Panama tour?

[merryecho]

We are doing the Gatun lake turnaround, and had planned to hire a van to take us to a nearby spa that friends had raved about. Luckily I checked here before booking. Is it true that we are not allowed off the ship at Gatun unless we are on a HAL tour? If we have to wait until Colon to get off the boat it blows half the day- can we leave the gated area of Colon without a HAL tour?

[DFD1]

Having seen Colon and heard the advisories about it, I don't recommend you get out into town alone. It is less than savory. We drove thru going over to the railroad station for the rail tour to the west coast and the place looks pretty grim - to say the least.

I've heard others who were frustrated about getting off the boat on the lake.

[merryecho]

We weren't planning on going alone- I had a friend who was stabbed and robbed there a couple of years ago. We planned to have someone meet us at the ship and take us to the spa, which is about an hour away.

[gizmo]

I did this cruise in April. It is true you cannot get off the ship at Gatun Lake without a tour booked through Hal.

You can leave the gated area at Colon if you choose. On my cruise we were very late getting to Colon. We only had a couple hours there.

[merryecho]

Thanks Gizmo- exactly what I wanted to know. I hadn't thought about getting into Colon late, that would screw up a pre-planned van. Guess we'll just do the HAL stuff.

[Ziggy7]

Be careful in whatever you choose, not sure why HAL would stop there but be safe!

[gizmo]

Be careful in whatever you choose, not sure why HAL would stop there but be safe!
All the canal tours leave the ship by tender at Gatun Lake. They are returned to Colon to reboard the ship.