Colon (Panama)

Colón is a city in Central Panama. It's the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal. The town is in poor condition and notorious for its high crime rate, but it is worth driving around to look at the culture, people and architecture.

Understand
Colon owes its existence to the Panama Railroad which opened in 1855 as the first rail link from Atlantic to Pacific, making travel from the East Coast of the Americas to the West Coast a lot easier. It has been the Atlantic endpoint of the Panama Canal since its opening and initially profited heavily from both transport links. However, the switch to container freight greatly reduced the demand for labor in Colon harbor and the town entered a decline from the 1960s onward. In 2014 the Panamanian government started a rehabilitation and rebuilding effort aimed at revitalizing Colon and combating its negative reputation.

By train
The Panama Canal Railroad connects Colón with Panama City and the ride along the canal is very beautiful.

By ship
Colón is also a stop for many cruise ships as it represents one end of the Panama Canal.

See

 * Parks and statues, most are by the shore area. The most notable is the one you see coming into Colón on Central Ave.
 * Christ Church by the Sea

Buy
There is a well stocked and cared for REY supermarket at Avenida Central, corner Calle 7 in the city center. You can park your car there as well. It's a good starting point for exploring the city centre.

Eat
Seafood soup $4, was a great treat with three or four different types of fish in a tasty tomato base. Have with rice and fried plantains with salsa. If you're not into seafood try the roasted chicken with rice or potatoes $1.65.

Sleep




Stay safe
Colon is considered a dangerous city. If you want to visit the city center you should stick to the REY super market at the Avenida Central, corner Calle 7 and the Washington Hotel. Those places aren't more dangerous than other places in Panama. Avoid the city centre at night.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece