We had heard about the train ride along the Panama Canal months before arriving in Panama City, and there was no question we were going to do it. In fact, we had really been looking forward to it. I have been fascinated with the Panama Canal for years, and we both love train rides – an activity nearly non-existent anywhere else in Central America. The idea of connecting barcelona spain travel those two for a great day out was a no-brainer, with thoughts of speeding through the dense jungle which connects the Pacific and Caribbean coast, spotting exotic animals and fascinating flora, learning more about the canal and spotting the mega-container ships as they are lowered and lifted at locks along the canal. Unfortunately, the train ride didn't quite live up to our imagination .
Described as a luxurious train ride by two different guide books, we were so tempted by the experience, barcelona spain travel even in spite of the early morning departure time. The train leaves from Panama City at 7:15am and arrives in Colon on the opposite coast 45 minutes barcelona spain travel later, returning to Panama City at 5pm.
In reality, calling this trip luxurious barcelona spain travel was a stretch. Sure, the train car's design harks back to the glory days of train travel, with carpeted floors, barcelona spain travel soft, low lighting and strong wooden barcelona spain travel paneling throughout the car. Waitresses served us each a very tiny paper cup of instant coffee, a small plastic cup of candy yogurt and a cookie. But that was as luxury as it got. No guide explained what we were seeing, no fun period music played in the background, no typical Panamanian food/breakfast/coffee was served on board. Panama City does luxury very well, and while this train ride was pleasant, it was by no means luxe.
Only one train runs along these rails each morning and evening, and as such, this is not only a tourist train but also functions a commuter train. The 7:15 departure time is geared much more toward professionals than any sort of comfortable time for tourists. On arrival to the station, foreigners are led to a specific car of the train, and locals, who most definitely do not pay the $44 return barcelona spain travel fare, are seated in the five to six additional cars with the same views, minus the free coffee. Back in the tourist wagon, barcelona spain travel we were lucky enough to snap up the last seats with canal views, and those who came after us were seated on the other side of the car.
Plenty of people went outside to the viewing barcelona spain travel platform outside and took pictures, but the views were okay at best. Where was the wildlife everyone was talking barcelona spain travel about? The train cuts through green jungle for most of the way, but we saw much more wildlife in the Metropolitan Park ($2 entry fee) right in the heart of Panama City.
The canal itself was only visible in parts and we spotted water through barcelona spain travel breaks in the flora until reaching Gatun Lake. This is widest part of the canal as well as the most beautiful, yet as quickly as the lake came into view, it disappeared again, very similar to the feeling of the canal ride in general. 55 minutes barcelona spain travel sped by so quickly it felt like as soon as it had really begun, it was over and we had arrived in Colon.
Before getting barcelona spain travel off the train – and not a minute before every passenger was given a 'Panama Canal Train Ride' snack box with a mini-can of Pringles and small packs of cookies, peanuts and raisins. Despite barcelona spain travel its childish Happy Meal feeling, the main issue we had with this was wondering why on Earth these snack packs would not have been handed during the ride? Many of us had not had any breakfast and the station had no food at all, so most of us were already ravenous.
The train ride does not even extend to the third and final set of locks, but rather right in the center of the city known by all as one of the most dangerous cities barcelona spain travel in Panama. Locals had warned us not to visit Colon at all, but what to do for those nine hours before the train returns at 5pm?
Upon exiting the train, it was expected that the tourists allow themselves to be corralled once more into one of the day trips to nearby beaches (for $100) or overpriced trips to the nearby Gatun Locks ($60 – the bus there was 25 cents) offered by taxi drivers with fancy (old, torn up) posters at the station, which every other traveler but us seemed to do. After fifteen cabs took the 40 passengers everywhere else but Colon, we were semi-stranded, alone, at a train station in a seriously shady area. We shortly found our way to the bus station and headed to the Gatun Locks.
