The
city of Colón, Panama’s Atlantic capital, will offer
visitors all its Caribbean spice this month during its annual fair,
scheduled March 31-April 10 at the grounds adjacent to the Colón
2000 cruise port.
Reflecting
the city’s strong Caribbean heritage, the fair organizers have
also included performances by some of the country’s top reggae
performers.
Folklore
dance performances will also be part of the daily list of activities,
including that of the Congos, a bizarre African-based dance style
that originated in Costa Arriba -the upper coast of the province of
Colón.
Colón’s
fair will be a grand party for all ages, with activities ranging from
dog shows and horse riding events, to cattle and handicraft exhibits.
There will also be an amusement park and lots of food and drinks.
A visit
to Colón’s fair can be part of a day tour in the province
of Colón, which boasts a number of attractions. In Costa Arriba,
the beautiful coast to the east of the city, visitors can find Playa
La Angosta (a popular beach among Panamanians), the colonial town
of Portobelo and its old Spanish fortifications, and the town of La
Guayra, the point from which local boatmen offer transport to Isla
Grande, a beautiful tiny island a few hundred meters from the mainland,
which provides accomodations for all pockets.
Colón
is also famous for its Free Zone, only bested by Hong Kong free trade
emporium, where a number of stores offer visitors goods from around
the world at excellent prices (Items purchased are sent to Tocumen
International Airport, to be delivered before departure).
Panama
City and Colón are linked by an excellent service of large,
air-conditioned buses (some of which are double-deckers) departing
from the National Bus Station, located in Albrook. The Panama Canal
Railway Company also offers a daily passenger train service to Colón
(Call 317-6070). We recommend visitors to take a taxi from either
of Colón’s terminals to the fair.
For drivers,
Colón is between a one-and-a-half to two-hour-drive from the
country’s capital, along the Trans-Isthmian Highway.
