Cristobal

Cristobal is in Panama, the little stretch of land (‘isthmus’) that is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and which joins north and South America.

Panama Canal - the 8th Wonder of the World

Named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, Cristobal is a port town situated at the Caribbean end of the entrance to the Panama Canal. Rich in history, the Panama Canal is considered the 8th Wonder of the World and many passengers will wish to leave their luxury MSC cruise ship for the day for a cruise excursion down the Panama Canal.

Stay in Cristobal and explore the huge covered market (in Cristobal Pier) where you can pick up souvenirs of your vacation including typical handicrafts such as woven baskets, silver jewellery and ‘mola’ weavings (wall hangings).

You’ll have time to journey across the country from the Caribbean to the Pacific Side and visit the historic locks in the canal zones. We take you further along the coast to pretty Portobelo, a UNESCO heritage site, with Spanish forts and a Treasure House, a holding place for gold and loot.

Make the most of your vacation time in this unique part of the world and take advantage of the best deals on our other day trips in the area; visit lively Panama City, with its wonderful colonial architecture and historic monuments, go monkey watching at Gamboa, which children will love, or take a trip out on to Gatun Lake to the Embera tribal community.

Cruise to Cristobal - Panama - Caribbean - MSC Cruises

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 CRI01 - Embera Indian Culture (6 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Snack  Paradise found in its purest form. This incredible journey takes you to the jungles of Chagres, where you will encounter the Embera Indians. Our adventure begins with a 10 minute dugout canoe transfer up the Chagres River. The Embera are a unique and beautiful people. They live much as they did when Columbus arrived in the 1500's. You will soon forget the outside world as you are immersed in their cultural dance and music. Visitors are invited to explore the area’s abundant variety of birds and wildlife during a jungle trek that includes a visit to local waterfalls. During our visit, we will see that the Embera possess amazing botanical knowledge – most will be surprised to learn of their contributions to modern pharmaceuticals. We are welcome to paint our bodies as the Embera do, with a natural fruit dye called Jagua. We will also have the opportunity to view famed Embera handcrafts.

Price per person $96.00 Adults $86.00 Children

   


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 CRI02 - Two ocean railroad Journey (5.5 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: easy  Snack  Nowhere else in the world can you travel from one ocean to another, crossing the continent of the Americas in only an hour. This is what makes Panama an amazing country. This tour is an exotic cocktail of experiences and history all rolled-up together. Leaving from Colon City on the Caribbean Coast, famous characters and places are mentioned and as history unfolds over time, the scenery also changes when arriving at Gatun Lake, where large vessels carrying the world’s commerce can be seen transiting the Panama Canal. Quickly we cross the Continental Divide and find ourselves on the Pacific side, where you will visit the Miraflores Visitor Pavilion, see a film about the Panama Canal and also view the operation of the Panama Canal from the Lookout.

Notes: The transit of ships is subject to the local authorities. It is not guaranteed to see a ship transiting as it depends on the traffic schedule of each day. There can be delays in the train ride due to congestion in the line with cargo trains.

Price per person $149.00 Adults $134.00 Children

   


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 CRI03 - Panama Canal Cruise (6 hrs) - 2013
Long Bus Trip  Level of difficulty: easy  Lunch or dinner included  The journey begins when we board the buses for a ride to either Gamboa Dredging Division Pier or Cucaracha Pier inside the Panama Canal where you will take the ferry boat that will transport you through The Panama Canal. The ferry will have sufficient space for everyone. The navigation starts through Gaylard Cut that was the most important and difficult part of the Panama Canal construction, here is where the continental divide is located. After crossing Gaylard Cut we will enter Pedro Miguel Locks on our way into Miraflores Lake. After crossing Miraflores Lake we will enter Miraflores Locks on our way to the Pacific Ocean. Centennial and America’s bridge will be seen during the adventure. Finally you will arrive at Pacific Port that is the entrance of the Panama Canal at the Pacific Ocean. Here you will take the buses back to the ship. Each passenger will receive a commemorative certificate of doing the Panama Canal Transit and contributing on the expansion of it!

Notes: The transit of ships is subject to the local authorities. Transiting time depends on the traffic schedule of each day.

Price per person $154.00 Adults $139.00 Children

   


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 CRI04 - Panama City Tour (6.5 hrs) - 2013
Long Bus Trip  Level of difficulty: moderate  Snack  There is only one place in the world that can arrive at the Caribbean Sea and travel 1 hour by Bus and be in the Pacific Ocean. Panama City is located at the entrance of the Panama Canal and is a mix of modern with colonial architecture and  full with history and stories. From here is where Pizarro started his conquering of the Incas Empire in Peru, where Vasco Nuñez de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean and it was the first city founded in the pacific in the America Continent. See Old Panama: founded on August 15, 1519, it was a vital communication link between Spain and its colonies in the Pacific. Then you will be transferred to the Casco Antiguo or Colonial City which was founded in 1673 in replacement for the previous capital in ruins, destroyed two years earlier during the Englishman captain Henry Morgan’s attack. The Casco Antiguo is full with historic monuments as the Cathedral, the national theater, and las Bovedas that is a beautiful walkway. The tour will include a visit to Gatun Locks where you will see the operation of the Panama Canal.

Note: The transit of ships is subject to the local authorities. It is not guaranteed to see a ship transiting as it depends on the traffic schedule of each day.

