Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000
The maritime authority identifies Colon 2000 as an operating Atlantic cruise terminal with fixed passenger berths.
Cruise planning
Research Colón cruise calls before you travel.
Use the timetable to see upcoming cruise ship calls, busy-day signals, ship counts, and port context alongside the guide, map, weather, and readiness tools.
Schedule note
Port schedules can change because of weather, berth availability, itinerary updates, and operational decisions. Verify important times with your cruise line or the port authority before travel.
At a glance
Port profile
Country, code, and on-shore essentials.
Country
Panama
Port code
PAONX
Coordinates
9.333, -79.900
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Your port day at a glance
Plan your time ashore in Colón
Colon cruise calls use an Atlantic-side terminal near the Panama Canal, with the city, canal facilities, forts, and rainforest sites reached by road.
Before going ashore
Before going ashore, confirm the berth or tender point, local time, all-aboard deadline, and the meeting location for any independently booked transport or tour.
Arrival
Varies by call
Town access
Excursion recommended
Can you explore independently?
Use an authorized taxi, shuttle, or excursion beyond the terminal for canal sites, Portobelo, San Lorenzo, or Panama City. Agua Clara Locks, Panama Canal interpretation, Portobelo, Fort San Lorenzo, rainforest excursions, and Colon shopping are main anchors.
VoyagePro planning verdict
This port works best when you confirm the exact arrival point, choose one coherent plan, and protect the return to the ship with a comfortable time buffer.
Best for
- •Travelers who confirm the exact arrival point
- •A focused local plan
- •One well-timed longer outing
Needs extra planning when
- •Your transfer or pickup point has not been confirmed
- •Your itinerary depends on several tightly timed stops
- •Your plan assumes every attraction can be reached on foot
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
Step off the ship with a plan
Arrival, terminals and getting into town
Confirm the actual berth first—local access can change substantially between terminals.
Where your ship arrives
Most passenger calls use Colon 2000, while an itinerary may name another Colon-area berth; confirm the assigned terminal.
Getting into town
Use an authorized taxi, shuttle, or excursion beyond the terminal for canal sites, Portobelo, San Lorenzo, or Panama City.
Port shuttle
Leave through the controlled terminal transport area and retain a generous margin for canal-area and cross-isthmus traffic.
Taxi and local transport
Leave through the controlled terminal transport area and retain a generous margin for canal-area and cross-isthmus traffic.
Airport and hotel transfers
Airport transfers are separate from a port-day visit; confirm the current route and timing with the airline, airport, and ship.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
What official and local sources say
Local details from reviewed sources
A concise summary of useful details found in port, municipal, transport, terminal, and tourism material.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
Build a realistic day
Choose a plan by time in port
Start with the usable time you have ashore, then leave a comfortable return margin.
Quick call
2–3 hours
Keep the day close to the port and choose one or two reliable nearby stops.
Half day
4–6 hours
Agua Clara Locks, Panama Canal interpretation, Portobelo, Fort San Lorenzo, rainforest excursions, and Colon shopping are main anchors. Use an authorized taxi, shuttle, or excursion beyond the terminal for canal sites, Portobelo, San Lorenzo, or Panama City.
Long call
7+ hours
Agua Clara Locks, Panama Canal interpretation, Portobelo, Fort San Lorenzo, rainforest excursions, and Colon shopping are main anchors. Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
Plan for comfort
Accessibility and mobility
Mobility overview
The terminal is vehicle-dependent; long transfers, heat, historic fort surfaces, boats, and rainforest trails require route checks.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
Avoid the rushed version of this port
Common planning mistakes
1
Not checking the arrival point
2
Assuming everything is walkable
3
Leaving no return margin
Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
Answers from reviewed guide sources
Colón port questions
These answers use the reviewed operational fields above; check the linked source when a detail affects a booking or transfer.
Will the ship dock or tender?
Most passenger calls use Colon 2000, while an itinerary may name another Colon-area berth; confirm the assigned terminal.
How do I get from the ship into town?
Use an authorized taxi, shuttle, or excursion beyond the terminal for canal sites, Portobelo, San Lorenzo, or Panama City.
Should I plan a shuttle, taxi, or transfer?
Leave through the controlled terminal transport area and retain a generous margin for canal-area and cross-isthmus traffic.
Can I explore independently?
Use an authorized taxi, shuttle, or excursion beyond the terminal for canal sites, Portobelo, San Lorenzo, or Panama City. Agua Clara Locks, Panama Canal interpretation, Portobelo, Fort San Lorenzo, rainforest excursions, and Colon shopping are main anchors.
