Colon Panama

Colon is the capital of Colon Province, in Panama. It sits on the Caribbean coast, at the entrance to the Panama Canal. The Canal Expansion Observation Center is a park with viewing platforms over the canal’s Atlantic locks and Gatun Lake. The vast Colón Free Trade Zone offers tax-free shopping.

Just west of the city, at the mouth of the Chagres River, Fort San Lorenzo is a well-preserved colonial military structure. one of the most important ports of the Caribbean. The name “Colon” was given by the Hispanic community in honor of “Cristobal Colon”, which means Christopher Columbus in Spanish.

Things to do in Colon Panama

The Chagres National Park
This conservation area hosts a bird sanctuary of more than 560 species and provides home to threatened mammals species such as jaguars, anteaters and mantled howler monkeys. This park is very important in the area since it covers the main hydrographic region of the country, producing more than 40% of the water needed to fill the canal, and it supplies all the drinking water for Panama City and Colon.

Location and Map

From Panama City to Colon is about 75 km and 1 hour and 20 minutes driving time. The fastest way to travel from Panama City to Colon – and the best way to travel from Panama City to Colon – is by private car.