English-speaking shore excursion from the port of Colón, with a dugout-canoe ride in the Chagres National Park, a hike along the historic Camino Real and lunch in the village of Quebrada Ancha.
Highlights
- Two-hour hike along the Camino Real
- Dugout-canoe ride in the Chagres National Park
- Visit to a village of Panamanian campesinos
Camino Real Shore Excursion from the Port of Colón
A narrow path through the rainforest, forgotten for centuries: the Camino Real once carried the pirates of the Caribbean and untold riches between the oceans. A research project rediscovered the trail a few years ago, and now, alongside the people who live along it, you can hike the route and discover it for yourself. This tour supports the sustainable development of the villages and the protection of the rainforest.
The man who started the project and his team are with you on this excursion.
Type of trip: Shore excursions
Duration: 7.5 hours
Participants: 6-19
Price: from €125 per person
Highlights
- Two-hour hike along the Camino Real
- Dugout-canoe ride in the Chagres National Park
- Visit to a village of Panamanian campesinos
Itinerary
| Time | Programme |
|---|---|
| 06:20 | Meeting point at the port |
| 06:30 | Departure for the Chagres National Park |
| 07:30 | Arrival at the boat landing and ride into the Chagres National Park |
| 08:30 | Start of the hike along the Camino Real |
| 11:00 | Arrival in the village and lunch |
| 12:00 | Boat ride back to the landing |
| 12:30 | Arrival at the landing and bus transfer back |
| 13:45 | Arrival at the port |
Below is a sample description of this shore excursion from the port of Colón, with a 6:50 a.m. departure. For the 10:00 a.m. departure the excursion is adjusted, and we’ll send you a matching detailed description by e-mail.
Detailed Description
Our team of English-speaking guides welcomes you at the port of Colón. Often the man who started the research project is there too and joins the excursion himself. This tour is also a journey back into Panama’s history: even on the drive through the city of Colón we learn how Columbus sailed along the Bay of Limón/Colón on his fourth and final voyage, and what adventures and misdeeds the Spanish explorer-conquerors got up to across Panama.
We travel by bus to Lake Alajuela in the Chagres National Park, halfway between Colón and Panama City. The lake was built between 1932 and 1935 to supply water for running the Panama Canal during the dry season, yet rather than a sterile reservoir it created a natural paradise. At the landing the members of the community tourism committee give us a warm welcome, and we set off straight away by dugout canoe into the striking scenery of the Chagres National Park. As we glide along we take in rainforest-covered banks and mountains and watch the many birds along the shoreline.
After about half an hour by dugout canoe (the time varies with the lake’s water level) we reach the start of our hike on the shore of Lake Alajuela. From here we follow the original line of the Camino Real through tropical dry forest, secondary forest and former cattle pasture. The Camino Real is the “grandfather” of the Panama Canal: from 1519 the Spanish conquistadors used it to cross from the Caribbean coast to the city of Panama on the Pacific. After the conquest of Peru, the gold of the Inca ruler Atahualpa travelled this way to Spain, and once the silver mines of Potosí were discovered, unimaginable riches were carried along the path each year to the port of Portobelo. The chroniclers of the day described it as 20 miles of toil and hardship between the two oceans. Don’t worry, though: we walk an easy stretch of just 3 kilometres through the hilly landscape. When the railway and the canal were built, the rainforest reclaimed the route and its course was forgotten. It wasn’t until 2008 that Christian Strassnig rediscovered the path on painstaking research expeditions, covering more than 600 kilometres in the rainforests of the Chagres and Portobelo National Parks and opening the Camino Real to hikers once again.
After about two hours on foot we reach the village of Quebrada Ancha, where the research into the Camino Real inspired the villagers to set up a tourism group. Here we enjoy a traditional Panamanian meal. After this hearty lunch we take a short walk through the village and see another stretch of the Camino Real running right through it. Then it’s time to head off again. We return to the landing by dugout canoe and take the bus back towards the port.
