Panama Canal

Is there a must do on Panama Cruise? We are doing Bonaire, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Colon and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. I think we're doing a fishing trip in Bonaire.

I think the transit of the Canal is the must do. :)

Cartagena is a wonderful stop - just get a good tour guide - We used Mr. Emerald (Lee Miles) who hooked us up with the Amazing Claudia.

We took the Train excursion to Panama City.. that was worth the ride, got to see the country via train and then about 1 hour in Panama City. It would be another trip for us one day... It's a great bucket list... :D

Many years ago, well may 6, DH and I went out to the Embera Indian village in Panama. That was an experience. Well worth the money IMHO

Cartagena is a wonderful stop - just get a good tour guide - We used Mr. Emerald (Lee Miles) who hooked us up with the Amazing Claudia.

Once upon a time we also used Mr. Emerald for a tour. Great time.

Are you doing a partial transit, full or just stopping outside of the canal? If you are doing a full or partial, there is NO need to do an "excursion"...the transit IS the excursion!

From the looks of your itinerary it appears to be a partial transit cruise. If that is the case, then you may want to consider the excursion that takes you to the Pacific side where you will lock through the two Pacific Locks and transit Gaillard Cut on a smaller boat. Your trip through Gatun Locks in the morning along with your excursion allows you to see a large part of the Canal. The stop in Colon does not offer enough time to take any excursion there. The stop is short and is only to pick up passengers who have gone on a shore excursion.

If you think your trip through Gatun Locks will be enough to satisfy your Canal interest, another very popular shorex in Panama is the trip to see the Embera Indians.

Regarding the other stops, Cartagena is a very interesting city, however any "must do" depends more on your interests... enjoy!

In Cartagena, we took a Segway tour with Segway Cartagena through the old part of the city. Had a great time! Cesar took very good care of us and was a great guide.

Vicki

In Cartagena, we took a Segway tour with Segway Cartagena through the old part of the city. Had a great time! Cesar took very good care of us and was a great guide.

 

Vicki

Thanks! Sounds like fun? Did you book through cruise ship?

This group offers excellent free walking tours in Cartegena (just tip the guides at the end): http://www.freetourcartagena.com.co

When you get to port, after you disembark from the ship, you will walk through a small zoo-like park, with peacocks, flamingos, and parrots. You will exit into a group of waiting piranhas, I mean, taxicab drivers. They will try to charge you up to $20 per person per stop (I cannot remember the exact rate, and we were just there in April, d'oh!). If you leave that area (just keep heading for the exit), just outside will be *another* set of taxi drivers who will charge you 50% LESS than the guys inside. You make arrangements with the taxi driver on where to stop and where to pick you up to take you back to port.

I would skip La Popa, because it's kind of out of the way, the drive up there is through a very un-scenic part of the city, and the views aren't as great as people make them out to be (it was exceptionally hazy the morning we were there, so you couldn't really see anything).

San Felipe de Barajas Castle is pretty cool, and they have audio guides that you can rent. I want to say that entrance fee + guide was approximately $11 per person. Definitely get there early, because once the NCL buses get there, the place will get pretty bogged down.

The Walled City is the highlight of Cartagena, deservedly so! Spend as much time as you can here, because it is beautiful.

Thanks! Sounds like fun? Did you book through cruise ship?

We booked through the company website: http://www.segwaycartagena.com/ It's the #1 tour for Cartagena on Tripadvisor. Cesar is the owner and was our guide. He took us all over the old part of the city. He also gave us lots of information about the history of Cartagena. Easy to learn to ride the Segways. He gives you instructions and you practice before the tour starts.

Vicki

We also did that excursion but felt it was more staged that real.