What should I know about airport or hotel transfers?
Airport transfers are separate from a port-day visit; confirm the current route and timing with the airline, airport, and ship.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Panama Maritime Authority - Colon 2000.
Guide review and sources
Operational details can change by berth, weather, and ship call. Confirm important arrangements before travel.
Reviewed Jul 17, 2026
1 source
View source list
Build a route you can actually use
Practical places around Colón
Choose a few places that fit your time ashore, then check access and transport before setting out.
Transport starting point
Use an authorized taxi, shuttle, or excursion beyond the terminal for canal sites, Portobelo, San Lorenzo, or Panama City.
Arrival location reference
Colón cruise destination reference· Cruise destination area
Local landmark
Agua Clara Locks
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Plan local transport from the assigned terminal or landing rather than assuming this stop is walkable.
Local transport may be needed from the arrival point
Local landmark
Panama Canal interpretation
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Plan local transport from the assigned terminal or landing rather than assuming this stop is walkable.
Local transport may be needed from the arrival point
Local landmark
Portobelo
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Historic site
Fort San Lorenzo
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Local landmark
Colon shopping
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Colón. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Source summary5 sources
Reviewed 2026-07-25. Location placement, transport, and attraction information retain separate sources so each can be checked and updated independently.
Live port-day planner
Plan my port day in Colón
Choose an upcoming call and ship to turn the published schedule into a practical planning window.
Choose a call date
Choose your ship
Your selected call
Viking Mars
Arrival
8:00am
Departure
6:30pm
Scheduled window
10h 30m
1 ship that day
Up to 930 passenger capacity
Planning return buffer
Count back from the published departure time.
Planning checkpoint: 5:00pm
This is a personal planning checkpoint, not the ship's official all-aboard time. Always follow the time and instructions issued onboard.
Guide match for this window
A longer outing may fit, but protect the return journey from weather, traffic, queues, and tender delays.
Schedule source summary
Dates, ships, and times come from the currently published cruise-call records. Schedules can change, and passenger totals represent available ship-capacity data rather than a forecast of people going ashore.
Destination guide
About Colón
The provincial capital of Colón, beside the canal's Atlantic entrance, is named for the Spanish-language surname of Christopher Columbus, though the Americans called it Aspinwall in the 19th century.. The city was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad and named Aspinwall for one of the railway engineers. Following completion in 1855, Colon gained in importance, which was furthered by the plans for an isthmian canal. During the time of the French canal attempt, a fire in 1885 burned the city nearly to the ground and left thousands of people homeless. Colon was rebuilt in the architectural style then popular in France.
Buildings from that era plus the ones constructed by Americans between 1904 and 1914 are still in use today, although the majority is on the verge of collapse. In addition to its importance as a port, Colon boasts the world’s second largest duty-free zone, known as Zona Libre, which is contained in a huge fortress like, walled-off area with giant international stores. However, most of the merchandise is sold in bulk to commercial businesses throughout the country.
Keep exploring
Nearby port guides
Stay connectedPartner recommendation
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Explore ashore
Shore excursions in Colón
Explore tour options for your port day. Check the meeting point and return time against your ship’s schedule before booking.
Excursion partner
Shore Excursions Group
Independent shore excursions
Select any tour card to view current details, availability, and booking on the Shore Excursions Group website.
Standard
6.5 hours
Chagre River Boat and Gamboa Rainforest Reserve from Colon
Travel on an unforgettable adventure from the port of Colon, Panama, where history and nature converge in a thrilling day-long journey. Traverse the Chagres River through the vibrant rainforest, experience the river's locks as you learn about the former Canal Zone, and meet local artisans during an exciting shopping experience.
Eco, Nature Moderate
View & book with Shore Excursions Group
Standard
6.5 hours
Aerial Tram and Gamboa Rainforest Reserve
Discover the secrets of the upper forest canopy when you ascend into the rainforest on this specially designed aerial tram.
Eco, Nature Moderate
View & book with Shore Excursions Group
Standard
6.5 hours
Sloth Sanctuary and Gamboa Rainforest Reserve from Colon
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure as you interact with Panama's sloths at a local sanctuary from the port of Colon! Learn about the Pedro Migue's Locks, shop like a local at the Corozal Arts and Crafts Center, and learn about America's significance in the former Canal Zone.
Eco, Nature Moderate
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Photo credits
Place photos are resized for display and cropped where needed.
- Aerial view of Fort San Lorenzo and its coastal setting — Garcia.dennis · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic fortifications beside Portobelo Bay — en:User:Tedder · CC BY 3.0