Panama has developed the infrastructure to accommodate the nearly 300,000 annual cruise passengers who visit, including two ports in the Panama Canal: one on the Atlantic side of the Canal, Colon 2000; and near the Pacific entrance, Amador Cruise Ship Port.

These two brand new cruise passenger terminals represent an investment of $100 million dollars; and open more opportunities to offer dock services in Panama. It is estimated that during the cruise season 2007-2008, at least 192 cruise ships arrived at dockage in Panama with passengers, who will have graciously left at least 40 million dollars in their wake.

All these investments have resulted in the recognition of Panama as “Best Adventure Destination”. Panama is a wonderful place to visit. So there may be a new group of adventurers, who are cruise passengers landing in Colon or Panama City, doing cross country visits through the Panamanian highlands and beaches; then either join their ship on the other side of her canal transit, or fly home after extending their adventures overland.

Cruise ships dock at Colón 2000, next to Cristobal Port, the northern entrance to the Panama Canal. Colón is the second largest city in Panama, which was made a free trade zone in 1953. The Colon Free Trade Zone is now a huge merchandise mart for primarily wholesale business. While in Colon at the Cristobal Cruise Terminal (Pier 6), there are piers for two ships of any size. Colon 2000’s glass-and-marble terminal building has a large lounge, an Internet cafe, a huge duty-free shopping mall (part of the Colon Free Zone), restaurants, and craft shops. The entire complex is surrounded by landscaped parkland, and strong security systems.

Princess, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean were some of the first lines to include Colon 2000 as a port of call on some Panama Canal itineraries. It doesn’t hurt that they’re getting incentives by the Panamanian government: Panama has hedged its bets by establishing a 5-year program that pays cruise ships $2.50 to $12 per passenger for calls at any Panamanian port. The incentives grow as the passenger count rises, and additional incentives are offered to lines that register their ships in Panama.