Price per person $94.00 Adults $85.00 Children

   


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 CRI05 - Portobello and Gatun Locks (5 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Snack  Portobello was a market town as well as a fortress. It came to life at least once a year during the trading fairs, when the town took on an air of bustle and excitement between 40 to 60 days. The houses were crowded with people, the square and the streets crammed with goods, the Customs House with chests of gold and silver, and the port filled with vessels. Portobello became the emporium of the riches of the two worlds, the most important commercial depot of that period and paradise for the pirates. Although Portobello was substantially built and protected by four strong fortresses and several minor batteries, the town was repeatedly taken by British and other marauder. Sir Francis Drake died in Portobello and has an island name after him where he was supposedly buried. In this tour you will also visit the Lookout at Gatun Locks where you will be able to see the operation of the Panama Canal at the Caribbean Locks of the Panama Canal and the biggest Locks at the Canal.

Notes: The transit of ships is subject to the local authorities. It is not guaranteed to see a ship transiting as it depends on the traffic schedule of each day. There are 80 steps to get into the lookout at Gatun Locks but there is also a lower lookout not as impressive but operation and narration can be heard. There is a lot of walking in Portobello, some on uneven and rocky surfaces.

Price per person $64.00 Adults $58.00 Children

   


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 CRI06 - Kayaks at Gatun Lake (3.5 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: difficult  Limited Availability  Snack  Take a break from your ship, board an air-conditioned coach and enjoy the drive to your first stop, the Hotel Melia Panama Canal, which forms the starting point of your kayaking adventure on Lake Gatun. This exhilarating experience is sure to appeal to guests of an adventurous persuasion, who enjoy physical exercise and love the great outdoors. Nature’s bounty in the form of stunning scenery and an abundance of wildlife is evident at every turn as you explore the area from the watery vantage point of your kayak – without doubt the best seat in the house. The tour will include a Kayak ride around the wildlife of Gatun Lake, and also a visit to Gatun Locks Lookout where you can see the operation of the Panama Canal.Please note: the number of seats on this tour is limited. Guests must be at least 8 years of age to participate and are recommended to be physically fit. As you are likely to get wet during the kayaking activity, you are recommended to bring a change of clothes, wear swimwear, sunscreen, a sunhat, sandals and bring a towel. As the transit of ships through the Panama Canal is subject to local authority permission and is dependent on daily scheduling, no guarantee can be given that any ships will be passing through the lock at the time of your visit.

Price per person $69.00 Adults $62.00 Children

   


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 CRI08 - Monkey Watch at Gamboa  (5 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Snack  Natural adventure of sight and sound, combined with the thrill of speeding through the Panama Canal next to the mighty ships transiting this man-made wonder! After an exhilarating 30-minute ride at high speed right through the heart of the Panama Canal, the boat will slow down and enter the labyrinth of jungle-covered islands of Lake Gatun. In this protected area the wildlife is plentiful, and you are likely to encounter capuchin monkeys, 3-toed sloth, howler monkeys, various kinds of toucans and other bird life as well as caimans, crocodiles, turtles and a wealth of butterflies. This is an exceptional place to experience the sights and sounds of the jungle up close. Our trained naturalist guides will ensure that you have an outstanding nature experience by tracing the wildlife as well as educating you about it and its habitat throughout this exceptional jungle and canal adventure.

Price per person $88.00 Adults $79.00 Children

   


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 CRI09 - Panama Old Quarter (4.5 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  With numerous fascinating sites with a history intertwined with Spain, France and the United States that never fails to delight, Casco Viejo (Old Compound) offers highlights which include the 17th century churches such as the Church of the Golden Altar, the ruins of century convents and residences, original dungeons, a French monument to the 22,000 who died building the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Museum in an elegant, restored building that once housed the headquarters of the French company that attempted to build a sea level canal.

Price per person $79.00 Adults $71.00 Children

   


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 CRI10 - Gatun Locks Canal Zone (2.5 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  The Panama Canal has three sets of locks. On the Pacific entrance are Miraflores chambers, and Pedro Miguel with one chamber. On the Atlantic is one set of locks with 3 chambers, Gatun, the most impressive of the three locks. In this one you will enjoy the experience to see the ships doing the whole process. We also visit the former Canal Zone, which used to be located the military bases of the United States. You can picture the old School of the Americas, nowadays the Melia Panama Canal Resort, where you will stop to buy art crafts and drinks and for sure take a picture of the Gatun Lake.

Notes: The transit of ships is subject to the local authorities. It is not guaranteed to see a ship transiting as it depends on the traffic schedule of each day. There are 80 steps to get into the lookout at Gatun Locks but there is also a lower lookout not as impressive but operation and narration can be heard.

Price per person $64.00 Adults $58.00 Children

   


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 CRI11 - Gatun Lakes Explorer (4 hrs) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  The Isthmus of Panama was formed just over 3 million years ago. This land bridge has allowed animals and plants of two continents to mix and mingle. This is why Panama is so rich in flora and fauna. Lake Gatun was constructed between the years 1906-1914. The lake is part of an aquatic bridge that links the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. When you consider the nature, history, and the Panama Canal, Lake Gatun is one of the most interesting places found on this planet. Our excursions showcase all that is the best of this special region of the world.

Price per person $89.00 Adults $80.00 Children

   


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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.