If time allows, we drive across the Atlantic Bridge to the Gatún Locks. From the bridge we can see both lock complexes at once: the old Gatún Locks from 1914 and the modern Agua Clara Locks. There we take a quick look at the original locks of the Panama Canal, and if a ship happens to be passing through, we watch one of the towing locomotives at work.
We then drive back to the port of Colón, returning to your ship in good time and with a comfortable buffer to spare.
We always tailor the excursion times precisely to your ship’s docking schedule. You’ll receive the detailed timings for your particular ship along with your booking request. The exact course of the day depends on the water level of Lake Alajuela.
Our quality promise to you:
- Every tour is led by experienced English-speaking guides; we’ve been guiding groups from cruise ships since 2007.
- Easy registration, with payment on site in US dollars or, if you prefer, by bank transfer.
- Small groups of up to 19 people make for a personal experience of the country and its culture.
- Our guides can adapt the tour on the fly, so that you don’t miss the ships locking through the Panama Canal.
- Careful planning, years of experience organising excursions, and punctuality are what we’re known for.
Services
Included Services
- Travel in air-conditioned buses
- English-speaking guide: Guaranteed!
- Hike along the Camino Real
- Lunch in the village of Quebrada Ancha and drinks
Services Not Included
- Tips
Notes, Info & FAQ
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination, and which vaccinations do I generally need for Panama?
The standard vaccinations recommended in Germany are enough to keep you well protected. There are no dangerous mosquitoes in the Chagres National Park or on the Camino Real hike. The tales of malaria and yellow fever epidemics go back to the building of the Panama Canal from 1881 onwards and were overcome long ago. The last locally acquired case of yellow fever in Panama was recorded in 1972.
More information on health, tropical diseases and vaccinations can be found here.
Weather and Clothing
Wear light, comfortable summer or hiking clothing (shorts and a short-sleeved shirt). For the hike you’ll need shoes with a sturdy, grippy sole (good tread).
Panama’s rainy season runs from mid-April to mid-December. The heaviest downpours come at the tail end of it, in October and November, so up to mid-December we’d recommend packing an umbrella or rain jacket, though heavy rain can fall in the dry season too. In the dry season from December to April it barely rains and the sun is strong throughout; around midday the temperature climbs to about 34 degrees Celsius, so good sun protection and plenty of water are essential. Be sure to use sunscreen, wear a hat or cap and bring sunglasses.
Currency
Officially the country’s currency is the Panamanian balboa, but in practice it’s the US dollar that circulates. To be exact, only dollar notes are used, while the coins include both US dollar coins and balboa coins, which are minted for Panama in the USA.
Credit cards are widely accepted in restaurants and shops. A tip on cash: don’t bring large notes for the souvenir shops and the like. It’s best to carry four 5-dollar bills and the rest in 20s.
How do I find the meeting point?
We have an easy-to-find meeting point right inside the port area, where we wait holding a sign with the Panamatura logo. Along with your excursion voucher we send you a map and detailed directions for finding us.
Port info Colón
Click here to find information on the port of Colón.
General country and travel information for Panama
Follow this link to read detailed country and travel information for Panama.
Dates & Prices
This excursion runs on every date when the cruise ships Aida and Mein Schiff call at the port of Colón. For other ships, please tell us the ship’s name, the port and the docking time.
Please enter your date in the booking form.
Prices
| Number of participants | Price |
|---|---|
| 16-19 participants | EUR/USD 125 |
| 7-15 participants | EUR/USD 135 |
| 6 participants | EUR/USD 150 |
Reduced rates for children: up to 6 years – EUR/USD 55, up to 11 years – EUR/USD 25.
You’re welcome to pay in cash in US dollars on the day of the tour in Panama, or to transfer the amount in advance in EUR (please put the excursion date and name in the reference). Panama’s currency is the US dollar, which you can also withdraw from an ATM at the port.
