The Caribbean gateway
Colón province sits at the Caribbean mouth of the Panama Canal and has been a trade crossroads for centuries — from Spanish treasure fleets to today’s massive free zone.
Highlights
- The Colón Free Zone — one of the world’s largest duty-free trade hubs.
- Portobelo — colonial forts (UNESCO-listed) and the Black Christ festival.
- Fort San Lorenzo — a dramatic clifftop fortress.
- Agua Clara Locks — the Caribbean side of the canal expansion.
History everywhere
Colón’s coast is dotted with the ruins of Spanish forts that once guarded the treasure route across the isthmus.
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