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Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Colón
Visit Colón only for a quick stop (half‑day) to see the Canal end and free‑trade zone; skip overnight unless you need a safe plaza stay.
Colón sits at the Caribbean mouth of the Panama Canal and hosts the large Zona Libre free‑trade zone. Crime is high, so most travellers limit the visit to a few hours in the safe shopping plaza and the nearby visitor centre.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- Jan–Apr, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, higher heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the balboa (PAB), fixed 1 to 1 with the US dollar; US dollar notes are the paper money in use, with Panamanian coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–45 excl. bed · Mid $45–70 excl. bed · High $70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Más Móvil, Tigo and Digicel SIMs at Tocumen and in malls; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire and ambulance 103 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if not added.; Guides and boat crews: US$5–10 per person.; Hotel porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; basic outhouses on San Blas islands.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket Panama City → Colón | $3.50 |
| Agua Clara Visitor Center entry (foreigner) | $15 |
| Meal (seafood soup) | $4 |
| Meal (roasted chicken with rice) | $1.65 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ONX · Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Panama City → Colón bus
- about $3.50, regular service
- Taxi within safe plaza (5 km)
- about $8–12
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis are the main option; stay within the REY supermarket / Washington Hotel plaza area on Avenida Central. Walks are short (5–10 min) between plaza, cathedral and monuments.
See and do
Known for
- Canal Atlantic terminus
- Zona Libre de Colón
- San Lorenzo Fort (UNESCO site)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Lorenzo Fort | Taxi or local bus, ~13 km (8.1 mi) west of ColónTaxi or local bus, ~8.1 mi (13 km) west of Colón | 30 min |
| Agua Clara Visitor Center | Taxi, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of ColónTaxi, 6.2 mi (10 km) south of Colón | 20 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Sotelo
- Downtown, basic rooms, $40 per night
- New Washington Hotel
- Casino resort, pool, bay views
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpe |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where is the restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Dress: Long trousers in offices and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the city
- Guna communities: Ask before photos, pay the fee; avoid: Walking into homes or ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- High crime rate; avoid city centre after dark.
- Stick to the REY supermarket and Washington Hotel area for safety.
- Bus fare to Panama City is about $3.50; check schedule.
Colón has a reputation for danger; limit visits to daylight hours and stay in the monitored plaza zone.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colón yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Canal Atlantic terminus
- Zona Libre de Colón
- San Lorenzo Fort (UNESCO site)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Colon (Panama), revision 5339215 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339215
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/colon-panama). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.