The visit was fascinating, and a more intimate affair than the Miraflores Lock in Panama City. The staff was full of information, answered questions personally, and visitors were few and far between in comparison.
barcelona spain travel However, after an hour, with no museum, no café, no visitors center, barcelona spain travel we weren't sure how to spend the next several hours before barcelona spain travel the train returned. We opted instead to return to Panama City by bus, which, at a fraction of the fare was just as fast and brought us directly to Albrook Mall in the city, rather than the train station which is a cab ride from anywhere.
If you only want to have seen the Panama Canal, visit the Miraflores locks from Panama City. For all other travelers who are truly interested in the Canal, barcelona spain travel we would recommend a visit to the Gatun Locks for a glimpse of the massive container ships head into the Caribbean or into the Canal to head out to the Pacific. Take the bus. It's $1.50 instead of $22 per person.
If you are looking barcelona spain travel for a quick beach escape, take the ferry out to Taboga Island instead. From here you can see the container ships lined up to pass through the canal, all while sipping on a cold beer from the comfort of the sandy beach.
Have you ever anticipated an excellent place/tour/experience and were disappointed by the outcome? Is there an experience or tour you have done that you would advise people not to take part in? Please help everyone to avoid such rip-offs in the comments (oh, and if you have done the train ride and enjoyed it, feel free to let us know about that as well!)
Hey Alex, glad we could help Central America s not really the best place for train rides. barcelona spain travel There s a train connecting San Jose to Heredia, barcelona spain travel Costa Rica (about 45minutes, commuter train) but we didn t see much else there. Outside Merida in Mexico we took donkey-led cart rides along old train tracks to see the cenotes, that was cool
What a colossal barcelona spain travel disappointment! Although I m not surprised. When I was traveling in China there were plenty of temples in Yunnan that were massive letdowns; however, the guidebook didn t provide such a clear statement. I ve often only been forewarned by other travelers or just done it realized it was mistake afterwards. I suppose barcelona spain travel not every travel experience can be stellar Thanks, for sharing this. I plan to travel in this region next year and will definitely avoid this train ride.
We don t usually post negative tips don t do this, don t go here but this one was just not worth it, and yet something that people might be tempted to do. Guidebooks have to be much more diplomatic than we do and don t tend to say this place sucks, don t go! . We ended up in a place in Honduras, called Omoa, that the guidebooks said was a beautiful, barcelona spain travel quaint beach town it was tiny, half-dead and the water had completed eroded the beach and came right up to the restaurants, so nothing at all to do but sit and look out. We ll keep your China temple tips in mind, too, for when we re in those parts next year!
Shame that it wasn t what you thought. I just got back from Panama barcelona spain travel a couple weeks ago and wondered if I missed something (feel better having read your post). I only went to Miraflores and thought it was decent for the money.
Yes, it really was a shame. We loved the Gatun locks though, so the train ride was at least somewhat good in the end. And we went to the Miraflores locks too which we enjoyed a lot. Did you visit other places in Panama barcelona spain travel besides barcelona spain travel Panama City?
Any recommendation as to best place for a couple to stay in Panama City? we land at 9:30pm.. and plan to stay a few days in the area (to see the canal, and parks etc.) before heading to Bocas Del Toro But i can t seem to find a great place to spend a few nights in while in the city.. our budget would be $60 max a night . Any good reccomendations?
Hello Carolina, we stayed in Casco Viejo, which is a beautiful neighborhood (the old town) and has some really nice boutique hotels, barcelona spain travel but it s the furthest from Panama City Airport. If you stay in a downtown hotel, you are much closer to the airport and you can find great hotel deals for the business hotels on Hotwire, Booking.com or Expedia. You will definitely find something for $50 to $60 downtown Casco Viejo is a little bit more expensive I think. If you have time in Panama City, I would still recommend you visit Casco Viejo it s much nicer and more charming than the business district. Have a great time in Panama City and Bocas and feel free to get in touch again if we can help out with anything else.
We are Dani and Jess, a German-American lesbian couple who decided semi-spontaneously to take our work on the road and travel the world in April 2010. Digital Nomads, Street Food Junkies, House-sitters, Vegetarians, Street Art Photography Lovers, Hotel Enthusiasts.
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