Colón walking tour & city guide
The Caribbean gateway to the Panama Canal.
Video by David walking for you on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Colón, on the Caribbean coast, is the Atlantic gateway to the Panama Canal. It is a busy port and free trade zone, close to historic Spanish forts and the canal's giant locks.
The canal
The Agua Clara Locks, part of the expanded canal, have a visitor center where you can watch huge ships rise and fall. The Panama Canal Railway runs from Panama City to Colón along the canal.
Forts
Fort San Lorenzo, a Spanish fort at the mouth of the Chagres River, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with jungle views. Visitors should use organized transport in the city.
A day in Colón
Visit the Agua Clara visitor center to see the newer, larger canal locks in action. Then drive to Fort San Lorenzo, a Spanish fortress on a cliff at the mouth of the Chagres River.
The Colón Free Zone is one of the largest duty-free zones in the world.
Good to know
Colón can be visited by the Panama Canal Railway, a scenic train ride from Panama City that runs along the canal.
Stay in tourist areas and use taxis.
Top sights in Colón
- 1
Agua Clara Locks
The canal's Atlantic locks.
- 2
Fort San Lorenzo
A Spanish fort above the river.
- 3
Panama Canal Railway
A scenic train along the canal.
- 4
Colón Free Zone
A huge duty-free zone.
- 5
Gatún Lake
A lake in the middle of the canal.
Food markets & where to eat in Colón
Port area
Seafood restaurants.
Local fondas
Caribbean dishes.
Canal visitor center
Café with views.
Food to try in Colón
Fried fish with patacones
A Caribbean classic.
Saus
A pickled pork dish of Afro-Caribbean origin.
Coconut water
Fresh from the coast.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Colón
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in ColónCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Colón.
- eSIM for PanamaStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Panama
▶ 4 videosPanama City
A skyline, a colonial old town and the canal.
▶ 4 videosBocas del Toro
Laid-back Caribbean islands.
▶ 4 videosBoquete
A cool mountain town of coffee and flowers.
▶ 4 videosPortobelo
Spanish forts on a Caribbean bay.
▶ 5 videosDavid
The hub of western Panama.
▶ 5 videosEl Valle de Antón
A village inside a volcanic crater.
▶ 4 videosPedasí
A quiet colonial town near surf and islands.
▶ 4 videosCoronado
Panama's beach town near the capital.
▶ 4 videosChitré
The folkloric heart of the Azuero Peninsula.