Panama City

Panama City, the capital of the Republic of Panama, sits at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. The cruise terminals are located on the Amador Causeway, a unique setting a few miles from the city centre. The causeway links four artificial islands (Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco) to mainland Panama, with the rock used to build it extracted during the canal's excavations. The Fuerte Amador cruise port has shops, specialty stores and restaurants centred around the large Flamenco Resort and Marina complex. Most cruise calls are port of call visits rather than turnarounds, though ships may anchor off shore or dock depending on their size.

Panama City was founded on 15 August 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila. The original settlement met a violent end: in 1671 Henry Morgan attacked and looted the city, which was subsequently destroyed by fire, and the ruins still remain as a popular tourist attraction known as Panamá Viejo (Old Panama). The city was rebuilt in 1673 in a new location five miles southwest, in what is now known as the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter).

The Panama Canal itself defines much of the city's story and present identity. Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal symbolised U.S. technological prowess and economic power. Today it remains a primary draw for visitors. The Panama Canal Railway also runs daily passenger service each way between Panama City and Colon, offering another way to see the isthmus. Beyond the canal, the city offers layers of history and culture. Casco Viejo, the historic quarter, is a UNESCO heritage site featuring colonial architecture and narrow streets lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants. The Metropolitan National Park is an animal sanctuary with over 300 species including two-toed sloths. The Amador Causeway itself is lined with jogging trails, boutiques, and restaurants serving traditional Panamanian dishes.

On a practical note, both the Panamanian Balboa and the U.S. Dollar are accepted currencies. The climate is warm and tropical year-round. Cruisers can log the real routes their ships sailed on The Cruise Globe.