Lunch
Reviewed By Rykerbick
This was a great adventure! We saw tons of monkeys and the boat ride around the canal was incredible! I would highly recommend this tour. Also the tour guide was very knowledgeable and was able to our loads of questions.
2. Panama Canal Tour expanded with a train track to Aguas Clara locks
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Live the experience of knowing one of the wonders of the modern world. It is something unique and exciting.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water
Exclusions: Gratuities, Services not specified in the program
Reviewed By Travel615369A
Pick up was on time and our driver, Dorian, was very courteous. However, the driver was not a tour guide. He pointed out buildings but did not offer details about history, culture or politics of the places or regions that we were “touring”. The driver remained quiet for much of the ride and could not answer many of our questions. As we were the only 2 people on the “tour” and had been to Casco Viego on the day prior, he was flexible when we requested to see the Panama Canal IMAX movie (45 min) instead of the 45 minute visit to Casco Viego. He next drove us to the Duty Free store at the end of the Amador Causeway followed by the Artisan Market. At that point he told us it was the final stop of the “tour”. We realized that he had not shown us the Metro station. He seemed totally unaware that it was even advertised to be one of the “tour” stops. Disappointingly, we assessed this to be little more than reliable transportation. I welcome Trip Advisor to contact me.
3. Explore the Caribbean! Our Jungle, Pirates History, Panama Canal & Colon City!
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Enjoy the Caribbean Coast of Panama and on the same day before nightfall, you will be able to have dinner on the Pacific. Part of this incredible adventure, is the crossing in front of the two locks of the Panama Canal, on the Caribbean side, to then go to the region known as La Costa Abajo de Colón, and thus, enter the jungle of San Lorenzo National Park and travel in time and transport us to the time of the conquistadors and the pirates' journeys in search of the riches that transited Panama from the lands of South America. On our way by car through this Caribbean jungle, we may observe, the passage of some of the species of mammals, birds or reptiles that inhabit the reserve. At the Castillo del Chagres, as it was known at Fort San Lorenzo, it is the place where we make a walk among its ruins, silent witnesses of a unique time in the history of the world, and that rest peacefully, facing the imposing view of the Caribbean Sea and the mouth of the Chagres River.
Inclusions: Lunch, Snacks, Bottled water, Soda/Pop, Air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board
Exclusions: Breakfast, Alcoholic Beverages, Private transportation
Reviewed By seanotto04
I had an amazing tour with Raphael. He is a great wealth of information and facts. I rank him in the top 3 of guided tours I have been on. A big thank you Raphael.
4. Historic Portobelo and Panama Canal Sightseeing Tour with Scenic Train Ride
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Visit three different cities and three different centuries on this fascinating tour of Panama. Journey to the world heritage site of Portobelo where you can see the ruins of this once wealthy city. Then it’s onto the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Complete your tour with a picturesque train ride from Colon to Panama City. This day tour throughout Panama brings you history, culture, technology and more. Be sure you don’t miss out! This tour runs with a minimum of 4 participants.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, All taxes, fees and handling charges
Exclusions: Personal expenses, Gratuities
Reviewed By Tomadss
It was an amazing tour, the guides, the transportation and most important the destination!! Snorkeling in the Panamanian Caribbean was amazing, all the colorful little fishs, the starfishs and the gorgeous reefs!! I was really amazed by how much beauty we can find underwater in Panama! It was also great to kayaking around the Island enjoying the amazing view and weather that the Caribbean can offer us!! Knowing about Portobello and it's history completes the tour!
5. Panama Canal Railway and Agua Clara Locks
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Get to travel in the first transcontinental railroad. Since 1501, when the Spaniards landed in the Isthmuss of Panamá, Panamá has been a natural transit route to cross from one ocean to the other. The construction began in august 1850 on the mainland around Monkey Hill (Mount Hope). Visit the new locks of the Panama Canal, see the boats go through the Agua Clara Locks and how this new system works. Small group of 3 people in the vehicule. Note: tour not available on January 1, 8, 9; February (carnival, it change every year, you may need to contact us first), November 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 28 and December 8, 24, 25 and 31.
Inclusions: Bottled water, In the train you will be provide with a small box of Snacks., Wifi at the vehicule, Hand Sanitizer at the vehicule
Exclusions: Breakfast, Drinks, Gratuities, Railway Fee, Agua Clara Visitor Center Fee
Reviewed By jodeek2020
This was a great tour - the 3 museums in Casco Viejo were amazing and provided good background of the history of Panama, of the Canal, but also the culture, the political history, the geological history. And the Bio-Museo was also awesome and gave good information on the country's geological history, its current bio-diversity. Many of the exhibits were interactive and are great for kids and adults, alike. The tour guide had a good command of English (though I also tried to practice my Spanish with him and he was very patient). He was flexible and accommodating and provided good background information on a variety of topics. He answered all of my questions, even those not specifically related to the museums. He pointed out things along the way. He had to make adjustments to the tour because of traffic issues and road closures, but did so happily. Overall, I thought it was a great tour, particularly if you enjoy museums, and was a good value for the price of the tour.
6. Discover the Spanish Colonial Fortresses in Panama
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 5 reviews
Starting this adventure aboard the Panama Railway is one of the great train journeys in the world. In addition to its colorful history, the railway follows a scenic route through the Isthmus of Panama. Then we invite you invite you to discover the fortresses of the Spaniards on the Atlantic Coast of Panama, you will observe the architectural wonder of the colonial era, the great nature that borders the fortresses. we will walk where the soldiers of the Spanish kingdom were defending the passage through the community of chagres that constitute a magnificent example of the military architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Later we will visit Portobelo which is a natural port and a village located in the Republic of Panama. It was one of the most important towns in America. At the end we will close with a stop at the famous Playa la Angosta where you can swim in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean of the Panamanian Caribbean
Inclusions: Bottled water, Please indicate whether you take sugar-free or normal soda, Train ticket, ticket to San Lorenzo, Certified guide, Promotion every child from 0 to 11 years old will only pay at $ 50.00 surcharge in cash or credit card
Exclusions: Lunch, Alcoholic Beverages, Coffee and/or Tea
Reviewed By 855zacm
Excellent experience and the best thing we've done near Panama City! Our guide Eustacio came to pick us up right from our apartment in Panama City and was brilliant! He spoke great English, was super friendly and was knowledgeable about the region and the wildlife. We saw three different types of monkeys, many different birds, and got to feed the capuchins a little from the boat. It was obvious that Eustacio respected the nature and wasn't trying to exploit the animals. When we got a little unlucky with the monkeys to begin with, we stayed out longer than planned and visited extra areas to make sure we got to see them.
7. Colon, Fort San-Lorenzo - from one ocean to another by train
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Choose either the morning or evening tour to cover the 80 km that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean first of the legendary train dating from 1855. This route is made all along the Panama Canal by the country's only rail line, the Panama Railway Company. You will discover the old colonial military fort of San-Lorenzo at the mouth of the Chagres river and the city of Colon at the entrance to the Panama Canal, north side.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Train ticket, with the Panama Railway Canal Company, Entrance fees to Fort San-Lorenzo, Drinks inside the vehicle are included at will
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By frederl1071
We used the Taboga Island Express Fast Ferry to get to Taboga Island. The island is a quaint little island just a 20 minute boat ride through the Gulf of Panama. The island is NOT a resort island. It is inhabited by native Panamanians who welcome you to their beautiful little spot in the world. Everyone was friendly and courteous. The beaches are not manicured like one expects in a resort community - there is trash and stray dogs. It’s definitely a “local” experience. There are some small beach concessions that sell food and beverages. Cervezas were $1 at one of the stands. We ate lunch at a restaurant in the town - Playa Honda. The food was really good, but like elsewhere in Panama the service was super slow and not very attentive. As part of our tour with the Ferry company, we got a walking tour of the town: it was very informative. The flowers, colorful houses, street art, iguanas and bats were all fun to see. Definitely check out Taboga but don’t come expecting to experience a manicured resort community. It’s a gritty, local island filled with native islanders. It’s definitely worth the day trip!
8. Train and Portobelo + Canal Expansion
Overall Ratings
2.3 based on 3 reviews
We will travel along the Panama Canal with the transisthmian railway, to visit the Expansion of the Panama Canal from its best spot, Agua Clara Locks Observatory. After that, we will board a bus that will take us to live the history of the Conquest. We will visit the most important commercial City of the XVII and XVIII century, Portobelo, so coveted by pirates. Observe the Spanish fortifications that served as protection for the settlers, the Customs and the Church of San Felipe.
Inclusions: Rail tour, Coach tour, Lunch, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Climber565373
We loved the tour of the canal. My husband, a mechanical engineer, was fascinated to hear all the details about one of the engineering marvels of al time. We learned lots of interesting facts and I especially liked going through the locks with a big ship right behind us. I hightly recommend this tour.
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